Ephesians 5:23: The Husband is the Head of the Wife
When the Bible wants to demonstrate the roles of men and women it does not begin with culture but with creation. The NT regularly references Adam and Eve when it explains the roles of men and women in the home and church, 1 Cor. 11:2-16; 1 Tim. 2:11-15. One of the things that Paul wants to prove by this is the fact that men are to be the head and women the helper. Paul uses phrases like, man was made first, or woman was made for the man. So let’s reflect on the Garden when God created men and...
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Ephesians 5:22: Wives Submit to Your Own Husbands
The war of the sexes goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis chapter 3 we see the fall of man in sin. We see the first sins of the first husband and wife. Adam tolerated the serpent questioning God, and passively allowed the serpent to mislead his wife failing to defend her. Eve presumptuously taught the serpent taking the lead not deferring to her husband’s authority. Adam failed to lead, teach, defend and punish. Eve failed to get permission, clarification and help. Both wanted to be like God; both questioned God and both abandoned...
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Ephesians 5:19-21: The Church-shaped Spirit Filled Life
How do you know your life is controlled by the Spirit? It is not by having visions and dreams, prophecies and tongues, or casting out demons, Judas could do all these and was not Spirit filled. Paul outlines for us in verses 18-21 what a Spirit filled life looks like. The imperative of being filled with the Spirit if obeyed results in us ‘addressing one another in psalms’, in us making melody to the Lord with our hearts, a pervasive atmosphere of thanksgiving arises, mutual submission and reverence. Test yourself to see if you are Spirit filled or walking...
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