Ephesians 5:25-27
Christ loved the church and handed himself over
for her (the Church) to sanctify her, cleansing her by
the bath of water with the word, that he might present
to himself the church in splendor, without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and
without blemish.
We are deprived of the vision of
God because of our sinfulness.
But there is a divine purging
fire which can heal us.
Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:6,10
For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges
every son he acknowledges. ... but he does so for
our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.