Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;… What a broad scope of thought is embraced in these few words! The Church militant, labouring, suffering, upon earth? the Church cleansed, purified, glorified, in heaven! The apostle, at a single glance, seemed to see it all. And — I. First, I remark, that we should love the Church. II. Again: We should not only love the Church but labour for it. The word itself suggests the idea of unceasing effort and self-sacrifice. But it is not enough to love the Church and to labour in its behalf, we must likewise be willing — III. To suffer for it. There is no great difficulty in avoiding unpleasant differences with the world, if we do nothing to thwart and oppose it. IV. Once more. Every true child of God should be willing, if need be, to fight for the Church. (J. N. Norton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;WEB: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; |
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