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If you were an Ephesian Part 4. Starting at Eph 5:22. Back to the issue of submission Directive – Wives, submit, do not resist, willingly subordinate – Gen 3:16 The G reek work Phobeo means to reverence or to be in awe of
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Starting at Eph 5:22 • Back to the issue of submission • Directive – Wives, submit, do not resist, willingly subordinate – Gen 3:16 • The Greek work Phobeo means to reverence or to be in awe of • Herein lies the problem – men don’t always give reason to be “in awe of them” • You are free from that responsibility
Men, Love your wives • The man’s role is to make it easy for the woman to submit. That he might sanctify and cleanse her by the washing of the Word • Through his actions, she is presented as glorious, just as the church, through Christ, is presented as glorious • Principle of leaving and cleaving (Gen 2:23) and personal sacrifice
Broader view • Do your actions make it easy for someone to love you? • Do you actions make it easy for others to submit themselves to? • You have some level of responsibility over others and their obedience to this scripture
Portion 1 – Christ’s Love • We were hideous, repulsive, and blackened by sin • As a result, we were unpresentable to the Father in Heaven • Christ gave His life to make His bride able to be presented to the Father at the marriage feast of the Lamb • The place has been prepared, but what will you wear?
Portion 2 – The Church’s Submission • The beautiful white gown that has been prepared since He declared “It is finished” is perfectly white • Your submission allows that gown to stay beautiful and clean • Habitual sin and a rebellious heart throw mud on that white gown • The only parts of me that still sin are the parts that I have not submitted to Christ
The revealing of the bride • Babylon the Great is fallen (Rev 18) • Economies, Monetary Contention, Striving for stuff, wanting more • Christ’s love has made the bride ready (Rev 19:6-9) • Christ defends His bride (Rev 19:11-20:15) • The bride descends – a place of union and communion with the Son of God for all whose name is written