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Submission: Wives -Husbands ( Ephesians 5:22-24)

D A OLIVA / 2021-07-21

Introduction

  A. The secular world has set aside a Woman's Day and Month to recognize the roles of women in the home, society and in the world.

  1. Women have been asking equal rights, pays and other privileges.

  2. Aware of these developments, it is proper that we turn to the Bible to seek guidance and wisdom in discussing this subject.

  a. James 1:5 " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally and without finding fault."

  b. John 8:32 " You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Discussion

 A. Why Did God Make Woman?

  1. Genesis 2:18 " It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper ( helpmeet/ helpmate) fit or suitable for him."

  2. Man was made by God from the " dust of the earth/ ground" but the woman was taken from the rib of Adam while he was asleep," Genesis 2:21-22.

  3. And Adam said, " this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh- she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man, " Genesis 2:23.

  4. This arrangement ( woman as man's helper/ helpmate) was to last for a lifetime because " man and woman became one flesh," Genesis 2:24.

B. Woman Submission To Man

  1. Ephesians 5:22-23, Paul wrote," wives, you submit to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church."

  2. Submission is from the Greek " hupotasso" means to subordinate or to put under.

  3. The wife's submission to the husband is God-ordained, not mandated or forced by man on his wife. Paul said " as unto the Lord."

 4. Reasons for this God- ordained structure: (I Timothy 2:11, 13-15)

  a. man was made first

  b. woman was deceived/ sinned

 5.Thus, in homes and in churches, wives and women are to be in subjection to their husbands and leaders respectively.

 6. Applicable even if the husband is a non believer in Christ

  I Peter 3:1 " Be submissive to your husbands so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won without words by the behavior of their wives."

C. Points To Remember and Consider

 1. Wife's Submission to the Husband is out of respect and love for Christ ( as unto the Lord)

  2. The Spirit controlled mind submits to God, Romans 8:6 " to be carnally- minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

 3. As submission is " unto the Lord, the submissive is pleasing the Lord."

 4. Romans 8:8 " So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

 5. Matthew 7:21 ( God's children are to do God's will)

 6. Submission does not take over the leadership. In Eden, Eve took over the leadership from Adam. And by listening to his wife, he relinquished this leadership and both were penalized by God, Genesis 3:16-17.

 7. Submission means " trusting God's guidance and providence," James 1:5 and also " giving encouragement and suggestions in decision making."

 8. Submission is not based on value or worth but on relationship structure/ order.

  a. Jesus' value/worth as a Divine Being was not lost when He submitted to the Father. It was part of the relationship structure/ order, Philippians 2:5-8

Conclusion

 A. May the Lord help all wives and women to submit to their husbands and leaders respectively.

  1. May they all " submit to God's will" out of love and real obedience.

  2. To all who are not yet in the Lord, Christ is calling you through His great invitation in Matthew 11:28-30.