27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
After the bride’s betrothal ceremony, she left her father’s house for the groom’s residence. Her entrance into the groom’s house was an event of splendor. In the case of Christ, the purpose of His saving work is a sanctified and cleansed church so that He might present her as a splendid church. The result was that He gained the church and individuals in the church for Himself.
27 that
The ultimate goal of Christ’s work was to present to Himself a splendid church. Christ purified the church that He might “present” her properly to Himself.
He might present her
Christ Himself is the one who makes the presentation of the church in eternity like a bridegroom presents his bride at a wedding (2 Co 11:2; Re 21:9-11).
to Himself
Jesus is at once both the Agent and the Object of presenting the church.
a glorious church,
A “glorious church” comes from the fact that she is cleansed and set apart unto God. Jesus will present the church as a radiant bride to Himself. His bride will carry splendor in eternity ahead. Her glory is the glory of Christ and His work. The church is positionally clean now and will obtain the perfection of Christ Himself experientially later.
not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
The words “spot or wrinkle” come from the Old Testament sacrificial system. The lamb had to be sacrificed without blemish or spot. There are no defects in Jesus’ saving work. There is an inner beauty to the salvation He offers.
The word “spot” occurs only here and 2 Peter 2:13. “Spot” is a metaphor for impurity.
This is the only place where the New Testament uses the word “wrinkle.” The idea of “wrinkle” is that the bride has no sign of age.
The church on earth today has many spots and wrinkles, but positionally she does not, and in eternity there will certainly be none.
but that she should be holy
“Holy” means set apart. Here it carries the idea of perfection. The church is spiritually set apart unto God. She is presently holy in a positional sense, and one day in eternity she will be set apart in an experiential sense.
and without blemish.
No one can find any fault with this bride. The idea of “without blemish” means unblamable or faultless.
PRINCIPLE:
The church is special and exclusive to Christ.
APPLICATION:
One day the Lord Jesus Christ will present the church to Himself at the wedding feast of the Lamb in all splendor. This will happen shortly after the rapture. The church will have been stripped of both the sin capacity and acts of sin. All Christians will receive their resurrection bodies. There will be no spot, stain, or growing old. The church will be completely set apart unto God, and no one will blame her for anything.
The church is the special object of Christ’s delight (Isa 62:5). She is a special joy to Him. Because of His saving work, He holds the church in special regard and high honor. To Him, she is “glorious,” a strikingly beautiful bride that He has set aside for Himself. What is true of the church collectively is true of her individual members. There is nothing that mars their spiritual beauty. Jesus holds a special love for her and those who belong to her.
