Introduction
Memory Text:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of
water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and
without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27, NKJV).
As Christians, it is necessary to submit to one another,
this builds up unity. The risen Christ addresses our relationships and
transforms our flawed social structures into a unified one, God’s plan for His
people and the world.
What relationship is the most important and defining one for believers?
The relationship with Christ is the most important and
defining one for believers.
What does Paul mean when he says wives should submit to their husbands “as
to the Lord”?
Wives are to honor Christ over their husbands. From Paul’s
statement, wives are asked to submit to their husbands “as is fitting to the
Lord” (Colossians 3:18, NKJV). This doesn’t presume a dysfunctional home, it doesn’t
allow for domestic violence.
Christ is the divine Bridegroom who?
1.
Loves the church as bride (Eph. 5:25).
2.
Gives Himself as the bride price (Eph. 5:25)
3.
Bathes His bride (Eph. 5:26)
4.
Speaks the word of promise (Eph. 5:26)
5.
Prepares and adorns the bride (Eph. 5:27)
What other element of the wedding does Paul use to portray what Christ does
as Bridegroom?
Christ is the One who presents the bride to Himself.
How is Christ betrothed to the Church?
He offered Himself up for the church.
How does He further prepare for the wedding ceremony?
He further sanctifies and cleanses the bride.
What does the last element of the wedding look to?
The wedding ceremony, the last element looks to the grand
wedding celebration at His return, when Christ, the Bridegroom will come to
claim the Church as bride and present her to himself (Eph. 5:27).
What does Paul allude to when He talks about presenting the church to Himself?
Paul alludes to the grand parade and to the moment of
presentation where the groom and the crowd process towards the home of the
bride and then both couples and the crowd move back to the new home, settle for
a weeklong feast, culminating in the wedding ceremony when the bride would be
presented to the groom.
What is the ultimate example of love as detailed by Paul that should be followed
by husbands?
Christ’s love for the church, a love that involved Christ giving
Himself for up for His bride, the Church, and involves Him attending to her
every need.
What other rationale does Paul add to support the love of Christian
husbands?
Paul offers a truism: “No one ever hated his own flesh”, they “nourish and cherish” them (Eph. 5:29, NKJV), so Paul invites the Christian
husbands to identify with their wives, to be one with their wives and that
hurting them is as much as hurting themselves. Arguing also that Christ is
practicing self-care in cherishing believers who are “His body” (Eph. 5:29, 30,
ESV).
What is marriage intended to be?
Marriage is intended to be a “one flesh” relationship, with
sexual unity mirrored in emotional and spiritual unity, and emotional and
spiritual unity bringing meaning to the sexual relationship. Marriage
relationship as argued by Paul is not one of subjugation but of union.
What is the marriage mystery Paul talks about in Ephesians 5:32?
Christian marriage is understood in the light of Christ's marriage
with the church (Eph. 5:32) and Christ’s relationship with the church is understood in the light of Christian marriage (Eph. 5:32). Christian marriage
is elevated by comparing it to the relationship between Christ and the church. In
addition, by thinking of the church’s relationship to Christ through the lens
of a caring, Christian marriage, believers gain better clarity of their
relationship with Christ.
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