Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

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Ephesians 5:28-33 (English-KJV)

28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1. The relationship between husband and wife can only be understood when one understands the great doctrine of Christ and the church (v. 25) (v.29).
2. The doctrine of Christ and the church is called a mystery (v.32). A "mystery" in the Bible does not mean "something that cannot be understood." Mystery means "something that cannot be understood with the unaided mind."
3. The difference between the marriages of non-Christians and Christians should be this ---
   

   The Christian marriage becomes progressively more wonderful, while the non-Christian marriage fades as "eros" love fades and "phileo" love fades over time.The more the Christian couple learns about the love relationship between Christ and the church --- the sweeter their marriage becomes.

1. The Husband Must Realize His Wife Is Part of Himself . . . "the two shall become one."It is true that the husband and wife are more than partners, they are each halves of the other.
   When two entities are joined together, the two become one and half of the whole.

   1. The husband should never think of himself as a separate entity . . . just as Christ is made "complete" as Mediator and Saviour by the church, so the husband by his wife.
   2. The husband is never to be selfish, but always to be selfless . . . for when he realizes that his wife is "part of him" as the body is to the head --- he will "love her."
2. The Husband Is to Love His Wife As Part of Himself . . . "love her as your own body." This does not mean that a man is to love his wife in the same way he loves his own body. It means that husbands ought to love their wives as their bodies!
   1. That means you are not to abuse her . . . and should be corrected if you do.
   2. It means that you should not neglect her . . . "but nourish and cherish her."
   3. This means that you should never take her for granted. Do that which strengthens her, pleases her, and is helpful to her.
   4. It means that you should sensitive to her signals.
3. Your Marriage Should Reflect Christ's Relationship to the Church. . . "even as Christ" . Christ is the head of the church . . . the church is the body of Christ. He loves us with "agape" love and we are in submission to His headship. As Mediator, Saviour and Redeemer, we complete him, and He completes us. So then, "husband love your wife, and let each wife reverence her husband."
   Reverence --- a respectful obedience to one's authority for the marriage relationship should be a reflection of Christ and the church!