Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 5 ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
First of all, the relationship between a man and his wife is symbolic of the relationship between the Lord Jesus and the church. When we become a Christian, we enter into a Spiritual marriage with the Lord, and we become a part of the bride of Christ. Jesus loved us so much that He suffered in the flesh, and laid down His own life on the cross to redeem us.
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Jesus loved the church by preaching and teaching the things of the Heavenly Father to the disciples, and there is no greater way that you can love someone else than by putting them on the path of biblical truth. This is because if they repent of their sins and do the will of God from their heart, they will ultimately be able to enter into eternal life.
James 5 ¹⁹ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; ²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
I feel if you truly love your wife, you will sit her down and educate her regularily in the teachings of scripture. This is something that I have done with my own wife for many years. Like others in the church, she needs to be constantly instructed and kept on the path of Christ. Men of the church were commanded to instruct their wives at home.
1 Corinthians 14 ³⁴ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. ³⁵ And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
But no matter how much we care for anyone, our love alone cannot save them. The only way that will happen is when they believe the truth, repent of their sins and do the will of God from the heart. True love for others will require rebuking, correcting, and warning them about the error of their way, whether its in the church or with your own wives and families. Sometimes the response is not going to be well received, and they will choose the path of rebellion instead. Sometimes a wife might have grown up pampered, and never had any type of correction at all, and it becomes the responsibility of a husband to take upon himself the place of the dad that she never had. Although some wives can be corrected with the gentlest of reproofs, others can be very stubborn and willful, resisting the authority of her own husband. But in either case you must do whatever you have to do, continuing to instruct them out of scripture and teaching them the fear of the Lord. This is so they can become sanctified and prepared for the great day of God’s judgement. Sanctification is the process where we turn away from our sins to and become obedient to the will of God. Anyone who desires eternal life, including wives, must humble themselves and go through this same process by submitting to the truth of scripture.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
Rebellion in any form is terrible, which is why a woman is forbidden from departing her own husband. This is a command of the Lord, and because all sin will receive the same punishment, it is no different than committing murder. In the home, the husband leads his household in Christ’s stead, which is why the wife must listen and obey Him in everything. I have always taught that a wife who has departed their husband has better get back home and submit to him before it’s too late, otherwise they are headed for damnation. She is under his headship, whether he is a believer or an unbeliever, and to be faithful to Christ Jesus she must return. Sometimes a wife might feel unloved because she has been rebuked sharply by her husband, but discipline and correction comes from those who care about the eternal destination of your soul.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Men must love their wives enough to educate them in scripture, just as Timothy loved the church and preached and corrected them.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2
A wife can do many things that upset a husband during their marriage, but she needs to seek His grace and do what is required in order to obtain it. Husbands need to love your wife and be forgiving with them, being ready to forgive the penitent, and forgetting the past.
“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Colossians 3:19
Men are called to love their wives but they must remember that no love can ever be greater than a love for God. A wife is secondary compared to God along with any other relationship in this world. A Christian man must correct and rebuke his own wife and family when required, otherwise you love them more than God.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
When you are married you become one flesh, a physical union that is never to be broken by either party. Marriage is a mysterious symbolism of Christ and the church, and as a man rules his house, the wife must humbly submit to his authority. We must love our wives in the same way that we want to be loved ourselves, and the greatest love that I have ever known is found through the teachings and corrections of Holy Scripture.
Ephesians 5 ²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: ³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. ³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
True love goes far beyond a hug and a kiss, because at times you will have to rebuke and correct your wife for the error of her way. Like one of your beloved children who must be disciplined, a wife may need the same from time to time, not because we don’t love them, but because we want them to be saved. God has placed men to rule over their own homes, leading their households with the Word of God, and you must use the responsibility granted to you by God to rebuke and correct with all authority, if you truly…..
…….Love Your Wives
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 