THE CHRISTIAN'S PURITY PT 5

EPHESIANS 5:21-24, 33

As we have seen from Ephesians or any other of Paul’s writings, he utilizes run on – run long sentences – often without punctuation or pause – but this closing on chapter 5 – Paul gets concise – short sentences – specific word choices – he wants us to pay close attention to the words God gave him – especially these words when it regards marriage – biblical marriage.

Chapter 5 has taken us on a rollercoaster of a ride regarding the Christian life –

We discussed the Christlike life and if we don’t live a Christlike life, we will fall into the corrupt life. Living in a corrupt life leads to a confused life. We see the confusion sweeping our nation as people are confused even scientifically speaking what marriage is, what a woman is, what a man is, what life is, what gender is.

BUT – if we live the Christlike life that leads to a cleansed life and a cleansed life leads to a consecrated life. We have been talking about these last two over the last two weeks – and a consecrated life leads to the Christian Love – and this last part – the Christian Love contains some controversial verses – verses that have been taken out of context to justify certain actions and behaviors –

Last week we skipped ahead and studied verses 21 and 25-33, Paul’s focus on husbands. He utilized 8 full verses to address husbands and how they are to love their wives and called them to be Christlike in their love for their wives.

The reason for the jump ahead is going in hierarchal order – we have seen how Christ loved the church and set the example and he is the head of the church

Ephesians 1:21-22 – far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Then head of the household – as Christ is the spiritual leader of the church the husband of is the spiritual leader of the family

Ephesians 5:23 – For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Now we look at the role the wife plays

Let Us Pray!

The Christian’s Purity pt 5

Ephesians 5:21-24, 33

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

VI. THE CHRISTIAN LOVE—vv. 21–33

Let’s go back for a moment to verse 21– submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

2 People, 2 individuals demanding their own rights will eventually end up going their separate ways

As Christians we are called to submit to each other – preferring each other before ourself and our own selfish desires – not demanding your rights

Remember Philippians 2:3-5 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Pride and individualism are destructive to fellowship and the church – nothing will destroy faster than pride and fellowship – that is why submission is stressed so much here

Francis Foulkes put it this way - Paul knew from experience that the secret of maintaining joyful fellowship in the community was the order and discipline that come from the willing submission of one person to another (cf. Eph. 4:2–3). Pride of position and the authoritarian spirit are destructive of fellowship

Now Paul takes an unexpected turn – not illogical but unexpected – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

1. Submitting—v. 22 – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

In other words – wives as you submit to the Lord, so as to your husbands the two should be equal like 2 + 2 = 4 and 4 = 2 + 2 – but if its not – we need to check ourselves –

Submitting to the Lord is an analogy that while her husband and Christ are not the same – but their positions are related. Christ is head of the church – the husband is the head of the family so relationally as she submits to Christ’s authority so should she submit to her husband’s authority.

This idea is linked to the verbiage that Jesus uses in Matthew 25:40 – And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Paul says it again in Colossians 3:18 – Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 – Paul says again – But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Not forced submission but by choice – the imperative verbiage here respects the husbands role as mentioned in previous Scripture. The wife is called to respond to the husbands lead

Sin brought the discord –

Genesis 3:16 – To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

There is a natural resistance – but to be back in compliance with God we have to obey Scripture

If God says it once – we might be tempted to think – Did He really mean that – but now three times – Scripture supporting Scripture supporting Scripture – Paul uses the concept of submission over 20 times in his letters

Titus 2:5 – (Older women) To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

1 Peter 3:1 – Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

1 Peter 3:5 – For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.

It is not a matter of worth – but in order for there to be unity in the body of Christ in the family unit – there must be leadership – we follow the example of God –

God the Father

God created Adam first

2. Subjection—vv. 23–24. Marriage and Church alike – For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

v 23 – For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Jesus is the Savior of the church – we are called to submit to Him – He is the leader

Genesis 2:21-22 – So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Woman was taken out of man –

Not from the head

Not from the heel

From the side –

But 2nd in creation – submit to the first

Colossians 1:17-18 – And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

v24 – Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

As we are called the bride of Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:2 – For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

As we submit our lives to Christ – so the wife is to submit her life to her husband

This is not a call to give up your rights, your dreams, even your career – all are fine as long as they don’t conflict with God’s design for the family

Just as individuals our own careers, dreams, rights are fine as long as they don’t contradict or conflict with God’s design for the body of Christ – the church

As the church responds to Christ – so the wife responds to the husband

Marriage should not be the battleground – the husband and wife should present as a united – unified front –

This does not talk about obedience nor should it be something the husband demands – it is through his love for her which accounts for and shows concern for her needs and well being.

And let us not forget what we talked about last week –

Ephesians 5:25-30 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so 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. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.

Paul writes 3 verses to the wife but to the husband – a full 8 verses

3. Spiritual – v33 – However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

To close this mystery – love your wife – pure and simple – love your wife – love with an agape love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

When you do – wives will submit to your spiritual authority and can simply follow wives respect your husbands

Christian and Secular psychologists agree men desire respect while women desire to be loved – its here in Scripture – Bible studies have been written regarding this one verse

The word here for respect is phobeo – fob eh o – where we get our word phobia – fear but it is the same word used to fear the Lord – literally to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience

1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

It's a reverence not fear causing

Love and fear cannot coexist – so we must accept the other definition of phobeo reverence – respect

Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

1 Peter 3:6-7 – as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Submission is what Navy Seals do with their team leader – clear efficient empowered enabled roles that are free to focus on their job while knowing that the unit is interdependent as well.

Christlike love is not a yes dear – anything you say dear – it says love like Christ loved – God does not say yes to everything – does not allow us to do anything without consequences

We have to have t Biblical definition of these words and concepts – not allow the world and society to come in and change the definition nor the application in our lives.

All the single ladies – look for men who love the lord first – and will not allow you or anyone to come in-between them and the Jesus

All the single guys – look for ladies who love the lord first – and will not allow you or anyone to come in-between them and the Jesus