The Washing of Water by the Word Ephesians 5:26

As Paul began to write more specifically about how the Ephesian church members were to be “submitting one to another”, he wrote concerning the “wives”. They were to “submit to their own husbands as unto the Lord”, and as he directed his attention toward the “husbands”, he told them to “love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church”. In chapter five and verse twenty-six of his letter, Paul continued to use his example of Christ “loving” His church as he told them Jesus sought to “sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the word” where we read:

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

The verse begins, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it...” Paul began with the phrase, “that he might sanctify” which means “so Jesus might render or acknowledge, be venerable, hallow, be separate from profane things and dedicated to God” “and cleanse it” or “to make clean, free from defilement of sin and faults; to purify from wickedness and consecrate”. Jesus purposes to “make hallow” and “clean” His bride, the “church” .

The verse continues, “...with the washing of water by the word,” Paul added, “with the washing” or “bathing or baptism” “of water” which refers to “rainy waves of liquid like those found in rivers, fountains and pools” “by the word” which means “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, a thing spoken, any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning, speech or discourse”. The agent by which the Lord Jesus “sanctifies and cleanses” His “church” is through the word of God.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the importance of the church being “cleansed and sanctified” by Jesus Christ. Jesus does this by His “word”, and lest we forget, this discourse is within Paul's instructions to “husbands”. “Husbands” are to see that their “wives” are exposed to the “word of God” in the same manner in which Jesus does His bride, the “church”. “Husbands” are not only to “love” their “wives as Christ loved the church”, but they are also responsible to see that “wives” are “made hallow” and “clean” by the “word of God”.

Next time Paul shares about the “church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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