Biblical Relationships Grace Fellowship Church May 22, 2009 Pastor Teacher, Jim Rickard www.GraceDoctrine.org

Part 3 Role of the Husband Eph 5:25-33

The Failure of the Man 1) The Problem of Indifference 2) The Problem of Self Absorbed Arrogance 3) The Problem of Avoiding Accountability 4) The Problem of Prosperity

1 Cor 7:3, “Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”

Three Divine rules designed to produce virtue in marriage: 1 Three Divine rules designed to produce virtue in marriage: 1. Husbands love your wives, Eph 5:25. 2. Wives obey your husbands, Col 3:18. 3. Husbands and wives forgive each other as Christ forgave us, Eph 4:32.

1 Peter 3:7 KJV, “Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

God’s design for marriage gave the husband the authority in the relationship but does not mean the woman is an inferior creature; it is just God’s Plan for our protection and happiness.

The man exercises that authority through leadership rather than tyranny.

1 Cor 11:3, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

1 Peter 3:5-6, “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

The authority of the husband is designed to enforce divine policy, to protect, care for, and cherish the wife in marriage, (rather than to change her personality), and be a spiritual leader.

The Self Sacrificial / Virtue Analogy to Marriage, Eph 5:25:

The Self Sacrificial / Virtue Analogy to Marriage, Eph 5:25: Husbands must possess at least three characteristics to make a marriage successful: Virtue-Love, Spiritual Self-Esteem (SSE), A Sense of Responsibility.

Without impersonal love the husband cannot fulfill this command to love his wife.

Success in marriage demands that impersonal love be developed prior to marriage, if possible.

The Sanctification Analogy, Eph 5:26:

The Sanctification Analogy, Eph 5:26: Sanctification means being set apart. The Believer is set apart to an eternal union with Christ, just as the wife is set apart from her family to enter into a life long union with her husband.

Purification = the husband is to take away the sins of his wife by:

Purification = the husband is to take away the sins of his wife by: 1) Protecting her soul from sins and sinning.

Purification = the husband is to take away the sins of his wife by: 1) Protecting her soul from sins and sinning. 2) Not holding her sins against her.

Purification = the husband is to take away the sins of his wife by: 3) Not making her pay for her sins, and

Purification = the husband is to take away the sins of his wife by: 3) Not making her pay for her sins, and 4) Covering her sins from exposure to the world.

Col 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and stop being bitter against them.”

The Purification Analogy, Eph 5:27:

The Purification Analogy, Eph 5:27: Just as Jesus Christ is the Shepherd or Guardian of the believer's soul, so the husband is the shepherd and guardian of the wife's soul. 1 Peter 2:25; cf 1 Peter 3:1.

The Self-Esteem Analogy, Eph 5:28:

The Self-Esteem Analogy, Eph 5:28: Just as he takes responsibility for the health and care of his own body, the husband in SSE provides for his wife’s physical and spiritual health and care. Gen 2:24

He is the provider for his wife, not the other way around He is the provider for his wife, not the other way around. This virtue comes from his own SSE; his effectiveness in exercising his authority in marriage.

The Logistical Grace Analogy, Eph 5:29-30:

The Logistical Grace Analogy, Eph 5:29-30: The husband is to provide for all the logistical needs of his wife, (not necessarily all her wants and desires), before providing for his own needs and desires.

The Unity Analogy, Eph 5:31:

The Unity Analogy, Eph 5:31: A “mama’s boy” will never be able to fulfill his responsibility to care for his wife because he will always want his MAMA to take care of him and eventually the misguided precept of “mama” is transferred to the wife.

Authority, by means of virtue love, must recognize the privacy, freedom and magnificence of the woman as a responder, so that from her own free will she will respect her husband and lovingly obey her lord and master.

Grace Fellowship Church Friday, May 22, 2009 Tape # 09F-003 Biblical Relationships, Part 3 The Role of the Husband Eph 5:25-33; 1 Cor 7:3; 11:3; 1 Peter 3:5-7  James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009