Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

This morning I am heading back to a familiar topic but one we must always consider and hold close to our hearts.

The topic is marriage… but not just any marriage, a Christian marriage.

Now why do I make that distinction?

Because we are called to be different in every way, especially in our marriages.

Sadly, it doesn’t always work out, sadly it doesn’t always end that way.

One of the saddest statistics is that almost as many Christian homes end in divorce as do non Christian homes.

I can tell you right now… it ought not be that way.

Now I know there are things that happen that are beyond the control of a person.

A person who does not want their marriage to end, but it is out of their hands.

But that is rare I think these days...

I am thinking about

I think to often homes begin and end and Christ has never been the center of that home.

You want a home to last, to endure, to be a testimony to children in the days to come, then let Christ be the center of the home.

So this morning I want to take us on a journey, one considering the topic of marriage, and more especially, the role of husbands...

So this morning lets turn to the New Testament book of Ephesians, chapter 5 verses 25-33.

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A dynamic and awesome passage.... Now if you look at the hole passage you will notice that what Paul says addressing men, is much larger than him speaking about wives...

Why is that.... Honestly, men are a bit slower on the uptake… we need a little extra help.

Now that was for the benefit of all the wives today.

You can thank me later.

But this morning I want to share a few thoughts with you about Marriage and the role of the husband in that marriage relationship...

So lets begin.... 3 thoughts today… and lets begin with this one important consideration.

1. Marriage is God’s Institution…

We must never forget that marriage is God’s institution, not ours!

As such it is a holy institution.

Have you ever thought of that?

Marriage is a holy institution.....

God created it, He put the first couple together and gave them care to love each other… and if Marriage is God’s institution, how dare we treat it any less that Holy.

Since it is holy, we are to treat marriage as something special, wonderful, sacred.

It is the role of one man and one woman joined together in faithfulness, love and harmony.

In fact Paul echos God’s intent toward the end of this passage.... Look with me at verse 31

This verse is a quote from the Book of Genesis as God put the first couple together, man and woman.

a husband would leave all to marry her, to bless her to become one flesh.

Adam was to take Eve and hold to her and her alone.

For all time!

It is a beautiful institution…But… What God portrays in Genesis chapter 2, and again here in Ephesians chapter 5 is a glorious illusion to Christ and His church.

You see in Scripture the church is referred to as the “bride of Christ” Just as Christ left the Father to come to earth to redeem us to Himself, Jesus came that He might sanctify his bride.

Christ has redeemed us and made us His own.

So husbands you are to take your wife for the noble purpose of blessing her, loving her and yes giving yourself for her.

We will talk a little more about this in a minute.

But understand that marriage isn’t man’s tool, it is God’s.

In the state of Holy matrimony, a husband and wife join themselves together in a loving covenant relationship.

Now I point that out to you today that marriage is not contractual.

It is a covenant relationship modeled after God’s own love for us.

A covenant relationship says I will always love you.

• Covenant marriages require unconditional promises.

• Covenant marriages are based on steadfast love.

• Covenant marriages view commitments as permanent.

• Covenant marriages require confronting and forgiving.

• Covenant marriages are initiated for the benefit of one’s spouse.

• Covenant marriages require unconditional promises.

• Covenant marriages are based on steadfast love.

• Covenant marriages view commitments as permanent.

• Covenant marriages require confronting and forgiving.

So we understand that a covenant marriage doesn’t promise sweet un-hindered bless … hardships come, people struggle in relationships at times… but in the difficult times a marriage endures for the greater picture of being the very thing God has called that couple to be....

Doesn’t promise sweet un-hindered bless … hardships come, people struggle in relationships at times… but in the difficult times a marriage endures for the greater picture of being the very thing God has called that couple to be....

So I think we would all agree that a marriage is God’s institution, one man and one woman… Adam and Eve and that model is to endure today!

And no matter what the world says or does, God’s standard for true marriage will always stand.

Now… let move on to my second thought for today....

2. Let Christ Rule in Your Hearts.....

Consider this… a covenant marriage is truly only possible if we allow Christ’s rule in our hearts.

Now why do I say that.... truthfully, Christ must be Lord of your life, in every area… this truth is a must for a biblical marriage.

Christ rule in your hearts keeps us in line if you will… Marci tells me all the time to “be good” its hard… Christ’s rule in my heart is what makes it possible.

Lets go back to and lets examine verse 1-2

Look right there, be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Do you remember being a child and wanting to be just like one of your parents.

You wanted to imitate them.... it was a precious to your parents, it warmed their hearts.

God wants, desires, and honestly expects us to act like Him in this life.

One of our early church fathers, John Chrysostom says “having been adopted, you are called to be like God.”

This can only happen if you are reconciled to Him.

So the day I asked Jesus into my heart began my journey of allowing Jesus to overtake, fill and change this life in the hopes that I could be like Jesus.

Now if you follow along with Paul is saying here.... Do it, in fact you have reason to do this… Here is your motivation… We are forgiven!

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As such, act like Christ… Act and love like Jesus does I john 4:19 says

You see my friends, I can only be my best if Jesus is ruling my heart.

And this spills over to every area of life

We love, we act, we do… because He first loves us!

Paul tells us this...

Let Christ in you, be seen and manifest is all that you do.....

And this brings me to my last thought for the day...

All that we have talked about today, all of this moves us to understand the role of a husband in our homes....

3. Husbands Love Sacrificially....

This truth I believe is the core of our duty as a man of God, it is to love and act as Jesus did, sacrificially....

Consider that word, sacrificially… what does it mean?

It means to give up at a cost to oneself…

Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice… He acted sacrificially on our behalf, He laid down his life as a ransom for sin.

Taking upon himself our sin, taking our punishment and our death so that we might have life....

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He gave, he loved us at the Sacrifice of himself.

Now consider the role of parents...

As parents we sacrifice, we put our children's needs above our own....We give to them to help them and bless them… but that example is not perfect...

And as a spouse, in particular we are called to be love and act as Jesus did, sacrifically.

Lets go back to our text.... verses 25-30

So husbands we are called to love our wives exactly as Christ loved the church… us and gave himself up for her.

So there is a high standard to love my friends, we are to love our wives, our spouses with a love that gives to the end.

I think of the story of a older couple, the wife had Alzheimers, she was in the nursing home, she didn’t know anyone… and yet everyday the husband came to see her to visit her. he loved her.

One day a person said, why do you come every day, she doesn’t remember you., she doesn’t know you.... His reply was wonderful.. “But, I still remember!”

This husband loved his wife with a sacrificial that said no matter what, I love you more than anything else.

He loved her no matter their place or state in life.

And so the example is set before us my friends...

We are called to love our wives, in the same way Jesus loved the church..us.. with a sacrificial love.