Text: Ephesians 5:22-33

Introduction:
  I. One of the most beautiful passages in the book of 
     Ephesians is the passage of Ephesians 5:22-33.
 II. Read the text.
III. There is several lessons that we can learn from 
     this passage.

Body:
  I. Authority.
     A. Christ and the church
        1. In all groups, someone has to be the head.
        2. Jesus is the head of the church.
           a. Ephesians 5:23
           b. Illustration of the body.
           c. The church is the body of the Christ.  
              Ephesians 1:22-23.
        3. The church is to be subjection.
           a. Ephesians 5:24
           b. The church is in subjection to Christ when 
              it respects, obeys, and remains faithful to 
              the word of the Lord.
     B. The husband and wife.
        1. The husband is the head of the wife.  
           Ephesians 5:23.
        2. The wife is to be in subjection to her own 
           husband.
        3. If the wife rejects the authority of her husband, 
           in reality she rejects the word of God.
        4. Except… Acts 5:29.

 II. Set apart.
     A. Jesus and the church.  Ephesians 5:26-27
        1. Sanctify - to separate. Green
        2. Cleanse - to make clean, to cleanse, in a moral 
           sense, from the defilement of sin …from the 
           guilt of sin.  Vine
        3. How? "By the washing by the word."
           a. 1 Corinthians 6:11
           b. Acts 18:8
           c. Acts 22:16
        4. That He might present it…
        5. When the church is unfaithful, it is guilty of 
           spiritual adultery.
     B. The husband and wife.
        1. The husband has been set apart for his wife.
        2. Likewise, the wife for her husband.
        3. When one is unfaithful, they are guilty of 
           adultery.

III. Attitude.
     A. Jesus and the church.
        1. Jesus loves the church.
           a. Ephesians 5:25
           b. Love - agarao (agaraw) - to love, value, 
              esteem, feel or manifest generous concern 
              for, be faithful towards; to delight in; 
              to set store upon.  Green
             c. active good will.
        2. His love was so great that He died for the 
           church before He had won her.
           a. Ephesians 5:25
           b. Romans 5:6-10
           c. Acts 20:28
     B. The husband and wife.
        1. The husband.
           a. He, although, he is the head, is not 
              dictatorial.
           b. Instead, he loves her.
              (1) Ephesians 5:25, 33 (Keep on loving 
                  or make a habit of loving).
              (2) definition of love - the love that 
                  values and esteems…  It is an unselfish 
                  love, ready to serve.  Vine
              (3) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
              (4) Own wife as own body (Ephesians 5:28 (31).
           c. He is to nourish and cherish her.  
              Ephesians 5:29
              (1) nourish - to nourish, promote health and 
                  strength.  Green
              (2) cherish - to cherish with tender love, 
                  to foster with tender care.
        2. The wife - she is to reverence (respect, fear) 
           her husband.

CONCLUSION:
 I. We have seen the same relationship that exists between 
    Jesus Christ and the church also should be true between 
    a husband and his wife.
II. The question that I ask at this time is are you a 
    member of the church that belongs to Jesus Christ?  If 
    not, you will have not have a better time to become a 
    member than right now.

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