Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 61

Paul Instructs the Ephesian Believers on Spiritual Warfare Part 2: Putting on our Armor

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. KJV

We learned from Dr. Luke (who was with the Apostle Paul on most of his missionary journeys) that Paul was compelled to go to Rome to declare the Gospel of Christ there, “When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’” (Acts 19:21). However, Paul was attacked by his fellow Jews while in the Temple in Jerusalem and would have been killed by them, but God stirred up one of the Roman centurion soldiers who went and broke up the violence against Paul, but at the same time proceeded to arrest Paul taking him into the barracks in order to save his life. Our Lord Jesus affirmed to Paul that it was truly His will for Paul to go to Rome as recorded again by Dr. Luke here, “Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’” (Acts 23:10-11). This was confirmation and comfort to Paul that he would get to Rome no matter what occurred. The Apostle Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome preaching the Gospel of Grace (Acts 28:30-31) and was guarded there by one soldier (they surely rotated soldiers) who around the clock guarded him (Acts 28:16).

Paul being confined for those two (2) year’s day after day observing the soldiers armor used for physical fights and battles, now uses what he sees to instruct these Ephesian believers and we believers today to arm ourselves for spiritual warfare saying, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). The English phrase “put on” is translated by the Greek word enduo which has the meaning of sinking into a garment of clothing; to endue or clothe oneself with something. In other words, Paul is telling these Ephesian believers and us today to with purpose put on battle gear for spiritual warfare against the devil just as an American soldier today puts on all of his military issued gear and equipment when going to Afghanistan or Iraq to fight against terrorist. The English phrase “whole armor” is translated by one Greek word panoplia which means full or complete armor. In other words, being armed with everything necessary to wage war to win being like an American soldier is heavily armed carrying gear that weighs 80-100 pounds or more in order to have everything needed on the field of battle. Paul was able to observe every day the care and effort each Roman soldier guarding him would take to put on every piece of his armor readying himself for conflict.

The English phrase “may be able” is translated by one Greek word dunamai which means to be able or possible: could, may, might, be possible, be of power. In other words, Paul knew that having the armor and putting it on and using it properly were two different things and that the armor of God would work in our spiritual battles with the enemy and his army at all times, but we determine whether or not we win by our obedience to put the whole suit of armor on each and every day, because the armor from God is powerful enough to defeat the enemy at all times, but the “whole armor” must be put on for God’s Power to be released to us in battle. Paul saw how detailed the Roman soldiers were daily in taking the surely long time required to make certain that every part of their body was protected with the armor given to them by Rome. The English phrase Paul uses “to stand” is translated by one Greek word histemi which means figuratively to abide, continue, or hold up while being under attack from the enemy of our souls. We having now placed ourselves on the side of our Commander in Chief the Lord Jesus Christ must stand or continue, strive, fight, and battle against the wiles of the devil and this English word “wiles” is translated by the Greek word methodeia meaning; traveling over, that is, travesty, (trickery): - wile, lie in wait or schemes and plots. In other words, we must be at all times armed fully to fight against the devil who is always lying in wait to use an assortment of his many tricks to deceive us and compromise our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness to Christ, and our self-control.

“Those who would approve themselves to have true grace must aim at all grace, the whole armor. It is called the armor of God, because he both prepares and bestows it. We have no armor of our own that will be armor of proof in a trying time. Nothing will stand us in stead but the armor of God. This armor is prepared for us, but we must put it on; that is, we must pray for grace, we must use the grace given us, and draw it out into act and exercise as there is occasion.” Matthew Henry

“The idea here is; that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not meet the Christian soldier face to face. He advances covertly; makes his approaches in darkness; employs cunning rather than power, and seeks rather to delude and betray than to vanquish by mere force. Hence, the necessity of being constantly armed to meet him whenever the attack is made. A man who has to contend with a visible enemy, may feel safe if he only prepares to meet him in the open field. But far different is the case if the enemy is invisible; if he steals upon us slyly and stealthily; if he practices war only by ambushes and by surprises. Such is the foe that we have to contend with - and almost all the Christian struggle is a warfare against stratagems and wiles. Satan does not openly appear. He approaches us not in repulsive forms, but comes to recommend some plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites us to pleasures that seem to be harmless, and leads us in indulgence until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 60

Paul Instructs the Ephesian Believers on Spiritual Warfare Part 1: Be Strong in Christ

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. KJV

After the Apostle Paul has written to these Ephesian believers detailing many things to them about their salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and praying for them on two separate occasions in this letter, and instructing them on their duty and responsibilities individually and to one another, Paul concludes his letter by leaving for last perhaps his most important instructions to them and all of us who would read this letter in future generations and that is on their and our warfare against the devil and his demons while we remain on the earth as pilgrims. Paul begins by reminding them that they are his brethren “in Christ” and that he knows first-hand of this conflict of which he is about to speak. First Paul instructs them and us to “be strong” in the Lord and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word endunamoo which means to empower: - enable, (increase in) strength, be made strong. In other words, the Apostle is here reverting back to what his very first prayer for them and us was at the beginning of his letter when he wrote, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Paul after declaring all of the truth of our inheritance “in Christ” now wants them and us to from this time forth or from now on (that is upon receiving and reading his letter) to wage war against the enemy of our souls the devil and his following fallen demons all and only by surrendering, submitting, and subjecting ourselves to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Mighty Power and strength. Paul also was looking through the lens or eyes of our Lord Jesus reflecting and meditating on the words He spoke when He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-30). Paul knows (by the Word of God and by his own personal experience) that the devil and his minions are defeated, destroyed, and decimated by the Cross of Christ and by His Shed Blood on that Cross, but he wants these Ephesian believers and us today to know it or be aware of this fact and walk in it by Christ strength and power, the only way it is realized in our lives.

Paul was hounded by the devil and his demons constantly always trying to hurt him and then kill him, but he knew that it was Christ power and strength that kept him and preserved him as he declared with these words, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ---always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).

As King David knew YAWEH or Jehovah as his constant strength and protector (in the physical sense) and prayed for His strength to be his on many occasions (Psalm 35), these Ephesian believers and we believers today must not try to fight in our own human strength (which is powerless against the enemy), but we must put on our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mighty Spiritual Strength in order to defeat the enemy’s attacks against us as Paul declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Paul is here reminding the Corinthian believers that our enemy is invisible and he cannot be defeated by human weapons for many of his attacks come against our minds where our thoughts and reasoning reside, therefore, it is beyond our ability to wage war and win unless we put on Christ Strength and His Mind to combat these spiritual attacks.

“To be ‘strong in the Lord,’ is: to be strong or courageous in His cause; to feel that He is our strength, and to rely on Him and His promises.” Albert Barnes

My own Personal Note: We are powerless against the attacks of our enemy the devil when we rely on ourselves and our own will power to resist him, however, when we do as the Apostle James writes, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) we can defeat him because we have no adequate resources of our own, but as the Apostle Paul writes, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

“Those who have so many battles to fight, and who, in their way to heaven, must dispute every pass, with dint of sword, have need of a great deal of courage. Be strong therefore, strong for service, strong for suffering, strong for fighting. Let a soldier be ever so well armed without, if he have not within a good heart, his armor will stand him in little stead. Note, spiritual strength and courage are very necessary for our spiritual warfare. Be strong in the Lord, either in His cause and for His sake or rather in His strength. We have no sufficient strength of our own. Our natural courage is as perfect cowardice, and our natural strength as perfect weakness; but all our sufficiency is of God. In His strength we must go forth and go on. By the actings of faith, we must fetch in grace and help from heaven to enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do, in our Christian work and warfare. We should stir up ourselves to resist temptations in a reliance upon God’s all-sufficiency and the omnipotence of His might.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 59

Paul’s Instructions to Masters/Employers in Christ

Ephesians 5:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. KJV

Paul now shifts his focus to instructing Christian masters/employers on how they are to treat those human beings that are placed under their authority. Paul speaks to them in the same manner as he did to the slaves/employees and that is that they the masters/employers are to reciprocate the same affectionate and conscientious behavior to their slaves/employees that they give to them, for this is the will of God and it is pleasing to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul being very knowledgeable of the Old Testament is drawing his words of instruction according to what Moses wrote to the people of Israel as instruction to masters of slaves after they came out of Egypt when he said, “You shall not rule over him with harshness (severity, oppression), but you shall [reverently] fear your God.” (Leviticus 25:43).

The Apostle Paul instructs them that they must be inclined to “forbearing threatening” to their slaves/employees. The English word forbearing is translated by the Greek word aniemi which means to let up, that is, (literally) slacken, or (figuratively) desist from: - forbear, leave, loose. Paul was aware of what our Lord Jesus said about the Gentiles during that time how the ones in charge treated all other Gentiles under them, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great one’s exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.’” (Mark 10:42-43). Our Lord Jesus was here addressing the question that came up between the first disciples of who would be the greatest. He reminded them that it was the unbelievers/Gentiles who desired to rule over others harshly with absolute oppressing control.

Likewise, Paul is here instructing the Christian master/employer that he or she is not to rule harshly over those who are under their authority in the same manner that our Lord Jesus Christ has complete rule, authority, and ownership of us, yet He rules over us by love never with threats to force us into obedience to Him. Note: “He does chasten us when we need it so we can partake of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:6-11). It is with an eye to Heaven that every Christian master/employer must conduct himself with his slaves/employees being at all times and always aware that they are under the Supreme Authority/Master our Lord Jesus Christ who sees not only all of their actions, but every motive behind every action. Paul is declaring to these Christian masters/employers that in the same manner as you exercise your authority over your slaves/employees is in like manner want you will receive from the hand of your Master in Heaven Christ Jesus our Lord according to the principle of sowing and reaping the Apostle Paul explained to the Galatian believers in Galatians 6:7-10. It is your love to Christ that must regulate, shape, influence, and order your dealing with your slaves/employees.

Paul concludes his instruction to every Christian master/employer reminding them of the unchanging, unwavering, and unvarnished character of Christ Jesus our Lord and that with Him “neither is there respect of persons with Him” (Ephesians 6:9). The English phrase used here by the Apostle Paul of “there respect of persons” is translated by one Greek word prosopolepsia meaning one exhibiting partiality, that is, favoritism: - respect of persons. In other words, Paul wants to make his point very clear to every Christian master/employer, that is, that with Christ Jesus our Lord, He does not at all look upon the persons rank or status or wealth or any other earthly position over another and there are no favorite sons or daughters of His as some earthly parents are inclined to do, but to Him all are equal no matter what they have here on earth or how they are viewed by people here on the earth. Paul made this same point in this manner to the Colossian believers regarding partiality and sowing and reaping when he said, “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” (Colossians 3:25).

“But masters must ever deal with their servants as liable to be called to account by the great Master of all. The center of all authority is Christ, and He will demand an account of our treatment of every servant He has sent into our homes.” F. B. Meyer

“There is something shocking to the feelings of all, and monstrous to a Christian, in the idea of holding ‘a Christian brother’ in bondage. So long as the slave is regarded as a ‘chattel’ or a mere piece of ‘property,’ like a horse, so long people endeavor to content themselves with the feeling that he may be held in bondage. But the moment it is felt that he is a ‘Christian brother’ - a redeemed fellow-traveler to eternity, a joint heir of life - that moment a Christian should feel that there is something that violates all the principles of his religion in holding him as a slave; in making a ‘chattel’ of that for which Christ died, and in buying and selling like a horse, an ox, or an ass, a child of God, and an heir of life. Accordingly, the prevalence of Christianity soon did away the evil of slavery in the Roman empire; and if it prevailed in its purity, it would soon banish it from the face of the earth.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 58

Paul’s Instructions to Slaves/Employees in Christ

Ephesians 6:5-8 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. KJV

During Paul’s time it was common for human beings to be bought and sold to other human beings as slaves. In fact, many people, Jews and Gentiles alike were born and raised by slave mothers and fathers and in turn they were slaves themselves all of their lives. Therefore, with this historical backdrop or background common place to the Apostle Paul, he now writes to the slaves/employees who have heard the Gospel of Christ and now have been born again and belong to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wanted them to understand that their lot or status in this earthly life is secondary to their new lot or status in Christ. We today who are descendants of African Mothers and Fathers here in the United States of America can relate to what went on in Paul’s day. African men and women were captured and brought to this country and enslaved and every child born to a slave African mother and father also became a slave. Today in America there is no longer slavery.

Paul’s instructions to those of us “in Christ” today are no longer presented as to slaves and masters, but his instructions do apply in the same manner to Christian employees and Christian employers. Paul speaks first to Christian slaves/employees instructing them to “be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;” (Ephesians 6:5). The little English phrase “be obedient” is the same Greek word Paul used above in instructing children to obey their parents in the Lord and that word is hupakouo which means to hear under (as a subordinate), that is, to listen attentively; by implication to heed or conform to a command or authority: - hearken, be obedient to, obey. In other words, Paul declares to the slave/employee that they are to be under the authority and command of their master/employer with reverence, revering, and respecting with internal sincerity treating their work for them in the same manner they would treat their work for our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.

However, knowing that their master/employer only has control over them in the physical sense and not control over their souls spiritually which belongs solely and only to Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave an illustration to the first disciples about faith and duty to Him and in so doing He used an earthly illustration of a slave and master as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “And the Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down to eat? But will he not rather say to him, Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17:5-10).

Paul instructs slaves/employees on how and where their service to their masters/employers should come from and that is an idea that they are serving our Lord Jesus Christ Himself by saying to them, “Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:6). Paul uses here the English word or phrase “eye service” which is translated by the Greek word ophthalmodouleia meaning sight labor, that is, that needs watching (remissness): - eye-service. In other words, Paul is declaring to Christian slaves/employees that they are not to serve or work for their masters/employers heartily only when they are watching over them, but instead they are to so respect their masters/employers and their work that they work as hard (if not harder) in the master/employers absence as in his or her presence. This is radically different behavior than many unsaved men and women view their masters/employers, but as the servants/slaves of Christ the child of God is to view their master/employer in the same light they see and view Jesus Christ, despite the attitude or behavior of the master/employer or whether the master/employer is a Christian or not.

Paul said the exact same thing to the Colossian believers but he added even a little more when he said, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:22-24). Paul declares that the Lord Jesus’ slave/employee should serve his or her earthly master/employer, “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Ephesians 6:7-8). In other words, once again, it should be the desire of the redeemed child of God to joyfully, cheerfully, and kindly serve his earthly master/employer because in his or her heart and  mind they are not serving and being obedient to them, but to Christ Jesus our Lord who sees their/our internal thoughts, desires, and attitudes toward all men no matter if they are good and kind to them/us or treat them/us with hatred or harshness as Paul declared to the Philippians how they should live and work in this world of woe with these words, “Do ALL THINGS without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16).

“What they do they must do cheerfully: Doing the will of God from the heart, serving their masters as God wills they should, not grudgingly, nor by constraint, but from a principle of love to them and their concerns. This is doing it with good-will (Ephesians 6:7), which will make their service easy to themselves, pleasing to their masters, and acceptable to the Lord Christ. There should be good-will to their masters, good-will to the families they are in; and especially a readiness to do their duty to God. Observe, Service, performed with conscience, and from a regard to God, though it be to unrighteous masters, will be accounted by Christ as service done to himself.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 57

Paul’s Instructions to Children and Fathers in Christ

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. KJV

Immediately after instructing the Christian husbands and wives, Paul now completes the instruction to the entire family by declaring to the Christian children to “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1). Unlike the Christian wives, the Christian child is to place themselves under the authority of the Christian father. The English word obey Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hupakouo which means to hear under (as a subordinate), that is, to listen attentively; by implication to heed or conform to a command or authority: - hearken, be obedient to, obey. In other words, the Christian children are not equal to the Christian parents in the home, but instead are placed by God the Father under the rule and authority of the Christian parents. However, the child that is born again and “in Christ” is equal spiritually in every respect as his or her father and mother. It is the structure of the family that the Apostle speaks of here that requires the children to live in obedience to their parents. Notice, however, the Apostle Paul again gives the only sphere or environment or domain that this subordinate/obedient way of life must be demonstrated by the parents and specifically the head of the Christian home the father and that is in the Lord.

Like the wife submitting to her husband is to be in the Lord, so must the children be under the authority of parents who are not only “in Christ”, but walking and living under His Authority and in turn ruling over their Christian children according to the will of Christ Jesus our Lord as He declared of the patriarch Abraham with these words, “For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach {and} command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19). Note: Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about Christian children obeying their parents, “The great duty of children is to obey their parents, parents being the instruments of their being, God and nature having given them an authority to command, in subservience to God; and, if children will be obedient to their pious parents, they will be in a fair way to be pious as they are. That obedience which God demands from their children, in their behalf, includes an inward reverence, as well as the outward expressions and acts.” This Paul declares to Christian children is the way the Divine Godhead ordained or ordered it to be in time. It is the just response for Christian children to give back to their parents for causing them to have physical life in this world. It is especially fit for the Christian child to obey his or her mother, for she has gone down into the valley of the shadow of death to give birth to them, having her physical body go through such drastic, demanding, and dreadful changes in order that they might have life.

Paul reminds the Christian children of the fifth (5^th) commandment by saying to them, “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3). The Apostle Paul is here referencing what Moses wrote in Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. The English word honour used in those two verses and here is translated by the Hebrew word kabad or kabed and the Greek word timao which means to make weighty; to prize, that is, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere: - honour, value. In other words, God the Father has designed that the Christian parents are to be reverenced highly by the Christian children, in like manner, as He (God the Father) is to be highly honored and valued by His redeemed children by virtue of Christ’s Blood. This commandment of God the Father’s comes with a promise to Christian children that their days will be lengthened here on the earth and that they will be happy and successful here on the earth. This does not mean that Christian children will be minus heartache, pain, suffering, and sorrow, not at all, but what it does mean is that the blessing of God the Father will be always and continuously with them/us all of our days on the earth as He (God the Father) through Christ Jesus’ (God the Sons) sacrifice for our sins and by the working Power of God the Holy Spirit will work all things together for our good here on the earth as we (Christian children) sojourn and pilgrimage our way to our true and real home in Heaven with Him our Heavenly Father. This is a Divine assurance from our Father in Heaven that every obedient Christian child can rest upon, however, it is not for the promise that we Christian children be obedient to our Christian parents, but because it is the will of God as we remember what our Lord Jesus declared to us when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) and “For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’” (Matthew 15:4). Far from abolishing the Law Christ and His Grace only reaffirms all that was written in the Law and by the Prophets.

The Apostle Paul speaks lastly to the fathers (as being the head of the household) by instructing them to “provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). It is the father’s responsibility as the head of the wife and the household to instruct his children in the ways of the Lord and not to frustrate them or infuriate them with legalistic rules and regulations that will not bring them in any way close to God, but they are instead commanded by God the Father to observe all that He has commanded as He declared with these words recorded by Moses written to the children of Israel (they hold true for fathers “in Christ” today), “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). The consequences of Christian fathers not teaching the ways of God the Father to their children can result in a tragic outcome within the family as was the case with Eli and his sons as recorded by the Prophet Samuel with these words, “Then the LORD said to Samuel: ‘Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.’” (1 Samuel 3:11-14).

Unlike Eli, Paul’s desire for these Ephesian believing fathers and us today is to train up our children in the ways of God the Father. Paul uses two English words here to explain what he means and they are nurture and admonition. The English word nurture is translated by the Greek word paideia meaning tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture. In other words, Paul instructs the Christian father to teach and train his Christian children in the ways of God by correcting and educating them in accordance with the Word of God using physical discipline when needed as the Proverb declares with these words, “Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13-14). The English word admonition is translated by the Greek word nouthesia meaning calling attention to, that is, (by implication) mild rebuke or warning: - admonition. It is the father drawing from the wisdom of God the Father through His Spirit and His Word knowing how he ought to handle every teaching moment (either with the rod of chastening or a word of warning) with his children from birth until they become adults and then have command and rule over their own children and in so doing they will be not like Eli and his sons, but as Job declares with these words, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.” (Job 5:17-18). Like God the Father with His children, also shall every Christian father be with his earthly children placed under his stewardship from God the Father and then will this Proverb be fulfilled in generation after generation of families with faithful Christian fathers, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

“It is the great duty of parents to be careful in the education of their children: Not only bring them up, as the brutes do, taking care to provide for them; but bring them up in nurture and admonition, in such a manner as is suitable to their reasonable natures. Nay, not only bring them up as men, in nurture and admonition, but as Christians, in the admonition of the Lord. Let them have a religious education. Instruct them to fear sinning; and inform them of, and excite them to, the whole of their duty towards God.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 56

Paul Parallels Marriage with Christ and His Church: Part 4 Husbands and Wives Are One Flesh

Ephesians 5:30-33 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. KJV

Paul now gives the reason why our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ takes such care to supply His Church with the spiritual nourishment she needs and desires to function in this world. The reality that each member of Christ Church is a member or a part of His Mystical Body. As Paul made the comparison to the Corinthian believers about the physical body of a man or a woman being like the Spiritual Body of Christ when he said, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body --- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free --- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). Therefore, just as we are members of Christ, so shall the Christian husband and his wife be so united physically and more importantly spiritually that they no longer operate or function as individuals, but as a unit, that is, a single undivided whole in every capacity of their marriage union.

Like our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ left the bosom of God the Father to so humble Himself by entering into a weak human body and die for His Bride (the Church), in like manner shall the man/husband leave his family (Father & Mother) and shall be joined to his wife. This English phrase “shall be joined” is translated by one Greek word proskollao which means to glue to, that is, (figuratively) to adhere or weld to: - cleave, join (self). In other words, once this union has been established it becomes immediately, instantly, and indelibly the most important relationship (of all human relationships) the Christian husband has here on the earth. Of course the Christian husbands most important relationship above even his wife is the one with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus reaffirmed what God the Father said to the first man Adam in Genesis 2:24 when the Pharisees asked Him this question, “The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?’” (Matthew 19:3).  The Apostle Matthew records the response from our Lord Jesus Christ with these words reaffirming the Father’s plan from the beginning, “And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.’” (Matthew 19:4-6).

Also, just as Christ Jesus our Lord came forth into this world of woe from God the Father (John 16:28), in like manner the woman was fashioned or formed from the man’s side after God the Father caused him to go into a deep sleep being a visible symbol of Christ death and then Adam’s awakening picturing Christ’ Resurrection and the subsequent birth of His Bride the Church. This parallel Paul is making of the Christian marriage and Christ engagement to His Bride (the Church) is meant as an illustration to Christian husbands and Christian wives and not as equal to and Paul clarifies this with these words, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” (Ephesians 5:32). Paul here wants there to be know confusion in the minds of these Ephesian believers and us today as to his parallel here being simply, sweetly, and solely an illustration of Christ Spiritual connection with His Bride (the Church) collectively and with each individual member of His Body.

The reason Paul writes then that this is a great mystery was that during Israel’s history, there were men like Moses, King David, Sampson, Gideon, Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc., yet despite having the Power of the Holy Spirit come upon them so that great mighty and miraculous things were done at their word, none of them had God the Holy Spirit indwell them whereby they had this close, constant, and confidant union and intimacy with the Father as Christ Bride the Church does today. Likewise, this is a great mystery today and forever, that a Pure, Perfect, and Powerful One True God would inhabit such sinful creatures as we are loving us while we were sinners and working “in us” (Philippians 1:6) to conform us or change us into the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s purpose from the beginning of his preaching on this subject of marriage is ended where he began reaffirming to each spouse their roles and responsibilities to one another by saying, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33). The Christian husband that loves his wife as Christ loves His Church will always have the ear of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:7) and the Christian wife that submits willingly to the headship of her husband will at all times be very precious in the heart and mind of God the Father (1 Peter 3:4).

My own Personal Note: “Although I have no personal experiential practice in so loving a Sister ‘in Christ’ as Paul here lines out for us, however, I do have personal experiential practice in so loving my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and just as I grieve every time I behave, act, and live in a manner in opposition to His Word, so I and any Christian husband should be sorrowful and saddened to cause the wife he has declared his love to and devotion to any feelings of neglect or nervousness not wanting even to be in the presence of her husband.”

“The husband is to love his wife, the wife to obey and venerate her husband; love and protection on the one hand, affectionate subjection and fidelity on the other. The husband should provide for his wife without encouraging profuseness; watch over her conduct without giving her vexation; keep her in subjection without making her a slave; love her without jealousy; oblige her without flattery; honor her without making her proud; and be hers entirely, without becoming either her footman or her slave. In short, they have equal rights and equal claims; but superior strength gives the man dominion, affection and subjection entitle the woman to love and protection. Without the woman, man is but half a human being; in union with the man, the woman finds her safety and perfection.” Adam Clarke

“Wives should manifest such a character as to be worthy of love. They owe this to their husbands. They demand the confidence and affection of man; and they should show that they are worthy of that confidence and affection. It is not possible to love that which is unlovely, nor to force affection where it is undeserved; and, as a wife expects that a husband will love her more than he does any other earthly being, it is but right that she should evince such a spirit as shall make that proper. A wife may easily alienate the affections of her partner in life. If she is irritable and fault-finding; if none of his ways please her; if she takes no interest in his plans, and in what he does; if she forsakes her home when she should he there, and seeks happiness abroad; or if, at home, she never greets him with a smile; if she is wasteful of his earnings, and extravagant in her habits, it will be impossible to prevent the effects of such a course of life on his mind. And when a wife perceives the slightest evidence of alienated affection in her husband, she should inquire at once whether she has not given occasion for it, and exhibited such a spirit as tended inevitably to produce such a result.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 55

Paul Parallels Marriage with Christ and His Church: Part 3 Exhortation to Husbands on how to Love their Wives

Ephesians 5:28-29 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: KJV

Paul not only exhorts or to be real here commands men to love their wives just as Christ loves the Church, but now he tells them how they should love them or in essence the mindset that Christian husbands should have for expressing proper love to them. Paul’s exhortation here is not something that any could misinterpret or have differing opinions on, but it is clear and direct. The Christian husband is to so love his wife as he loves his own body. No born again man “in Christ” would despise his own physical body for it is the only one that he has, so in like manner his Christian wife is the only one he has as his helper, therefore, she should be treated like he would treat his own flesh for we know from the Scripture that this was and is the plan of God the Father from the very beginning as we see the first man’s (Adam’s) reaction when the Father brought to him the first woman, “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to 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.’” (Genesis 2:20-23).

We see that the woman’s flesh was crafted and formed from the flesh of the man and this is Paul’s reason for exhorting Christian husbands to love their wives as their own flesh. Paul even goes own to strengthen his exhortation to the Christian husbands by declaring that true selfless, giving, guarding, intense emotional, and passionate love for his wife is the only true indication that this man loves himself, not in an arrogant manner filling himself with pride having an inflated ego, but having a confident sense of respect for himself and knowing how much he is loved by Christ Jesus our Lord, therefore, seeing himself humbly dependent upon Christ to function as he should in the world and to his wife and children. The love that Christ Jesus had for His future bride compelled Him to leave the Glories of Heaven and come into this sinful world of woe and put Himself into a weak human body, then suffer rejection, ridicule, and resentment from His own creation and die on a cross to join Himself to His Bride. The love our Lord Jesus has for His Bride compels Him to make intercession for her continually while protecting her from Satan’s assaults against her, then constantly loving and forgiving her as He washing her consistently with the water of His Word preparing her for the wedding marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). Note: “It is a common saying with the Jews, that a man’s wife is, ‘as his own body’; and it is one of the precepts of their wise men, that a man should honor his wife more than his body, and ‘love her as his body’; for as they also say, they are but one body; the Apostle seems to speak in the language of his countrymen.” (Dr. John Gill).

The idea Paul is putting forth here is summed up in his next statement and how true it is that no man of sanity hates his own body to the point where he would abuse it or treat it badly, well then, if he understands that his wife has come from his own flesh, then she is to be nourished and nurtured by him as he does with his own physical body. No matter the scars, warts, or any other such imperfections on his flesh every sane man cares for tenderly his body and attends to it with much time, effort, and love to make it as good and comfortable as possible, this is exactly Christian husband what you must endeavor to do daily for the “bone of your bone” and “flesh of your flesh” your wife which Christ Jesus our Lord gave to you. This is exactly what our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ does daily for His Bride “the Church” furnishing her with His unconditional love and everything down on the earth that is conducive to her physical and spiritual happiness, health, and holiness.

My own Personal Note: “The Christian marriage is unique and distinct from all marriages of non-Christians because Jesus Christ is a part of this union, therefore, it is the Christian husband’s responsibility to always place himself under the Headship of Jesus Christ submitting to His Authority, so that he will be nourished by the Holy Spirit internally is his inner man, then and only then will he be able to nourish his wife as he would his own flesh. This can only happen when the life of Christ is ruling and reigning supreme within the husband by him eating Christ Flesh and drinking His Blood moment by moment each and every day as our Lord Jesus said Himself with these words, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.’” (John 6:53-57).

“This is the subject on which Paul had been speaking, and from which he had been diverted by the allusion to the Glorified Church. The doctrine here is, that a husband should have the same care for the comfort of his wife which he has for himself. He should regard her as one with himself; and as he protects his own body from cold and hunger, and, when sick and suffering, endeavors to restore it to health, so he should regard and treat her. Because she is one with him, and their interests are identified. Because, by this, he really promotes his own welfare, as much as he does when he takes care of his own body. A man’s kindness to his wife will be more than repaid by the happiness which she imparts; and all the real solicitude which he shows to make her happy, will come to more than it costs. If a man wishes to promote his own happiness in the most effectual way, he had better begin by showing kindness to his wife.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 54

Paul Parallels Marriage with Christ and His Church: Part 2 Exhortation to the Husbands

Ephesians 5:25-27 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. KJV

If Christian women thought Paul was requiring of them something that seemed to be impossible, impractical, and inconceivable (even during his day) and especially in this “so-called” modern culture today, then Paul immediately gives the qualifier for all Christian women and that is “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25). A wife who has a husband that loves our Lord Jesus Christ and aims and purposes his life dedicated to loving his wife as our Lord Jesus Christ loves him, then that wife would be so willing to submit to that type of love, that submission would not be a drudgery or demeaning, and certainly not degrading, but it would be thrilling for her to receive such love on a daily basis that she could do nothing but return said love in kind to him. Paul declares to these Ephesian believers and to all believing husbands today “in Christ” the much harder and more difficult of his exhortations, because no Christian man has within himself the ability to love his wife as Christ loves His Bride the Church. Only when the husband partners with God the Holy Spirit can this ever be achieved and carried out in his home, therefore, this requires the husband’s submission to God the Holy Spirit before his wife ever submits to him.

The affection the husband has for his wife is to be supreme, superior, and sovereign over and above all of his other relationships to the degree our Heavenly Father gave us when He spoke these words early on after He created man and woman, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24). Note: Here is what Matthew Henry said of this parallel or comparison of Christ Love for His Church and a man’s love for his wife, “The love of Christ to the Church is proposed as an example of this, which love of His is a sincere, a pure, an ardent, and constant affection, and that notwithstanding the imperfections and failures that she is guilty of. The greatness of His love to the Church appeared in His Giving Himself unto the death for it. Observe, As the Church’s subjection to Christ is proposed as an exemplar to wives, so the love of Christ to His Church is proposed as a pattern to husbands; and while such exemplars are offered to both, and so much is required of each, neither has reason to complain of the divine injunctions. The love which God requires from the husband in behalf of his wife will make amends for the subjection which He demands from her to her husband; and the prescribed subjection of the wife will be an abundant return for that love of the husband which God has made her due.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is never not caring for and concerned with and considering all that He can do for the betterment of His Bride the Church and so must a Christian husband have a solicitude (a feeling of excessive concern) for his wife the “bone of his bone” and the “flesh of his flesh” (Genesis 2:23) as the first man Adam declared when he first saw Eve. Christ Jesus our Lord willingly gave Himself up for His Bride the Church as a sacrifice unto God the Father and so is the exhortation or command to Christian husbands to so love their wives as to give themselves over and up to them as a sacrifice unto to her surrendering on many and most occasions their wants to please their wives in every way or manner, not merely sexually (although that must be a top priority) always rendering to her the sexual pleasing and pleasure she is due as his only lover, but he must listen to his wife and learn her deepest needs and desires while at the very same time covering her sins and faults as love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10:12 & James 5:20). Paul declares that Christ Jesus our Lord is determined “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” (Ephesians 5:26) and it is certain that He will accomplish this task. In Paul’s parallel of Christ to His Church and the Christian husband to his wife, he wants these Ephesian believers and the Christian husbands today to recognize and understand that it is their top priority (exactly as our Lord Jesus’ priority) to be a sanctifying and cleansing influence spiritually upon their wives as our Lord Jesus is with His Church.

The Christian husband should be the Priest or Pastor of his home lovingly leading his wife according to the Word of God. Therefore, the husband cannot afford to be ignorant of the Word of God or ignore the precepts in the Word of God, but he must constantly allow the Word of God to convict him, cover him, and cause him to walk and live by its direction, then he will be able to have his own weaknesses cleansed and in turn help his wife be cleansed of her weaknesses by the spiritual bathing of the Word of God upon their souls. This is exactly what our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ does every moment with His Church collectively as a Body and individually as members of His Body as He prayed to God the Father with these words, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17). When the Christian husband says, “I do”, he is saying “I do pledge my love so to you unconditionally as to always do everything within my power to draw love from you to me by virtue of my actions to you.” Just as the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses His Bride the Church from ALL sin (1 John 1:7), so must the love of the Christian husband to his wife have a cleansing efficacy, that is, the capacity or power to produce the desired effect upon the faults of his wife.

Christ will present to God the Father and to Himself a Bride completely clean spiritually as Paul declares with these words, “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.” (Ephesians 5:27). The old nature still present and prevalent within the heart and soul of every member of Christ’ Body His Bride the Church is what He is cleansing and sanctifying by the washing spiritually in His Word in order to crucify that old flesh progressively more and more until He takes His Bride to Himself and then completely glorifies her. Note: “The Church in general, and particular believers, will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to Glory. From this and the former verse together we may take notice that the glorifying of the Church is intended in the sanctifying of it: and that those, and those only, who are sanctified now, will be glorified hereafter.” (Matthew Henry). We know that none in our Lord Jesus’ Church will be completely spotless and having no blemishes, but what each of us will witness is the decaying, dying, and deteriorating of our outer man (the tent, the house, the earthly bodies we reside in now) at the very same time having our inner man and inner woman being renewed day by day by that washing of water by the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:16) that we will at last be presented to our Heavenly Husband Christ Jesus holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight (Colossians 1:22).

“What a lofty ideal of wedded love is here! Chrysostom says: ‘Wouldest thou that thy wife obey thee as the Church doth Christ? Have care for her, then, as Christ for the Church.’ Our earthly relationships are similitudes and emblems of sacred realities, and the more we can import into the time sphere the inspiration and virtue of the eternal, the more transcendental and beautiful will they become. The Lord has taught us the utter renunciation of love. Men of the world reckon how much love they can get; the children of eternity how much they can give; but such giving always means getting back with compound interest.” F. B. Meyer”

“‘Love your wives, even as the Christ loved the Church.’ What a glory this confers upon the husband’s part in marriage! His devotion pictures as no other love can, the devotion of Christ to His Redeemed people. His love must therefore be a spiritual passion, the love of soul to soul, that partakes of God and of eternity. Of the three Greek words for love, eros, familiar in Greek poetry and mythology, denoting the flame of sexual passion, is not named in the New Testament; philia, the love of friendship, is tolerably frequent, in its verb at least; but agape absorbs the former and transcends both. This exquisite word denotes love in its spiritual purity and depth, the love of God and of Christ, and of souls to each other in God. This is the specific Christian affection. It is the attribute of God who ‘loved the world and gave His Son the Only-begotten’ of ‘the Christ’ who ‘loved the Church and gave up Himself for her.’ Self-devotion, not self-satisfaction, is its note. Its strength and authority it uses as material for sacrifice and instruments of service, not as prerogatives of pride or titles to enjoyment. Let this mind be in you, O husband, toward your wife, which was also in Christ Jesus, who was meek and lowly in heart, counting it His honor to serve and His reward to save and bless.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…