When the Church Walks in the Spirit
Gerald Harris
Ephesians 5:22-33
I love the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1-3 Paul talks about the wealth of the Christian. In chapters 4-5 he talks about the walk of the Christian and in chapter 6 he talks about the warfare of the Christian.
Now, Paul is talking to the church, the body of Christ, in Ephesus and he urges them to walk by the Spirit. He tells us in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit. In Ephesians 5:8 he tells us to walk as children of light. In Ephesians 5:2 he tells us to walk in love. I know your theme at this time is ''Growing Together.'' So, this morning I want us to think about growing together and walking together as the people of God.
I said this the first Sunday I was back. I love the church. I believe that every child of God ought to love the church because, you see, we ought to love what Jesus loves. The Bible tells us that ''Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.''
There are some groups today that tell us they like Jesus, but not the church. How can anyone love the head but not the body?
In Chuck Colson's book, ''The Body,'' he says, ''There is today a widespread belief that one can be a Christian or develop one's own faith system apart from the church. The proposition is ludicrous.''
The church is not only the body of Christ, but the church is the bride of Christ. According to Romans 7:4 we are married to Christ. In
II Corinthians 11:2 it says that ''we are espoused to one husband.'' There is no marriage without bride and groom.
Peter says that we're the building of Christ. He is the chief cornerstone and we're all fitly framed together to form the glorious edifice known as the church.
Now, in our text, Paul speaks of Christ in the last day presenting the church to himself as a glorious thing ''without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.'' The church then, in Christ's ideal of it, is to be a glorious church.
Is she a glorious church now? Many would ...
Gerald Harris
Ephesians 5:22-33
I love the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1-3 Paul talks about the wealth of the Christian. In chapters 4-5 he talks about the walk of the Christian and in chapter 6 he talks about the warfare of the Christian.
Now, Paul is talking to the church, the body of Christ, in Ephesus and he urges them to walk by the Spirit. He tells us in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit. In Ephesians 5:8 he tells us to walk as children of light. In Ephesians 5:2 he tells us to walk in love. I know your theme at this time is ''Growing Together.'' So, this morning I want us to think about growing together and walking together as the people of God.
I said this the first Sunday I was back. I love the church. I believe that every child of God ought to love the church because, you see, we ought to love what Jesus loves. The Bible tells us that ''Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.''
There are some groups today that tell us they like Jesus, but not the church. How can anyone love the head but not the body?
In Chuck Colson's book, ''The Body,'' he says, ''There is today a widespread belief that one can be a Christian or develop one's own faith system apart from the church. The proposition is ludicrous.''
The church is not only the body of Christ, but the church is the bride of Christ. According to Romans 7:4 we are married to Christ. In
II Corinthians 11:2 it says that ''we are espoused to one husband.'' There is no marriage without bride and groom.
Peter says that we're the building of Christ. He is the chief cornerstone and we're all fitly framed together to form the glorious edifice known as the church.
Now, in our text, Paul speaks of Christ in the last day presenting the church to himself as a glorious thing ''without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.'' The church then, in Christ's ideal of it, is to be a glorious church.
Is she a glorious church now? Many would ...
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