Verses 32, 33

It is said in the thirty-second verse, " This is a great mystery." What the apostle had at heart, were the relationships between Christ and the church. We see in the verses which we have just read four things: 1st. Christ gave Himself for the church; 2nd. He sanctifies it by the word; 3rd. He presents it to Himself without wrinkle; 4th. He nourishes and cherishes it, by giving all that He has for it, in order to show how dear it is to Him. He loves it as Himself. It is precious to have the inward consciousness of the affection of Christ for the church. This is an important truth, and it is essential to distinguish the difference of this love, which belongs to relationships which God has established, and the goodness of His nature towards all. The consequence of it is that Christ undertakes the whole work; we are only His, entirely His. It is not a law, but a tie which binds us to another, that is Christ. The moment that the power of man works, it is no longer Christ who has taken all upon Him for us.