Yes, Dear

Yes, Dear
Ephesians 5:22–33
Pentecost 14
August 26, 2018

Philippians 1:2 (ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

During pre marriage discussions with couples, I usually joke with them that the husband always has the last words in any discussion: Yes dear. Also, I have had a would be wife say to me when talking about the upcoming wedding ceremony, I won’t use the word obey or submit in the vows

Wow, I can just picture St. Paul shaking his head and saying we really need to understand what he wrote in Ephesians 5. We really needs At Paul’s words. Why because we are sinners with a focus on self.

Last week we ended with:

Ephesians 5:21 (ESV) 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

First we start here where God’s Word calls us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

So gals don’t worry about

Ephesians 5:22 (ESV) 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

It is redundant. Already covered in verse 21. They why verse 22 at all, well it sets a new tone. Where St. Paul is going to write about Christ love for you, and uses marriage which is the closest human bond to describe this relationship. Unfortunately because we live in this world of sin, this special relation is often under attack by the devil, because it is the closest bond. So we see abuse, controlling, manipulation and divorce, which leaves many with a bitter taste of marriage. But the sin of this world does do not take away from God’s love for you.

Ephesians 5:23 (ESV) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Notice Christ as the church’s savior. Who is the church, all believers in Christ.

Ephesians 5:25 (ESV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Why does the church submit to Christ, because of Christ’s death and resurrection which was for the church’s salvation. So as Christ’s way was to die for you, and save and deliver you from everlasting death, would you ever say that Christ’s way is the wrong way? No, He is the Savior, His way is the correct way,

John 6:68–69 (ESV) 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Amen, so the Church submits to Christ, which is a good thing, not a control issue.

If doesn’t end with the atonement, there is more.

Ephesians 5:26 (ESV) 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Holy Baptism given to sanctify her, that is to make her holy. Baptism is important, it changes us, it regenerates us Baptism makes us Holy, that is our sins are covered, by the blood of the cross, for a purpose:

Ephesians 5:27 (ESV) 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

I was young as the photo of Elizabeth and mine wedding day 32 years ago. And looking into the mirror now comparing to the wedding photo, I see an expanded waistline, gray hair and a much slower time for running a mile. I see the blemishes now, and I will admit I had them 32 years ago as well. But the wedding picture was perfect,

Well from Christ’s point of view because of Holy Baptism the picture of us as His Holy Bride the church is still wedding picture perfect. It is perfect because in Holy Baptism we receive the great exchange of Christ. The Perfect Christ died on the cross taking on our sin while giving us His perfect life.

Ephesians 5:31–32 (ESV) 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Yes, this special bond is about Christ and His Bride the Church.

We live is a world that has hymns like, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Nothing wrong with the hymn, but to really understand the relationship of Christ, well how many brides on their wedding day would look at their husband and say, you are a good friend to me.

Let’s look at this with the wedding day picture as the Husband looks at the most beautiful woman in the world and say I am the most blessed guy in the whole world to have you as a bride. Christ says of us, you are His most adorable bride, perfectly dressed in the waters of Holy Baptism. Not just a friend, but a one flesh relationship, as Christ is in us and we are in Christ. As St. Paul says this mystery is profound and it is.

We need to keep this perfect wedding picture that Christ has of us always in front of us. For we live in an imperfect world of abuse, control, manipulation, apathy, abandonment, divorce and the “yes, dear.” As we face these struggles we need the assurance that Christ, cherishes us, for that perfect wedding picture that Holy Baptism brings, gives us comfort.

In His name Amen.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.