One Flesh with Christ

Eph. 5:22-33, is a passage of scripture that compares the husband/wife relationship with the relationship between Christ and the Church. Usually these passages are used to learn about the husband wife relationship, but clearly the import of these verses is to teach about Christ and the Church.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak in regard of Christ and the Church.”

So how does Christ and the Church become one flesh?

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ust as a man desires a wife that is pure and has not been in a physical relationship with another man, Christ desires that his “wife” be pure. Certainly we are not pure when we come to Christ. We are soiled by our relationship with Satan who we follow when we sin. Christ, however, has made provision so that we can be pure and virginal, in regards to sin, when we enter into a relationship with him. His self- sacrifice, the giving of his blood, cleanses us of our sinful relationship with Satan and makes us pure… totally pure.

We enter our marital relationship with Christ when we arise out of the waters of baptism having our sins washed away. Then we are cleansed and truly a bride worthy of a relationship with Christ because he has made us pure and worthy.

A condition of our marital relationship with Christ is subjection. Christ requires that his bride live by his standards. If she does the reward is great… becoming “one flesh” with Christ. Experience the mystery. There is only one path.