The Bride Of Christ Ephesians 5v22-33 Steve Petch 15 th November 2015

“I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” Ephesians 5v32 The Bride of Christ

1. Jesus chose us John 15v16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” Eph 1v4: “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world” The Bride of Christ

2. Jesus loves us Eph 5v25: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” John 15v13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his” The Bride of Christ

3. Jesus is committed to us Rom 7v2: “a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage” Rom 5v1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” The Bride of Christ

4. Jesus will never leave us Heb 13v5: “He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Matt 28v20: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” The Bride of Christ

5. Jesus will provide for us Phil 4v19: “God will supply every need of yours according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” 1 Peter 5v7: “Cast all your anxieties on him … he cares for you” Eph 5v28-29: “Husbands should love their 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 Christ does the church” The Bride of Christ

6. Jesus will protect us Matt 16v18: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Rom 8v28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” The Bride of Christ

7. Jesus identifies with us Acts 9v4-5: “He heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” Heb 4v15-16: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The Bride of Christ

8. Jesus purifies us Eph 5v25-27: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” Rev 19v7-8: “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” The Bride of Christ

9. Jesus paid a price for us 1 Cor 6v19-20: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” 1 Peter 1v18-19: “You were ransomed … not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” The Bride of Christ

10. Jesus wants us to be fruitful John 15v5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” The Bride of Christ

11. Jesus wants to catch us up in his mission Matt 20v28: “Go and make disciples of all nations …” The Bride of Christ

12. Jesus will take us home John 14v2-3: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And since I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” The Bride of Christ

1. Jesus chose us 2. Jesus loves us 3. Jesus is committed to us 4. Jesus will never leave us 5. Jesus will provide for us 6. Jesus will protect us 7. Jesus identifies with us 8. Jesus purifies us 9. Jesus paid a price for us 10. Jesus wants us to be fruitful 11. Jesus wants to catch us up on his mission 12. Jesus will take us home

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The Bride Of Christ Ephesians 5v22-33 Steve Petch 15 th November 2015