The Purpose of Christ's Death
The Purpose of Christ's Death Ephesians 5:26 Excerpt The purpose of Christ’s death was to make the church holy (hagiasē, “to set apart” for Himself as His own forever ; cf . Heb. 2:11 ; 10:10 , 14 ; 13:12 ) which He did by cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word . This is not baptismal regeneration for that would be contrary to Paul’s teaching in this book as well as all his other writings and the entire New Testament . Metaphorically, being regenerated is pictured as being cleansed by water ( cf . “the washing of rebirth” in Titus 3:5 ). The “Word” ( rhēmati ) refers to the “preached Word ” that unbelievers hear ( cf . rhēma in Eph. 6:17 ; Rom. 10:8 , 17 ; 1 Peter 1:25 ). Hoehner, Harold W. “ Ephesians .” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2 . Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 641. Print.