Children and Parents for the Glory of God

Ephes. 6:1-4 (ESV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  [2] “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),  [3] “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  [4] Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We continue through the practical aspects of the Letter to the Ephesians.  Paul can call us to proper Christian living because he has taught us proper Christian doctrine.  Without right understanding it is wrong to ask someone to behave or live correctly.

In chapter two of this book, the great apostle reminds us of the simple fact that we were dead in trespasses and sins prior to our conversion.  He goes on to state that before we met Christ we walked according to Satan’s plans.  We followed hard after him.  He wrote that we followed the passions of our flesh and carried out the desires of the body.  But now these former truths must die because we are no longer slaves to sin and slaves to Satan.  Now we belong to a different master.  Now we belong to Jesus Christ.  He purchased us by His very own blood.  Now we are slaves to Christ.  With these great truths in mind, we are told how to walk.  We are told what following Christ looks like in specific situations.  We are told what it’s like to be a Christian at home.

Many today live dual lives.  They play the part of a Christian while at worship on the Lord’s Day, but when they go home or when they go to work on Monday morning they are back to their old self.  In the Lord’s mind, there is no such thing as a Sunday Christian.  We either are believers all the time or we’re not.  It’s in these verses that we are shown just how vital it is to behave as a believer everywhere and all the time.

We looked at what a wife walking in the Spirit looks like.  Then we saw what a godly husband is all about.  Today, we come to the place in this section of Scripture that looks at the proper behavior of converted children and how parents are to raise them.  What does a child who is walking in the Spirit look like and what does a godly parent look like?? Continue Reading

Marriage, God’s Great Illustration Part 2

Ephes. 5:22-33 (ESV)

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.  [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.

Last week we learned together just what is expected of a godly wife.  We learned that when a wife is walking in the spirit she will live a life in submission to her husband.  We also looked at the proper motivation for her to obey this text of Scripture.  We said that her motivation should not be to necessarily have a better marriage but the motivation to glorify Christ through her submissive obedience. If you remember we took a look at a case study using Adam and Eve’s role reversal and the effect it is still having on all humanity.

Now, I want us to see a husband who is walking in the spirit.  What is the husband’s role in a marriage relationship that will bring glory to Christ?  What does he look like?

Husbands are commanded to love their wives in the same way as Christ loves the church.

[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church.

The problem for husbands wanting to obey this text is that when we read it, it’s like looking up at Mount Everest and someone telling us to jump over it.  It’s impossible.  How can a fallen, sinful husband love his wife like Christ loves the church?  I don’t think Paul is here telling husbands to love exactly like Christ loves the church but with a measure of Christ’s love.  A converted husband can love like Jesus in many ways.  The key in this text is to see that what Paul is getting at is the type of love that will honor God, not the extent.

One important note is that Christ still loves the church, but in this text it comes to us in the past tense.  So, it looks like what Paul is thinking about is the way in which Christ loved the church while He was on earth.  We should be careful not to get caught up in the technicality that would say that the church was first formed at Pentecost in Acts 2.  The church…God’s people…have always been around since man was created. Continue Reading

Marriage, God’s Great Illustration (I)

Ephesians 5:21-33

Ephes. 5:21 (ESV)

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephes. 5:22-33 (ESV)

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.  [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.

To begin the message for this morning, I want to make things clear.  Today we are targeting the ladies within our church.  Next week will be the men’s turn.  I wanted to address the complete text at each sitting so we have the context.

Paul has spent time laying out for us doctrinal truth to influence our thinking and now we are being called through many different texts of Scripture to practice what we know to be the wonderful truths of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Last week we learned that Paul compared the Christian life to a walk.  He compared it to a consistent walk in this world.  One way he declared that we can be consistent is to walk in the Spirit’s control.  We are to be filled with the Spirit.

Ephes. 5:18-21 (ESV)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,  [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  [21] submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Also, remember from last week when I said that in the same way that wine affects a drunken person, so when we’re filled with the Spirit, we should be influenced by Him. Now, he addresses what being filled with the Spirit or walking in the Spirit looks like in specific situations.

Today, we are going to look at what a godly wife who is walking in the Spirit looks like.  Even more specifically, I want us to see how this is a picture of Christ and the church.

Ladies, whether you’re married or about to be married or someday hope to be married this sermon has much in it to be applied. Continue Reading

Living as Christ in this World

Ephes. 5:1-20 (ESV)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

[3] But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  [4] Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.  [5] For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  [6] Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  [7] Therefore do not associate with them;  [8] for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

[9] (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  [10] and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  [11] Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  [12] For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  [13] But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,  [14] for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  [18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,  [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

In our text today, the Lord has for us a challenge to walk through this world and yet remain completely dedicated to Him.  How is it that we are in the world but not of the world?

Our Lord gives us this command:

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

[14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What Jesus has in mind here is that we as Christians are to be affecting or infiltrating the world.  We affect it, it should not affect us.  This is the challenge.  How is it that we enter into the world without allowing it to affect us? Continue Reading