Christ's Purpose in dying for the Church !
Eph 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 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.
Vs 26 starts out with the word that the greek word hina a
Conjunction that means: in order that, so that.
for the purpose that (in order that), looking to the aim (intended result)
So Christ gave Himself for the Church [called out ones] with the intended and purposed results to be effected: To sanctify her.
False religion is ignorant of God's Purpose in sending His Son to give His Life for the Church, but the purpose is being revealed in this passage, which is that He might sanctify her. This Purpose is also stated in Heb 13:12
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Again the conjunction hina [that] denoting purpose and intended result. But now look whom is the object this time " The People"
This reveals to us if we have eyes to see, that "The People" of Heb 13:12 is the Church in Eph 5:26.
Yes the Believers of the Book of Hebrews " The People" and the Believers of the Book of Ephesians, the Church, the Body of Christ, are the same People !
Now lets move on and look at the word sanctify. Both times in Eph 5:26; Heb 13:12
Its the greek verb hagiazó:
I make holy, treat as holy, set apart as holy, sanctify, hallow, purify.
to regard as special (sacred), i.e. holy ("set apart"), sanctify.
"to make holy, consecrate, sanctify; to dedicate, separate"
It does not just mean a outward setting apart but also an inward purification, to purify internally by reformation
This gives us to better understand what God Purposed to be effected by Christ's Death in this sanctifying !
The inward cleansing and sanctification is purposed as an result of Christ's Death. Remember His Death is the confirmation of the New Covenant Matt 26:28 of which promises like this were made :
Heb 8:10
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Jer 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God's Law is Spiritual Rom 7:14.
So it promises conversion of the soul Ps 19:7
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Now this comes by New Birth or Regeneration or renewing of the Holy Ghost Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Folks this Effect accompanies the Death of Christ, so much so, that if we are not partakers of it, this inward conversion [sanctification], then plain and simple, its impossible for Christ to have died for you or me, hence without this sanctification, no man see's the Lord Heb 12:14
One last comment, The Church in Eph 5:26 , the Body of Christ means the Called out ones. The Called out Ones are the Seed of Abraham, both in the OT and NT, we all were sanctified by Christ's Death Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 18