Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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.  Ephesians 5:25-27

As we continue to look at Paul’s teachings on marriage and family, my last post we looked at the controversial scripture “Wives submit to your husbands” , but notice this is followed with the stipulation “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church”. Many women when they hear about “submitting” to their husband, they are repulsed or infuriated, mostly because their Husbands didn’t love them as Christ loved the Church. So how did Christ love the Church?

Well Jesus loved the Church so much , he laid down his life for us! Paul says in Romans “God demonstrated his love, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) We as husbands , as men of God, need to be more like Christ, conformed to his image (Romans 8:29) Most of us have failed to fill this role as the husband, as the man of God in the family, which is why we see the resistance to a Bilbical marriage today

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Ephesians 5:28-30

Husbands are to love their wives as their own body. I talked about this in my previous post also, the Bible says “Two become One flesh” (Genesis 2:24) everything the husband does affects the wife, just as everything the wife does affects the husband. Every sin you intake in your body, affects your spouse, sin is a selfish disease, your sins don’t just impact yourself but your whole family, think about that!

As Paul says we should “nourish and cherish our wives, just Christ did for the Church” A question for husbands, are you nourishing your wife? Are you cherishing your wife? 

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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:31-33

As the Bible says “The Two Become One Flesh” , Marriage is a union, its a covenant with God. Marriage is not just about the husband or the wife, it’s about them together as one. If one of them are sick, they are both sick. Everything one does reflects both of them.

And verse 33 , I believe Paul gives a better explanation of wives submitting to their husbands, wives should show reverence or respect to their husbands. I think this is a more clear exegesis of the scripture. Marriage should have mutual love and respect for one another. Its not about dominance or control, its about love as Christ loves us! Amen!

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:21-25

Ephesians Chapter 5 and 6, actually provide alot of insight into Gods plan and intention for the family. These scriptures today are often viewed as controversial, because it shows you how fallen our society has become. And that is and always has been Satans plan, to destroy the Church and destroy the foundation of the family. Because the reality is, without the structure of the family, society completely crumbles, and that is what we are seeing in our generation today

Alot of critics like to “cherry-pick” scriptures to demonstrate this godless belief that the Bible is bad and male chauvinistic. However , they completely skip over the complete context of the scriptures and the meaning behind them. For example, verse 21 “Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God” Well this includes everyone, male and female. Everybody should be submissive to each other in a Christ like manner. Meaning we shouldn’t be fighting against each other, we should be looking out for each other “Love your Neighbor” . Now this verse scripture totally debunks the liberals who hate on the Bible. Because male is supposed to be submissive to female, as female is submissive to a male, it’s all in the love of Christ

Marriage is a covenant between One Man and One Woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-5) So when were talking about a husband and a wife, this is a covenant between them and God. As the scriptures says “The Two Become One Flesh” (Genesis 2:24) The man and woman are one spiritually. Anything the husband does effects the wife, anything the wife does effects the husband. This is a complete uniting of souls under God. This is why when you try to separate the two, it’s very painful spiritually. 

God created Adam (Man) first, and then Eve (woman) was created from Adam. (Genesis 2:7) The reason I bring this up is you have to understand the hierarchy of God, to understand the roles of Marriage.  This is why the world today is so against men, again this is an agenda from Satan. To destroy the strong spiritual head of the household. Now I know men of God are few and far between today, which a another sign of the times, however God will always have his remnant and Gods will never changes

When Eve was created, was so Adam would not be alone and to give him a partner. Also the purpose was to populate the Earth. This is why Paul says “Wives submit to your Husbands” because they are partners , a team to work together to raise up children and build a home on the foundation of Christ

As the scriptures says “The Church is subject to Christ” there is a hierarchy in everything in the world. Just as Jesus Christ the Son was in subjection to God the Father, the roles of life are a reality. If people would embrace their role , instead of fighting against it, we will be in the will of God and live a more peaceful life in Christ, Amen!

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:15-18

What is the important object of our Christian walk? To know what the will of The Lord is! Everything we do should be in alignment with the will of God. So how do we know what the will of The Lord is? We need to abide in Christ, pray without ceasing, and be filled with the Holy Spirit

As Jesus taught us in the Lords prayer “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10) We should pray everyday to do the will of God and not our own will. Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow (James 4:14) As the Apostle Paul says “Redeem the time, because the days are evil” We as the Church need to stop wasting time on self centered interests, and focus on doing the Lords will, building Gods Kingdom

Don’t waste your time being drunk on alchohol, be filled with the Holy Spirit! Every day, every moment, every hour you waste fulfilling your flesh, you are wasting time fulfilling Gods will for your life. 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Ephesians 5:19-20

We should also dedicate time to worship The Lord, singing psalms and hymns together. Notice the scripture doesn’t say to just worship alone, we should worship together as the body of Christ. Make melody in your heart to The Lord, that is the key! Doesn’t matter how you can sing or if you can sing, give your heart to Christ, worship The Lord because He is worthy of all praise!

The Apostle James says “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:15) We shouldn’t be making decisions without consulting with The Lord. Everything we do should be centered around the will of The Lord, if Jesus is our Master, then we are his slaves, Amen!

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10

Notice the key words here in the scripture “you were sometimes darkness, but now you are light in the Lord”  You were but now in Christ you are not, that’s the key here. If you have become Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) you are a new creation. You were once in darkness but now you are a child of the light, you no longer stay dead in your sins, you are now alive in Christ by the Holy Spirit

Paul also mentions the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) , you as a Born Again Christian should be producing the fruits of the Holy Spirit, there should be evidence of your conversion. You are no longer a child of darkness and sin, you are a child of God through The Lord Jesus Christ

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:11-14

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, hello Church , are you listening? How many Churches compromise and embrace the darkness of this world, so they can be socially acceptable? This is going against the Word of God, have no fellowship with the darkness. You can’t walk with Jesus and hold hands with the devil, you are a child of the light or a child of the darkness, there is no in between

Here’s another message for the Church “Wake up sleeper and rise from the dead! The Church has spiritually fallen asleep today, we need a revival, we need a reformation, wake up O sleeper, and arise from the dead!

Christ shall give you the light! What is the solution to world? Jesus Christ, what is the solution for The Church? Jesus Christ, What is the solution for yourself? Jesus Christ, the light of the world! Christ is the head of the Church, if you love him keep his commandments! Amen!

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:1-4

The Apostle Paul tells us we should be followers or imitators of God, what does that mean? Well if Jesus is really your Master (Lord) then you should be imitating your Lord. People should see Christ inside of you, if they don’t see the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then something is wrong. As we talked previously, you have to become Born Again (John 3:3), there needs to be a transformation from your old self to the newness of your walk with Christ

The first thing Paul lists is we walk in love as Christ. Sometimes this can be very hard to do, the world is fallen and wicked, the majority of people are just plain mean, why? Because they haven’t been regenerated, they are still dead in their sins of the flesh, so this is to be expected of the world. Jesus said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you “ (Matthew 5:44) Wow, how and why should we do this? Because Christ loved us even when we were still sinners also (Romans 5:8)

The next thing Paul mentions is your past sins should “not be named among you, as you are now a saint” You were a sinner before you met Christ, but now you’re a saint through the rebirth of the Holy Spirit. You will sin as a believer, but you won’t remain in your sin. As a Born Again believer in Christ, you are not the same person you were, you don’t remain dead in your sin, you are now alive in Christ and walk by the Holy Spirit.  The Apostle Peter describes a person who continues to go back to their sin as a “dog going back to their vomit” (2 Peter 2:22)

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:5-6

Let nobody deceive you, a person who is still dead in their sins, will not inherit the Kingdom of God! The liberal Church today is telling people to remain as they are, that God loves them who they are, these are lies from the pit of Hell. Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you won’t see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Jesus never said to remain as you are God loves you

We are to be followers or imitators of Christ!If Jesus is our Lord, then Christ is our Master, we must be conformed to his image by the Holy Spirit, Amen!