Ephesians 5:25-31 - As Christ Loved The Church
Dear Friends - My apologies, this was scheduled to automatically post this past Monday--but didn't. I've been out of town the past month and haven't had regular internet usage. So sorry. Here's the posting for this week. Will be back in Florida tomorrow.
Ephesians 5:25-27 tell us, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Christ died on the cross for our sins. He died, or gave Himself up for the church. Men are called to give themselves up for their wives. This is a lot more difficult task and a much greater level of devotion than women are called to make.
Submissiveness is reciprocal in the marriage relationship. We can’t forget that. When a man only demands submission from his wife and gives nothing in return, he will lose her. But, when a man holds his wife on the level that Christ holds the church, he will only bless her, which will give her the desire to submit to his needs.
Vs. 28-30 say, “In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of His body.”
When a couple marries, they join as one. Your spouse should be treated no differently than you would treat yourself, as if you were one the same. The husband is told to do this in verse 28. If he does, the wife will naturally treat him this way.
Vs. 31 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
We sometimes have difficulty in understanding the relationship of Christ to the church as it compares to marriage. We tend to think of physical aspects of the church and of marriage, when these verses are really talking about a spiritual connection, which we often overlook in the marriage relationship.
When two become one flesh, that union is very difficult to break. Those of you who have been through a divorce can probably attest to this. When a couple breaks up it is not a simple break, but more of a ripping or tearing, much more painful and more difficult to heal. You can divide households, money, and time with the kids, but the soul ties and spiritual ties don’t divide so easily.
If you are having problems in your marriage, now is the best time to fix it. Life will only become more complicated and troublesome if you split up and move on to other relationships.
Ephesians 5:25-27 tell us, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Christ died on the cross for our sins. He died, or gave Himself up for the church. Men are called to give themselves up for their wives. This is a lot more difficult task and a much greater level of devotion than women are called to make.
Submissiveness is reciprocal in the marriage relationship. We can’t forget that. When a man only demands submission from his wife and gives nothing in return, he will lose her. But, when a man holds his wife on the level that Christ holds the church, he will only bless her, which will give her the desire to submit to his needs.
Vs. 28-30 say, “In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of His body.”
When a couple marries, they join as one. Your spouse should be treated no differently than you would treat yourself, as if you were one the same. The husband is told to do this in verse 28. If he does, the wife will naturally treat him this way.
Vs. 31 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
We sometimes have difficulty in understanding the relationship of Christ to the church as it compares to marriage. We tend to think of physical aspects of the church and of marriage, when these verses are really talking about a spiritual connection, which we often overlook in the marriage relationship.
When two become one flesh, that union is very difficult to break. Those of you who have been through a divorce can probably attest to this. When a couple breaks up it is not a simple break, but more of a ripping or tearing, much more painful and more difficult to heal. You can divide households, money, and time with the kids, but the soul ties and spiritual ties don’t divide so easily.
If you are having problems in your marriage, now is the best time to fix it. Life will only become more complicated and troublesome if you split up and move on to other relationships.
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