THE PLAN OF SALVATION
By Jon Quinn
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    The special topic this issue deals with the church. Certainly one 
of the most thought-provoking passages in the New Testament dealing with Christ and His church is found in Ephesians 5:22-33 where the relationship between a husband and wife are compared with the relationship between Jesus and His church.

    A part of that context reads as follows:

      "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church 
and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having 
cleansed her with the washing of water with the word, that He might 
present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or 
wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:25-27).

    Crucial aspects of God's plan of salvation are revealed in this 
passage:

      Christ loved the church; (His people)
    Christ gave Himself up for the church
    Christ did this so that He might sanctify His people
    Christ cleansed His people
    This cleansing took place with the washing
             of water and the word
    A goal of this cleansing was the removal of spots and wrinkles
    Another goal was that His people might be holy and blameless

     If you have any questions about any aspect of the above text; 
about Christ's love for you; about His sacrifice; about the cleansing 
process; about the washing of water with the word; about the removal of the spots, then please feel free to contact the editors of 
Expository Files at the following addresses. Thanks.

JWQuinn@AOL.com
WEB47@AOL.com
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