Marriage the picture Of Christ and His Church

The last part of Eph 5 begins in verse 22 and Paul speaks of the proper order in marriage which is a picture of how Jesus is to be head or chief of His body the church. The husband is to be head of the wife. This statement alone has caused much abuse and sorrow in marriages for centuries. Paul calls the husband the head of the wife. The husband, if he is to operate or function in the authority of Jesus is to follow the same example as Jesus the head of the church. Well as I wrote yesterday, in true Godly authority the those who desire to be chief or head must become last and become the servant of all. This is why this verse has been misunderstood because most people view this verse in the context of worldly authority which is top down rule and lording over people because of our position. Again the reason christian husbands have misunderstood this verse is because the leadership and authority in the church is worldly.

Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. Well this can be rightfully understood when we apply this is the context of the previous verse "submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord". The husband and the wife are submitting to one another because they are part of the Body of Christ. The husbands response to his wife in true authority is that he gives his life for his wife just like Christ did for the church. Again Jesus is the example of true authority and He gave His life for the church. This is how husbands are to relate to his wife and this is how the wife is to relate to her husband. Each giving their life for one another in serving and sacrificial love. Remember this is a picture of the church not just marriage. Christ the chief gave His life for the church well for Christ to remain as chief and not man, each person in His Body has to do the same for one another. When this is not taking place worldly authority creeps in and man becomes the chief and not Jesus. One thought I have not said but need to introduce now, true authority can been seen and demonstrated in loving relationships. This is why I believe Paul would talk about the strongest relationship outside of our relationship with Christ, the relationship of marriage. Loving relationships is where people are giving themselves for the other is where true authority is lived out and experienced. Again the reason this has been misunderstood is because relationships are not the norm in the church today. We've replaced relationships with church attendance and church programs. Ungodly authority is the result or the fruit of the lack of Godly relationships.

There is a beautiful picture of how Christ and the church is supposed to relate to one another in verses 25-27. The loving authority that flows in the church operates again through the example of Christ and what He does and did for the church. He gave himself that He might sanctify or set apart the church for the purpose of cleansing her. The church of Jesus Christ is to be set apart from the world and the way she is set apart and cleansed is through the washing of the water of the word. Husbands are to wash their wives to set her apart and to cleanse her from the world. This is done by speaking and living the word of God. The bible says to not only be hearers of the word but to be doers of the word. Speaking the word of God which is true authority and living it out through relationships is how we as the church are set apart. The church of Jesus Christ must follow His example. Wash each other through speaking and living the word. We are all dirty and get dirty by touching and going through the filth of this world. Be filled with the Spirit and speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Walking in the authority of the Spirit and the authority of His word is how we are to relate to one another. Tomorrow - washing feet!!!