Let's look at the text...
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. Eph. 5:25-27
This is talking about marriage and the relationship between husband and wife. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Husbands are to give of themselves as Christ gave of Himself, that He might present us to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, wrinkle, or any such thing, but that we should be holy and without blemish.
We can draw a lot from this with regards to the relationship between husband and wife. However, let's focus on what is said of the church.
We
all believe that the church should be without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing, and that we should be holy and without blemish.
I think the major part of the debate is...
What makes us holy and without blemish? And what is the nature of that "holiness"?
-Is it based on behavior?
-Is it based on disposition?
-Is it based on following a set body of laws?
-Is it based on a legally imputed righteousness in God's eyes?
-Is it based on an imputed righteousness that comes from spiritual union with God?
-Is holiness relative to the process of sanctification?
All these questions come into play. And so many differ on what the Bible teaches regarding these questions.
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