Faith & Reason Nexus

1. GOD DESIRES IT
   • “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”
     • Ephesians 5:25-27
2. SIN SPOTS IT
   • “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you.”
     • Isaiah 59:2
3. GOD CLEANSES IT
   • “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”
     • Ephesians 5:25-27

Saved Are in the Church

• “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
  • Acts 2:47
• “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13

Restore the Erring One

• “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
  • Matthew 6:1
• “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
  • Matthew 18:15-17

Church is Pure Again

• “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”
  • 1 Corinthians 5:7
• “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.”
  • Ephesians 5:27

Saved Are Pure

• “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
  • 1 Peter 1:22
• “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Some Sin Willfully

• “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
  • Hebrews 10:26
• “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
  • 2 Peter 2:21-22

Has a Good Reputation

• “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
  • Acts 2:46-47
• “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
  • Acts 5:11
• “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)”
  • Acts 5:14

Must Remain Pure

• “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
  • Matthew 5:13-16
• “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
  • 1 John 1:7

Must Withdraw

• “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:6
• “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
  • Romans 16:17

God is Glorified

• “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
  • Ephesians 5:21
• “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
  • 1 Timothy 3:15

A clean church is one where members are committed to purifying themselves, restoring erring brethren, and maintaining purity in doctrine and action. By remaining pure, the church glorifies God and reflects His holiness to the world.