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Wednesday, October 15, 2014
“Marriage and Purity”
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Episode Transcript:
Today is October 15, 2014, and you’re listening to The New You, the daily broadcast for people who have been made new by the blood of Christ. Here is today’s Scripture:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27).
This week, we’re studying from the latter half of Ephesians chapter five to see a beautiful pattern of marriage that certainly contrasts with a domestically abusive situation. We see three important concepts rise from the pages of Ephesians five. Those concepts are subjection (which we discussed yesterday), purity, and closeness. Today, we come to Ephesians 5:25-27 to look at the concept of purity in the home.
Remember that this chapter actually is designed to highlight Christ’s relationship to the church, and then to make applications to the relationship between a husband and a wife. That being the case, two points come before our consideration of purity today.
First, Christ has provided for us, His church. In what ways? The text offers these considerations. Jesus “loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25). Why did He do that? Verse twenty six continues: so “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” There are Christ’s provisions! What a beautiful thought! By making it possible of us to be cleansed and sanctified (set apart for a holy purpose), Jesus has made it possible for us to be pure! Notice the result of this purity: “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish [or, blameless]” (Eph. 5:27).
Look at what Jesus has done to provide for our needs! Note that Jesus recognizes are greatest need is the salvation, the purification, of our souls. “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He provides for us.
Secondly, notice the parallel to our marriages: The husband is to provide for his family. Just before the text launches into this brief, but amazing discussion about how Jesus has purified and sanctified the church, husbands receive this command: “Husbands, love your wives” (Eph. 5:25). But the text goes one step further. The Holy Spirit actually qualifies the extent of love that we husbands are to have for our wives: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25).
How does a man provide for his family? Perhaps most often, when we think of the man providing for his wife and perhaps children, we think of him “putting bread on the table,” as we say. That’s certainly important. However, remember Jesus’ words, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4). Husbands, you provide for your family when you consider their spiritual needs, that is, when you lead them in the way that they should go. Elders are required to be men who teach their children and lead their families in the ways of righteousness and faithfulness (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Titus 1:6). But where do those elders come from? They come from men who are dedicated to doing things God’s way; men who are committed to fulfilling God’s pattern for their homes.
Let’s wrap it up: Jesus expects His bride, the church, to be pure. He has made it possible for us to be pure and holy, through His blood, so that we can be presented before Him on that day when He returns to call us home.
Similarly, we expect our spouses to be pure, don’t we? Husbands, we are to create that pure environment within our homes so that the Lord will be pleased, and so that our marriages will be great.
Memory Verse: How’s it coming with this week’s memory verse? Let’s review Psalm 34:18:
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psa. 34:18).
The New You 10 Week Challenge for a Better Internet! Let’s work together to make the Internet a better place. Each week, I’ll give you a challenge, and I want to encourage you to take to social media with that challenge, followed by the hashtag #NewYouChallenge.
This week I want us to answer this question: What is your favorite aspect of the Lord’s church? So head over to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like and compose a post which says, “My favorite thing about the church is _____. #NewYouChallenge” This is week 3 of the 10 week challenge for a better Internet!
OUTRO:
Thanks for joining today me on The New You. New episodes of this broadcast are released each weekday, Monday through Friday, from The Light Network. Archives of this program, episode transcripts, and more Christian podcasts are available there, too, at thelightnetwork.tv.
To check out all of our content related to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, go to thelightnetwork.tv/stopviolence.
I welcome your questions, comments, or suggestions for the show! My email address is robert@thelightnetwork.tv and my voicemail number is 903-26-LIGHT, that’s 903-265-4448. I’d love to hear from you!
This is The New You, I’m Robert Hatfield, and I hope you have a great day!