Rooted In Your Wealth 22.1

A Spirit-Filled Marriage (1)

Text: Ephesians 5:22–23 “22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

Introduction

This topic of marriage has truly taken a dirt road to liberal subjectivity. The foundation of marriage has been more neglected in our day than any other. We live in a time when must confusion has entered the understanding of gender, marriage, and family. To be honest, in some cases, the historic Christian view of marriage brings some to being hostile.

Quote: “For the first time in its history, Western civilization is confronted with the need to define the meaning of the terms “marriage” and “family.” What until now has been considered a “normal” family, made up of a father, mother, and a number of children, has in recent years begun to be viewed as one among several options.” — Kostenberger and Jones

Quote: Stott summarizes marriage very well: “Marriage is an exclusive heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by the leaving of parents, consummated in sexual union, issuing in a permanent mutually supportive partnership, and normally crowned with the gift of children.”

As we approach this text, let us understand that marriage in this life was designed to be a shadow of the Heavenly marriage between Christ and His bride (the church).

While Paul does not exhaustively deal with marriage here, he does point out some key responsibilities of husbands and wives. These key responsibilities will allow your marriage to run the marathon it has to run.

1) A Spirit-Filled Wife

Verses 22-24

If you struggle with the thought of “submission,” the whole Christian life is about submission.

The wife is called to submit to a husband who is willing to die for her!

He being the first to apologize, forgive, and serve.

He is to exemplify the lifestyle of Jesus to His bride.

The leadership He is to provide for his wife to follow should be nothing less than LOVING.

We are seeing a picture of EQUAL VALUE yet DIFFERENT ROLES.

Illustration: It is like a slow dance; one leads and the other follows. Both are essential for the dance to happen.

The roots of marriage and headship are not in chauvinism, but creation.

Paul is elevating women as Jesus did.

A. Instructions for the wife

A wife is giving reverence to Christ in the submission and respect she shows her husband.

This should make men tremble!

This is not something the husband makes his wife do or even instructs her to do, but leads in a way that envites her to do.

Husbands will stand in account for his leadership.

Both should stand in awe of this task!

Both parties have a craving: Love and respect.

The wife should learn of her husband’s task given by God and love him for it, pray for him, and respect his needs.

Colossians 3:18 “18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”

1 Peter 3:1 “1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”

NOT submission to EVERY MAN!!! NOT the head of EVERY WOMAN!!!

Any and all caricatures must be rejected about submission! NOT SLAVERY!

What does it mean to LOVE? = give yourself up to someone & What does it mean to SUBMIT? = give yourself up to someone.

B. The extent of submission

Putting the will of another ahead or your will.

To love another’s needs above your own.

The proper reason to submit is because the wife desires to glorify Christ.

She see her part as part of her discipleship.

“in everything”

Meaning “in every area of life.” NOT in sinful things.

Sometimes the competition between TRADITIONAL & BIBLICAL comes up.

Tradition = cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Men work and earn money.

Biblical = Men’s work was primarily outside the home while the wife’s activity was centered around the home, yet not limited to the home.

The Bible is not a book of dividing up labor.

FREEDOM is found in Christ to work out the best way for your marriage to be practiced.

C. Notice some illustrations from this picture of marriage (v24)

Gives us the ultimate picture of marriage

Wives give us a picture of the church to the world.

Husbands give the picture of Christ to the world.

Notice the kind of head Jesus is to the church: He loved the church (5:25); He gave Himself up for her (v. 25); He sanctified her (v. 26); He cleansed her (v. 26); He presented her (v. 27); and He “provides and cares for” the church (v. 29). Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 139.

Give us the ultimate purpose of marriage

Everything comes back to Christ. (verses 22, 25, 29)

Why is it crucial for husbands and wives to work through their problems? ANS — Are you surrendered to the Lordship of Christ?

Quote: “If the starting point for marriage is me, then I am starting at the wrong place. Marriage exists for Christ’s glory. Let your marriage be an offering of worship as you love each other, forgive each other, serve each other. Let your relationship serve as an aroma of Christ before a watching world.” Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 140.

Gives us amazing hope for marriage

What did Christ show when He did for the church?

Her sinfulness & His saving grace.

Your biggest problem will always be SIN.

You BEST solution will always be GRACE.

When you RENEW YOUR MIND on the placement of Christ’s lordship, there is always hope for your marriage. Turning anywhere else will be the wrong place.

Your marriage was always intended to point everyone to Jesus the Redeemer.