Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
– Ephesians 5:22 -32 NKJV
In the NKJV, the word ‘church’ is mentioned 120 times.
There is a principle called the law of first mention that is interesting if you would like more detail in studying scripture. (Google)
The first time that the word ‘church’ is mentioned is found in Matthew 16:18
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
– Matthew 16:13-20 NJKV
Marriage – Christ and the Church
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
– Ephesians 5:22 -32 NKJV
What does ‘glorious’ mean?
-
- Noble
- Excellent
- Being of great virtue or worth, valuable.
- Celebrated
- Honored – respected
How did Scripture define a Glorious Church?
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church,
but that she should be holy and without blemish.
– Ephesians 5:27 NKJV
But that the Church holy
-
- Properly, whole, entire, in a moral sense.
- Hence, pure in heart; free from sin and sinful affections.
And without blemish
-
- Reproach; disgrace; that which impairs reputation.
- Any scar or defect that diminishes beauty or renders imperfect that which is well formed.
- To mar, or make defective.
- To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church,
– Ephesians 5:27a NKJV