Without Spot or Wrinkle

Purity and Repentance in the Last Days

The Bride that Christ is returning for is not ashamed or apathetic—she is radiant, refined, and ready.

“That He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
— Ephesians 5:27

This is not an ideal—it is a promise. But it’s also a process. And that process is called repentance.

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Purity Is Not Perfection, but Preparation

Jesus does not demand flawlessness—He calls for faithfulness. Holiness is not external performance; it is a heart surrendered and set apart for Him.

“Everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.”
— 1 John 3:3

The Bride doesn’t pretend she’s perfect. She clings to the One who is.

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Repentance Is a Gift, Not a Punishment

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. So be zealous and repent.”
— Revelation 3:19

Repentance is not about guilt—it’s about grace. The early Christians saw repentance as a daily posture of the heart, a joyful returning to the One who loves and cleanses.

“Let us cleanse ourselves with tears of repentance, for He is merciful and quick to forgive.”
— Hermas, Mandate 4

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The Bride Purifies Herself by the Word

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
— John 17:17

The Church is not made pure by cultural standards or good intentions, but by the Word of God. The Scriptures, illuminated by the Spirit, reveal and remove what cannot remain.

• Pride is replaced by humility
• Bitterness is replaced by forgiveness
• Lust is replaced by self-control
• Idolatry is replaced by worship

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This Purity Is for His Glory

“Let your garments always be white…”
— Ecclesiastes 9:8

The Bride is not pure to earn love—but because she is already loved. Her radiance is a reflection of her Redeemer. She shines because He is her light.

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What We Can Learn

1. Holiness is the fruit of love, not fear.
2. Repentance is a lifestyle of returning, not a one-time event.
3. Purity flows from the Word and the Spirit.
4. The Bride’s beauty reflects the glory of the Bridegroom.

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Sources:

• The Holy Bible — Ephesians 5:25–27; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 3:19; John 17:17; Ecclesiastes 9:8
• Hermas, Mandate 4
• Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 30
• Didache, ch. 4
• Tertullian, On Repentance

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