Christ’s Love Ephesians 5:21-33

Love as Christ loves the church. With a submissive sacrificial love. Christ gave everything for the church. A home in heaven, to live on earth. His pride to endure the insults of man. His heart to endure the rejection of His creation. He submitted to the will of God and not His will. Matthew 28:39 His status as the Lord of heaven and earth to be placed upon an instrument of death for criminals. His life for our forgiveness.

Love as Christ loves the church. With a submissive sacrificial love. A husband must sacrifice everything for his wife. He goes to work to provide for her. He takes the time to teach his wife and train her in the ways of the Lord. “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”—Ephesians 5:23 He is not prideful or arrogant and puts his wife’s desires ahead of his.

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that’s not self-seeking. Jesus did not come for fame and glory. Everything that He did was to bring glory to the church. Ephesians 5:25b-27 Jesus did not come to be a tyrannical ruler either.

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that’s not self-seeking. The American Macho man philosophy is not a Christ-like philosophy. The husband is not commanded to put his wife in submission. He is commanded to love her. Ephesians 5:25

“Woman was made from the rib of a man, not from his head to top him nor his foot to be stepped on by him, but under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.”

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that’s not self-seeking. Submission or subjection in vs. 21 means— To place oneself under; to put yourself under one’s guidance or advice. For a woman to submit themselves to a man or for a man or woman to submit themselves to Christ they must believe that that man or Christ has their best interest in mind at all times.

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that brings out the best in a person. Jesus loves the church so much that He gave himself up for her as verse 26 & 27 states, “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, presenting her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless.” Washing through the word means as they were directed by the word of God to do so. Cleansing is always associated with baptism Acts 15:9; II Peter 1:9; and Titus 2:14

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that brings out the best in a person. How we treat our spouse demonstrates our love for Christ! And effects our relationship with Christ.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker vessel and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” I Peter 3:7

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Colossians 3:19

“If a man expects a woman to be an angel in his life, he must first create heaven for her. Angels don’t live in hell.”—unknown

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that brings out the best in a person. When we don’t treat our wives well, then we shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t shine like they are supposed to. They will become disrespectful. They will become angry, and spiteful. They will not be trusting, feel unappreciated and taken for granted.

Love as Christ loves the church. It’s a love that brings out the best in a person. Wives must strive to bring out the best in their husbands as well. Remember verse 33, “However, each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

“You are the daughter of the King, so walk like it, talk like it, dress like it, and wait for the godly man who treats you like it.”—unknown

“Choose to be with someone who brings out your truest identity in Christ.”—unknown

Love as Christ loves the church. With a submissive sacrificial love. It’s a love that is not self-seeking. It’s a love that brings out the best in a person. Will you submit to Christ tonight?