From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 6:53 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: Joyous Greetings

"That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless."  Ephesians 5:27

It is Christ who is at work in each one of His own, the church, to present her in glorious splendor to Himself.

God's word purifies the life as we see in the following:
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
 By keeping it according to Thy word."  Psalm 119:9

Jesus says in John 15:3, "You are already clean because of the word 
which I have spoken to You."

Jesus prays to the Father in John 17:17, "Sanctify them [purify, 
consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by Truth; 
Your Word is Truth."  Amplified Bible

"So that He might sanctify her (the church), having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."  Ephesians 5:26

Of spiritual beauty, Scripture says:
"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory."  Psalm 149:4

Song of Songs 6:10 gives a wonderful symbolic description of spiritual beauty in the bride, "Who is this that grows like the dawn,  As beautiful as the full moon,  As pure as the sun,  As awesome as an army with banners?"

"And let not your adornment be merely external...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."  1 Peter 3:3-4

 "...She should be holy and blameless":
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written,  'You shall be holy, for I Am holy.'"  1 Peter 1:14-16

"But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore beloved, since you look for these things be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless."

As it was revealed to the Apostle John, he tells us in Revelation 21, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband."  Verse 2

In Verse 9 one of the seven angels, "...came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.'  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God."

Oh what a glorious day when we hear our Bridegroom say,
"You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
 And there is no blemish in you."  Song of Songs 4:7

What glory awaits the church!  Hallelujah and Amen!