I Am: Loved
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV
People have different feelings about weddings. As a Pastor, officiating a wedding between believers is one the most special parts of my job. It’s an amazing moment when the back door of the church opens and the bride walks in. There she stands in all of her glory. I love to see the joy and hope in her smile. Equally amazing is watching the groom’s reaction. The joy, love, and devotion that he has for her is clearly revealed.
Jesus loves the church the way a groom loves his bride. He acts as her head, giver, sanctifier/cleanser, and nourisher/cherisher. This relationship provides a picture of what a marriage between a husband and wife SHOULD look like.
In part 12 of the Identity Sermon Series at Connect Ministry, we look to Ephesians 5:22-33 to explore what it means for wives to submit to and respect their husbands and for husbands to love and lead their wives.
