The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 226

between Ghi·1$t and the Olmrch. All tbe lo,e and self,sacri6ce and service which Christ expended upon the Church supply the t_ype of a husband's duty to his wife.-'!'. C. Vers. 25---32.-Tlie wmon between <Jhrist and tke Ohurch. The apostle unites, with nn exposition of the duties of conjugal life, a very impi:essive statement of the nature of the union between Christ and the Church. This statement is exceedingly important,• quite irrespectfre ol its supplyin_g; an illustration of the ground and measure of a l,ushand's affl'<:tion for his ~ife. There are three truths hel'e exhibited respecting the ,mion of Christ and his Church. I. CmusT IS THE lIE.U) OF THE Cnuncn .AS WELL AS THE S.AVlOUR OF TIIE BODY. ITe not only saves the Churc11, but goveros it; he not only redeemed it by his atoning death, but is its continuous I're-Ser,cr and Director, his life the very life of his people: "Becans,i I li,e, yo shall live also." II. CHRIST PREP.\RES THF. CHURCH FOR HIMSELF AS BIS SPOTLESS BRIDE. 1. The language implies that ihe Church icas originally impure, in fact, like the foundling infant of the prophet ex.posed on the day of its birth, "to the loathing of its person" (Ezek. :xvi.). If she had not been so, there would have been no need of Christ's glorious cleansing. 2. It was through Ms death that Christ designed to make his people holy. "He ga,e himself" for them (ver. 25). The language is clearly sacrificial. The gift involved a death of unutterable anguish, yet he shrank not from it in his unutter- able love. It is the death which secures our ultimate holiness, for it reconciles us to God and secures to us the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are redeemecl from the curse of the Law, that "we migl1t receive the promise of the Spirit" (Gal. iii. 13, 14). 3. The application ef the atonement. "That lie might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing nf water by the ,vord;" or, rather, "that, havin~ purified it, he might consecrate it." The Church is thus set apart as his bride-" the Lamb's wife." It is thus that Christ sanctifies his people with his blood (Ileb. x. 10; xiii. 11, 12), not merely by way of cxpiati0n, but by way of consecrating them t-0 himself. 'l'he instrumental means of the Church's sanctification is "the washing of \Vater by the Word." This points clearly t-0 baptism, which is elsewhere described as "the ]aver of regener.:tion;" but it is baptiSI!l. inseparably linked with "the Word." What is the spiritual import of this baptism? It neither regenerates nor secures the remission of sins. It is true that it is called "the la,er of regeneration" (Titus iii. 5), and that remission of sins is connected with it. "Arise, be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts Xll.ii. 16). But no more is ascribed in Scripture to baptism than to the Word of God, Baptism cleanses from sin as the Word does. We are saved by the truth, begotten by the truth, sanctified by the truth. But this language docs not imply that the Word regenerates every one who hears it, or that it possesses a magic power to work saving results. " Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Hom. x. 17); but many who hear do not believe. Besides, salvl\tion, as in the case of. infants, is not linked inseparably with the Word. Historically, we know from the instances or baptism recorded in the New Testament that faith preceded baptiijm. '111erefore baptism cannot regenerate. We believt', however, that baptism is both a sigli and a seal of the covenant of grace, without believing that it has any regenerating power in itself. The Lord connects the blessin"'s of salvation with ~ bE)lioving reception of baptism, just as he does with a believing° acceptance of thl! Word. For the apostle is here speaking of the effect of baptism on the Church, not upon those who are aliens from it~ blessings. 4c. Tl,e <USign if t}u1, Lord in thi.B purifir,a,tion of t/,e Churcli. "That ho might present it to hims~lf a j!lorious Church, not ha,·ing spot, or wrinkle, or any Ruch thinl,(; liut that it sLould Le hc,ly arid without blemilib." (1) Tl,is refers evulently to t!te time of our Lorai ~,:;:md C/.ITliirtg, when he is to be admin,J in all them that bclic.e. It cannot refer v, the Cil•.ll"ch in this 1.orld, which, even iu its bc.t i;tates, bas many a 1,pot and many a wrinkle. (2) It implfos tl,at tl,e l,(!Td will Mmsel.f present lds Church "as his pur- ,:ha&e,:l J)O"-~es,iun," and he and no other will receive the Church as his bride to himself. (3) Tl,e r,or,rliturn rf the Church will ue one if spotless !llr,ry. f::he will ha,·e neither the spots ,,f sin or error to mar !,er beauty nor the wrinkles of decay, but will be '• h,,\y arid withr,ut blcmi1,h." 5. It v:as love tJ,o,t promz,tcd and directed t!te who~ pru,:,e.~s wl,ich u to liave sw;h a glorious result. "As Chri;;t also loved the Church." III. Cm:Jt;T A::SD nrn Crn.:r.c11 Ar.i,; o::-:r:; Mw,rnr:11s111r. "Fur we are mcmlicn, of hia err. v. 1-::J.3.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 227