Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Eph. 5:21-33 March 3, 2024

Message: “Husbands and Wives!”

by Pastor George Gnade

Intro: 1. Today we are considering this passage about the relationship between husbands and wives. The truth of the matter is this whole passage is contrary to our present culture.

a. Vs. 21 says: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This verse sets the stage for everything that follows.  No one is taught to submit to each other in our culture. Instead we are taught to put me first. 

b. Jesus taught us that love is more important than power. Although He is our Lord, He did all He could to help us. Out of reverence to Him, God asks us to submit to each other and help each other.

2. In this context the Bible addresses the relationship between husbands and wives. Wives are taught to submit to their husbands, and husbands are taught to love their wives. None of this is possible if we insist on being selfish.

a. While we are all selfish due to our sinful natures, God asks us to be different from the world and treat each other the way the Lord Jesus treated us.

b. In order to understand our roles, we must begin by considering what Jesus did.

A. Let us consider that relationship first.

1. To understand what Jesus did, we must begin by affirming who He is. Vs. 23 explains: “Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.”

a. Jesus taught us “you can’t serve two masters.” If you are a Christian, then Jesus is your master. He is the head of the church.

b. He is also like the head is to the body. We are His body. Our bodies must listen to our brains to function effectively. Otherwise, we would be in rebellion within ourselves. Nothing would get done. Can you imagine the hand saying to the brain: “That is too hard. I’m not going to listen to you?”  

c. So the Christian is not to argue with the Lord Jesus. We are simply to obey Him. He is the head and knows what needs to be done. 

2. Most important of all, Jesus is “our Savior. “ Paul explains it this way.

a. Vs. 25 says: “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to make her holy, cleansing her through the washing of water through the Word.”

b. Jesus died for us to make us holy. But only God’s Word explains this to us, and teaches us to apply it to our own lives. So while we were truly cleansed through His death for us, we only know this by hearing or reading and applying God’s Word to our lives, in faith practicing and believing what He taught us. 

3. Having made us clean, He helps us to stay clean by feeding on the Word and living by faith in what He has taught us.

4. And because we are like His body, vs. 29 says: “Jesus feeds and cares for us” just as any person would feed and care for himself. 

B. Let us now apply this to the marriage relationship. We will begin with what God expects from a Christian wife.

1. In vs. 24, it tells us: “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

a. Jesus would never ask us to sin, so a wife is never expected to sin just because her husband tells her to do something wrong.

b. But when she can show her love to him by obeying him, she should. Vs. 33 says this is how she can show “respect” for him as her husband.

2. Many times a woman will marry a non-christian.  That will often lead to conflict because he often will not encourage her in her faith, even do things that are down right wrong. It takes a lot of prayer to determine how to please the Lord and to please your husband too.

3. But even in a Christian marriage, obeying and pleasing your husband requires a lot of prayer. Even a Christian husband can do things that are wrong. 

a.  Let us be honest, no one likes to be told what to do.  But God will reward you when you do what is in the best interest of your husband and your children, while at the same time seeking to please the Lord.

b. Above all, remember your goal as a Christian is to draw your husband and children closer to the Lord. That is exactly why Jesus wants to help you live a godly loving life in front to them.

C. Thirdly, let us consider the role of the husband.

1. Jesus gave His life for the church. That is the depth of love that Christ wants us to demonstrate in front of our wives. If submission is difficult for a Christian wife, how much more difficult is it “to love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

a. Just as Jesus “feeds and cares for the church,” so a husband is to care for his family, seeking to meet all their needs, just as he would try to meet his own needs.

b. Just as a Christian wife should try to set a godly example to help draw her family closer to Jesus, so a Christian husband should do all he can to draw his family closer to Jesus. 

2. Sadly, many families rarely think of Christ at all, and many churches fail also. It is such an imperfect world. While divorce is not desired, it often happens. 

a. But keep reminding yourselves, Jesus came into this imperfect world and in spite of all the wicked things we did to Him, He still set His face toward the cross where He died for us and paid the penalty for our sins.

b. No one said living a Christ-like life in front of your family would be easy. In fact, in many cultures, it could lead to hardship and persecution.

3. So regardless of whether you are a husband or a wife, it is equally hard to live for Jesus in this difficult world. The secret is always to rely on Him to help you.

In conclusion: 1. In Eph. 5: 31, Paul quotes from Gen. 2:24 where it says: “ A man is to leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 

a. This is the ideal. In Eph. 5:32, it says the ideal was set up like this to be a picture “of Christ and His church.”

b. When we become Christians, we are united to Him and become part of a spiritual union meant to glorify Christ through our lives.

2. God calls this a profound mystery. It could be said that a Christian marriage is meant to be like a little church, revealing what a larger church should also be like.

3. In spite of all our imperfections, find hope in what this passage tell us about Jesus. Having reminded us how Jesus cleansed us through His death and the spiritual water of the Word of God, in vs. 27 it adds: “in order to present her (His church) to Himself as a radiant church, without spot or blemish, but holy and blameless.”

4. Wow! So in spite of all our flaws, when we truly commit ourselves to try to live His way, we have the promise that He will make it all turn out the way it should.  Amen!