The Christian Family

Text

: 22-

Ephesians 5:22–33 KJV 1900

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. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Introduction

Review

We might take a moment and go back to an earlier verse before we move forward with this portion of Paul’s letter. Notice earlier what Paul exhorts us to do:

Ephesians 5:18–21 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The filling of the Spirit is crucial to every aspect of the Christian walk

The mutual submission in the body “one to another” precedes and underpins the following teaching on the submission of a wife to her husband.

Illustration: A Foundation of a house is a critical aspect of its construction - without the foundation the whole house will crumble.

Matthew 7:24–25 KJV 1900

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

The foundation is the filling of the Holy Spirit

The Structure is mutual submission “one to another”

The Interior is the submission of the wife and the loving leadership of the husband

Main Idea

Ephesians 5:30–32 KJV 1900

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Paul is giving instruction about the Church! This whole letter is a grand explanation and exposition of the glorious nature of the New Testament Church, the body of Christ which we have the privilege of belonging.

Declaration: The Christian family - specifically the husband and wife relationship is a sacred representation of the loving union between Christ and his bride - the Church

Proposition: Do we appreciate the significance of this union and it’s relationship with the testimony of the Church?

Transition: I want us to notice 3 aspects of Christ’s relationship to the Church pictured in the relationship between a husband and a wife

Notice first...

I. The Husband and Wife relationship pictures leadership

Ephesians 5:23 KJV 1900

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.

A. The Necessity of Leadership

Leadership is necessary in every sphere of life

Leadership in Society - Government / Police / Authority

Romans 13:1 KJV 1900

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Leadership at work

Leadership at Work - Employer/Employee

Ephesians 6:5 KJV 1900

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Leadership in the Church - “Christ is the head of the church”

“Christ is the head of the church”

Leadership in the Home - “the husband is the head of the wife”

We have a responsibility to lead our wives

1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV 1900

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

B. The Nature of Leadership

“he is the savior of the body”

The nature of the leadership of Christ is quite clear as we look through the pages of Scripture and we reflect on his sacrifice for us

John 10:11 KJV 1900

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

II. The Husband and Wife relationship pictures love

Ephesians 5:25–30 KJV 1900

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Ephesians 5:28–30 KJV 1900

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Do you find women in the Bible being drawn to Christ or away from him?

Why do you think so many were drawn to him?

A. Love is selfless

vs 25 “…and gave himself for it” vs 28 “love their wives as their own bodies”

It is so easy to think of ourselves, our needs, our desires

We are not to “use” our spouse

Christ was always thinking of the will of his father and the needs of his bride

B. Love is Nourishing

In order for us to know what nourishment is needed, we must pay attention

Illustration: When we pray for meals, we often thank God for the food that nourishes our physical bodies - our bodies tell us what they need in the form of hunger and we listen and satify that need with meals.

We must do the same thing with our relationship with our wife - we must be attentive so we can know what is needed for nourishment

C. Love is Cherishing

This means to be constantly appreciative or thankful - to hold dear and show affection for

III. The Husband and Wife relationship pictures a lasting union

Ephesians 5:31–32 KJV 1900

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Genesis 2:18–24 KJV 1900

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:18–24 KJV 1900

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

It is a foundational truth in Scripture that a man is to be joined to a woman

We leave the comfort of our home and family to join ourselves to ourselves together - noting is more important than this bond

We are no longer individuals - we are not two people living in cohabitation - we are now one and the same body

Christ will never be separated from his bride - we “the church” will worship him together for eternity - it is a lasting union

Quote: Warren Wiersby

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: Heaven in Your Home (Ephesians 5:18–33)

Our Christian homes are to be pictures of Christ’s relationship to His church. Each believer is a member of Christ’s body, and each believer is to help nourish the body in love (Eph. 4:16). We are one with Christ. The church is His body and His bride, and the Christian home is a divinely ordained illustration of this relationship. This certainly makes marriage a serious matter.

Paul referred to the creation of Eve and the forming of the first home (Gen. 2:18–24). Adam had to give part of himself in order to get a bride, but Christ gave all of Himself to purchase His bride at the cross. God opened Adam’s side, but sinful men pierced Christ’s side. So united are a husband and wife that they are “one flesh.” Their union is even closer than that of parents and children. The believer’s union with Christ is even closer and, unlike human marriage, will last for all eternity. Paul closed with a final admonition that the husband love his wife and that the wife reverence (respect) her husband, all of which require the power of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

We need to remember the sacred purpose of marriage is to display the love of Christ for his church.

Ephesians 5:31–32 KJV 1900

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

We see this in:

The leadership

The love

The lasting bond