God, Marriage and Humanity Other Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33
Topic Study: Man & Woman and God
Summary
What examples or models do we have for marriage?
1. God's plan from creation. Jesus referred back to Genesis 2. Man needed a special type of partner, an inseparable union - one flesh. It is a picture on earth of Christ's relationship to the Church.
2. Christ and the Church (Eph 5:21-33). Marriage is compared to Christ and the Church. Christ loved the Church and its head. Our sin makes us think these instructions are flawed.
3. Ephesians 5:21-33. Note general principle of V21 - 'submit'. - How can I serve the other person.
(a) Husband - head. Jesus is the head of the Church and uses that authority for the seeking the greatest good for the Church, even at great expense to Himself (dying etc). Husbands are to be just as sacrificial in our thinking of what is the best for my wife and the relationship. (v25). Plenty of obstacles.
(b) Wife - submit to the head. It does not say to submit to all men, only the husband. We are often reluctant to give ourselves over to submission to those who are our head (even to Christ). V33 - Starts with respect. This head/submit relationship is the way God designed things.
4. What happens if one partner is non-Christian. Still try to do as instructed above. (see 1 Peter 3:1-2)
