Husbands, Love Your Wives, Even as Christ Also Loved the Church... Read more...

• Husbands, Love Your Wives - This verse Eph 5:25 which says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” is packed with meaning regarding the chief role of husbands – that is, to love their wives as Christ loved His Bride, the eternal church. Bear in mind that this is not merely a suggestion or a good idea – it is a command from the One Who not only instituted marriage but created both man and woman! as Gen 2:21-24 explains. Rev 21:2 also portrays the glorious wedding day which each child of God eagerly anticipates: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem [the eternal church], coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband [Jesus]”. In order for those of us who are husbands to fully appreciate the significance of this command, we have to answer the question, “How did Christ love the church?”

Gen 2:21-24 “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

• Even as Christ also Loved the Church, and Gave Himself for It - The Greek word agapao is used for “love” and “loved” in this beautiful verse: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Eph 5:25). This word agapao is used throughout the New Testament in describing God’s Love towards His people, as we read in 1 John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us” and 1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”. We must remember that Christ loved His people while they were “without strength” (meaning spiritually sick or dead) and were ungodly, sinners, and enemies in total rebellion against Him, as Rom 5:6-10 insists: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Rev 1:5 teaches that the Lord Jesus willingly offered up His life (typified by His blood) to wash away the sins of His people: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”. Tit 3:4-7 affirms that it is solely God’s mercy and grace that brings salvation. God commands us husbands to demonstrate the same type of sacrificial and unconditional love to our wives regardless of their sins, shortcomings, and failures. After all, isn’t that the very condition in which Christ finds all of His elect prior to salvation? May God bestow His grace upon those of us who are husbands that we might indeed treat our wives with love and kindness, “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

Eph 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it ...”

Rom 5:6-10 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Tit 3:3-7 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Gal 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Eph 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

• He Might Sanctify and Cleanse It With the Washing of Water by the Word - Let’s read Eph 5:25 and 26 together, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”. Specifically, how did He “sanctify and cleanse it”? The Greek word for “sanctify” originates from the word for “holy”, which means “to set apart as holy”. John 17:17 affirms, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. Heb 10:22 explains that only the pure water of the Gospel (the Word of God) can wash away sin. Once again, the cleansing that is being emphasized here is spiritual in nature as John 15:3 also affirms, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you”. In these marvelous verses, God again reminds us that salvation only occurs by the Bible, even as we read in Rom 10:17, “… faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. The “darkness” and “power of Satan” that underlies an unsaved person’s life are carefully delineated in 1 Cor 6:9-11 and reminds the believers, “such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”. The redemption that God has procured for each believer, by sanctifying and cleansing them by His own blood (Rev 1:5), by His Spirit (Tit 3:5, 1 Cor 6:11), by His Word (Eph 5:26, John 15:3) and by His faith (Gal 2:20, Acts 26:18), is the greatest miracle in this universe, as we see from Acts 26:18.

Eph 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

John 17:19 “And for their sakes I [Jesus Christ] sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

Heb 2:11 “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he [Jesus Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren.”

Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

1 Cor 6:9-11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Heb 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water [of Gospel].”

• Husbands Love Your Wives… Giving Honour to the Wife - The eternal, glorious church that the Lord Jesus will receive as His Bride is comprised of all those whom He has redeemed. The word “glorious” in “That he might present it to himself a glorious church...” (Eph 5:27) refers to her “glory” in Rev 19:7-8. God continues to underscore the sinless purity that He has bestowed upon His holy Bride. Notice that in Rev 19:8, she is arrayed with “righteousness” – the righteousness of Christ – which is how she has “made herself ready”. I hasten to add that this condition in Christ’s Bride was altogether the result of the work and faith of the Lord Jesus alone in order to complement His own sinless perfection! Here we see the greatest exchange that has ever taken place in this universe: The righteous God, Who is holy, pure, and sinless become unholy, impure, and sinful on the Cross. Simultaneously, we see unrighteous Church, who by nature is unholy, impure, and sinful become holy, pure, and sinless by the righteousness of her Lord Jesus Christ that is given, or imputed, to her (2 Cor 5:21). The absence of “spot, wrinkle, or any such thing” describes the spiritual status that has been granted or imputed to every child of God by God’s unmerited favor. Song 4:7 affirms this astounding reality: “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee”. 2 Tim 1:9 underscores why: “according to his own purpose and grace” and when: “before the world began” (2 Tim 1:9) this took place and Eph 1:4 reiterates the same truth. This wonderful truth should remind all husbands to forgive, and to forgive, and to forgive again and again and “giving honour unto the wife” (1 Pet 3:7). Once again, God is driving home the point to those of us who are husbands that we are to hold our wives in the highest honor and respect – and love them accordingly – as Christ has demonstrated.

Eph 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish ...”

1 Pet 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Rev 19:7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Rev 21:2 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Col 1:22 “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

Eph 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

1 Pet 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour [glory] unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

• So Ought Men to Love Their Wives as their Own Bodies - In the second part of Eph 5:28 God explains how husbands are to love their wives: “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself”. These are exceedingly important words for every man who has the privilege and responsibility of being a husband and he would do well to heed this vital principle regarding his relationship with his spouse. 1 Cor 7:33 succinctly expresses: “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife”. God has established that the husband and wife are to care for and please each other. In obeying these Scriptural commands, ultimately, we are pleasing God, as 1 The 4:1 teaches: “... how ye ought to walk and to please God ...”. In 1 Cor 6:19-20 God makes the following assessment with regard to every believer’s body: “know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost”. Keeping this concept in mind, Rom 12:1 reveals in which way our bodies are to be used: “ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”. As the divine institution that God established, marriage mirrors the spiritual union of Christ and His eternal church (Eph 5:31-33). That relationship is based upon God’s love and forgiveness, “... charity [Love] shall cover the multitude of sins” as 1 Pet 4:8 states. As husbands, we are to reflect the same humility described in Php 2:3-4: “... Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind ...”. The supremacy of love that we husbands should emulate is extolled in 1 Cor 13:4-7. May these words take root and flourish in our marriages and homes.

Eph 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

Rom 15:1-3 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

1 Pet 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour [glory] unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

1 Cor 7:32-34 “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife… but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”

1 Cor 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Eph 5:31-33 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

1 Cor 13:4-7 “Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

• This is now Bone of my Bones, and Flesh of my Flesh - In Eph 5:29-33 God explains why “ought men to love their wives as their own bodies” – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church”. Mankind in general has been intensely interested in his temporal body while neglecting his immortal soul. Because he thinks that his body is “all there is”, he attempts to focus his time, energy, and finances in satisfying and maintaining the needs and desires of his body, or flesh. This is also true for a child of God, however the motivation is different, as we see from 1 Cor 6:19-20: “... your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”, and in Rom 12:1: “ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”. In essence, one who has experienced the “new birth” wants every aspect of his life to be wholeheartedly devoted to the service of His Master. If he is married, this would include loving his spouse as he does himself because husband and wife have become one flesh – therefore, we read these words in Eph 5:29. What then is the meaning of nourishing and cherishing one’s flesh? The implication of Eph 5:29 is that we husbands are to nourish or take care of our wives as we take care of our own selves, both physically and spiritually, “… even as the Lord the church”. We will conclude this study with Rev 21:2, which declares the eternal destiny of the body of true believers – the Bride of Christ: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”. May God bestow His grace upon those of us who are husbands that we might indeed treat our wives with the greatest honor and devotion “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”.

Eph 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

Gen 2:23-24 “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Eph 5:29-33 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Eph 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”