Today, marriage is under attack like never before. We all know that. But, in God's view, marriage is still holy. It's a holy union between a man and a woman. In the Bible, God uses marriage to explain the relationship for Christ and the Church. There are many human relationships, such as parents/children, employers/employees, teachers/students, and so on, but God chose the husband/wife relationship to explain the Christ/Church relationship. So, if you want to better understand Christ and His Church, then look at the relationship between a husband and his wife. On the other hand, if you want to better understand the husband/wive relationship, then you need to look at the relationship between Christ and the Church.
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; .....vs 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 (Eph 5:18-32).
Here these verses are explaining the "great mystery" concerning Christ and the Church. Notice, not just a mystery, but a "great" mystery. Christ and His Church is a Great Mystery. The word mystery means to make known that which was not known in the past. The church was not known in the Old Testament. Saints at that time knew nothing about the Church. Even the apostles knew very little about the church, with Jesus mentioning it only twice to them in the Gospels.
However, fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, during the time known as Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down and baptized all the believers into the Body of Christ (Acts 2). This was the beginning of the Church. All believers in Christ from then on would be part of the Church, the Body of Christ. Those believers such as Peter, James, John, and all the others, would after Pentecost be different than they were before Pentecost, because they had been placed into the body of Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. After this, the same thing would happen to all believers at the time of salvation. So, the Church, the Body of Christ begins at Pentecost and will end at the Rapture when Christ calls the church up unto Himself, which will happen seven years before His return to earth to set up His 1000 year millennial reign (Rev 20:4-7).
So, when we are speaking of this great mystery of Christ and His Church, we are clearly speaking of the universal church which is the church positionally or what the Bible refers to as the Body of Christ. We are not speaking about the local church or the church pratically. The local church is not the body of Christ, or else there would be many bodies, but according to Ephesians 4:4, there is ONE Body. However, each true believer in each local church is part of that one Body, the Body of Christ. Furthermore, when believers come together in a local church, they should give expression to and picture the universal Church, the Body of Christ. They should not do anything that would take away from this picture of oneness of the "One Body."
In explaining this "great mystery" concerning Christ and His Church, God has chosen an illustration to expain it so we can better understand it. God has chosen the Husband and Wife relationship to reveal the mystery of Christ and His Church. If you want to understand Christ and the Church, then look at the relationship between a husband and his wife, God says.
Explaining the Mystery Positionally
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones(Eph 4:30). Here, this verse clearly says that we are members of the body of Christ. Then, the next verse says, "A man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Eph 4:31b). Here, it says that a man and his wife are considered by God as being one flesh. So, vs. 30 says we are part of Christ's body in the same way that a husband and wife are considered one flesh.
Yes, God sees the husband and his wife as being one flesh. Of course, practically, they aren't one flesh, but God says He sees them as one, so positionally, God sees them as one flesh. This is also stated when God first created man. Ge 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." To further show this oneness, God says, "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created" (Gen 5:2). Notice, God says that He called "their name Adam." God did not call them Adam and Eve. He called their name "Adam." God saw the woman in the man and called their name Adam. He saw them as one flesh. This is also expressed in today's marriage when the wife loses her last name and takes on her husband's last name showing this oneness in the flesh. When we look and see the husband and his wife, we see two, but when God looks at them, He sees one. God looks at them and is pleased when He sees them living as one. Oneness, unity. However, today we don't see this oneness in most marriages, but different levels of independence. God goes on in the passage explaining what he wants to see in this oneness of husband and wife.
Likewise, God sees this same oneness between His Son and His Church. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Eph 4:30). God sees all true believers as being united to Christ. So much is this unity with Christ that God says we are part of the body of Christ. Furthermore, there are dozens of verses in Scripture that says God sees us "IN Christ." For example, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi" (Phil 1:1). It doesn't say "all saints OF Christ," but "all saints IN Christ."Now, we are not IN Christ physically, but nevertheless, God sees us IN Christ positionally. He sees us as one with His Son. God sees us so much as being part of Christ, that He says He sees us as being "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones," (Eph 4:30). Now, I don't know how you can be any closer than that. I often hear folks say they wish they could be closer to Lord, but I don't know how much closer you can be than to be IN Christ. Of course, they are speaking of practically being closer to Him, because positionally, we are IN Christ. But, truth of the matter is, if we would only concentrate on our position IN Christ, that we are part of Him, part of His body, then maybe that would help us to be closer to Him practically. And, it is the same way with the husband/wife relationship. If the husband and wife would see each other as being one flesh positionally, then maybe that would likewise help them to be closer to one another practically.
Isn't it interesting that in our day that the sanctity of marriage is scorned, neglected, and minimized, that marriage doesn't really mean that much, that it's just a piece of paper. Also, notice that there is likewise a real increase also in the same attitude toward Christ and the Church. Coincidence? No, I don't think so. If there is a real decline in the view of the husband/wife relationship, then it stands to reason that there will also be a real decline in the Christ/Church relationship. If you can't appreciate the one, you won't appreciate the other. They run parallel. God says they do.
Explaining the Mystery Practically
I have so far explained the mystery positionally, so now let me explain the mystery of Christ and the Church practically. In using the husband and wife relationship, God explains the mystery of Christ and the relationship He has with His church. Let's look at the husband/wife relationship on a practical level. God speaks to the wife first and says in verse 22, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Notice carefully, that God says they are to submit to their "own" husbands. Not submitting to any husband, but to their own husband. God could have left the word "own" and I think we could still figure out He meant to a woman's own husband, but He put it in there on purpose to emphasize who she was to submit to. Not the pastor. Not some other man, but to her own husband.
Now, I know that it is difficult for wives to submit to their husbands. Men are made out of sinful flesh and are not always what they should be as a husband. I admit that men are not worthy to be submitted to, but notice the verse ends in "as unto the Lord." It says, "wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands AS UNTO THE LORD." The Bible says that the wife is to submit to her husband in the same way she would submit to the Lord. This will make it easier to submit to her husband, knowing that God says, "do it as if you were submitting to me." It is also helpful to the husband to know that as well. That she is not just submitting to you, but she is doing it "as unto the Lord." It's helpful to her to know that she is submitting to her husband''s position because it is a God given position of authority in the home.
Now, in light of this, how can a woman ever submit to the Lord in anything, if she can't submit to her husband? She can't. If she wants to be more submissive to the Lord, then she has to be that way with her husband. If she wants others to look at her and say how godly she is and how she follows the Lord, then she has to realize that for that to happen, she has to learn to follow her husband. So, if you want to know how close a woman is to Christ, how good a Christian she is, then look at how close she is to her husband, and how well she is submissive to him.
However, the wife allowing her husband to take the lead and make the final discisions is not all there is to it. By the way, it is not the wife that makes her husband the leader in the home. It's God that made him the leader. It's God's will that the man be the head of his house and head of the wife (1Cor 11). And, notice in vs 24, it says, "let the wives be (subject) to their own husbands in every thing." So, it's not pick and choose time when she is to be submissive, which is not really being submissive at all. You know to submit when she agrees and not submit when she doesn't agree. The Bible teaches that she is to submit to her husband in "everything." And, she should submit willingly. Also, submitting grudgingly, is not really submitting at all. She doesn't have to agree with her husband's decision, but she needs to submit willingly, because he is the one that God will hold responsible for the decision, not the wife. So, let him decide.
But, verse 33 goes on to say that God expects something else from the wife besides submission to her husband. God says, "and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Now what does it mean for her to reverence her husband? Whenever the word reverence is used for the Lord it is speaking of great awe or fear. The Greek word for reverence is "phobeo" where we get the word "phobia." Now, God doesn't want us to be afraid of Him or have a phobia of Him (Rev 21:8), but He no doubt does want us to revere Him with great respect. So, reverence is more of a deep respect, rather than a fear. So, the wife ought to respect her husband.
So, God wants the wife to submit to her husband and have respect for her husband. But, the problem is that most husbands aren't worthy to be submitted to or to be respected. It may indeed make it easier if she doesn't look at the husband personally, but that it is his position that she is submitting to and respecting. However, she still will find this almost impossible to do. Why? Because she too has sinful flesh. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Furthermore, according to 1Peter 3:7, she is the weaker vessel. So, it's impossible for her to obey these two commands that God has given her. But, does God give us commands that we can't obey? Well, yes and no. In our flesh, in our own strength, we cannot obey these kinds of commands, but through the Holy Spirit, we can get the strength to obey God's will.
Notice at the very beginning of the passage in Ephesians 5, verse 18, it says, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;".....and verse 21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Yes, God is about to give a list of commands here that he wants Christians to submit to: Wives submit to husbands, children obey your parents, and servants obey your masters (employers). And, each are to obey "as unto the Lord." And, according to vs 21, do it in the "fear of God." The Bible says that Christians are to submit to each authority in the fear of God. Hopefully, this seriousness will motivate you to seek the Holy Spirit's strength working in you what it takes to submit to whom God says to submit to. "Be filled with the Spirit," and then "submitting to one another." So, you now have the command, and the power to carry out that command, so there should be no excuses for the Christian.
Now, this command for the wife submitting to her husband and respecting her husband does play a part in explaining the mystery of Christ and His Church. God is using all this to paint a picture of His Son and His Church. Christian wives who don't cooperate with God are distorting this picture of Christ and the Church.
"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 (Eph 5:23,25)
This is clear that the wive's submission to their husbands is a picture of the church being submitted to Christ. Christ is not only the head of the man (1 Cor 11), but He is also the head of the church, as stated in vs 23." Wives submit to your husbands, but men, Christ is your head, your authority. And, Christ is the head of the Church which includes wives and husbands. So, Christ is head over all things. "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Eph 1:22).
In all of this, it is also clear that the Church is the wife of Christ. "saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev 21:9). This is why the church is not only considered the "Body of Christ" but also the "Bride of Christ." This is also why God says that He sees the husband and wife as one flesh, because He sees Christ and the Church as being one.
But, then we get to the husband's role and how they should treat their wives. More time is spent here with the husband than with the wife in the picture God is painting. Here we will see more clearly the mystery being revealed concerning Christ and the Church.
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.
God has a command for the husbands. "Love your wives." Remember, that God's command for the wife was to submit to and respect her husband. But, the command to the husband is to love his wife. Why so different? Why didn't He tell the wife to love her husband? He does in other places, but not here. Titus 2:4, for example. Yes, husbands and wives should love one another. Husbands should also have respect for their wives (1Pet 3:7). Now, just my opinion, but I believe that most husbands desire their wive's respect than their love. I know they somewhat go together, but we are made a little different, men and women. I believe it's part of a man's inner need, to be looked up to, and to be respected by his wife. And, I believe that it's in the woman's desire to want to feel loved and cherished by her husband.
Now, maybe this is part of the picture that God is painting between Christ and the Church. That Christ is lovingly protecting, and cherishing His Church as a husband would with his wife. In the verses we see that Christ is "giving himself" (vs 25), sanctifying and cleansing her (vs26) as in protecting her, and nourishing and cherishing her (vs 29). And, how should the Church respond to such a one that is giving, sanctifying, protecting, cleansing, nourishing, and cherishing? We should want to submit to, respect, look up to, and admire such a person that loves us that much. Yes, Christ is doing all this for us. Yes, our response is to love Him, but He also wants our submission, our respect, reverence, and admiration. Doesn't He deserve it?
So, the same thing applies to the husband as it does to the wives. I said that the wives cannot submit to and respect their husbands as unto the Lord if they are not filled with the Spirit. Only Christian women walking in the Spirit can do this. Christian women who are walking in the flesh will continually fail and serious problems will be a result of not walking in the Spirit.
So, what do we mean by walking in the Spirit? This means that we rely upon, depend upon the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do. If wives feel that they can obey and respect their own husbands, then good, go for it. Do it in your own strength and see where it goes. You should see by now that it isn't working that way, that your relationship with your husband is not what it should be, so what do you need to do? Repent? Change your thinking. You need to see that it is hopeless for you to continue trying to do this in your own strength. The Holy Spirit wants you to see that, that you cannot do it. So, turn to God and pray. Humble yourself before God and seek His strength to do what you confess you cannot do.
1Pe 5:5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Yes, if you will humble yourself, and confess your weaknesses before God, then He says He will give you the "grace" to do what God wants you to do. This is what the Bible means by walking in the Spirit. It is what Ephesians Ch. 5 means by saying God wants us to be filled by the Spirit. Eph 5:18 .... be filled with the Spirit;...and then verse 21, Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Hey, this thing of submitting to others in authority is hard to do. It is impossible to do in our own strength. It can only be done in a way that truly pleases God by submitting to Him, seeking the Holy Spirit to fill us, and then God will give us the grace and the power to do what will truly please Him. Otherwise, do it your own way and continue to make a mess of things.
For the husband, God says to love your wives as Christ loved the Church. Now, let me ask you, how in the world can you do that? It says we are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. Well, we have already commented on that, that Christ loved the church, gave himself for her, that he sanctifies, protects, cleanses, nourishes, and cherishes her. Are we doing that with our wives? Now, I'm not going to meddle and get into other things you may be interested in such as your work, entertainment, friends, etc., but if she is not something very special to you like the church is to Christ, then maybe you need to refocus your priorities. Now, we have to work, the Bible says so, but it says to love our wives, not our work. We can have friends, but the Bible says to love our wives, honor, cherish, and nourish them, well, not so much our friends. Who do you rather be with? Your wife or your friends? What about entertainment, sports, whatever? Where does she fit in here? Again, I won't meddle, but I think you get the picture.
I am just telling you what the Bible says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Yes, this is what God wants. It is His command for all husbands. But, I know you can't do that. I can't do it. It's only when we confess that we can't do it, humble ourselves, and go to God and seek His Grace, that we can do it. We must see that this is what God's primary will is for us as husbands. We must trust that the Holy Spirit will give us the strength to do what we cannot do in our own strength....to love our wives as Christ loves the Church.
Again, this is walking by faith which results in walking in the Spirit. It is being filled with the Spirit. Our wives deserve this from us. They try to do their part of submitting to and respecting us, but it is hard for them. Maybe as leaders in the home, if we take the lead and show them how it's done, then it will help them to do it too. Confess our weakness to the Lord, and confess it to our wives. Then, humble ourselves, and go to God for strength. His strength to do what we can't do in our own strength. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13).
Now, this goes against our pride, but it is the only way that it will work. The wife deserves such a husband that will take the leadership in the relationship. It will help her to be what she needs to be as a wife. This is what I believe the verses mean to love, cherish, and nourish her. Spiritually, she needs that. But, can you do it? Do you as a Christian husband have what it takes to humble yourself, get rid of all that pride and go to God for His grace and strength to be the husband he wants you to be to that wife? If not, then go ahead and do the best you can, but it won't be good enough. Marriages are difficult enough anyways, even for believers.
If husbands don't get right with God and seek His strength, then people will see it in our marriages and it will reflect on the person of Christ. How do I know this? Because the husband/wife relationship is a picture of Christ/Church relationship. God says it is. If a husband is shirking his spiritual role in loving and nourishing his wife, then it reflects on Christ. But, if the husband is displaying his love and affection for his wife, then it reflects this way with Christ. How? Folks will see Christ in you. When you are walking in the Spirit and have the grace and spiritual strength to love your wife as yourself, then everyone will see Christ in you. It is not you, but the Spirit in you. However, when people see you arguing with your wife, snapping at her, neglecting her, then will they see Christ in you? Of course not.
Listen, if the husband's relationship with their wife isn't what it should be, then their relationship with the Lord won't be right either. God won't even listen to you when you pray to Him. "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1Pet 3:7). It says, your prayers will be hindered. The Greek word for "hindered" means to "be cut down." Your prayers will be cut down. They will bounce off the ceiling.
This makes me wonder if there is a parallel between how close we are with Christ and how close we are to our wife. Could it be the closer you get to Christ, the closer you will be to your wife? I believe so. Does it mean the further you get from your wife, the further you get from Christ? I believe so. If we have problems with our wives, then we will have problems with the Lord. According to the Bible, the closer we get to Christ, the closer we should be to our wives. Just seems to go together. But, how many times do we pray that we may be closer to the Lord, and we aren't even thinking about where we stand with our wives? God says He won't hear our prayers. They will be cut down.
So, husbands, do you want to love Christ more? Well, love your wife more. Do you want to have a closer fellowship with Christ? Then, you need to have a closer fellowship with your wife. If you are having problems with your wife, then you can count on it, that you are also having problems with the Lord. So, get it right. You know what you need to do. You don't go to your wife to work it out. You must go to the Lord first and get it right and seek His strength to work it out then with your wife.
It is clear that God sees the husband and the wife as one. So, He wants us to act as one. You should be so close to your wife that she can know what you're thinking. Act as if you are one flesh because that is the way God sees you. See her as being an extension of you. You are to love her as your own flesh as if she is apart of you. Because she is, at least in God's eyes she is. He sees you as one flesh. By faith, you need to believe these things that God says, then your practice will begin to display what you really believe. Listen, when your wife senses that kind of attitude and love in you, she will not have any problem submitting to and respecting you. So, I think the key to getting closer to God is not more prayers, more Bible study, more service for God. All these means nothing if your relationship with your wife isn't what God wants it to be. "That your prayers be not hindered" (1Pet 3:7). So I can see how much you husbands love the Lord. I just look and see how much you love your wife.
Furthermore, if you can obey the commands for loving your wife as a Christian husband, then you won't have any problem at all in loving your children the same way. The very next chapter in Ephesians, says "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph 6:4). Well, the word "nurture" is very similar to "nourish." Yes, nurture your children in the same way you learned how to nourish your wife. You have experience now and know how to go to the Lord to get His grace in time of need, and believe me, it takes grace to raise children. But, we aren't just raising them up, but the verse says, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Anybody can raise children, but only Christians that are walking in the Spirit can bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yes, we as husbands and fathers have the resources to strengthen us to have the Christian family that will bring honor and glory to Christ.
Furthermore, one of the most important qualifications that I look for in elders and deacons, is how do they treat their wives and children. Their relationship with their wives and children shows me what kind of relationship they have with the Lord. This is why most of the qualifications for elders and deacons in First Timothy and Titus have to do with how those men treat their wives and children. Interesting.
Now, let me give you another good reason why God wants the husband to walk in the Spirit. A Christian husband has everything he needs in a Christian wife. God meets all our needs and it is we that get off track and cause serious problems. Christian men need to make sure they are seeking the Lord in their strength to be a good husband that his wife deserves. If not, then serious problems will arise. You can count on that. Today, we live in a very permissive society. Anything goes. Men can be tempted and that includes Christian men that are not walking in the Spirit. If they are not walking in the Spirit, then they are walking in the flesh. It's either one or the other. If we are walking in the Spirit, then we don't have to worry about falling to temptations of the flesh.
Ga 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This verse clearly says that if we are walking in the Spirit, then we will not lust after the things of the flesh. Most people get it backwards. They believe that if they try to clean up their lives and control their lusts, then they will be able to walk in the Spirit. But, that is not what the verse says. It clearly says to walk in the Spirit first and then that results in not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Yes, if we will humble ourselves before God, pray for His strength to obey His commands such as loving our wives as Christ loved the church, then God will give us grace and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do in our own strength. This is walking in the Spirit, and God says if we do this then we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
If we don't walk in the Spirit, then we by default are walking in the flesh. It's one or the other. If we are walking in the flesh, then it will produce the works of the flesh which are listed in Galatains 5, a few of them being: 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,....(Gal 5:19). These are works of the flesh that have to do with wrong sexual desires and practices. Other works of the flesh that relate to our attitude include: hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, and strife (vs 20). Both of these lists of works of the flesh would greatly hinder our relationship with our wives if we are walking in the flesh.
Concerning our wives, God says in Proverbs 5:15 "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
Now this is a command of God, that we are to "rejoice with the wife of our youth.....and be thou ravished always with her love." Husbands, we should rejoice in our wives. Let her be our joy. Remember how much you loved your wife in the beginning. Remember the excitement how you loved to hear her talk over the phone to you. All those little love notes. All those little sweet things about her. How that you were ravished by her love. Now, listen, if you loved her more back then than you do today, then something is wrong with you now ? Why? With God's plan, you should love her more now than ever. If there was ever a time that you loved her more than you do right now, then why is that? It's God's desire that your love for her grows deeper and stronger.
It works the same way with Christ. Was there ever a time that you loved the Lord more than you do now? If so, then why? What happened? That love back then was greater than now? Why? We should love Him more now than ever. Our love should grow and deepen. If not, then something is wrong. It does concern Him very much if you ever loved Him more then than now. Remember what Jesus said to the Ephesian church in Rev. 2? "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." They didn't love the Lord as much as they once did. Now, you may not think much about it, but He sure does. It really bothers Him if you ever loved Him more in the past than you do now. You have "left your first love." Do you remember how it was when you first got saved? How much you loved the Lord? Well, it should at least be that much. Not less. Christ was only asking that it not be less, but doesn't He deserve that it should be more? That it would increase?
And, it can be with your wife as it is with Christ, that your love can increase for her, if you will do what God says to do. By faith, go to God, humble yourself and pray for His grace to do what seems impossible for you to do. Yes, God wants you to do it. It is His will that you do it. He wants you to love your wife as Christ loves the Church. Do you want that too? Do you not understand that? Love your wife as Christ loved the Church. That is an "agape" love. A sacrificial love. You are willing to give yourself for her. That is what God wants.
There are about five different kinds of love in the Bible each having it's own Greek word for love. Brotherly love, sexual love, a friendly love, a type of fondness, and an agape love, which is God's love. It is a sacrificial love, and it is the word chosen by God for the husband to love, "agape", his wife as Christ loved, "agape" the Church. It's a sacrificial type love. You give yourself like Christ gave himself. It takes effort to repent, humble yourself, and go to God for His grace and strength to have the Holy Spirit do in you what you can't do for yourself. But, it's worth it. She deserves it, and God wants you to do it. Blessings will flow and will benefit you, your wife, your children, and everyone around you.
You need to love your wife because it is God's command. You need to love your wife because it pictures the Christ/Church relationship. You need to love your wife because it will prevent you from falling into temptation. But, you can only do this if you are walking in the Spirit. Otherwise, you have no strength to do it. You fail the Lord. You fail your wife. You fail your children. You need it. Your wife and children need it. I don't care how much you read the Bible, how much you pray or how much you witness for Him, if you can't meet your family's spiritual needs, then it doesn't matter. Your prayers will bounce off the ceiling. So, be the husband that she deserves. Be the father that your children deserve. Be the Christian that Christ deserves.
Now, moving on, this earthly relationship between husband and wife is being used by God to give an analogy of Christ and the Church. The relationship between Christ and the Church should be very similar to what I have shown you through the husband/wife relationship. It is not my analogy, but God's analogy.
Now, there is nothing we can do about the universal Church, the Body of Christ. That is positional and only God can see it. However, as I said before, the local church should give expression to the universal church, the Body of Christ. As a local church we should be submissive to Christ as the wife is to her husband. We should also show reverence to Christ and His Word. We please Him by trusting Him and His Word. Be faithful to Christ as a good wife should be faithful to her husband. Again, we should walk in the Spirit and get the grace and the power to be submissive to the Lord. We cannot do it in our own strength. Some things He asks us to do are beyond our strength to do them, but He says that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13).
As a local church, we should do what He says to do. Some of His instructions are not easy, especially when we look around and see other churches doing something different than what He says to do. We look around and see so much division in churches today with so many denominations. This doesn't show forth the oneness in Christ, the one Body of Christ. No, it divides the body of Christ. The other works of the flesh that I left out awhile ago fit here concerning local churches: variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. Here we see divisions (seditions), false doctrines (heresies), jealousy or competition (emulations), contention (variance), strife, and anger (wrath). Local churches that don't have believers in them that are walking in the Spirit, well, they will be walking in the flesh producing these works of the flesh. You can count on it. They will be carnal Christians in a carnal Church. They will bring shame upon the name of the Lord Jesus. It will grieve His heart. These believers will produce carnality in their homes as well. Carnal husbands, carnal wives, and carnal children. The end result will be heartache and pain.
However, the fruit of the Spirit is so sweet when compared to the works of the flesh. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25).
The Lord Jesus Christ will one day evaluate our works at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is (1Cor 3:13).
Notice that we will not be judged by how many works we do for Christ, but the verse says "of what SORT it is." Not how many works, but what kind of works. Walking in the Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives which will result in good works that will be the sort of works God is pleased with. All other works will be dead works that will be burned up in the judgement fires.
So, Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it. This will please God and He will richly reward you one day. The Lord Jesus will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Mt. 25:21).
Written by J.B. Sparks
jb5sparks@aol.com
No comments:
Post a Comment