Author: Gary Witcher
Company: none

Importance of the Church
Ephesians 5:23-32

I. The truth about the church
	A. Jesus is the head of the church – Ephesians 5:23,24
		1. He is the savior of the body – Acts 2:21,47
		2. the body is subject to Him – Ephesians 1:22,23

	B. Jesus loves the church – Ephesians 5:25
		1. He died for the church – Romans 5:8
		2. He sanctified the church – Acts 20:32

	C. God reveals His mystery through the church - Ephesians 3:4-12 
		1. Does not reveal it by contact with Jesus – Acts 9:5,6
		2. Does not reveal it by contact with the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:29
		3. Does not reveal it by contact with an angel – Acts 10:3-6

II. Since these things are true
	A. if Jesus is the head
		1. we are His body, His kingdom (church 77/76 verses; kingdom 160/151) – 
			Revelation 1:6
		2. we are subject to Him
			a. Romans 10:3
			b. Acts 2:36
	
	B. if Jesus loves the church
		1. we must live for the church - 
			a. 1 Timothy 3:15 conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church 
				of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth
		2. we must be sanctified, maintain our purity – John 17:19
			a. 1 Corinthians 1:2 - sanctified
			b. 1 Corinthians 11:18 - unity
			c. 1 Corinthians 11:22 - despise
			d. 1 Corinthians 14:5,12 - edification

	C. if God reveals His mystery through the church
		1. we must know it – 2 Timothy 3:14-17
		2. we must proclaim it - 1 Corinthians 1:21
			a. Acts 20:25,31 - preaching the kingdom
			b. Matthew 16:18 - keys
			c. 1 Corinthians 4:17 - as I teach in every church

Ephesians 3:21 God is glorified in the church
Revelation 21:2
Revelation 22:16,17
Hebrews 12:23 general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven