I am a stranger in this land,
I have no place to go,
This world does not love me,
Of this I surely know.
Yet a family has been sent with me
And care for me they do,
Waiting to be beckoned home,
To spend eternity, Lord, with You.
And oh what faith we have,
That in You we persevere,
Until that day has finally come
And Your radiant face is clear.
So come Lord Jesus!
Relieve us from our pain;
Heaven is where we long to be
To forever praise your name.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
New Book Recommendation
This is a new book that has been published by a dear friend of my family's and the man the Lord used to lead me to Christ, Dr. Louis Hill. Dr. Hill is a genuinely brilliant man, very reformed and, most importantly, he is an extremely godly man which is the testimony of all who know him. I just got the book today and I cannot wait to read it. His other book "Faith Is" is also a great book and worth your time to read and buy. I have been told he is preparing at least three more for publication so read these first two now.
Follow the link to amazon.com by clicking below:
Seven Foolish Questions by Dr. Louis Hill
Follow the link to amazon.com by clicking below:
Seven Foolish Questions by Dr. Louis Hill
Friday, November 5, 2010
Death and the Christian (Part 2)
Now we come to how we as believers deal with others that die. It is a different consideration altogether from dealing with our own mortality. But, that said, the two are undoubtedly connected. When people you know and love die it will often lead to some consideration of your own mortality and the mortality of others you love but have not yet lost. Yet, how should we view their deaths? I hope the following consideration will help.
First, let us consider the death of others that are not saved. This is, or should be, the hardest to deal with. If we have loved them then I have no doubt we have striven for their salvation. That may have taken on different forms from witnessing to them, praying for them, and simply being there to let them know you care about where they will spend eternity. So, whether an unexpected death or a protracted passing, there is a huge let down when they go. Not just because you have lost someone you love, but because you know they are now beyond help, they are now cemented in hell never to repent and turn to Christ and this, to the believer, is the most pitiful condition a soul could have. But you have to let them go. No longer are you able to witness to them and it is certain they are not in heaven looking down upon you as the world would like to believe. I think we have a wonderful example of this concept in the story of David and Bathsheba. David's illegitimate child has been cursed by God as punishment for his sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. When the child becomes sick David is inconsolable and none can convince him to do anything except pray and fast. But as soon as the child dies he gets up, cleans himself up, and gets prepared to resume life. His servants are troubled and astonished at his behavior and they ask him why he is acting like this. His response is clear and it is appropriate for us as well, especially in dealing with the death of lost people we have loved. He says in 2 Sam. 12:22-23, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?" This doesn't mean that there won't be emotional concerns in dealing with the loss. So grieve as is natural for you to do and move on; but, dwelling on their condition will not change anything for them and will most certainly be a stumbling block for you. This, as in all things, must be handed over to the Lord knowing that His will is perfect and it has come to pass.
Second, we have the death of loved ones who were saved. This is by far the more desirable position to be in. Once again, there is going to be a sense of loss; emotion is a reality for all of mankind. But the perspective is entirely different here. Here your sadness is for your loss exclusively. There is no way it can be for them for they are now where you are waiting to be. They have finally been called home and you can rest assured knowing that nothing on this earth, including you, will ever give them the slightest desire to come back. Nothing here can compare to the blessing they have there. Finally they are with our Lord, finally they worship by sight and not by faith, finally the struggles with sin that pain us all are gone from them. I have thought that one day it will be really amazing to sit down with the Apostle Paul, with Moses, with Solomon, with David, with John Calvin, and John Knox, and just speak with them. But even that will not compare with being in the blessed presence of my God never to be separated again. And this, dear friend, is where your saved loved one has gone. Rejoice for them in spite of your loss. For you have the added benefit of David's ending sentence in the aforementioned passage. He says, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." We will see them again in heaven with all of the saints of all of the ages for all of the rest of eternity. It is as if they moved to another country and lost contact yet you know that one day you will meet again. Because only the saints can say with certainty, only the saints can confidently cry, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55) Rejoice for them, and rejoice for you, knowing that death has not truly torn you apart and that one day you will share in the richest privilege of all and be with our Lord in heaven.
First, let us consider the death of others that are not saved. This is, or should be, the hardest to deal with. If we have loved them then I have no doubt we have striven for their salvation. That may have taken on different forms from witnessing to them, praying for them, and simply being there to let them know you care about where they will spend eternity. So, whether an unexpected death or a protracted passing, there is a huge let down when they go. Not just because you have lost someone you love, but because you know they are now beyond help, they are now cemented in hell never to repent and turn to Christ and this, to the believer, is the most pitiful condition a soul could have. But you have to let them go. No longer are you able to witness to them and it is certain they are not in heaven looking down upon you as the world would like to believe. I think we have a wonderful example of this concept in the story of David and Bathsheba. David's illegitimate child has been cursed by God as punishment for his sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. When the child becomes sick David is inconsolable and none can convince him to do anything except pray and fast. But as soon as the child dies he gets up, cleans himself up, and gets prepared to resume life. His servants are troubled and astonished at his behavior and they ask him why he is acting like this. His response is clear and it is appropriate for us as well, especially in dealing with the death of lost people we have loved. He says in 2 Sam. 12:22-23, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?" This doesn't mean that there won't be emotional concerns in dealing with the loss. So grieve as is natural for you to do and move on; but, dwelling on their condition will not change anything for them and will most certainly be a stumbling block for you. This, as in all things, must be handed over to the Lord knowing that His will is perfect and it has come to pass.
Second, we have the death of loved ones who were saved. This is by far the more desirable position to be in. Once again, there is going to be a sense of loss; emotion is a reality for all of mankind. But the perspective is entirely different here. Here your sadness is for your loss exclusively. There is no way it can be for them for they are now where you are waiting to be. They have finally been called home and you can rest assured knowing that nothing on this earth, including you, will ever give them the slightest desire to come back. Nothing here can compare to the blessing they have there. Finally they are with our Lord, finally they worship by sight and not by faith, finally the struggles with sin that pain us all are gone from them. I have thought that one day it will be really amazing to sit down with the Apostle Paul, with Moses, with Solomon, with David, with John Calvin, and John Knox, and just speak with them. But even that will not compare with being in the blessed presence of my God never to be separated again. And this, dear friend, is where your saved loved one has gone. Rejoice for them in spite of your loss. For you have the added benefit of David's ending sentence in the aforementioned passage. He says, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." We will see them again in heaven with all of the saints of all of the ages for all of the rest of eternity. It is as if they moved to another country and lost contact yet you know that one day you will meet again. Because only the saints can say with certainty, only the saints can confidently cry, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55) Rejoice for them, and rejoice for you, knowing that death has not truly torn you apart and that one day you will share in the richest privilege of all and be with our Lord in heaven.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Struggle With Sin
[...] religious exercises are very much modified by the temperament, and in some cases, by the idiosyncrasy of the individual. The liquor put into an old cask commonly receives a strong tincture from the vessel. Old habits, although a new governing principle is introduced into the system, do not yield at once; and propensities, apparently extinguished, are apt to revive and give unexpected trouble. It is a comfortable thought, that these bodies cannot go with the saints to heaven until they are completely purified. - Archibald Alexander "Thoughts on Religious Experience"
Be ever vigilant that the Old Sin Nature is not an enemy unknown; for the life you live in Christ has made you a New Man, but not yet a sinless man. Yet sanctification has its work and it prepares us for heaven when this battle with sin will finally be over and with Christ we will reign victorious. Actively live your life seeking to mortify sin and to glorify God in all that you do.
Be ever vigilant that the Old Sin Nature is not an enemy unknown; for the life you live in Christ has made you a New Man, but not yet a sinless man. Yet sanctification has its work and it prepares us for heaven when this battle with sin will finally be over and with Christ we will reign victorious. Actively live your life seeking to mortify sin and to glorify God in all that you do.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
A Study On Biblical Marriage
This is a study that my dad, Randy Wyatt, did and has shared with me and others and I wanted to pass it on as well. It is worth your while to read it and more importantly to digest it. It addresses issues that have fallen to the wayside far too often in Christian life today. My hope is that the Lord will use this to strengthen your marriage and that you will pass it on to others as well.
I have chosen to write on the subject of marriage because there is so much out there on the subject, but so little from a purely biblical perspective. I haven’t heard it preached from a pulpit in fifteen or twenty years. No one wants to suffer the outrage of telling the truth. The world, in my opinion, has been able to influence the best intentioned authors because we have the perception that if you tell the truth and someone is offended you’re wrong, or harsh, or rude. I have been married 35 years, not all of it fun and games. Every marriage has tough times. You’re taking two individuals, two personalities, two old sin natures, and two (hopefully) new men and molding a single unit. We read the books, got counseling, and went to seminars. I felt no closer to the truth than when I started. My leadership and opinions were improving by natural maturation, but I still had no answers. It was not even that what any of them said was wrong, I just could not convince myself it was biblical, and if not biblical one opinion is as good as another. In fact, some of the suggestions placed new unattainable expectations on one spouse or the other which increased the frustration and sense of failure. God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a help meet for him.” Gen. 2:18 Good in the verse means delightful and we will see in Eph. 5 love means that which we derive our joy from. Does your marriage lack that? Mine can, not as often, but we are still human.
This study, I hope as much as possible, deals with what the text says. My comments may at times address what I see as common misconceptions and I will try to make them obvious to the reader. I will give you key Greek definitions of words to help bring out what the verse is saying. This study starts and ends with a command to the wife. The entire center or body of the text is addressed to the husband. My hope is that God bless your lives as He has mine through this bible study.
This is a command to the wives, our mates for life. In Gen. 2:18 Help meet means, our correspondent opposite, our helper, the one who fills our gaps, our spaces, and our glaring insufficiency’s. This is what she was created to be, my personal favorite definition for help meet is corresponding opposite. Envision two gears going opposite directions, when new they don’t fit well together, they grind and ware on each other, but over time they wear, into each other. The movement over time and use get smoother and what they are moving slides along without a hitch, that’s the picture here. Here is something else to ponder, you never put a new gear with an old gear, if one breaks or wares out you replace both. You will never get a smooth movement out of two gears so radically different. The new one will eventually break the old one. What also must be noted is neither gear can do the job on its own, it requires full cooperation of the other gear. In Ephesians 5:23, the command is for the wives to submit to their own husbands, no one else, no other husband, nor a really nice man that understands… your own husband. The text here does not say if he’s good (though he should be) submit. It just says submit. Submit means: to voluntarily place yourself under another authority, used in 1 Pet. 2:18 servants to masters, Heb. 12:19 Christians to God the Father. This also means to arrange oneself under another’s authority. So Christ here is commanding the wife to voluntarily arrange her actions, thoughts, attitudes, desires, etc., under her own in particular husband’s authority, find out what he needs done and do it. Remember here you as the wife are completing him, filling his gaps, meaning you are studying him to find out how you can best do that. That takes faith on her part… that is no easy task! Would you like to be under someone like you all the time? But, just like as in every other aspect of life someone is in charge, and someone must follow.
In the same manner that she would the Lord Himself. Now she must submit to her husband though he is nowhere near the leader or the character of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in the same way she does Jesus Christ, or as if it were Him before her and not her husband. This obedience is not based on how well the husband is leading, how sound his judgment, how kind or reasonable his commands, but only on his position. He may not even be saved but this does not change a thing. 1 Pet. 3:1 “Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” Obedience on the part of the wife does not place her in a less honorable or subservient position, but illuminates the high value she places on her obedience to Christ and the role in life He has given her. We will see later the beautiful picture and testimony both roles in the marriage display when both husband and wife understand and obey Christ.
Now Christ explains the unique position of the home. Both husband and wife must understand where their role came from and who they answer to. So here it is defined, the husband is the head, it is not co-leadership, nor is he allowed to abdicate his position because he does not like his role, or because she is better at it. He is the head, when he stands before Christ on the Day of Judgment no excuse for not doing what he was commanded to do will be accepted. He will be held accountable for his obedience to his call as head of his home. This is between a particular a couple… no one else. Not parents, in- laws, pastors, elders, friends, or lawyers. All may, can, and will give advice but Christ will hold the husband responsible for the decision and condition of the home, he is the head. Literally, head means: “one in charge”, just as the head controls the rest of the body. Head stands for: authority, nothing is done without the heads permission. Again, Christ has not yet spoken to His intentions, tone, character, ability, only his position. His authority is limited to his wife, not all wives, or any woman, but his wife only.
This means just like, in the same manner as, in the same way as. Meaning there is no difference, just like Christ is the head, leadership, authority, over the church, the husband is the head of the wife and the home (as we in 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12 and Tit. 1:6). Christ has a unique private personal relationship with each church and each believer and they respond to Him alone. So also in the home there is a unique bond between husband and wife, that at best is a dull reflection of Christ’s relationship to His church. Christ does not respond to the demands of a church that step outside of the bounds of His word, nor should the husband a wife that steps out from under his authority. The church responds to Christ and the wife should respond to her husband. Just as the church meets and functions to glorify Christ, so in the home the wife should be seeking Godly ways to support and glorify her husband. Why should she be doing this?
Christ is the deliverer, the one on whom the burden of survival and salvation fell. Christ saved the church, the body, both visible and invisible, from the beginning of time until the last soul is brought into the kingdom. The church finds life in Him, and survives because of Him. In the same way the burden of the health and survival of the marriage falls squarely on the shoulders of the husband. He is the head, his character, leadership, and Godly life, (hopefully), will be the anchor of the home. She is still responsible to obey Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him, and the husband can only here create an atmosphere that would encourage that relationship. It is impossible to have a Godly marriage if either spouse rejects their God ordained, God decreed roles. Personal commitment to Christ is essential to understanding each person’s role. The tone and commitment must start with the head, the leadership in the home. But, if either is not serving Christ the other is still commanded to fulfill their role, as explained in (I Cor. 7:12 – 14).
Now there is no misunderstanding as to the reach of the authority of the husband, or the submission of the wife. The word “therefore”, refers you back to something previously said which would be Christ’s authority over the church in vs. 23. Christ’s lordship over the church is undeniable. Matt. 28:18 “…and Jesus came and spoke, “All powers is given unto me in heaven and on earth.” So, just as the church is completely submissive to Christ, let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. This is not a popular stand for either to take. She is to completely submit to someone she knows will fail her over and over again, because he is human, given to sin and failure. Even led by the Spirit there is a growth curve that must be experienced and mistakes will happen no matter the maturity level of the husband. She is not only told to submit to him, but in everything. There is to be no area of her life that he is not involved in. Her faith must first be in Christ, ultimately in Christ. She is to picture the church for better or for worse, in good times, and bad, ever working towards the goal of glorifying Christ, honoring his sacrifice, following His leadership, asking His forgiveness, and seeking His approval. So it is to be in the home also, and we have not as yet seen what is truly expected of the husband, because the mandate for the wife is not based on how well he does his job, but who he represents. There is no checklist for either spouse. We are not grading our mate and determining their submission or leadership based on a pass/fail ratio contained in some checklist. Each is responsible to God alone to fulfill their role and honor Him, regardless of the failures of the other. But, just as the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18), neither will it destroy the marriage.
Now we are into the main body of the study, which concentrates on the husband and his role in the marriage. You could fill whole libraries with the books written on this very subject, but we will address it from scripture only. The word “love”, is in the present tense, imperative mood, meaning this is a command, and he needs to comply right now. He is commanded to love; the Greek here is not agape as is commonly quoted, but its root “agapaho”, which includes more than is commonly explained. Remember earlier I quoted Gen. 2:18, “It is not good (or delightful) for man to be alone.” Agapaho means to love in a social or moral sense. It is a conscience act of the will to find (one’s joy) in the object loved. This would carry, of course, the sense of responsibility to do what it best for her, to sacrifice for her and so forth, which is in the definition of agape. How many of you have been told you are commanded by God to enjoy your wife? Your marriage is not to be a battlefield, a constant source of frustration, but a place of peace and contentment derived from the supreme value the husband places on his wife, which guides his actions, opinions, motives, etc.
He is not commanded to love money, possessions, other women, church activities, work, or anything else, but to derive his joy in this life in his corresponding opposite… his wife. Paul writes on this in 1 Cor. 7:32 – 35, it is natural and it is of God to be concerning yourselves, with the comfort and well being of one another in marriage.
Again we are told to mirror or mimic the actions of Christ.
Christ paid the ultimate price for the church, but this phrase is emphasizing the joy He receives from the church. Christ is our Lord, our Mediator, our Sacrifice, our Redeemer, but this word speaks of the joy of a committed relationship. Christ is committed to His relationship with us. We are obeying, he is leading, and we enjoy each others company, and find contentment, peace, and joy in one another. That is to be true of every Christian marriage, because both spouses are committed to Christ. Both are committed to doing what is right, but it doesn’t happen overnight, or without some testing. Christ is not all fluff and meekness either. One need only to read his rebuke to 5 of the 7 churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, to see there is a penalty to be paid for disobedience. There will be times when, as a leader it is necessary to stand firm on a decision, not to flex his assumed power, but for the good of your wife and home.
“Gave” is to commit, deliver, entrust, yield, and surrender. Jesus is not fair weather friend; He is fully engaged, fully committed in every believer’s life, no matter what our commitment may be to Him. He does not gauge His loyalty on ours, equaling our commitment, or based his response on ours. We are told clearly in Rom. 5:8, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” As a husband our commitment has to be the same, not reactive, but committed. Just as the church has full assurance Christ will never leave it, Matt. 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Husbands are to have no excuse for quitting. They are the image of Christ in the home, and must be fully engaged, fully committed. We cannot be fully committed if we reserve the right in our own minds to flee if times become unbearable. At this point, I think it is important to understand what Christ defines “love” as, so I have added a little study on 1 Cor. 13:1 – 7. If we are to love as Christ loves we should use His definition. The world has sought to blur the clear understanding of Christ’s love, but until they can successfully get rid of the bible we can always find the truth. 1 Cor. 13:1 – 3, without love, actions have no value.
This is a great orator, to preach, to communicate one person to another.
To communicate in a known language where there is no confusion to the meaning being expressed.
This is a message directly from God, a prophet, a preacher, or a fiery sermon that gets everyone’s attention.
Benevolence, to set a supreme value upon the object of the love, and doing what is best for them. This is speaking to motive, what is the motive for this fiery speech, this great oratory proclamation? If it is not a deep sense of love it is of no benefit at all.
I am no more useful than, or I have become similar to.
An instrument made of hollowed out brass used to make loud noise.
Another instrument used to make noise. The point is we can say whatever we want, as forcefully or as eloquently as possible, but without proper motives, without a true desire for the betterment of the person or persons, our efforts are directed towards, it is just noise, it is of no useful purpose.
Even if, let’s imagine, or hypothetically speaking,
Accurately predict the future. Prophets were rated on very stiff criteria in Old Testament times. They either were always accurate or they were a fraud.
To be sure of, to perceive, to have a deep rational, educated knowledge of things in general.
There is nothing this individual does not know. He would be Godlike in his knowledge, and understanding of signs and wonders.
Faith is a conviction to the truth and a reliance on what is believed. To be completely convinced, totally reliant on God, no gaps, Christ like.
Your faith could alter the landscape, literally.
There is no value in an individual who is self serving. If our motive is our own personal interest our gifts are of no value, Paul is saying gifts are wonderful in the hands of an individual who understands and practices true love.
To supply, nourish, to be a major contributing factor.
Everything he possesses, anything of value to him that he owns
This is those incapable,(not unwilling), of supplying their own basic needs. This would be considered a worthy cause, a worthy endeavor to be stripped of all worldly possessions and give everything to those unable to provide for their own basic needs.
That would be the ultimate sacrifice, your own body in a painful horrific death. This was a common sacrifice in the age Paul is talking. The Romans enjoyed inflicting maximum pain and suffering in their executions.
It’s not that some good may come from what you have done, but that no one receives any good from what you have done. Love carries with it an element of decision making. You make a choice to highly regard, sacrificially protect, selflessly desire another’s good. It is an inward attitude that produces certain outward actions, not the other way around. Paul will now define the signs of real committed true love.
This is a benevolent, doting love. It is a sacrificial love, doing what is best for the object loved. Not a love based on duty, but duty is involved. Ultimately love is based on an intense desire to elevate and protect, to show value in the object loved. I must emphasis here that as we have seen previously, it is a doting love. This love is not looking at its obligations or responsibilities, but only what it truly believes is in the best interest of the object loved.
This is to be long spirited, to endure patiently, committed to not giving up. That is to exercise understanding and patience towards a person, not angry, not wanting punishment or revenge. Not becoming despondent where you quit caring altogether. This is not perseverance where you just refuse to be beaten so you clench your teeth and just endure until it is over. No, this takes a conscience act of your will, to acknowledge the wrong, but not stop caring about what happens to the one who wronged you. Love is always in active pursuit of another’s good. So in longsuffering you willingly refuse to respond out of emotions and exercise sound judgment in the face of a wrong done to you.
This is to show oneself useful, gracious, goodness in manners and morals.
Would this not be a wonderful reputation to have? That you are useful, gracious, that there is a moral and ethical goodness about you? Love is useful, it is not an enabler of sin, but graciously helps those in trouble. There is a moral rectitude and infectious goodness to real love.
Envying is to have a warm feeling of jealousy, to be moved with desire to have what is not yours. We cannot sincerely love another person and inwardly despise them for having what we wish we had. You either love them or envy them, but never both.
This is to boast, brag, to exalt one’s self to others, to have an elevated opinion of your own worth due to your station in life or your abilities. This goes beyond confidence; this is idolatry where you are worshipping yourself. We must always remember that promotion is of the Lord. Psalms 75:5-7, “Lift not up your horn on high, speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion comes neither from the east or from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he putteth down one and setteth up another.” What we are or what we have is strictly up to God and His pleasure for us. To brag or boast about what is given to us, or done for us, does not honor God or those around us.
To be haughty, proud, to believe you are better than another and show it in words and actions. Love’s central focus is not itself; this love is drive with a desire and concern to promote another. Boasting and haughtiness show a lack of love because all of their attention is on themselves only.
We are not to embarrass others by our words and our actions. Our dress, speech, and actions all fall into this category. People cannot be relaxed or comfortable in an unseemingly persons presence, nor have their loved one around this person because of their overall conduct.
Selfish, self centered; only interested in yourself. It is self-worship, self-gratification. Love does not demand space; it is always looking to the needs of others. Selfishness keeps you from giving every endeavor your all, because you are only looking out for your own self interest.
Love is not easily angered because as James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” You can articulate that for yourself, because for me to expound on it would be to add my opinion which I am trying to avoid. Let’s just say, this is impatience with one another, not righteous indignation, but annoyance at a perceived inconvenience. You quickly retaliate and lack self control.
To take a mental inventory, draw a conclusion, to suppose. I broke this off by its self because it is, key to understanding the rest of the phrase. This is a deliberate act; you judge the situation and draw a conclusion.
Evil is intrinsically worthless, depraved, injurious, and harmful. Can you see the picture being drawn here? It is not love to meditate on or draw a conclusion of an injurious or depraved nature of another human being. God does not say that if they have offended you, legitimately hurt you its ok… NO! If you dwell on and conclude someone else is worthless, or you harbor injurious or harmful thought towards another you do not love, there is no excuse.
This is joyful, happy, and glad.
Iniquity is: injustice, unrighteousness. We are to find no pleasure in unrighteousness, whether it is ours or another’s. If something bad happens to someone we have had issues with, we should find no satisfaction in their misfortune.
So on the contrary, love finds its happiness, its joy…
It is an unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with what it appears to be. Love finds happiness where confusion and falsehood stop. When I hear people say, “I can’t tell them the truth it would destroy them”, I wonder what they think the lie is doing? Love promotes righteousness, honesty, integrity; it finds its joy in the unveiled reality clearly before them. If we focus on what we know to be true, and not on what we perceive to be wrong, we are able to love without barriers, stipulations or expectations.
When we bare something we cover it with silence, we patiently endure. No retaliation, no demand for justice for the wrong done to us. No fanfare, no acclaim, no “look at me and what I am enduring”.
This is an inclusive everything, this leaves nothing out. You don’t reach a point where you say enough is enough. Baring all things is not you watching someone else’s suffering and desiring to relieve their pain, but what is done to you intentionally or not, knowingly or not, and you cover it with silence.
To trust someone, to give someone the benefit of the doubt, until circumstances prove otherwise, we believe, remember “love thinketh no evil”, vs. 5.
Again, everything is encompassed here. Not I trusted them before and they lied to me, or failed me, so never again. This says again, and again, you must go on believing. These are just matter of fact statements. Love does not retaliate, but covers with silence and trust without giving up, and believes without giving up.
This is to have a positive expectation, to confidently look forward to something.
So while we are not retaliating but trusting in a positive outcome, because you have had the audacity to trust in someone, though in the past that may have turned out bad. We never give up on anyone if we love as we should.
We are to remind ourselves quietly, to put to memory, to think but not speak. This is not blind faith or becoming someone’s kicking bag. This is, loving someone (if you take it from vs. 6). The loving person finds no pleasure in sin, but loves the truth, doesn’t retaliate when a wrong is done to them, nor seek vengeance, but believes in the individual, trusts that they will receive future blessings, and keeps their thoughts to themselves. Is it so hard to believe God would be working in another’s life in the same direct and demanding manner that He is working in yours?
So now that we have a clear understanding of what love really is let’s go back to Eph. 5 and continue our study. If possible get as familiar with love’s definitions as they are related to the rest of the study. Christ is the perfect reflection, the very definition of love, and the husband is to be the reflection of Christ.
We have learned that the wife is commanded to voluntarily place herself under the authority of her husband, and fully submit to him in everything. This authority was given to him by God, because he is the image of Christ, and the wife is the image of the church. Our testimony is greatly affected by how well we perform these roles. Husbands are commanded to love their wives. To take pleasure in them, find their joy in their wives. That mandate took us to 1 Cor. 13:1-7 so we could define what Christ definition of love is. Now we will see Christ’s attitude towards His church. We will see His leadership and love. This is essential in establishing how we lead and love our wives.
This study I hope will void the humanistic ideas on partnership. There is no 50/50 in marriage. Though we serve one another in marriage, we do not obey one another in marriage. There are established roles, for eternal purposes. What each spouse does, in many ways, has nothing to do with the response or agreement of the other. Each is responsible to God, and goes about doing in the marriage, what they believe God requires them to do according to His word. You will see in the verses that follow, Christ does not wait for a positive response from the church to affirm His leadership. He just does what is right and what is best because that is what love does.
Set apart or separate, to stand in contrast with, and to venerate. This is in the aorist tense, subjunctive mood, there is no set time this happened, in fact subjunctive mood stresses the action has no definite outcome. The point is Christ is separating His church from the world. We are set apart for His purpose (Isa. 14:27), and His good pleasure (Eph.1:9). Sanctification is an ongoing process.
This can be legal or ceremonial; to purge, to expiate. We have been legally declared clean. We have been freed from the guilt of our sin. God has legally removed our sin because of the redemptive work of Christ. We are declared clean though not actually clean. The church is made up of many individuals of different levels of growth and understanding. Christ deals with us both individually and corporately to separate us from the world.
This is defined bath, baptism, used metaphorically of spiritual cleansing. To be washed over and have all the dirt and stain of sin removed.
By means of, the agent accomplishing the cleansing is,
An utterance: or a matter of topic, a spoken work, preaching, a report or account of the all powerful commands of God. That is why in Heb. 10:25 we are told, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”, the church is God’s ordained avenue of declaring His word, and Heb. 4:12, “the word of God is quick and powerful”. We stunt our growth and are out of God’s will to not be a part of a local body. God has chosen the public pronouncement of His word to be the means which His church is cleansed.
How does this apply to marriage? Our marriage should be set apart from every other relationship. No other human relationship should ever take priority over the marriage. Our relationship is legally pure and set apart from sin in the eyes of God, even though we know practically sin is an ever present reality in the marriage. The word of God is to be proclaimed in the home and to be the fundamental stability of the marriage. The husband is to be proclaiming the word and leading a Godly life, thereby combating the sin that seeks to destroy our lives.
Christ places His church on display, like a trophy case that the owner can walk by and admire their accomplishment.
Christ is pleased to admire His handiwork that He has placed on display. This is a picture of Him standing back and admiring his handiwork. This is the definition of love: to derive joy from the object of the love. Christ for all our issues enjoys us even though he knows really how corrupt we are. How can we do any less when we know so little about each other no matter how much we think we know about the other person?
Admirable splendor: Noble, honorable in the entirety of its works. The true church survives. Matt. 16:18, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against It.” The true church has the reputation of admirable service, it is a noble and honorable institution established by and strengthened by Christ Himself.
These are the called ones, the community of saints, and the local assembly. The church is both visible, made up of true believers now, and invisible, made up of all believers of all times.
Not having a stain or the defilement of sin. The church has been paid for by Christ blood. And now His righteousness is imputed to the church, along with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. As a result of these actions the church learns how to practically remove her sin. Constantly striving, endeavoring to break the chains of sins that ravish her and rob her of her joy in Christ. There will be a day, and this is a fact, when Christ’s church will be literally without the stain and defilement of sin, it will stand before Christ in purity. That my dear friends, is a wonderful truth we can depend on.
This is a fold, a crease in the face. This carries two thoughts. One is to be unkempt, needing smoothing like a fine linen table cloth that is out of place. The other is lines and wrinkles in the skin due to age and wear. The church presented to Christ is not old and worn out, but fresh and well kempt, vibrant. The true church is not old and outdated because the truth of scripture is as relevant today as when it was first handed down to us.
This includes any other type of disorderly, unbecoming action or appearance. There is no legitimacy to an old worn out church, the church does not need to update her practices, but stand firm on the living word. Christ design and practices do not become, “ old fashioned” They are alive and powerful.
You could also say: on the contrary, or in contrast to spots and wrinkles.
To be sacred: pure, blameless, consecrated, and separate from evil. Devotion to God and a desire to obey His word is what sets the church apart from the world. 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.” Does this devotion and loyalty exist in your marriage? Are you devoted to each other, out of a desire to serve and enjoy one another? This is the essence of the reflection of Christ in the marriage.
To be without the stain of sin: faultless. It is the absence of anything amiss in a sacrifice or anything which would render it unworthy to be offered. The husband is to produce in the marriage a sense of blamelessness, separation from the world. Christ sees His church in purity, perfection, separate and consecrated unto Him. Husbands must see past the spots and wrinkles and be promoting holiness, blamelessness. Husbands must, through their leadership and Godly life, remove the signs of aging and wear in their marriage. They are placing their wives on display for all to admire. This is the true meaning of a “trophy wife”: a lively, Godly, submitted, vibrant woman that adores her husband as the church adores Christ.
Israel was constantly rebuked by God for acting like the nations around her. Our marriages are to mirror Christ and His church, not those of the world around us. The world seeks to destroy and separate which is the opposite of the church. That is why a Godly marriage stands out in such stark contrast to even other Christian marriages. Even within the Christian marriages, there is hatred and bitterness, an unwillingness to forgive and promote the other before their, own personal interest. Christ is not glorified in this and our homes know no peace, no one wins where sin reigns.
At this juncture the focus shifts to what is near and dear to us, our own bodies. I have heard it said,” Christ does this because men are selfish,” implying that women are not. It is a bad argument based on a false premise. All mankind is selfish; Eve believed the snake because she believed God was denying her something she should have. Gen. 3:6 gives three reasons why she accepted the devils argument. 1. The tree was good for food. 2. The tree was pleasant to the eye. 3. To be desired to make one wise. Adam chooses Eve over God. The case could be made all sin is rooted in selfishness; but, that is not why a man’s concentration on himself is used here. One reason is if the man did not take care of himself he could not provide for his family, and the wife’s opportunities to provide income were limited, and mostly less than honorable. If he got hurt they were utterly destitute. Also, we are the body of Christ, which will also be explained here. So the wife is an extension of the man, they must work as one. Like a sack race, you either both win or both lose, you cannot do it alone.
It is reasonable to expect the man to do this. Here is a shift in focus, from a corporate approach, (the nation or the family), to a very personal approach, the individual.
Again this is the root word agapaho, not agape, to find one’s joy in the object loved. This is a conscious act of the will. In verses 26-27 Christ acts out this love. He is not silent; He does not stand by and just watch. He is actively involved in the life of the object of His love, the church.
Their own in particular, not all wives, just their own. This again drives home the point that the object of his intentions must be his wife. Good leaders draw attention to themselves by their actions, and can become convinced they can help others by their engaging personality. It will always end in failure because they have stepped out of their God given mandate. What is being discussed here is their personal private relationship to their mate, not their work environment, but their home.
This is the one flesh concept. He is not to see them as two people, but one, even as himself. In the same way he provides for himself, he also provides for her needs. He would not intentionally harm her anymore then he would harm himself. His health is vital to their survival and so is hers, for she is an extension of him.
This is a validating factor. If he can find his joy in her, care for her, dote over her, do what is best for her, lead her. That man, who through a conscious act of his will, is constantly striving to improve the quality of the relationship with his helpmeet; his corresponding opposite.
The proof that he cares for his body, is in his relationship to his wife. The happier and more confident he is, the better the relationship. When he loves his wife, the same way as himself, he has reached an awareness of a sacrificial attitude, the pinnacle of Christ-like leadership.
It would be irrational to conceive of any individual that would intentionally be self destructive. They do exist, but they end up killing themselves or living in a home for the mentally insane. The rational argument is that it would be insane to suggest that a man would hate:
To detest: to persecute. No man abuses himself, hurts himself, and purposefully makes it impossible to perform his needed functions. In the day this was written to do so insured, an early death. No-one would or could step in and care for you, they had their own responsibilities. If you got hurt your family had to do the best they could while you healed.
The argument is: what benefit would an individual gain from self destruction? There are sick people who inflict pain and discomfort on themselves. The norm is to take care of yourself the best you can because a healthy body makes life more pleasant.
On the contrary, a man will rear up to maturity, or train his body, ensuring its ability to perform all needed functions.
To brood over: to foster, to place a high value upon something. Our health was and is vital not only to our quality of life, but our very way of existence. In biblical times, you would not have had men so obese they could not get out of bed, that to move them you need a crane or a forklift. Those people would die, because they could not help themselves. Only the very, very rich would have been able to become fat, because they had others to do their work for them. This is not just weight but any self destructive activity that threatened your wellbeing also threatened the wellbeing of your family.
In the same manner as, Christ over His called out ones. Each believer is nourished and cherished, foster and brooded over and brought to maturity. In a similar fashion, husbands are to be this way with their wives. You don’t take time off, you’re not too tired, and you realize the health and survival of your marriage is at stake. You brood over it; you’re constantly improving it, tweaking it, endeavoring to conform it to the image of Christ and the church. Sickness is not ignored, sin is not acceptable; your eyes and ears are always open, your mind is always sharp and focused. Christ is Lord of the church; it goes the way He leads. The husband is Lord of the home; it, too, goes the way he leads. Are your expectations reasonable? Is your resolve steadfast? Are your motives honorable? I can assure you Christ’s are, so ours must be also. No particular person is perfect, no marriage is perfect. To give up on your body would mean constant discomfort and early death. To give up on your marriage would yield the same results. Pressure and difficulty cleanse and strengthen both the body and the marriage; we should work through both with equal vigor!
We all have invested interest in, we are all extensions of. All of us that are born again share this commonality with one another. No person or group is more important than the other. There are differences on office, in gender, in age, and in gifts, but all are equal before God. We are forever bound to one another by the sacrifice of Christ.
The church, a well established, well preserved organization. The church is safe, secure, protected, we as believers share in the wholesome, well established relationship with Christ; as individuals as well as couples. If your wife is born again, she not only is your helpmeet, but also a fellow heir of the kingdom and a member of Christ’s body with you. Christ takes that relationship very serious and so should we.
Human body, but speaking to the passions, feelings, desires Christ shared with us. He took the form of a human being, with all its frailties and passions. He has empathy with our condition. He loved us so much He became one of us that He could do what we could not, live a perfect life and example in our place. Husbands, do you want to know how to be great leaders? Read the Gospels over and over, learn from Christ example. You see the mind of Christ written on every page, there is no better way to get to know him. Wives, do you want to know how to submit to your husband’s? Get to know the gospels; you see Christ perfect submission to the Father over and over again. He gave you a picture perfect example of complete submission without fear, or mistrust.
He was truly a physical man. He had the same physical structure as we do. He knows our thoughts, our feelings, our desires, and our weaknesses. He knows us from the inside out, because He cared for us; He loves us. So men, is this true of your leadership in your marriage? Do you know your wife from the inside out? Do you feel her pain, her joy, her weaknesses and strengths? Are you consumed with knowing who she is? Or, is your concern how well she does her job? Like an employee or a coworker. Christ knows us to our core, and He loves us anyway. How well do we as men really know our wives, and how important is that knowledge to our relationship? They say “knowledge is power,” if it empowers you to as a couple have peace, harmony, joy, Christ-likeness, why would you not put all your energy into that relationship? Here is a,” oneness of being,” unmatched by anything else on earth? In fact beyond the understanding of the world, which becomes our glaring testimony before them, this love and commitment they cannot obtain only observe.
The unique relationship we share with our wives and Christ is the cause spoken of here. The fact our wife is our responsibility, and we are to consider her as we would ourselves, and her every care is to be our concern, is the cause. We derive our joy from our relationship with our wife. Our fellowship with Christ is affected by our relationship with our wife. 1 Pet. 3:7, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Shall is a command, not a suggestion. It is also a fact. The man, i.e. the husband, must, not should.
Abandon; forsake a pervious relationship. His priorities and responsibilities have changed. He is now a decision maker with others lives depending on him, and his commitment to them. Abandon in the sense that his old relationship and commitments are altered to except new ones. Not disregard or sever, for that would mean breaking the 5th Commandment to honor your parents. This means you change your primary responsibilities to now place your wife as you’re first and foremost priority.
His in particular, the focus is the man here. This command is directed at him.
Authority figure: the man getting married goes from being under authority to being the authority. His authority is autonomous, in that no-one can come into his home and rule over his family, as we learned in verses 22-23 of this chapter. This does not mean he now has license to ignore or disrespect his father, but only that his first priority is his own family.
Nurturer: he is stepping away from the object of his love to a new love. His affections have changed; he now must focus on someone other than his mother. This is not to say he no longer shows his love and respect to his mother, just that she is no longer his first concern.
Glued; adhered to; cleave to. This is a different relationship than either has ever had before. No matter how close the family relationship is this is something new. There is a bound that defies explanation, because it is a product of God’s direct design and intent. No other human relationship can compare to the husband wife relationship.
His in particular: his helpmeet, his corresponding opposite. God has joined these people together and that makes it the ultimate bond. He will never have that same bond with anyone else, no other woman, no man, and no child. He may have other close relationships but none can match a marriage sanctioned by God. His life is forever changed. He makes the decisions now that affects her life also. He is out from under his Father’s authority and his mother’s nurturing. He has a wife who cannot be his mother, and is commanded not to be his authority, and who will depend on his ability to provide for them materially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Both physically go through the sensual and spiritually bond, in that God recognizes them as one being. Whatever either of them does from that point forward, it affects both of them. They are no longer only concerned with themselves, but every action and every thought affects that God ordained oneness.
A secret; something not easily understood.
Marriage is not a mystery, it is a fact, a command to do certain things, believe certain things, and think in a certain way. It takes effort and self-sacrifice. It is confusing at times, but satisfying and has achievable ends. Christ relationship to the church is beyond understanding. I could write a whole new study on just the unfathomable relationship between Christ and the church. We could spend the rest of our lives trying to fathom the possibility of the invisible church alone. Then if you add the relationship of the true visible church and how every member fits perfectly with every other member, and consider we have little to no knowledge of exactly who these other members even are. Sure you know or think you know, who are the true believers in your church, but do you know the believers in the next church down the road from yours? How about in another country, do you know all those believers? So how exactly do you fit together with all these people you don’t know? In light of this understanding marriage, pales in comparison to Christ and His church. Paul is saying don’t lose sight of the big picture. Don’t be overwhelmed with the do-able.
Shifting focus here, we have established what the mystery is; but now let’s get back to the reality.
Again: a command to immediately start.
A command to every individual husband, no-one is left out, no exceptions.
Or in the same way Christ has so amply exampled for us. This is a conscious act of each husband’s will, to find one’s joy in the object of their love. There will be other things in your life that bring temporal joy, but nothing is to replace or take priority over your commitment, joy, and responsibility to your wife.
His helpmeet, his corresponding opposite, in the same painstaking, doting way he does himself. The same care, concern, interest he does for his own personal needs, he now is committed to do for her.
This portion of scripture ends the way it started, with a command to the wife.
To be in awe: to revere, to respectfully fear. In verse 5:22 she was commanded to submit to her own husband because of his position and who he represents. In this verse she is told to reverence her own husband for what he does. Nowhere does any of this indicate either spouse being perfect and that because they are not your command by God becomes null and void. Actually, the respective commands of submission, love, and respect are regardless of the others personal failures; because you are accountable to God alone at that great and powerful day. We are all flawed human beings. The husband is to love and lead wife no matter how difficult that may be, and she is to submit and reverence him no matter how difficult that is. If their roles are reversed, or modified into some form of a partnership, then it is wrong, perverse, a rejection of their God-given responsibilities. We represent Christ and His church, how you do that determines your relationship to Christ. You can’t be on fire for Christ and reject His commands. You can be on fire for Christ and be a lousy husband or wife. But, in that case, you are working to improve and desire to do God’s will, just at the present time you are bad at it. There are other scriptures that further define the husband/wife roles that we can discuss in the future, but this ends the study on Eph. 5:22-33. May God bless you and give you wisdom in all areas of your life.
Marriage
Eph. 5:22 - 23
I have chosen to write on the subject of marriage because there is so much out there on the subject, but so little from a purely biblical perspective. I haven’t heard it preached from a pulpit in fifteen or twenty years. No one wants to suffer the outrage of telling the truth. The world, in my opinion, has been able to influence the best intentioned authors because we have the perception that if you tell the truth and someone is offended you’re wrong, or harsh, or rude. I have been married 35 years, not all of it fun and games. Every marriage has tough times. You’re taking two individuals, two personalities, two old sin natures, and two (hopefully) new men and molding a single unit. We read the books, got counseling, and went to seminars. I felt no closer to the truth than when I started. My leadership and opinions were improving by natural maturation, but I still had no answers. It was not even that what any of them said was wrong, I just could not convince myself it was biblical, and if not biblical one opinion is as good as another. In fact, some of the suggestions placed new unattainable expectations on one spouse or the other which increased the frustration and sense of failure. God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a help meet for him.” Gen. 2:18 Good in the verse means delightful and we will see in Eph. 5 love means that which we derive our joy from. Does your marriage lack that? Mine can, not as often, but we are still human.
This study, I hope as much as possible, deals with what the text says. My comments may at times address what I see as common misconceptions and I will try to make them obvious to the reader. I will give you key Greek definitions of words to help bring out what the verse is saying. This study starts and ends with a command to the wife. The entire center or body of the text is addressed to the husband. My hope is that God bless your lives as He has mine through this bible study.
Eph. 5:23
“Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands.”
This is a command to the wives, our mates for life. In Gen. 2:18 Help meet means, our correspondent opposite, our helper, the one who fills our gaps, our spaces, and our glaring insufficiency’s. This is what she was created to be, my personal favorite definition for help meet is corresponding opposite. Envision two gears going opposite directions, when new they don’t fit well together, they grind and ware on each other, but over time they wear, into each other. The movement over time and use get smoother and what they are moving slides along without a hitch, that’s the picture here. Here is something else to ponder, you never put a new gear with an old gear, if one breaks or wares out you replace both. You will never get a smooth movement out of two gears so radically different. The new one will eventually break the old one. What also must be noted is neither gear can do the job on its own, it requires full cooperation of the other gear. In Ephesians 5:23, the command is for the wives to submit to their own husbands, no one else, no other husband, nor a really nice man that understands… your own husband. The text here does not say if he’s good (though he should be) submit. It just says submit. Submit means: to voluntarily place yourself under another authority, used in 1 Pet. 2:18 servants to masters, Heb. 12:19 Christians to God the Father. This also means to arrange oneself under another’s authority. So Christ here is commanding the wife to voluntarily arrange her actions, thoughts, attitudes, desires, etc., under her own in particular husband’s authority, find out what he needs done and do it. Remember here you as the wife are completing him, filling his gaps, meaning you are studying him to find out how you can best do that. That takes faith on her part… that is no easy task! Would you like to be under someone like you all the time? But, just like as in every other aspect of life someone is in charge, and someone must follow.
"As unto the Lord”
Vs. 23
“For the husband is the head of the wife.”
“Even as Christ”
“He is the Savior”
Christ is the deliverer, the one on whom the burden of survival and salvation fell. Christ saved the church, the body, both visible and invisible, from the beginning of time until the last soul is brought into the kingdom. The church finds life in Him, and survives because of Him. In the same way the burden of the health and survival of the marriage falls squarely on the shoulders of the husband. He is the head, his character, leadership, and Godly life, (hopefully), will be the anchor of the home. She is still responsible to obey Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him, and the husband can only here create an atmosphere that would encourage that relationship. It is impossible to have a Godly marriage if either spouse rejects their God ordained, God decreed roles. Personal commitment to Christ is essential to understanding each person’s role. The tone and commitment must start with the head, the leadership in the home. But, if either is not serving Christ the other is still commanded to fulfill their role, as explained in (I Cor. 7:12 – 14).
Vs. 24
“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be, to their own husbands in everything.”Now there is no misunderstanding as to the reach of the authority of the husband, or the submission of the wife. The word “therefore”, refers you back to something previously said which would be Christ’s authority over the church in vs. 23. Christ’s lordship over the church is undeniable. Matt. 28:18 “…and Jesus came and spoke, “All powers is given unto me in heaven and on earth.” So, just as the church is completely submissive to Christ, let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. This is not a popular stand for either to take. She is to completely submit to someone she knows will fail her over and over again, because he is human, given to sin and failure. Even led by the Spirit there is a growth curve that must be experienced and mistakes will happen no matter the maturity level of the husband. She is not only told to submit to him, but in everything. There is to be no area of her life that he is not involved in. Her faith must first be in Christ, ultimately in Christ. She is to picture the church for better or for worse, in good times, and bad, ever working towards the goal of glorifying Christ, honoring his sacrifice, following His leadership, asking His forgiveness, and seeking His approval. So it is to be in the home also, and we have not as yet seen what is truly expected of the husband, because the mandate for the wife is not based on how well he does his job, but who he represents. There is no checklist for either spouse. We are not grading our mate and determining their submission or leadership based on a pass/fail ratio contained in some checklist. Each is responsible to God alone to fulfill their role and honor Him, regardless of the failures of the other. But, just as the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18), neither will it destroy the marriage.
Eph. 5:25
“Husbands Love”
Now we are into the main body of the study, which concentrates on the husband and his role in the marriage. You could fill whole libraries with the books written on this very subject, but we will address it from scripture only. The word “love”, is in the present tense, imperative mood, meaning this is a command, and he needs to comply right now. He is commanded to love; the Greek here is not agape as is commonly quoted, but its root “agapaho”, which includes more than is commonly explained. Remember earlier I quoted Gen. 2:18, “It is not good (or delightful) for man to be alone.” Agapaho means to love in a social or moral sense. It is a conscience act of the will to find (one’s joy) in the object loved. This would carry, of course, the sense of responsibility to do what it best for her, to sacrifice for her and so forth, which is in the definition of agape. How many of you have been told you are commanded by God to enjoy your wife? Your marriage is not to be a battlefield, a constant source of frustration, but a place of peace and contentment derived from the supreme value the husband places on his wife, which guides his actions, opinions, motives, etc.
“Your wives”
He is not commanded to love money, possessions, other women, church activities, work, or anything else, but to derive his joy in this life in his corresponding opposite… his wife. Paul writes on this in 1 Cor. 7:32 – 35, it is natural and it is of God to be concerning yourselves, with the comfort and well being of one another in marriage.
“Even as”
Again we are told to mirror or mimic the actions of Christ.
“Christ loved the church”
Christ paid the ultimate price for the church, but this phrase is emphasizing the joy He receives from the church. Christ is our Lord, our Mediator, our Sacrifice, our Redeemer, but this word speaks of the joy of a committed relationship. Christ is committed to His relationship with us. We are obeying, he is leading, and we enjoy each others company, and find contentment, peace, and joy in one another. That is to be true of every Christian marriage, because both spouses are committed to Christ. Both are committed to doing what is right, but it doesn’t happen overnight, or without some testing. Christ is not all fluff and meekness either. One need only to read his rebuke to 5 of the 7 churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, to see there is a penalty to be paid for disobedience. There will be times when, as a leader it is necessary to stand firm on a decision, not to flex his assumed power, but for the good of your wife and home.
“Gave Himself for it”
“Gave” is to commit, deliver, entrust, yield, and surrender. Jesus is not fair weather friend; He is fully engaged, fully committed in every believer’s life, no matter what our commitment may be to Him. He does not gauge His loyalty on ours, equaling our commitment, or based his response on ours. We are told clearly in Rom. 5:8, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” As a husband our commitment has to be the same, not reactive, but committed. Just as the church has full assurance Christ will never leave it, Matt. 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Husbands are to have no excuse for quitting. They are the image of Christ in the home, and must be fully engaged, fully committed. We cannot be fully committed if we reserve the right in our own minds to flee if times become unbearable. At this point, I think it is important to understand what Christ defines “love” as, so I have added a little study on 1 Cor. 13:1 – 7. If we are to love as Christ loves we should use His definition. The world has sought to blur the clear understanding of Christ’s love, but until they can successfully get rid of the bible we can always find the truth. 1 Cor. 13:1 – 3, without love, actions have no value.
Vs. 1
“Though I speak”
This is a great orator, to preach, to communicate one person to another.
“Tongues of men”
To communicate in a known language where there is no confusion to the meaning being expressed.
“And of Angels”
This is a message directly from God, a prophet, a preacher, or a fiery sermon that gets everyone’s attention.
“And have not charity”
Benevolence, to set a supreme value upon the object of the love, and doing what is best for them. This is speaking to motive, what is the motive for this fiery speech, this great oratory proclamation? If it is not a deep sense of love it is of no benefit at all.
“I am become as”
I am no more useful than, or I have become similar to.
“Sounding brass”
An instrument made of hollowed out brass used to make loud noise.
“Tinkling symbol”
Another instrument used to make noise. The point is we can say whatever we want, as forcefully or as eloquently as possible, but without proper motives, without a true desire for the betterment of the person or persons, our efforts are directed towards, it is just noise, it is of no useful purpose.
Vs. 2
“And though”
Even if, let’s imagine, or hypothetically speaking,
“I have the gift of prophecy”
Accurately predict the future. Prophets were rated on very stiff criteria in Old Testament times. They either were always accurate or they were a fraud.
“Understand”
To be sure of, to perceive, to have a deep rational, educated knowledge of things in general.
“All mysteries”
There is nothing this individual does not know. He would be Godlike in his knowledge, and understanding of signs and wonders.
“All faith”
Faith is a conviction to the truth and a reliance on what is believed. To be completely convinced, totally reliant on God, no gaps, Christ like.
“I could remove mountains”
Your faith could alter the landscape, literally.
“And have not charity I am nothing”
There is no value in an individual who is self serving. If our motive is our own personal interest our gifts are of no value, Paul is saying gifts are wonderful in the hands of an individual who understands and practices true love.
Vs. 3
“Though I bestow”
To supply, nourish, to be a major contributing factor.
“All my goods”
Everything he possesses, anything of value to him that he owns
“To feed the poor”
This is those incapable,(not unwilling), of supplying their own basic needs. This would be considered a worthy cause, a worthy endeavor to be stripped of all worldly possessions and give everything to those unable to provide for their own basic needs.
“And though I give my body to be burned”
That would be the ultimate sacrifice, your own body in a painful horrific death. This was a common sacrifice in the age Paul is talking. The Romans enjoyed inflicting maximum pain and suffering in their executions.
“And have not charity it profits me nothing”
It’s not that some good may come from what you have done, but that no one receives any good from what you have done. Love carries with it an element of decision making. You make a choice to highly regard, sacrificially protect, selflessly desire another’s good. It is an inward attitude that produces certain outward actions, not the other way around. Paul will now define the signs of real committed true love.
Vs. 4
“Charity”
This is a benevolent, doting love. It is a sacrificial love, doing what is best for the object loved. Not a love based on duty, but duty is involved. Ultimately love is based on an intense desire to elevate and protect, to show value in the object loved. I must emphasis here that as we have seen previously, it is a doting love. This love is not looking at its obligations or responsibilities, but only what it truly believes is in the best interest of the object loved.
“Suffers long”
This is to be long spirited, to endure patiently, committed to not giving up. That is to exercise understanding and patience towards a person, not angry, not wanting punishment or revenge. Not becoming despondent where you quit caring altogether. This is not perseverance where you just refuse to be beaten so you clench your teeth and just endure until it is over. No, this takes a conscience act of your will, to acknowledge the wrong, but not stop caring about what happens to the one who wronged you. Love is always in active pursuit of another’s good. So in longsuffering you willingly refuse to respond out of emotions and exercise sound judgment in the face of a wrong done to you.
“And is kind”
This is to show oneself useful, gracious, goodness in manners and morals.
Would this not be a wonderful reputation to have? That you are useful, gracious, that there is a moral and ethical goodness about you? Love is useful, it is not an enabler of sin, but graciously helps those in trouble. There is a moral rectitude and infectious goodness to real love.
“Charity envieth not”
Envying is to have a warm feeling of jealousy, to be moved with desire to have what is not yours. We cannot sincerely love another person and inwardly despise them for having what we wish we had. You either love them or envy them, but never both.
“Charity values not itself”
This is to boast, brag, to exalt one’s self to others, to have an elevated opinion of your own worth due to your station in life or your abilities. This goes beyond confidence; this is idolatry where you are worshipping yourself. We must always remember that promotion is of the Lord. Psalms 75:5-7, “Lift not up your horn on high, speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion comes neither from the east or from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he putteth down one and setteth up another.” What we are or what we have is strictly up to God and His pleasure for us. To brag or boast about what is given to us, or done for us, does not honor God or those around us.
“Is not puffed up”
To be haughty, proud, to believe you are better than another and show it in words and actions. Love’s central focus is not itself; this love is drive with a desire and concern to promote another. Boasting and haughtiness show a lack of love because all of their attention is on themselves only.
Vs. 5
“Does not behave itself unseemingly”
We are not to embarrass others by our words and our actions. Our dress, speech, and actions all fall into this category. People cannot be relaxed or comfortable in an unseemingly persons presence, nor have their loved one around this person because of their overall conduct.
“Seeks not her own”
Selfish, self centered; only interested in yourself. It is self-worship, self-gratification. Love does not demand space; it is always looking to the needs of others. Selfishness keeps you from giving every endeavor your all, because you are only looking out for your own self interest.
“Is not easily provoked”
Love is not easily angered because as James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” You can articulate that for yourself, because for me to expound on it would be to add my opinion which I am trying to avoid. Let’s just say, this is impatience with one another, not righteous indignation, but annoyance at a perceived inconvenience. You quickly retaliate and lack self control.
“Thinketh”
To take a mental inventory, draw a conclusion, to suppose. I broke this off by its self because it is, key to understanding the rest of the phrase. This is a deliberate act; you judge the situation and draw a conclusion.
“No evil”
Evil is intrinsically worthless, depraved, injurious, and harmful. Can you see the picture being drawn here? It is not love to meditate on or draw a conclusion of an injurious or depraved nature of another human being. God does not say that if they have offended you, legitimately hurt you its ok… NO! If you dwell on and conclude someone else is worthless, or you harbor injurious or harmful thought towards another you do not love, there is no excuse.
Vs. 6
“Rejoiceth”
This is joyful, happy, and glad.
“Not in iniquity”
Iniquity is: injustice, unrighteousness. We are to find no pleasure in unrighteousness, whether it is ours or another’s. If something bad happens to someone we have had issues with, we should find no satisfaction in their misfortune.
“But rejoiceth”
So on the contrary, love finds its happiness, its joy…
“In the truth”
It is an unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with what it appears to be. Love finds happiness where confusion and falsehood stop. When I hear people say, “I can’t tell them the truth it would destroy them”, I wonder what they think the lie is doing? Love promotes righteousness, honesty, integrity; it finds its joy in the unveiled reality clearly before them. If we focus on what we know to be true, and not on what we perceive to be wrong, we are able to love without barriers, stipulations or expectations.
Vs. 7
“Bareth”
When we bare something we cover it with silence, we patiently endure. No retaliation, no demand for justice for the wrong done to us. No fanfare, no acclaim, no “look at me and what I am enduring”.
“All things”
This is an inclusive everything, this leaves nothing out. You don’t reach a point where you say enough is enough. Baring all things is not you watching someone else’s suffering and desiring to relieve their pain, but what is done to you intentionally or not, knowingly or not, and you cover it with silence.
“Believeth”
To trust someone, to give someone the benefit of the doubt, until circumstances prove otherwise, we believe, remember “love thinketh no evil”, vs. 5.
“All things”
Again, everything is encompassed here. Not I trusted them before and they lied to me, or failed me, so never again. This says again, and again, you must go on believing. These are just matter of fact statements. Love does not retaliate, but covers with silence and trust without giving up, and believes without giving up.
“Hopeth”
This is to have a positive expectation, to confidently look forward to something.
So while we are not retaliating but trusting in a positive outcome, because you have had the audacity to trust in someone, though in the past that may have turned out bad. We never give up on anyone if we love as we should.
“Endureth”
We are to remind ourselves quietly, to put to memory, to think but not speak. This is not blind faith or becoming someone’s kicking bag. This is, loving someone (if you take it from vs. 6). The loving person finds no pleasure in sin, but loves the truth, doesn’t retaliate when a wrong is done to them, nor seek vengeance, but believes in the individual, trusts that they will receive future blessings, and keeps their thoughts to themselves. Is it so hard to believe God would be working in another’s life in the same direct and demanding manner that He is working in yours?
So now that we have a clear understanding of what love really is let’s go back to Eph. 5 and continue our study. If possible get as familiar with love’s definitions as they are related to the rest of the study. Christ is the perfect reflection, the very definition of love, and the husband is to be the reflection of Christ.
Eph. 5:26-27
Christ and His Church
We have learned that the wife is commanded to voluntarily place herself under the authority of her husband, and fully submit to him in everything. This authority was given to him by God, because he is the image of Christ, and the wife is the image of the church. Our testimony is greatly affected by how well we perform these roles. Husbands are commanded to love their wives. To take pleasure in them, find their joy in their wives. That mandate took us to 1 Cor. 13:1-7 so we could define what Christ definition of love is. Now we will see Christ’s attitude towards His church. We will see His leadership and love. This is essential in establishing how we lead and love our wives.
This study I hope will void the humanistic ideas on partnership. There is no 50/50 in marriage. Though we serve one another in marriage, we do not obey one another in marriage. There are established roles, for eternal purposes. What each spouse does, in many ways, has nothing to do with the response or agreement of the other. Each is responsible to God, and goes about doing in the marriage, what they believe God requires them to do according to His word. You will see in the verses that follow, Christ does not wait for a positive response from the church to affirm His leadership. He just does what is right and what is best because that is what love does.
Vs. 26
“That He might sanctify”
Set apart or separate, to stand in contrast with, and to venerate. This is in the aorist tense, subjunctive mood, there is no set time this happened, in fact subjunctive mood stresses the action has no definite outcome. The point is Christ is separating His church from the world. We are set apart for His purpose (Isa. 14:27), and His good pleasure (Eph.1:9). Sanctification is an ongoing process.
“And cleanse”
This can be legal or ceremonial; to purge, to expiate. We have been legally declared clean. We have been freed from the guilt of our sin. God has legally removed our sin because of the redemptive work of Christ. We are declared clean though not actually clean. The church is made up of many individuals of different levels of growth and understanding. Christ deals with us both individually and corporately to separate us from the world.
“With the washing of water”
This is defined bath, baptism, used metaphorically of spiritual cleansing. To be washed over and have all the dirt and stain of sin removed.
“By”
By means of, the agent accomplishing the cleansing is,
“The word”
An utterance: or a matter of topic, a spoken work, preaching, a report or account of the all powerful commands of God. That is why in Heb. 10:25 we are told, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”, the church is God’s ordained avenue of declaring His word, and Heb. 4:12, “the word of God is quick and powerful”. We stunt our growth and are out of God’s will to not be a part of a local body. God has chosen the public pronouncement of His word to be the means which His church is cleansed.
How does this apply to marriage? Our marriage should be set apart from every other relationship. No other human relationship should ever take priority over the marriage. Our relationship is legally pure and set apart from sin in the eyes of God, even though we know practically sin is an ever present reality in the marriage. The word of God is to be proclaimed in the home and to be the fundamental stability of the marriage. The husband is to be proclaiming the word and leading a Godly life, thereby combating the sin that seeks to destroy our lives.
Vs. 27
“That He might present”
Christ places His church on display, like a trophy case that the owner can walk by and admire their accomplishment.
“To Himself”
Christ is pleased to admire His handiwork that He has placed on display. This is a picture of Him standing back and admiring his handiwork. This is the definition of love: to derive joy from the object of the love. Christ for all our issues enjoys us even though he knows really how corrupt we are. How can we do any less when we know so little about each other no matter how much we think we know about the other person?
“A glorious”
Admirable splendor: Noble, honorable in the entirety of its works. The true church survives. Matt. 16:18, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against It.” The true church has the reputation of admirable service, it is a noble and honorable institution established by and strengthened by Christ Himself.
“Church”
These are the called ones, the community of saints, and the local assembly. The church is both visible, made up of true believers now, and invisible, made up of all believers of all times.
“Not having spot”
Not having a stain or the defilement of sin. The church has been paid for by Christ blood. And now His righteousness is imputed to the church, along with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. As a result of these actions the church learns how to practically remove her sin. Constantly striving, endeavoring to break the chains of sins that ravish her and rob her of her joy in Christ. There will be a day, and this is a fact, when Christ’s church will be literally without the stain and defilement of sin, it will stand before Christ in purity. That my dear friends, is a wonderful truth we can depend on.
“Or wrinkle”
This is a fold, a crease in the face. This carries two thoughts. One is to be unkempt, needing smoothing like a fine linen table cloth that is out of place. The other is lines and wrinkles in the skin due to age and wear. The church presented to Christ is not old and worn out, but fresh and well kempt, vibrant. The true church is not old and outdated because the truth of scripture is as relevant today as when it was first handed down to us.
“Or any such thing”
This includes any other type of disorderly, unbecoming action or appearance. There is no legitimacy to an old worn out church, the church does not need to update her practices, but stand firm on the living word. Christ design and practices do not become, “ old fashioned” They are alive and powerful.
“But”
You could also say: on the contrary, or in contrast to spots and wrinkles.
“That it should be holy”
To be sacred: pure, blameless, consecrated, and separate from evil. Devotion to God and a desire to obey His word is what sets the church apart from the world. 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.” Does this devotion and loyalty exist in your marriage? Are you devoted to each other, out of a desire to serve and enjoy one another? This is the essence of the reflection of Christ in the marriage.
“Without blemish”
To be without the stain of sin: faultless. It is the absence of anything amiss in a sacrifice or anything which would render it unworthy to be offered. The husband is to produce in the marriage a sense of blamelessness, separation from the world. Christ sees His church in purity, perfection, separate and consecrated unto Him. Husbands must see past the spots and wrinkles and be promoting holiness, blamelessness. Husbands must, through their leadership and Godly life, remove the signs of aging and wear in their marriage. They are placing their wives on display for all to admire. This is the true meaning of a “trophy wife”: a lively, Godly, submitted, vibrant woman that adores her husband as the church adores Christ.
Israel was constantly rebuked by God for acting like the nations around her. Our marriages are to mirror Christ and His church, not those of the world around us. The world seeks to destroy and separate which is the opposite of the church. That is why a Godly marriage stands out in such stark contrast to even other Christian marriages. Even within the Christian marriages, there is hatred and bitterness, an unwillingness to forgive and promote the other before their, own personal interest. Christ is not glorified in this and our homes know no peace, no one wins where sin reigns.
Eph. 5:28-33
Loving our wives as ourselves
At this juncture the focus shifts to what is near and dear to us, our own bodies. I have heard it said,” Christ does this because men are selfish,” implying that women are not. It is a bad argument based on a false premise. All mankind is selfish; Eve believed the snake because she believed God was denying her something she should have. Gen. 3:6 gives three reasons why she accepted the devils argument. 1. The tree was good for food. 2. The tree was pleasant to the eye. 3. To be desired to make one wise. Adam chooses Eve over God. The case could be made all sin is rooted in selfishness; but, that is not why a man’s concentration on himself is used here. One reason is if the man did not take care of himself he could not provide for his family, and the wife’s opportunities to provide income were limited, and mostly less than honorable. If he got hurt they were utterly destitute. Also, we are the body of Christ, which will also be explained here. So the wife is an extension of the man, they must work as one. Like a sack race, you either both win or both lose, you cannot do it alone.
Vs. 28
“So ought men”
It is reasonable to expect the man to do this. Here is a shift in focus, from a corporate approach, (the nation or the family), to a very personal approach, the individual.
“To love”
Again this is the root word agapaho, not agape, to find one’s joy in the object loved. This is a conscious act of the will. In verses 26-27 Christ acts out this love. He is not silent; He does not stand by and just watch. He is actively involved in the life of the object of His love, the church.
“Their wives”
Their own in particular, not all wives, just their own. This again drives home the point that the object of his intentions must be his wife. Good leaders draw attention to themselves by their actions, and can become convinced they can help others by their engaging personality. It will always end in failure because they have stepped out of their God given mandate. What is being discussed here is their personal private relationship to their mate, not their work environment, but their home.
“As their own body”
This is the one flesh concept. He is not to see them as two people, but one, even as himself. In the same way he provides for himself, he also provides for her needs. He would not intentionally harm her anymore then he would harm himself. His health is vital to their survival and so is hers, for she is an extension of him.
“He that loveth his wife”
This is a validating factor. If he can find his joy in her, care for her, dote over her, do what is best for her, lead her. That man, who through a conscious act of his will, is constantly striving to improve the quality of the relationship with his helpmeet; his corresponding opposite.
“Loveth himself”
The proof that he cares for his body, is in his relationship to his wife. The happier and more confident he is, the better the relationship. When he loves his wife, the same way as himself, he has reached an awareness of a sacrificial attitude, the pinnacle of Christ-like leadership.
Vs. 29
“For no man”
It would be irrational to conceive of any individual that would intentionally be self destructive. They do exist, but they end up killing themselves or living in a home for the mentally insane. The rational argument is that it would be insane to suggest that a man would hate:
“Ever yet hated”
To detest: to persecute. No man abuses himself, hurts himself, and purposefully makes it impossible to perform his needed functions. In the day this was written to do so insured, an early death. No-one would or could step in and care for you, they had their own responsibilities. If you got hurt your family had to do the best they could while you healed.
“Their own body”
The argument is: what benefit would an individual gain from self destruction? There are sick people who inflict pain and discomfort on themselves. The norm is to take care of yourself the best you can because a healthy body makes life more pleasant.
“But nourisheth”
On the contrary, a man will rear up to maturity, or train his body, ensuring its ability to perform all needed functions.
“Cherisheth”
To brood over: to foster, to place a high value upon something. Our health was and is vital not only to our quality of life, but our very way of existence. In biblical times, you would not have had men so obese they could not get out of bed, that to move them you need a crane or a forklift. Those people would die, because they could not help themselves. Only the very, very rich would have been able to become fat, because they had others to do their work for them. This is not just weight but any self destructive activity that threatened your wellbeing also threatened the wellbeing of your family.
“Even as the Lord the church”
In the same manner as, Christ over His called out ones. Each believer is nourished and cherished, foster and brooded over and brought to maturity. In a similar fashion, husbands are to be this way with their wives. You don’t take time off, you’re not too tired, and you realize the health and survival of your marriage is at stake. You brood over it; you’re constantly improving it, tweaking it, endeavoring to conform it to the image of Christ and the church. Sickness is not ignored, sin is not acceptable; your eyes and ears are always open, your mind is always sharp and focused. Christ is Lord of the church; it goes the way He leads. The husband is Lord of the home; it, too, goes the way he leads. Are your expectations reasonable? Is your resolve steadfast? Are your motives honorable? I can assure you Christ’s are, so ours must be also. No particular person is perfect, no marriage is perfect. To give up on your body would mean constant discomfort and early death. To give up on your marriage would yield the same results. Pressure and difficulty cleanse and strengthen both the body and the marriage; we should work through both with equal vigor!
Vs. 30
“For we are members”
We all have invested interest in, we are all extensions of. All of us that are born again share this commonality with one another. No person or group is more important than the other. There are differences on office, in gender, in age, and in gifts, but all are equal before God. We are forever bound to one another by the sacrifice of Christ.
“Body”
The church, a well established, well preserved organization. The church is safe, secure, protected, we as believers share in the wholesome, well established relationship with Christ; as individuals as well as couples. If your wife is born again, she not only is your helpmeet, but also a fellow heir of the kingdom and a member of Christ’s body with you. Christ takes that relationship very serious and so should we.
“Of His flesh”
Human body, but speaking to the passions, feelings, desires Christ shared with us. He took the form of a human being, with all its frailties and passions. He has empathy with our condition. He loved us so much He became one of us that He could do what we could not, live a perfect life and example in our place. Husbands, do you want to know how to be great leaders? Read the Gospels over and over, learn from Christ example. You see the mind of Christ written on every page, there is no better way to get to know him. Wives, do you want to know how to submit to your husband’s? Get to know the gospels; you see Christ perfect submission to the Father over and over again. He gave you a picture perfect example of complete submission without fear, or mistrust.
“Of His bones”
He was truly a physical man. He had the same physical structure as we do. He knows our thoughts, our feelings, our desires, and our weaknesses. He knows us from the inside out, because He cared for us; He loves us. So men, is this true of your leadership in your marriage? Do you know your wife from the inside out? Do you feel her pain, her joy, her weaknesses and strengths? Are you consumed with knowing who she is? Or, is your concern how well she does her job? Like an employee or a coworker. Christ knows us to our core, and He loves us anyway. How well do we as men really know our wives, and how important is that knowledge to our relationship? They say “knowledge is power,” if it empowers you to as a couple have peace, harmony, joy, Christ-likeness, why would you not put all your energy into that relationship? Here is a,” oneness of being,” unmatched by anything else on earth? In fact beyond the understanding of the world, which becomes our glaring testimony before them, this love and commitment they cannot obtain only observe.
Vs. 31
“For this cause”
The unique relationship we share with our wives and Christ is the cause spoken of here. The fact our wife is our responsibility, and we are to consider her as we would ourselves, and her every care is to be our concern, is the cause. We derive our joy from our relationship with our wife. Our fellowship with Christ is affected by our relationship with our wife. 1 Pet. 3:7, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
“Shall a man”
Shall is a command, not a suggestion. It is also a fact. The man, i.e. the husband, must, not should.
“Leave”
Abandon; forsake a pervious relationship. His priorities and responsibilities have changed. He is now a decision maker with others lives depending on him, and his commitment to them. Abandon in the sense that his old relationship and commitments are altered to except new ones. Not disregard or sever, for that would mean breaking the 5th Commandment to honor your parents. This means you change your primary responsibilities to now place your wife as you’re first and foremost priority.
“His”
His in particular, the focus is the man here. This command is directed at him.
“Father”
Authority figure: the man getting married goes from being under authority to being the authority. His authority is autonomous, in that no-one can come into his home and rule over his family, as we learned in verses 22-23 of this chapter. This does not mean he now has license to ignore or disrespect his father, but only that his first priority is his own family.
“Mother"
Nurturer: he is stepping away from the object of his love to a new love. His affections have changed; he now must focus on someone other than his mother. This is not to say he no longer shows his love and respect to his mother, just that she is no longer his first concern.
“Shall be joined with”
Glued; adhered to; cleave to. This is a different relationship than either has ever had before. No matter how close the family relationship is this is something new. There is a bound that defies explanation, because it is a product of God’s direct design and intent. No other human relationship can compare to the husband wife relationship.
“His wife”
His in particular: his helpmeet, his corresponding opposite. God has joined these people together and that makes it the ultimate bond. He will never have that same bond with anyone else, no other woman, no man, and no child. He may have other close relationships but none can match a marriage sanctioned by God. His life is forever changed. He makes the decisions now that affects her life also. He is out from under his Father’s authority and his mother’s nurturing. He has a wife who cannot be his mother, and is commanded not to be his authority, and who will depend on his ability to provide for them materially, emotionally, and spiritually.
“And they two shall be one flesh”
Both physically go through the sensual and spiritually bond, in that God recognizes them as one being. Whatever either of them does from that point forward, it affects both of them. They are no longer only concerned with themselves, but every action and every thought affects that God ordained oneness.
Vs. 32
“This is a great mystery”
A secret; something not easily understood.
“But I speak concerning Christ and the church”
Marriage is not a mystery, it is a fact, a command to do certain things, believe certain things, and think in a certain way. It takes effort and self-sacrifice. It is confusing at times, but satisfying and has achievable ends. Christ relationship to the church is beyond understanding. I could write a whole new study on just the unfathomable relationship between Christ and the church. We could spend the rest of our lives trying to fathom the possibility of the invisible church alone. Then if you add the relationship of the true visible church and how every member fits perfectly with every other member, and consider we have little to no knowledge of exactly who these other members even are. Sure you know or think you know, who are the true believers in your church, but do you know the believers in the next church down the road from yours? How about in another country, do you know all those believers? So how exactly do you fit together with all these people you don’t know? In light of this understanding marriage, pales in comparison to Christ and His church. Paul is saying don’t lose sight of the big picture. Don’t be overwhelmed with the do-able.
Vs. 33
“Nevertheless”
Shifting focus here, we have established what the mystery is; but now let’s get back to the reality.
“Let”
Again: a command to immediately start.
“Every one of you in particular”
A command to every individual husband, no-one is left out, no exceptions.
“So love”
Or in the same way Christ has so amply exampled for us. This is a conscious act of each husband’s will, to find one’s joy in the object of their love. There will be other things in your life that bring temporal joy, but nothing is to replace or take priority over your commitment, joy, and responsibility to your wife.
“His wife even as himself”
His helpmeet, his corresponding opposite, in the same painstaking, doting way he does himself. The same care, concern, interest he does for his own personal needs, he now is committed to do for her.
“And the wife”
This portion of scripture ends the way it started, with a command to the wife.
“See that she reverence her husband”
To be in awe: to revere, to respectfully fear. In verse 5:22 she was commanded to submit to her own husband because of his position and who he represents. In this verse she is told to reverence her own husband for what he does. Nowhere does any of this indicate either spouse being perfect and that because they are not your command by God becomes null and void. Actually, the respective commands of submission, love, and respect are regardless of the others personal failures; because you are accountable to God alone at that great and powerful day. We are all flawed human beings. The husband is to love and lead wife no matter how difficult that may be, and she is to submit and reverence him no matter how difficult that is. If their roles are reversed, or modified into some form of a partnership, then it is wrong, perverse, a rejection of their God-given responsibilities. We represent Christ and His church, how you do that determines your relationship to Christ. You can’t be on fire for Christ and reject His commands. You can be on fire for Christ and be a lousy husband or wife. But, in that case, you are working to improve and desire to do God’s will, just at the present time you are bad at it. There are other scriptures that further define the husband/wife roles that we can discuss in the future, but this ends the study on Eph. 5:22-33. May God bless you and give you wisdom in all areas of your life.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sabbath Is For Man, Man Is Not For The Sabbath
In Mk. 2:27 Christ tells us, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." I saw this not too long ago quoted by a man I highly respect, Dr. Bud Powell, in refutation of the Sabbatarians that would put undue legalistic restrictions on the Sabbath. Since I read that I have really been mulling it over in my mind as to what it really means and what its application is to our lives. It simply wasn't something that I had really noticed before, in spite of the many times I have read the Gospels.
In Heb. 4:1-10 the author of Hebrews spends some time discussing this matter. The Sabbath is a day that we were told by God was for rest and to be kept holy (Ex. 23:12; 20:8). So then, upon reading this passage, we see that the Sabbath is a shadow of what will be when we enter our rest in heaven. It gives us rest from our labor and time to focus on God and worship Him. Which is what we will eternally have when we reach heaven. "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." (Heb. 4:10)
The Sabbath, then, gives us a glimpse of what we will have when we finally come home to the Lord. It forces us to stop what we are doing, to turn our eyes to God and to cherish, worship, commune, and draw near to Him. For truly, when we reach heaven, we will finally rest from our labors. Then we will spend eternity worshipping Him in all righteousness; the curse of sin and death no more able to reach its wicked hand into our hearts. The Sabbath may only give us the barest of tastes; but, that one morsel on our tongue is savored throughout our lives and it never lets us forget where we are going to be.
With that in mind let us "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Php. 3:14) And may the Sabbath fix your eyes ever more intently on heaven until you are called home forever.
In Heb. 4:1-10 the author of Hebrews spends some time discussing this matter. The Sabbath is a day that we were told by God was for rest and to be kept holy (Ex. 23:12; 20:8). So then, upon reading this passage, we see that the Sabbath is a shadow of what will be when we enter our rest in heaven. It gives us rest from our labor and time to focus on God and worship Him. Which is what we will eternally have when we reach heaven. "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." (Heb. 4:10)
The Sabbath, then, gives us a glimpse of what we will have when we finally come home to the Lord. It forces us to stop what we are doing, to turn our eyes to God and to cherish, worship, commune, and draw near to Him. For truly, when we reach heaven, we will finally rest from our labors. Then we will spend eternity worshipping Him in all righteousness; the curse of sin and death no more able to reach its wicked hand into our hearts. The Sabbath may only give us the barest of tastes; but, that one morsel on our tongue is savored throughout our lives and it never lets us forget where we are going to be.
With that in mind let us "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Php. 3:14) And may the Sabbath fix your eyes ever more intently on heaven until you are called home forever.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Death and the Christian (Part 1)
Recently people I care about have lost loved ones. The death of those they cared so deeply for, moved me and caused me pain as well. Not because I personally knew those they loved and lost, but because I cared for them, I prayed daily for them, and thus I feel a small measure of their pain as well. On top of this I had a conversation with one of my own loved ones and their struggle with the idea of death and the pain that is caused by it. So as a result I desired to discuss it here.
Death is a reality. We are born and we will die. Ge 3:19, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." It is a fact of life. But it is not a natural fact of life. That is to say that God did not create man to die. It is a result of sin and the fall of man. Sin kills us. So in dealing with death we feel naturally averse to it. As we should. But that leaves us with how to react to it as believers.
The Christian has two things he must deal with when it comes to death. The death of himself and the death of others. Since I believe the more prevalent fear comes from death to self then let us deal with that first. (The death of others will be dealt with in part 2.)
In the book "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan we have a wonderfully true and accurate depiction of what the saints should feel as they are about to die. Mr. Standfast has come to the river, ready to cross over into heaven that awaits him, and begins to wade out into the water to cross over. Half way over he stops and this is what he says:
Saints must not fear death but relish the thought of finally being where they have been going. The trip was long and hard, the battles great, the energy has been sapped, and many are left behind. But when we see Him as He is all of that will go away. No more sin, worry, hunger, or pain. The only thing we are left with is to relish and worship our God forever with Him in heaven. The narrator of our story in "The Pilgrim's Progress" ends Mr. Standfast's speech by saying,
Death is a reality. We are born and we will die. Ge 3:19, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." It is a fact of life. But it is not a natural fact of life. That is to say that God did not create man to die. It is a result of sin and the fall of man. Sin kills us. So in dealing with death we feel naturally averse to it. As we should. But that leaves us with how to react to it as believers.
The Christian has two things he must deal with when it comes to death. The death of himself and the death of others. Since I believe the more prevalent fear comes from death to self then let us deal with that first. (The death of others will be dealt with in part 2.)
In the book "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan we have a wonderfully true and accurate depiction of what the saints should feel as they are about to die. Mr. Standfast has come to the river, ready to cross over into heaven that awaits him, and begins to wade out into the water to cross over. Half way over he stops and this is what he says:
This river has been a terror to many, yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me; but now methinks I stand easy, my foot is fixed upon that upon which the feet of the Priests that bare the Ark of the Convenant stood, while Israel went over the Jordan. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart.
I see myself now at the end of my Journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that Head that was crowned with thorns, and that Face that was spit upon for me.
I have formerly lived by hear-say and Faith; but now I go where I shall live by Sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself.
I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there have I coveted to set my foot too.
His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me has been most sweet; and His Countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the Sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings, He has held me, and I have kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in His way.What a wonderfully godly view of how we should perceive death and prepare for it as that day approaches. For Bunyan's depiction is in full agreement with the Apostle Paul when he says, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Php. 1:21) One of my favorite passages in the entire Word of God is when Paul says in 2 Tim. 4:7-8, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." This is the crowning achievement of our lives! This is the hope we all live in and for. For those that are saved there is nothing to fear for "we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9) He has defeated death so that we do not feel its sting... there is nothing to fear! Because of this we may boldly proclaim, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55)
Saints must not fear death but relish the thought of finally being where they have been going. The trip was long and hard, the battles great, the energy has been sapped, and many are left behind. But when we see Him as He is all of that will go away. No more sin, worry, hunger, or pain. The only thing we are left with is to relish and worship our God forever with Him in heaven. The narrator of our story in "The Pilgrim's Progress" ends Mr. Standfast's speech by saying,
Now, while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him; and after he had said, Take me, for I come unto Thee, he ceased to be seen of them.Perhaps we will not all have such luxuries in passing. But our eyes must be equally fixed on where we are going and rejoice that we will be there forever more.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Homophobia is a Lie
Phobia is defined as "an irrational, excessive, and persistent fear of some particular thing or situation; fear, dread, hatred." Websters New World College Dictionary, Fourth Ed.
So then, this word, homophobia (or more specifically the accusation hurled is homophobic), is used to claim that those that stand against homosexuality do so based on irrational fear and hatred. Yet this is not so, at least not for biblically inspired Christianity. We make our claims and indeed our every stand based on what the Word of God tells us. It has nothing to do with, or should not, the cultural currents and whims of man. Whether or not the world will agree and endorse our beliefs hardly can dictate whether or not we proclaim it as truth. In fact, it is almost certain that if you are proclaiming the Word of God to the world they will despise, ridicule, and persecute you. For we are told in our bibles that, "the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing." (Ps. 2:1) They hate you for speaking the truth and they fear you for condemning them in their sin. Thus in order to try and shut you up they use the tactic of the scoundrel and accuse you of bigotry by calling you homophobic.
Yet, the Word of God is plain on this matter. Not one single place in the bible can be found to testify to homosexuality being a natural act, thus it is a sinful choice; or to it being acceptable in the eyes of God, it is an abomination to Him. They have leveled every argument they can to say the opposite is true and utterly failed in their attempts at every step. For regardless of what they say we still have the plain truth of Scripture to light the way. Rom. 1:26-27 says, "God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." Pretty blunt and to the point. Not something that logically could be misunderstood unless one is blinded by their hate for God and hardened to His Word. We know when we read this and they refute it that the only possible answer is that "hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
Calvin says on this passage in Romans, "Respecting the judgment of God: he brings, as the first example, the dreadful crime of unnatural lust; and it hence appears that they not only abandoned themselves to beastly lusts, but became degraded beyond the beasts, since they reversed the whole order of nature." This is true, that is exactly what they have done as a result of their denial of God.
Their sin has caused them to hate God. Their hate of God causes them to sin in ever more decadent ways. Total Depravity is alive and well and shows itself abundantly true in this matter. In fact, the heart of the matter is this: they accuse us of what they themselves are guilty of. Perhaps instead of calling them homosexuals we should call them Theophobic. This is the truth of the matter. Let us view their argument in light of the aforementioned definition and in consideration of their view of God. They have "an... excessive, and persistent fear of [God and of His judgment against their sin]; [they] fear [God], [they] dread [God], [they feel] hatred [towards God]." The only word that we need to drop from the definition to make it applicable is the word "irrational". It is most certainly not irrational that unrepentant sinners that hate God and ridicule His people should fear Him. Not only is it rational... it is the only rational option for them. They must feel this way if this is how they choose to live their lives.
We should love them and seek to lead them to repentance that they too may partake in the love of God and drink a full measure of His grace. But in their current state they have no favor from Him. A righteous God cannot look down upon sin and be indifferent. That would make Him a complacent God of no consequence, a false God altogether. A holy God must despise the sin of the world and accordingly punish it; which He will do when He is ready. We must proclaim His truth and declare Him boldly to the world. Anything less would make the church complacent and a false church. We too must despise the sin of the world just as we despise it in our own hearts.
In the end, they may call us what they wish, it is a lie. They may try to self-justify their sin, it is fruitless. For in the end, the reality is that they are theophobic sinners that will perish in their sin if they do not repent and turn to God.
So then, this word, homophobia (or more specifically the accusation hurled is homophobic), is used to claim that those that stand against homosexuality do so based on irrational fear and hatred. Yet this is not so, at least not for biblically inspired Christianity. We make our claims and indeed our every stand based on what the Word of God tells us. It has nothing to do with, or should not, the cultural currents and whims of man. Whether or not the world will agree and endorse our beliefs hardly can dictate whether or not we proclaim it as truth. In fact, it is almost certain that if you are proclaiming the Word of God to the world they will despise, ridicule, and persecute you. For we are told in our bibles that, "the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing." (Ps. 2:1) They hate you for speaking the truth and they fear you for condemning them in their sin. Thus in order to try and shut you up they use the tactic of the scoundrel and accuse you of bigotry by calling you homophobic.
Yet, the Word of God is plain on this matter. Not one single place in the bible can be found to testify to homosexuality being a natural act, thus it is a sinful choice; or to it being acceptable in the eyes of God, it is an abomination to Him. They have leveled every argument they can to say the opposite is true and utterly failed in their attempts at every step. For regardless of what they say we still have the plain truth of Scripture to light the way. Rom. 1:26-27 says, "God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." Pretty blunt and to the point. Not something that logically could be misunderstood unless one is blinded by their hate for God and hardened to His Word. We know when we read this and they refute it that the only possible answer is that "hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
Calvin says on this passage in Romans, "Respecting the judgment of God: he brings, as the first example, the dreadful crime of unnatural lust; and it hence appears that they not only abandoned themselves to beastly lusts, but became degraded beyond the beasts, since they reversed the whole order of nature." This is true, that is exactly what they have done as a result of their denial of God.
Their sin has caused them to hate God. Their hate of God causes them to sin in ever more decadent ways. Total Depravity is alive and well and shows itself abundantly true in this matter. In fact, the heart of the matter is this: they accuse us of what they themselves are guilty of. Perhaps instead of calling them homosexuals we should call them Theophobic. This is the truth of the matter. Let us view their argument in light of the aforementioned definition and in consideration of their view of God. They have "an... excessive, and persistent fear of [God and of His judgment against their sin]; [they] fear [God], [they] dread [God], [they feel] hatred [towards God]." The only word that we need to drop from the definition to make it applicable is the word "irrational". It is most certainly not irrational that unrepentant sinners that hate God and ridicule His people should fear Him. Not only is it rational... it is the only rational option for them. They must feel this way if this is how they choose to live their lives.
We should love them and seek to lead them to repentance that they too may partake in the love of God and drink a full measure of His grace. But in their current state they have no favor from Him. A righteous God cannot look down upon sin and be indifferent. That would make Him a complacent God of no consequence, a false God altogether. A holy God must despise the sin of the world and accordingly punish it; which He will do when He is ready. We must proclaim His truth and declare Him boldly to the world. Anything less would make the church complacent and a false church. We too must despise the sin of the world just as we despise it in our own hearts.
In the end, they may call us what they wish, it is a lie. They may try to self-justify their sin, it is fruitless. For in the end, the reality is that they are theophobic sinners that will perish in their sin if they do not repent and turn to God.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
But "Trinity" Isn't a Word Found in the Bible...
Some have made this claim and followed this faulty line of reasoning in denying the trinity. And yes, it is true that you cannot find the specific use of this word in the bible. But that does not make this word not so or invalid. So, why do we use the word and how do we justify our use of it? Herman Bavinck discusses this very well in his book "The Doctrine of God".
He says, "As soon, therefore, as the data of Scripture became the object of theological reflection, it became necessary to use various phrases which do not occur in Scripture but are, nevertheless, indispensable for the twofold purpose of giving expression, albeit imperfectly, to the trinitarian truth and of defending it against misrepresentation and error. It is true that this use of terms not found in Scripture was condemned by the Arians and other advocates of various other religious tendencies; e.g., Socinians, Anabaptists, Arminians, and representatives of Biblical theology. Nevertheless, Christian theology has always defended it as proper and valuable. This attitude on the part of Christian theology is entirely correct, for Scripture was not given to us in order that we should merely repeat its exact words in parrot-like fashion but in order that we should digest it in our own minds and express it in our own words. That use was made of Scripture by Jesus and the apostles, who not only quoted the exact words of Scripture but also by a process of reasoning arrived at inferences and conclusions based upon these words. The Bible is neither a statute-book nor a dogmatics-text but it is the source of theology. As Word of God not only its exact words have binding authority but so have also all conclusions that are properly derived from it. Furthermore, neither study of Scripture nor theological activity is at all possible unless one uses terms that do not occur in the Bible. Not only are such terms used in connection with the doctrine of the trinity but in connection with every doctrine. Every phase of theological thinking requires them. The Christian's right of independent reflection upon the truth of Scripture and theology's right of existence are involved in this use of terms that do not occur in the Bible. Finally, such terms are not used in order to serve as means for the introduction of new dogmas that are foreign or even contrary to Scripture but in order to achieve the very opposite result; in order to defend the truth of Scripture against all error. Consequently, they have a negative rather than a positive function. They indicate the boundary lines of the sphere of Christian thought, beyond which it is not safe to venture forth lest one should sacrifice revealed truth. While pretending close adherence to Scripture, Biblical theology has drifted farther and farther away from the Bible; while the orthodox, ecclesiastical formulation of doctrine with its employment of terms that do not occur in the Bible has been fully justified in its claim of being scriptural."
There is a reason, and it is a valid reason, why we use these terms. The trinity is clearly taught in our Bibles, especially in the New Testament. To deny the doctrine of the trinity because we have given a theological name to the biblical teaching regarding it seems foolish at best. It is the same as saying that TULIP doesn't exist simply because we don't find that acronym in the bible; or, for that matter, that soteriology doesn't exist altogether because that theological term is nowhere to be found in the Word of God. If we excluded every theological term simply based on that logic we would have a dumb faith to be sure. The terms help us to understand and systematize the plain truths of Scripture. They are as necessary to your walk as the memorization of verses from the Bible. The trinity is real, it is taught plainly in our Bibles, and it is a basic foundational truth that must never be rejected and must always be embraced. If you deny the trinity you deny God. If you deny God you are not of Him. That is how important this is.
He says, "As soon, therefore, as the data of Scripture became the object of theological reflection, it became necessary to use various phrases which do not occur in Scripture but are, nevertheless, indispensable for the twofold purpose of giving expression, albeit imperfectly, to the trinitarian truth and of defending it against misrepresentation and error. It is true that this use of terms not found in Scripture was condemned by the Arians and other advocates of various other religious tendencies; e.g., Socinians, Anabaptists, Arminians, and representatives of Biblical theology. Nevertheless, Christian theology has always defended it as proper and valuable. This attitude on the part of Christian theology is entirely correct, for Scripture was not given to us in order that we should merely repeat its exact words in parrot-like fashion but in order that we should digest it in our own minds and express it in our own words. That use was made of Scripture by Jesus and the apostles, who not only quoted the exact words of Scripture but also by a process of reasoning arrived at inferences and conclusions based upon these words. The Bible is neither a statute-book nor a dogmatics-text but it is the source of theology. As Word of God not only its exact words have binding authority but so have also all conclusions that are properly derived from it. Furthermore, neither study of Scripture nor theological activity is at all possible unless one uses terms that do not occur in the Bible. Not only are such terms used in connection with the doctrine of the trinity but in connection with every doctrine. Every phase of theological thinking requires them. The Christian's right of independent reflection upon the truth of Scripture and theology's right of existence are involved in this use of terms that do not occur in the Bible. Finally, such terms are not used in order to serve as means for the introduction of new dogmas that are foreign or even contrary to Scripture but in order to achieve the very opposite result; in order to defend the truth of Scripture against all error. Consequently, they have a negative rather than a positive function. They indicate the boundary lines of the sphere of Christian thought, beyond which it is not safe to venture forth lest one should sacrifice revealed truth. While pretending close adherence to Scripture, Biblical theology has drifted farther and farther away from the Bible; while the orthodox, ecclesiastical formulation of doctrine with its employment of terms that do not occur in the Bible has been fully justified in its claim of being scriptural."
There is a reason, and it is a valid reason, why we use these terms. The trinity is clearly taught in our Bibles, especially in the New Testament. To deny the doctrine of the trinity because we have given a theological name to the biblical teaching regarding it seems foolish at best. It is the same as saying that TULIP doesn't exist simply because we don't find that acronym in the bible; or, for that matter, that soteriology doesn't exist altogether because that theological term is nowhere to be found in the Word of God. If we excluded every theological term simply based on that logic we would have a dumb faith to be sure. The terms help us to understand and systematize the plain truths of Scripture. They are as necessary to your walk as the memorization of verses from the Bible. The trinity is real, it is taught plainly in our Bibles, and it is a basic foundational truth that must never be rejected and must always be embraced. If you deny the trinity you deny God. If you deny God you are not of Him. That is how important this is.
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Conversation
“I am truly sorry my dear
That you can’t preach in here,
That there are other things you’re called to do,
Other things that God has for you.”
“Why? When this you desire?
When you feel called and full of fire?
Why when others have done and would do
And say it’s imperative for you?”
“Because my dear, the Word proclaims,
That other things should be your aim;
That you will be saved in childbearing
And in your home preparing,
The children for the world to come,
And caring for your husband some,
And instructing younger women too…
All of this He has for you.
A helpmeet for your given man
In the church a nurturing hand,
Ready to help and modest it’s true…
All of this God has for you.
Far too busy it would seem
To sinfully follow or pursue this dream;
Be content in what He’s done
Be a godly woman within your home.”
“O! I understand what the world says
And for your use in all things it begs!
But when can they ignore
What has been given from the Lord?
So worry not, I beg this day,
You’re vital to His church in every way,
Beautiful you are as He created you dear,
Yet your given path is abundantly clear.”
And true to form she walked away
Oblivious to the things I say;
This worldly woman bound in pride
Finds that her beauty has finally died.
That you can’t preach in here,
That there are other things you’re called to do,
Other things that God has for you.”
“Why? When this you desire?
When you feel called and full of fire?
Why when others have done and would do
And say it’s imperative for you?”
“Because my dear, the Word proclaims,
That other things should be your aim;
That you will be saved in childbearing
And in your home preparing,
The children for the world to come,
And caring for your husband some,
And instructing younger women too…
All of this He has for you.
A helpmeet for your given man
In the church a nurturing hand,
Ready to help and modest it’s true…
All of this God has for you.
Far too busy it would seem
To sinfully follow or pursue this dream;
Be content in what He’s done
Be a godly woman within your home.”
“O! I understand what the world says
And for your use in all things it begs!
But when can they ignore
What has been given from the Lord?
So worry not, I beg this day,
You’re vital to His church in every way,
Beautiful you are as He created you dear,
Yet your given path is abundantly clear.”
And true to form she walked away
Oblivious to the things I say;
This worldly woman bound in pride
Finds that her beauty has finally died.
A Response to Women Being Ordained
The previous post was a paper I prepared for a discussion in a bible study that I attend. One of the men in the bible study asked the question to a man named Andrew Wommack of Andrew Wommack Ministries. The response was typically liberal and sought to distort what the bible says in order to achieve a preconceived end. But judge for yourselves.
"1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
Note 6 at 1 Tim. 2:11: There is a great controversy in the church today over these verses. The contention has increased with the change of women's roles in society. There isn't a simple answer, but a subtle point in this passage should defuse much of the contention.
Paul is not teaching that women in general, are to submit to men in general (Col. 3:18). Paul is speaking about a wife not taking by force, the leadership role over her husband.
That is the point of Paul specifying that women should not usurp authority over "THE man." This singles out an individual man, not mankind. It refers to a wife not being her husband's boss. Paul is saying that a wife is to let the husband take the leadership role in the church (Eph. 5:22-24). She is to let her husband speak.
The word "usurp" in this verse further strengthens this interpretation. Usurp means, "To seize and hold, . . . by force and without legal right or authority." Paul is talking against a woman lording it over her husband. We've all seen boisterous women with timid husbands. That's what Paul is speaking against.
This is similar to what Paul goes on to say about the men in the next chapter. He told Timothy not to make a man a bishop who couldn't rule his own house. Likewise, he is saying that a woman should not speak in the church if she's trying to usurp her husband's authority. If a man's home isn't in order, he shouldn't minister, and if a woman's husband isn't in agreement with her saying something, she should be quiet.
The reason for Paul's instruction about the wife keeping quiet is to keep her from usurping authority over her husband. This does not forbid women to speak in the church if their husbands are in agreement.
Paul spoke of women praying and prophesying in the church services (1 Cor. 11:5). Priscilla instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26) and Paul instructed the older women to teach the younger women (Tit. 2:3-4). It appears that Paul does not forbid women to teach under appropriate circumstances.
________________________________________________________
Our letter continues....................
The Greek word for "woman" in the verse above is 'gune'. Here is the definition of this word:
1135. gun guns, goo-nay' a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman.
So then, Paul was referring to a wife, not women in general. Paul is dealing with a husband and wife relationship issue here and NOT an issue with women in ministry or being quiet in general!
Paul is talking about each wife being in subjection to her own husband. However, this is NOT a subjection of being lorded over but is one of the husband loving (giving himself for) his wife even as Christ gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:25). In other words, the husband gives first and then his wife's subjection is the spiritual/natural response, even in the same way the church (the body of Christ) responds to her Lord Jesus.
Otherwise Paul would be saying that all women (in general) are subject to all men (in general). That is clearly not the case!
Similarly, look at Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 14:34-45:
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.
Again, the Greek word for woman is 'Gune' or wife as it was above in 1 Tim. 2:11 above. This makes perfect sense because Paul says specifically in verse 35 that they should ask their own husbands. So, here the word "women" is plural referring to all wives and the word "husbands" is plural referring to all husbands.
Most of this has to do with the authority that is resident in man as God's natural order and that most people will still receive from a man when they might not receive from a women, due to some of the ways these doctrines have been applied. It is a shame that what Paul may have meant to only be used at the time to correct a localized situation has become engrained into being something which affects women in ministry in the here and the now.
Andrew also believes that if there is no man who is willing or able to do the job, then a woman certainly should fill that position and do the work of the ministry. It's better to have a woman in a position and the work of the Lord be done rather than have an empty position.
It is the fruit that identifies the ‘root.’ There are many men who claim to be pastors but have no fruit. They are not in their gifting. And there are women who claim to be pastors and are not. But, there are both men and women who have the fruit of a true pastoral calling in their life. If people are being fed and spiritually cared for and edified by a man or a woman, then that person is a pastor. There is the fruit to prove it.
It is not our position at the Andrew Wommack Ministry that women should not minister. To the contrary, we applaud it!
The bottom line is, Paul instructed us that we each are members in particular of the body of Christ. He also told us that in Christ there is neither male nor female."
This was my response to that letter:
"Gentlemen, there are a number or errors in here that are worthy of noting.
1) 1 Tim. 2 does not stand alone and can be found just as clearly in 1 Cor. 14:34-35, which clarifies that he is speaking to all women in context and that it is shameful for them to speak in the church. The issue hasn't changed as it relates to the bible and he is at least right when he says that the issue is prevalent now because of the change in culture. This has always been the established truth of the church and only in the last century has that come into any serious question. But since when is God subject to the changing whims of man? He is immutable or He is not. We are told in Mal. 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." He doesn't change, it is man that changes and God does not come along for the ride. We either submit to His Word or we do not.
2) The context that Mr. Wommack is trying to give to the verses in 1 Tim. 2 is not even logical. Paul begins by speaking of the men praying (1-8); then he addresses women in general about being modest (9-10); then he instructs them to learn in silence (11-13); then he qualifies their lack of character for speaking in the churches (14); and lastly, he tells them how they will be saved (be made whole) and serve (15). Nowhere in there does this relate to the institue of marriage specifically. Then after making those qualifications he goes into detail about the qualifications for elders and deacons which are exclusively addressed to men.
3) It is misleading to represent the word "women" in vs. 9 as referring to wives only and once again uses the word out of context. Context is of vital importance in the exegetical study of the Word of God. When we forgo context we can use any one of a number of possible interpretations into English in order to fit our argument without being honest to the passage we are referring to. The definition can certainly be used in the context of a wife (for instance in Matt. 1:24). The other definition which makes more sense in relating to the passage in question here is: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow. Contextually that is why we read "women" here and not "wife". He uses it out of context again in 1 Cor 14. The chapter is discussing issues and behavior in the church. In vs. 26-40 it is specifically addressing behavior in organized church services. In both passages it is intellectually dishonest to claim they are being used in the context of marital propriety versus church structure. They are not; although, there are other passages that do and should be used in support of this issue. The theme is continued about the general behavior and demeanor of a godly woman in 1 Pet. 3:3-6, "3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." These are not disorganized themes that run contrary to each other. They are systematized themes that are in perfect harmony with each other.
I read a great quote recently which I think applies very well to instances such as these and the interpretation of this passage in particular. The quote says, "It is absolutely necessary that the person who cultivates any branch of knowledge first of all and most of all study to be modest and humble. This applies especially to the theologian. He should not think of himself more highly than he ought to think. All knowledge is dependent upon its object; it has no right to falsify or deny the phenomena which come under its observation, not even in order to satisfy a certain preconceived theory. Thus, theology is absolutely dependent upon the facts and evidences which God reveals in nature and Scripture. It must allow these to stand intact and unimpaired. If it cannot explain them, it must confess its ignorance. God's will, which expresses itself in facts, settles every argument as far as Christian theology is concerned. For, Christian theology rests in God's sovereignty." - Herman Bavinck. That must be our standard and it cannot be deviated from for any reason; even if it is to satisfy our own personal feelings on a matter.
4) The matter of subjection or submission is indeed in the context of obedience contrary to what was written by Mr. Wommack.
In the original Greek it is one word and that word is ‘hupotasso’ which means:
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one’s self, obey
4) to submit to one’s control
5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
As a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". So, we see, it is voluntary to be sure and her doing so is more of an act of obedience to the Lord than to her husband, although the command is certainly that she is submitting to her husband. And yes, analogy of Christ over His church is also applicable. Yes, we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church and all that would entail. But it also has in mind the fact that the church submits to the authority of Christ as its head... its king.
Mr. Wommack says, "The reason for Paul's instruction about the wife keeping quiet is to keep her from usurping authority over her husband. This does not forbid women to speak in the church if their husbands are in agreement." Nowhere in scripture can he make this assertion and find support and it is quite frankly the antithesis of what the bible actually says."
"1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
Note 6 at 1 Tim. 2:11: There is a great controversy in the church today over these verses. The contention has increased with the change of women's roles in society. There isn't a simple answer, but a subtle point in this passage should defuse much of the contention.
Paul is not teaching that women in general, are to submit to men in general (Col. 3:18). Paul is speaking about a wife not taking by force, the leadership role over her husband.
That is the point of Paul specifying that women should not usurp authority over "THE man." This singles out an individual man, not mankind. It refers to a wife not being her husband's boss. Paul is saying that a wife is to let the husband take the leadership role in the church (Eph. 5:22-24). She is to let her husband speak.
The word "usurp" in this verse further strengthens this interpretation. Usurp means, "To seize and hold, . . . by force and without legal right or authority." Paul is talking against a woman lording it over her husband. We've all seen boisterous women with timid husbands. That's what Paul is speaking against.
This is similar to what Paul goes on to say about the men in the next chapter. He told Timothy not to make a man a bishop who couldn't rule his own house. Likewise, he is saying that a woman should not speak in the church if she's trying to usurp her husband's authority. If a man's home isn't in order, he shouldn't minister, and if a woman's husband isn't in agreement with her saying something, she should be quiet.
The reason for Paul's instruction about the wife keeping quiet is to keep her from usurping authority over her husband. This does not forbid women to speak in the church if their husbands are in agreement.
Paul spoke of women praying and prophesying in the church services (1 Cor. 11:5). Priscilla instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26) and Paul instructed the older women to teach the younger women (Tit. 2:3-4). It appears that Paul does not forbid women to teach under appropriate circumstances.
________________________________________________________
Our letter continues....................
The Greek word for "woman" in the verse above is 'gune'. Here is the definition of this word:
1135. gun guns, goo-nay' a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman.
So then, Paul was referring to a wife, not women in general. Paul is dealing with a husband and wife relationship issue here and NOT an issue with women in ministry or being quiet in general!
Paul is talking about each wife being in subjection to her own husband. However, this is NOT a subjection of being lorded over but is one of the husband loving (giving himself for) his wife even as Christ gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:25). In other words, the husband gives first and then his wife's subjection is the spiritual/natural response, even in the same way the church (the body of Christ) responds to her Lord Jesus.
Otherwise Paul would be saying that all women (in general) are subject to all men (in general). That is clearly not the case!
Similarly, look at Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 14:34-45:
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.
Again, the Greek word for woman is 'Gune' or wife as it was above in 1 Tim. 2:11 above. This makes perfect sense because Paul says specifically in verse 35 that they should ask their own husbands. So, here the word "women" is plural referring to all wives and the word "husbands" is plural referring to all husbands.
Most of this has to do with the authority that is resident in man as God's natural order and that most people will still receive from a man when they might not receive from a women, due to some of the ways these doctrines have been applied. It is a shame that what Paul may have meant to only be used at the time to correct a localized situation has become engrained into being something which affects women in ministry in the here and the now.
Andrew also believes that if there is no man who is willing or able to do the job, then a woman certainly should fill that position and do the work of the ministry. It's better to have a woman in a position and the work of the Lord be done rather than have an empty position.
It is the fruit that identifies the ‘root.’ There are many men who claim to be pastors but have no fruit. They are not in their gifting. And there are women who claim to be pastors and are not. But, there are both men and women who have the fruit of a true pastoral calling in their life. If people are being fed and spiritually cared for and edified by a man or a woman, then that person is a pastor. There is the fruit to prove it.
It is not our position at the Andrew Wommack Ministry that women should not minister. To the contrary, we applaud it!
The bottom line is, Paul instructed us that we each are members in particular of the body of Christ. He also told us that in Christ there is neither male nor female."
This was my response to that letter:
"Gentlemen, there are a number or errors in here that are worthy of noting.
1) 1 Tim. 2 does not stand alone and can be found just as clearly in 1 Cor. 14:34-35, which clarifies that he is speaking to all women in context and that it is shameful for them to speak in the church. The issue hasn't changed as it relates to the bible and he is at least right when he says that the issue is prevalent now because of the change in culture. This has always been the established truth of the church and only in the last century has that come into any serious question. But since when is God subject to the changing whims of man? He is immutable or He is not. We are told in Mal. 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." He doesn't change, it is man that changes and God does not come along for the ride. We either submit to His Word or we do not.
2) The context that Mr. Wommack is trying to give to the verses in 1 Tim. 2 is not even logical. Paul begins by speaking of the men praying (1-8); then he addresses women in general about being modest (9-10); then he instructs them to learn in silence (11-13); then he qualifies their lack of character for speaking in the churches (14); and lastly, he tells them how they will be saved (be made whole) and serve (15). Nowhere in there does this relate to the institue of marriage specifically. Then after making those qualifications he goes into detail about the qualifications for elders and deacons which are exclusively addressed to men.
3) It is misleading to represent the word "women" in vs. 9 as referring to wives only and once again uses the word out of context. Context is of vital importance in the exegetical study of the Word of God. When we forgo context we can use any one of a number of possible interpretations into English in order to fit our argument without being honest to the passage we are referring to. The definition can certainly be used in the context of a wife (for instance in Matt. 1:24). The other definition which makes more sense in relating to the passage in question here is: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow. Contextually that is why we read "women" here and not "wife". He uses it out of context again in 1 Cor 14. The chapter is discussing issues and behavior in the church. In vs. 26-40 it is specifically addressing behavior in organized church services. In both passages it is intellectually dishonest to claim they are being used in the context of marital propriety versus church structure. They are not; although, there are other passages that do and should be used in support of this issue. The theme is continued about the general behavior and demeanor of a godly woman in 1 Pet. 3:3-6, "3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." These are not disorganized themes that run contrary to each other. They are systematized themes that are in perfect harmony with each other.
I read a great quote recently which I think applies very well to instances such as these and the interpretation of this passage in particular. The quote says, "It is absolutely necessary that the person who cultivates any branch of knowledge first of all and most of all study to be modest and humble. This applies especially to the theologian. He should not think of himself more highly than he ought to think. All knowledge is dependent upon its object; it has no right to falsify or deny the phenomena which come under its observation, not even in order to satisfy a certain preconceived theory. Thus, theology is absolutely dependent upon the facts and evidences which God reveals in nature and Scripture. It must allow these to stand intact and unimpaired. If it cannot explain them, it must confess its ignorance. God's will, which expresses itself in facts, settles every argument as far as Christian theology is concerned. For, Christian theology rests in God's sovereignty." - Herman Bavinck. That must be our standard and it cannot be deviated from for any reason; even if it is to satisfy our own personal feelings on a matter.
4) The matter of subjection or submission is indeed in the context of obedience contrary to what was written by Mr. Wommack.
In the original Greek it is one word and that word is ‘hupotasso’ which means:
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one’s self, obey
4) to submit to one’s control
5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
As a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". So, we see, it is voluntary to be sure and her doing so is more of an act of obedience to the Lord than to her husband, although the command is certainly that she is submitting to her husband. And yes, analogy of Christ over His church is also applicable. Yes, we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church and all that would entail. But it also has in mind the fact that the church submits to the authority of Christ as its head... its king.
Mr. Wommack says, "The reason for Paul's instruction about the wife keeping quiet is to keep her from usurping authority over her husband. This does not forbid women to speak in the church if their husbands are in agreement." Nowhere in scripture can he make this assertion and find support and it is quite frankly the antithesis of what the bible actually says."
Biblically, Are Women Allowed to Be Ordained in the Church?
Ordination:
First, we need to take a serious look at the places in the bible where it discusses being ordained to office in the church. 1 Tim. 3: 1-13; Tit. 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-7. In all of these cases there are many qualifications that are given that one must possess in order to be ordained into church office and any of them can be a disqualifier. But one thing is clear in all is that the qualifications are directed to men, not women, but men exclusively. Acts 6:3, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men…” 1 Tim. 3:1-13, “1 This is a faithful saying: if a man desires to be a bishop, he desires a good work…. 2 The husband of one wife… 4 who rules his own house well, having his children in submission… 5 for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God… 6 he fall… 7 he must have a good testimony… lest he fall into reproach… 11 their wives must be reverent… 12 the husbands of one wife…” Tit. 1:5-9, “6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife…9 holding fast the faithful word he has been taught, that he may be able…” So that there is no doubt about the fact that the issue of being ordained to church office is clearly set aside for men, for not even in one single instance does it refer to women or present itself in an ambiguous manner so that it might be up for debate.
Issues with Definitions:
There are undoubtedly those that have rewritten some passages to fit with their desire to ordain women. An example would be in 1 Tim. 3:8. Some have re-written it to say that, “Likewise the women must be…” rather than “Likewise the deacons must be…” The original word was ‘diakonos’ which means “a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use; a minister or a servant; to run errands.” So that it becomes unclear how they can translate that into women. Furthermore, if it did say women we would have quite a contradiction with 1 Tim. 3:12 in discussing their wives. That, of course, unless it is to be believed that here the bible further contradicts itself and where it has banned homosexuality prior will now ok it. But as far as accuracy in translation and comparative study, the KJV, NKJV, 1599 GB, Amplified, NASB, NIV, RSV, ESV all agree that it is translated as deacons and not women. The only ones that seemed to take any exception at all with it were The Message (which changes it to servants but still keeps in the spirit of diakonos), The NLT which adds people in to the verse to make it more sexually ambiguous, and The Good News translation which calls them church helpers (once again not contrary to the word in question). That said, even where it doesn't stand opposed to the definition one has to ask why the last three versions mentioned would not just accurately translate the word as Deacons? Out of 25 versions of the bible I went to in study of this it seems highly unlikely that the actual translation would be women.
Prophetesses:
Then there are those that would cite the use of the prophetesses in the OT. While they were rare there were indeed women in that position. But why? In Isa. 3:12 the Lord speaks to the people on this matter and He says, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” The fact that women have been placed over them is an indictment, a judgment, of God upon them; not an endorsement that this is they way it should be. In Jud 4:8-9 Deborah rebukes Barak for not taking the lead and for his spineless character and lack of trust in what God had told him to do. She tells him he will have no glory, “for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” She does what he was intended to do but it is once again an indictment against the character of the men that it is so.
A Woman’s Role in the Church:
Then we come to the specific dictates of scripture in dealing with women in the church. 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:9-9-15; 1 Tim. 5:2; Tit. 2:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:4. The command in 1 Cor. 14, 1 Tim. 2, and 1 Pet 3 is that they are to be silent in the churches with the specific verses saying exactly that. “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. 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.” “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” So that once again this is not an ambiguous topic that the bible is unclear about. They are not to be ordained, they are not to preach, and they are not to pray on behalf of the church in organized services.
But what are they to do? Are they allowed to teach anyone at all? Of course they are and it spells that out too in 1 Tim. 2:15 (raising their children to the Lord); 1 Tim. 5:2 (teaching the younger women); Tit. 2:3-4 (teaching the younger women to behave properly and to act appropriately to their husbands and children). So that they have a function in the church as well but that function does not reach church office in any way.
A Woman’s Role in the Home:
Lastly, there is the ever present issue of a woman’s command to be submissive to her husband. Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1, 5. The words used here are “submit” and “subjection”. In the original Greek it is one word and that word is ‘hupotasso’ which means:
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one’s self, obey
4) to submit to one’s control
5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
++++
This is a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
It is apparent that this is a literal and voluntary submitting of the wife under the authority of her husband. In 1 Cor. 11:7-10 this idea is continued with man being the head of woman. But, since the bible is explicitly clear on this matter how can the husband be head of the wife in the home and the wife be head of the husband in the church? It creates a spiritual paradigm. For the two are not in unity with each other and thus problems will undoubtedly arise.
Conclusion:
All this said, it is clear that there is no biblical merit for ordaining women in the church and that to do so is actually a direct violation of the roles God has set up for men and women and their functions in the church. They are equally important to the vitality of the church and the home but they are different in application and purpose. We harm the growth and maturity of the home and the church when we buck God’s commands and try to use men and women for what they were not intended to be. As a result, doctrine goes to the wayside; the home is a mess; men become effeminate; women become ever more masculine in their personalities. Both become the antithesis of what they are to be biblically and the church suffers because we refuse to be obedient to the commands of God. This is not about women’s liberation and equality, it is not even about ability, it is about what God has prescribed in His word to be executed by man. Are we going to be obedient to that word or pay the price of disobedience at the hands of God? I leave you with Ecc. 12:13 which is my default verse anytime I am inclined to choose my own path against the obvious teaching of the word of God. It says, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Amen!
First, we need to take a serious look at the places in the bible where it discusses being ordained to office in the church. 1 Tim. 3: 1-13; Tit. 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-7. In all of these cases there are many qualifications that are given that one must possess in order to be ordained into church office and any of them can be a disqualifier. But one thing is clear in all is that the qualifications are directed to men, not women, but men exclusively. Acts 6:3, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men…” 1 Tim. 3:1-13, “1 This is a faithful saying: if a man desires to be a bishop, he desires a good work…. 2 The husband of one wife… 4 who rules his own house well, having his children in submission… 5 for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God… 6 he fall… 7 he must have a good testimony… lest he fall into reproach… 11 their wives must be reverent… 12 the husbands of one wife…” Tit. 1:5-9, “6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife…9 holding fast the faithful word he has been taught, that he may be able…” So that there is no doubt about the fact that the issue of being ordained to church office is clearly set aside for men, for not even in one single instance does it refer to women or present itself in an ambiguous manner so that it might be up for debate.
Issues with Definitions:
There are undoubtedly those that have rewritten some passages to fit with their desire to ordain women. An example would be in 1 Tim. 3:8. Some have re-written it to say that, “Likewise the women must be…” rather than “Likewise the deacons must be…” The original word was ‘diakonos’ which means “a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use; a minister or a servant; to run errands.” So that it becomes unclear how they can translate that into women. Furthermore, if it did say women we would have quite a contradiction with 1 Tim. 3:12 in discussing their wives. That, of course, unless it is to be believed that here the bible further contradicts itself and where it has banned homosexuality prior will now ok it. But as far as accuracy in translation and comparative study, the KJV, NKJV, 1599 GB, Amplified, NASB, NIV, RSV, ESV all agree that it is translated as deacons and not women. The only ones that seemed to take any exception at all with it were The Message (which changes it to servants but still keeps in the spirit of diakonos), The NLT which adds people in to the verse to make it more sexually ambiguous, and The Good News translation which calls them church helpers (once again not contrary to the word in question). That said, even where it doesn't stand opposed to the definition one has to ask why the last three versions mentioned would not just accurately translate the word as Deacons? Out of 25 versions of the bible I went to in study of this it seems highly unlikely that the actual translation would be women.
Prophetesses:
Then there are those that would cite the use of the prophetesses in the OT. While they were rare there were indeed women in that position. But why? In Isa. 3:12 the Lord speaks to the people on this matter and He says, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” The fact that women have been placed over them is an indictment, a judgment, of God upon them; not an endorsement that this is they way it should be. In Jud 4:8-9 Deborah rebukes Barak for not taking the lead and for his spineless character and lack of trust in what God had told him to do. She tells him he will have no glory, “for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” She does what he was intended to do but it is once again an indictment against the character of the men that it is so.
A Woman’s Role in the Church:
Then we come to the specific dictates of scripture in dealing with women in the church. 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:9-9-15; 1 Tim. 5:2; Tit. 2:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:4. The command in 1 Cor. 14, 1 Tim. 2, and 1 Pet 3 is that they are to be silent in the churches with the specific verses saying exactly that. “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. 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.” “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” So that once again this is not an ambiguous topic that the bible is unclear about. They are not to be ordained, they are not to preach, and they are not to pray on behalf of the church in organized services.
But what are they to do? Are they allowed to teach anyone at all? Of course they are and it spells that out too in 1 Tim. 2:15 (raising their children to the Lord); 1 Tim. 5:2 (teaching the younger women); Tit. 2:3-4 (teaching the younger women to behave properly and to act appropriately to their husbands and children). So that they have a function in the church as well but that function does not reach church office in any way.
A Woman’s Role in the Home:
Lastly, there is the ever present issue of a woman’s command to be submissive to her husband. Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1, 5. The words used here are “submit” and “subjection”. In the original Greek it is one word and that word is ‘hupotasso’ which means:
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one’s self, obey
4) to submit to one’s control
5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
++++
This is a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
It is apparent that this is a literal and voluntary submitting of the wife under the authority of her husband. In 1 Cor. 11:7-10 this idea is continued with man being the head of woman. But, since the bible is explicitly clear on this matter how can the husband be head of the wife in the home and the wife be head of the husband in the church? It creates a spiritual paradigm. For the two are not in unity with each other and thus problems will undoubtedly arise.
Conclusion:
All this said, it is clear that there is no biblical merit for ordaining women in the church and that to do so is actually a direct violation of the roles God has set up for men and women and their functions in the church. They are equally important to the vitality of the church and the home but they are different in application and purpose. We harm the growth and maturity of the home and the church when we buck God’s commands and try to use men and women for what they were not intended to be. As a result, doctrine goes to the wayside; the home is a mess; men become effeminate; women become ever more masculine in their personalities. Both become the antithesis of what they are to be biblically and the church suffers because we refuse to be obedient to the commands of God. This is not about women’s liberation and equality, it is not even about ability, it is about what God has prescribed in His word to be executed by man. Are we going to be obedient to that word or pay the price of disobedience at the hands of God? I leave you with Ecc. 12:13 which is my default verse anytime I am inclined to choose my own path against the obvious teaching of the word of God. It says, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Amen!
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