“…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25b-27).

The Scripture presents a profound picture of the church’s relationship to Christ. She is the bride, Christ is the Bridegroom (John 3:29). Their eternal union will be consummated when the Bridegroom comes for His bride. Just as it is the biblical design for marriage that the bride ought to be presented to the groom as a chaste virgin on their wedding day, it is also the divine concern that the Church will be ready as a chaste bride for Christ. This was the Apostle Paul’s concern for the church when he wrote, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

The church ought to rid herself of all moral and doctrinal impurity. Christians, as members of the church, must lead pure and undefiled lives that they may be made ready for the marriage as chaste virgins arrayed in clean, fine and white linen of righteousness (Revelation 19:7-8). Christ desires that when that time comes, the bride will have adorned herself properly in character and appearance. Three compelling reasons are given by Paul in Ephesians 5 as to why churches ought to take heed to this call to be chaste.

The first reason is found in the words, “…Christ also loved thechurch, and gave himself for it” (v. 25b). There is no greater demonstration of love than that which gives up everything, including one’s own life (John 15:13). This is the love that Christ has manifested towards the church. It was His love for the church that nailed Him to the cross of Calvary, and the blood that flowed from His body redeems and cleanses sinners from all the filth and guilt of sin. By His grace and love manifested on the cross, the condemnation of hell is removed that all who believe in Him shall have everlasting life (John 3:16). Thus, to be spiritually chaste and pure, one must begin by putting his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving Him as Lord and Saviour. A chaste church, as the virgin bride of Christ, cannot possibly remain in sin and defilement. Unrepentant, unredeemed sinners cannot be her members. Justification by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the starting point of spiritual chastity; and only such can be the true members of His church.

The second reason is expressed as “that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (v. 26). The great objective of Christ’s redemption was to save and purify the church. Until Christ joins the church to Himself, He never ceases to wipe her uncleanness away and clothe her with the white robes of His righteousness. Sanctification means “to make holy”, and in order to accomplish this, there must be a cleansing “with the washing of water by the word”. In olden times, virgin brides espoused to monarchs had to undergo various methods of purifying and cleansing before the actual marriage took place. As such, a virgin was purified and prepared for her husband by washing. In the same way, the church is to be prepared for Christ. She is to be made pure and holy. The washing of water is a symbol of cleansing that has to be done by means of the word of God. It is by the truth of God’s Word that believers are sanctified (John 17:17). By the same truth, our hope of meeting the Bridegroom someday is revealed, giving us another reason to be chaste and pure. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Individually, each member must strive to put away all forms of sin from his life. Earlier in this passage, Paul wrote, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4). We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27) and to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). We are to follow peace and holiness in order to claim the promise of seeing the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Corporately, the church as the bride of Christ must follow pure biblical doctrines and “be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines” (Hebrews 13:9). Thus, faithful teaching and preaching of the Word in the pulpit is crucial for the flock’s growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Sanctification demands purity both in doctrine and in practice.

The third reason for the chastity of the church is articulated as “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (v. 27). The future glorification of the church speaks of what the church is yet to be. This will be that period in her history when there shall not be any imperfection; when there shall be neither spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing. In heaven, all will be utterly pure. All impurities will have been purged as the church enters her eternal abode in heaven. On earth, we are being prepared for that world of purity through much purging which comes through trials and testing. It cannot be denied that there is much imperfection and impurity in the present-day church. But in that future world, where the church, clothed in the robes of salvation, is presented to Christ, there shall not be one unholy member, deceiver, or hypocrite. And of all the multitudes that shall be gathered there out of every land, people, tongue, and age, there shall be no envy, malice, backbiting, pride, vanity, worldliness. Neither shall there be annoying and vexing conflict in the heart with evil passions, “or any such thing.” How different it is from the present church, and how we should long for that day when the glorious church will emerge, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.

A chaste church is the Lord’s delight. Solomon wrote, “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee” (Song of Solomon 4:7). The same words will be true of the church on that grand wedding day in heaven when Christ will finally take her up in all her pure and chaste splendour.