The church, also called the temple, is believed to be the house of God, where Christians go to worship and praise him. Jesus visited a couple of churches where he went and preached. He even performed a miracle at the temple. He showed that he loved the church and even respected it throughout his years on earth. So, how did Jesus love the church?
According to Ephesians 5:25, the Bible reads, “husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” from this verse, Christians learn that Jesus loved the church to death. He gave his own life for the church and even compares the church to a bride, which means that he also loved the church like a husband loves his wife.
What is Jesus’ relationship with the church? Did Jesus give his life to the church? What does it mean to love your wife as Christ loved his church? Bible verses about Christ’s love for the church. Read till the end to find the answers to these questions and more information.
What is Jesus’ relationship with the church?
Jesus is the builder of the church
Matthew 16:18 reads, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it .”Jesus said he would build the church, and it is believed that he did. According to Psalm 127:1, the Bible implies that if the church is not built by the Lord, the work put to build that church is in vain.
Jesus is the head of the church
According to Colossians 1:18, the Bible speculates that Jesus is the head of the church. The same verse also says that he is the beginning of the church, and in the church, Jesus is dominant. From this verse, we learn that Jesus, the son of God, is the head of the church, and this is the will of God.
Church as the body of Christ
Ephesians 5:23 reads, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior .”We learn that the church is the body of Jesus Christ, as he is its head. This shows that Jesus and the church are one, just like the Husband and wife become one after marriage.
Jesus, the savior of the church
Also, from the same verse, we learn that Jesus is the savior of the church. According to Ephesians 5:25, the Bible implies that Jesus died for the church. This shows that there is love between the church and Jesus, and that is why he was ready to sacrifice himself for the church.
Jesus is the purchaser of the church
According to Acts 20:28, the Bible suggests that Christians should take good care of themselves and the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to them by the Holy Spirit. It goes ahead to say that they should be more careful with the church that Jesus purchased with his blood. This shows that when Jesus died for the church, he was obtaining and protecting his church.
Did Jesus give his life to the church?
Ephesians 5:25, the Bible reads, “husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” from this verse, Christians learn that Jesus died for the church. Jesus had the power to escape his death since he could ascend to heaven to his father and refuse to die. But he did not do this, which means he was ready to die for the church. It shows that Jesus gave his life to the church since he loves the church to death.
According to Matthew 18:20, the Bible suggests that where two or more are gathered in the name of God, he is there. This means that the church does not have to be a physical building. From 1 Peter 1:18-19, we learn that Jesus died for the redemption of his people and so that he can reconcile humankind and God. Since the church is also a gathering of God’s people, this shows that Jesus gave his life to the church.
From the story we Jesus, we learn that his main mission was to die for the sins of man. From John 3:16, we learn that God gave his only son to die on the cross so that man could receive eternal life. This also shows that Jesus died for the church is made up of the mankind that Jesus died for.
What does it mean to love your wife as Christ loved his church?
Ephesians 5:22-33 teaches how a husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church. Verse 25 of this chapter says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. This means a husband should truly love his wife with no limit and be ready to sacrifice for her. A husband should be ready to protect his wife with his life. When a husband loves his wife this much, he will purify her, ensure she is satisfied, and only have eyes for her.
Verse 28 of this chapter teaches that a husband should love his wife as he loves his body. It says that he who loves his wife loves himself. It is not easy to hurt his body; therefore, it should be hard for a husband to hurt his wife. This means that a husband should love his wife as he loves himself. The Bible implies that just like Christ loves the church, which is His body, a husband should cherish and nourish his wife as he does his body.
According to Colossians 1:18, Jesus is the head of the church, so the Husband should be the head and the wife who is his body. This means that just like Jesus loves the church and leads it to a good path, the Husband should also love his wife and be ready to lead her well. He should be the ruler of his wife so that she does not go astray. Jesus is the head of the church means, and he is also the savior of the church. The Husband should also be able to save his wife always. The wife has to submit to her Husband so that he can be her savior and leader.
Bible verses about Christ’s love for the church
Colossians 1:18-20 “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything, he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross”.
Ephesians 5:25-33 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church because we are members of his body. “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband”.
Acts 20:28 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Revelation 19:7-9 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”
References
- What is the relationship between Jesus and the church?
- Loving your wife just like Jesus loved the church
- Bible verse about Christ’s love for the church
- Jesus founded the church
- Jesus gave his life to the church.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
