Christ & the Church

I read Ephesians 5 today. The last paragraph of this passage has long intrigued me. Although we always teach this passage in reference to the family, Paul says it is about Christ and the church. In verse 32, he says "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." I take this to mean the greater truth is about Christ's work for the church and a husband is a reflection of it. So, what did Christ do for the church? He died for it, he sanctified (set it apart), he cleansed it, all out of love for the church.

Christ did all of this for a purpose: that he could present to himself a church which is holy and blameless.