Sermon Notes - The Reputation of God and Marriage - Part 2

The Reputation of God and Marriage – Part 2, Ephesians 5:22-33
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, preached on April 29, 2007, listened to on November 14, 2007

The primary reason for our existence is to make a name for Him. Marriage is one of the avenues for us to do that. God has created marriage to say something about Himself so it affects all of us, whether you are single, divorced, child or otherwise.

1 Corinthians 10:31 and Romans 1:36 are foundational when talking of the reputation of God.

There is more at stake in marriage than we could have ever imagined because it is about the glory of God. It isn’t just about His general glory either, but He is trying to say something specific about Christ and His relationship to the church. Everything we do in marriage is for the reputation of God.

Mutual submission of believers - Ephesians 5:21

Egalitarian’s see this verse as an umbrella for everything that follows thus they see only mutual submission in marriage. This is true in the sense that as followers of Christ we love, serve, honor and give preference to one another. However, the verses that follow show that God has ordained distinct and different roles for husband and wife. A father submitting to his 16 year old son as a Christian filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean the father is submitted to the authority of the son. The father’s role of responsibility is still there.

“Most couples in the church are involved in same-sex marriage and they don’t even know it.” In most marriages men and women are both playing the role of the man. There is no noticeable distinction between the role of husband and wife. This is not an issue of non-equality, value, worth or maturity, it is an issue of God trying to say something about Himself.

Instructions to husbands – Ephesians 5:25-32

Lead and love for the reputation of God with Christ as the model.

Many of us never saw a human example, or model, of this. You still have no excuse as Jesus shows us how.

Ephesians 5:23 – “head” always refers to leadership. Ephesians 1:33, 4:15, Colossians 1:18. The husband has primary leadership responsibility in the home.

Ephesians 5:22 - “…savior of the body…”, is trying to get us to remember there is more to the saving work of Jesus than just the cross. He is protector, provider, and sustainer of our body. He is continuing to save us. In 1 Timothy 4:10 shows us that He is the sustainer of everyone, believer or not. You wouldn’t exist or have life apart from Him whether you believe in Him or not. This is common grace. This verse doesn’t mean that everyone is forgiven.

Aspects of leadership – Ephesians 5:25-28

Ephesians 5:25 – it is a servant leadership. “…gave Himself…” He led by giving His life. There is no forced submission. Christ is always teaching servant leadership. John 13, Matthew 20:28.

Ephesians 5:26 – it is a spiritual leadership. “…holy and blameless…”. Christ is concerned with the beauty of His bride. This isn’t external, physical beauty (1 Peter 3). The primary concern is for our spiritual health as ours should be for our family. We are accountable on judgment day for what we have done to sanctify and purify their spiritual life. Leading them to be more and more like Christ and teaching them about what God is doing in your life.

Ephesians 5:28 – it is a providing and caring leadership. “…nourishes and cherishes…”. Husband is primarily responsible for the provision of the home. Men carry the weight in providing for the family. Doesn’t mean wife can’t work outside home. Issue is that man is to feel that weight. A caring leadership is a gentle leadership for the physically weaker (1 Peter). The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:7.

Ephesians 5:25 – love your wives. This is the umbrella over the leadership. Lead her because you love Christ, not because she deserves it but because Christ commands it. It is a covenant love like Christ’s. His love to us is not because of what we’ve done but it is a love based on His character and goodness. We didn’t deserve His love yet He gave it.

Romans 5:6-8 shows us that He demonstrated it. He didn’t just say He loved us. He went out of His way to demonstrate love and so should husbands.

All of this is overwhelming. We need to feel the weight of this responsibility. Not to the extent that we feel defeated but to the extent that we run to Him. He wants you to feel it so you will come to Him. We cannot do any of this apart from the grace of God and filled with the Spirit.