In addition to the words `not having spot' the apostle says `or wrinkle'. There is not much to be said about this

particular expression. Rhutis means a wrinkle in the ordinary accepted sense. It comes from the verb rhuomai `to

deliver' which means literally `to draw' out of danger, while rhutis `a wrinkle' means a furrow that has been drawn

together on the skin. Rhume means a narrow street or lane, and is used of the `street which is called Straight' (Acts

The commonest cause for `wrinkles' is care and anxiety. The Lord will not only cleanse His Church from spot or

stain, but will even preserve it from the disfiguring wrinkles that come from unbelief, care and worry. In addition to

these two specified blessings, the apostle concludes with `or any such thing'. This is characteristic of the apostle, he

seems to have been at pains to leave no room for doubt as to the completeness of the believer's acceptance. As to

the fact that such extensions are characteristic, look at Ephesians 1:21, where after naming principality, power,

might and dominion he adds `and every name that is named', and further extends this all embracive category to

include the unknown future as well as the present, `not only in this age, but also in that which is to come'. Or, again,

in Romans 8, after having included death and life, angel, principality and powers, things present and things to come,

height and depth, in the list of those things that can never separate the believer from the love of God, the apostle

reaches out into the unchartered universe and says `nor any other creature', in his anxiety to provide complete

assurance to the redeemed.

We must now return to the `presentation', the climax moment of the ages.

Before time began, before the world was overthrown, a company of the sons of Adam yet unborn, were chosen

in Christ, that they should be holy and without blemish `before Him' (Eph. 1:4). We have given no attention to the

words `before Him' so far, but they now come up for consideration, for they anticipate the presenting of this church

in glory.

`Before' in the expression `before Him' in Ephesians 1:4 is the Greek word katenopion. The word occurs five

times in the New Testament as follows :

` In the sight of God speak we in Christ' (2 Cor. 2:17).

` We speak before God in Christ' (2 Cor. 12:19).

` That we should be holy and without blame before Him' (Eph. 1:4).

` To present you ` unreproveable in His sight' (Col. 1:22).

` To present you faultless before the presence of His glory' (Jude 24).

The subject is twofold, the character of the apostle's ministry, sincere, unadulterated, great plainness of speech;

and the presentation of the believer in glory. Enopion, the simple form, occurs many times in the New Testament

and is translated `before', `in sight of', in `the presence of'. The root of the word is op which gives us `optics',

`ophthalmia', `optician' and other words dealing with the eye or with vision. Prosopon another word of the same

stock is translated mostly by the word `face' or `presence'.

It was the gracious purpose of the Lord, when He chose the Church in Christ, that they should stand `before

Him'. This did not take place at their birth, for they were the very reverse of being `holy and without blemish',

consequently, immediately after the conclusion of the section which deals with the initial purpose of God, we enter

the realm where sin is met by redemption, where the inheritance is assured, and which is followed by the seal and

the earnest until the redemption of the purchased possession. Consequently the purpose enshrined in the words

`before Him', await `that day', the day when the Church shall be manifested with Him in glory.

Let us now turn to Ephesians 5:27 and look at this presentation. Paristemi `to present' is composed of Para

`beside' and istemi `to stand'. It would be beside the mark even to tabulate the ramifications of this verb, but the

interested reader would be helped by consulting a series in The Berean Expositor vols. 31 to 35, entitled `Ephesia'.

Paristemi means literally to stand beside and it is used by Paul who was `to be brought before' Caesar (Acts 27:24);