Turned Off By Church:Turned Off By Church:Presenting Christ Who Presenting Christ Who

Consistently AbidesConsistently Abides

Chapter 3:Chapter 3:Presenting Christ Who Presenting Christ Who

Consistently AbidesConsistently Abides

Christ loved the Church and gave Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her himself up for her to make her

holy, cleansing her by the washing holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and with water through the word, and

to present her to himself as a to present her to himself as a radiant Church, without stain or radiant Church, without stain or

wrinkle or any other blemish, but wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27Ephesians 5:25-27

HIS NEARNESSHIS NEARNESS

You are my friends if you do what I You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call command you. No longer do I call you servants,for the servantdoes you servants,for the servantdoes

not know what his master is doing; not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for but I have called you friends, for

all that I have heard from my all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.Father I have made known to you.

John 15:14-15John 15:14-15

"Christ longs to be "Christ longs to be intimate with us as a intimate with us as a

close friend."close friend."- Dr. Rod Santos- Dr. Rod Santos

Let us stay with Jesus Let us stay with Jesus even when times are even when times are

hard and painful, for His hard and painful, for His faithful presence is life-faithful presence is life-

giving.giving.

CHRIST'S UNION WITH CHRIST'S UNION WITH BELIEVERSBELIEVERS

For if we have been For if we have been united with him in a united with him in a

death like his, we shall death like his, we shall certainly be united with certainly be united with

him in a resurrection like him in a resurrection like his.his.

Romans 6:5Romans 6:5

7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has

come, and his Bride has made herself ready; come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” — for the fine fine linen, bright and pure” — for the fine

linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: And the angel said to me, “Write this:

Blessed are those who are invited to the Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Revelation 19:7-9Revelation 19:7-9

"Disappointment has no "Disappointment has no place in this union, for the place in this union, for the Groom shall not withhold Groom shall not withhold any good thing from His any good thing from His

bride."bride."- Dr. Rod Santos- Dr. Rod Santos

Our union with Christ Our union with Christ stabilizes us in this stabilizes us in this

chaotic world.chaotic world.

BROKENNESS BROKENNESS SPIRITUALITY:SPIRITUALITY:

It is the pursuit of a It is the pursuit of a spiritual state where Christ spiritual state where Christ is becoming more evident is becoming more evident in us, and our egoistic self in us, and our egoistic self

fades away.fades away.

"Jesus, Lover of My Soul""Jesus, Lover of My Soul"(It's All About You)(It's All About You)

Obtaining Spiritual Obtaining Spiritual Power through Power through

Mortification, not Man-Mortification, not Man-made Mysticismmade Mysticism

"In people's pursuit of "In people's pursuit of God, Christians and non-God, Christians and non-

Christians alike look to the Christians alike look to the externals."externals."

- Dr. Rod Santos- Dr. Rod Santos

Abide in me, and I in you. As the Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, branch cannot bear fruit by itself,

unless it abides in the vine, neither unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, Whoever abides in me and I in him,

he it is that bears much fruit, for he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5John 15:4-5

For if you live according to For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if the flesh you will die, but if

by the Spiritby the Spirit you you put to put to deathdeath the deeds of the the deeds of the

body, you will live.body, you will live.

Romans 8:13Romans 8:13

AN INVITATION FROM AN INVITATION FROM CHRISTCHRIST

"The good news is Christ "The good news is Christ longs to have us even longs to have us even

with all our warts, with all our warts, wounds, and wickedness."wounds, and wickedness."

- Dr. Rod Santos- Dr. Rod Santos

Questions for Questions for ReflectionReflection

1) Jesus is passionate about you, but do 1) Jesus is passionate about you, but do you tend to shy away? What hinders your you tend to shy away? What hinders your intimacy with Him? Is it unhealthy guilt, a intimacy with Him? Is it unhealthy guilt, a go-between party or something else?go-between party or something else?

2) Having a "date with the Lord" is one of 2) Having a "date with the Lord" is one of the best ways to cultivate closeness to the best ways to cultivate closeness to Christ, just like having a date with Christ, just like having a date with someone. How can you make this date someone. How can you make this date special? How soon can you have it?special? How soon can you have it?

Turned Off By Church:Turned Off By Church:Presenting Christ Who Presenting Christ Who

Consistently AbidesConsistently Abides