The Book of Ephesians Series
“The Christian Marriage”
Ephesians 5.22-33
Introduction
This morning we begin a new section in our series in the book of Ephesians. I’ve entitled this section ”The Christian in Relationship.” This morning we will consider the Christian Marriage (Eph.5. 22-33), next week the Christian Family (Eph.6.1-4), and then the third week the Christian in Business (Eph.6.5-9).
Before we consider “The Christian Marriage,” I want to share what the Bible has to say about marriage in general. I believe the reason people today have such a secular view of marriage is because they lack a biblical worldview and have allowed themselves to be carried away by the winds of public opinion. They think that marriage is something that lacks definition and therefore they have the right to develop their own definition for it However, it escapes their notice that God has set the definition of marriage in His Word.
Marriage was designed and ordained by God to be the union of one man and one woman for relational, sexual, and family fulfillment God introduced marriage into human society on the 6th day of creation. (Gen.1.26-28, 30; 2.18-25) Since God instituted marriage into the human society prior to the fall of man we understand that marriage is for all people throughout the ages regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. The Bible tells us that marriage is to be held in honor among all and the marriage bed is to be undefiled. (Heb.13.4a)
Now that we have established that marriage was designed and ordained by God to be the union of one man and one woman for relational, sexual, and family fulfillment let’s consider our text for this morning- Ephesians 5.21-31.
21 be subject to one another in the reverence of Christ zz Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. z•But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
zs Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, z6sO that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. zaSo husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; z9 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. n This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.aa Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.