In this set of verses about husbands and wives, Paul mentions several actions that Jesus did or does for his people. First, Paul says that Jesus loved the church and elsewhere in the Bible we are told that his love for them was eternal, without beginning. It is hard for us to grasp something that had no beginning, but that is what the love of Jesus is. And it will have no end.
Second, Jesus gave himself for the church when he was on the cross. He voluntarily offered himself as an atoning sacrifice to pay the penalty for their sins. No one is able to estimate what the degree of punishment was. The punishment of a lost eternity is the only comparison we can make with the penalty that Jesus paid. Paying it brought great distress to Jesus, but he never ceased to love his people through it all.
Third, the purpose that Jesus had for those he redeemed was their sanctification. This sanctification has three aspects. When sinners trust in Jesus, they are set apart to God and become saints. Then throughout the rest of life they become increasingly like him (the means he uses for this ongoing change is his Word, which not only brings them to him through the gospel but also shows them how to live for his pleasure). The third aspect of sanctification is also called glorification (in splendour) and it will occur at his second coming when they will completely holy, without a stain on any of them.
Fourth, Jesus nourishes and cherishes his church. He does this every day for each of them while they are in this world. They need constant provision, which he provides in a loving manner. He does this through the work of the Holy Spirit, who takes of the things of Christ and reveals those things to his people. In this way, their spiritual needs are constantly met.
No comments:
Post a Comment