This great mystery was officially, though not exclusively, revealed in Ephesians (chs. 2 and 3; see also Rom. 16 and Col. 2). In this epistle, the Church is mentioned nine times, and in each case in a special connection.
An Eternal Purpose Unfolded
“This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church” (5:32). This “in other ages,” as we have seen, “was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit” (3:5). The Church is to occupy towards Christ the double relation of Body to manifest the perfections and excellencies of the Head, and of the Bride, to enter into and enjoy the affections and purposes of the Bridegroom.
An Eternal Love Revealed
“Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it” (5:25), leading on to cleansing, a single act; and sanctification, a continuous process in the case of each member of that Church, and so the whole depth of the love of Christ can only be fathomed by His death on Calvary. “He gave Himself.”
A Present Ministry Performed
“No man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church” (5:29). The word translated “nourisheth” is used in 6:4 of a father “bringing up” his children; and that rendered “cherisheth” is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 of a nurse who brings up her own children. Here we see the Lord’s present affections and unceasing activities on behalf of His own.
A Present Relationship Established
“The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church, and He is the Saviour of the body” (5:23). This shows us the intimate dependence of the Church on Christ.
A Present Responsibility Incurred
“The Church is subject unto Christ” (5:24). That is, placed in a relation of subjection, as the wife to her husband, and therefore ought to be subject as also the wife.
A Present Service Unfolded
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.” This explains one phase of our service here. The Church is an object lesson to the elect angels (3:10).
A Present Privilege Prepared
“He hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (1:22-23). This is not merely that Christ is the Head of the Church, but the Head over all things to the Church. That is, He heads up all things for the benefit and blessing of the Church. “All things are ours,” because all things are His.
A Future Consummation Awaited
“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” (5:27). The Lord God presented Eve to Adam. Christ will present His Church to Himself is only one more incidental proof of His Deity.
An Eternal Ministry Revealed
“Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end” (3:21). Therefore the peculiar position of the Church is not temporal merely, nor only lasting during the millennium, but is eternal. The differences between the Church, Israel, and the saved from among the nations will never disappear.
It will be clearly seen from the above that the Church is not a dead organization, but a living organism; not a material edifice, but a spiritual building; not an earthly association, but a heavenly fellowship.