This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Life In Christ Jesus", 1/20/2013

LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS

 

Philippians 3:5-11

 

V:5. "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee."

 A. The Apostle Paul gave us his genealogy and his education as a true Israelite.

     1. He had all the elements to be elevated in the Jewish System.

     2. Because of his Hebrew ancestry, he enjoyed every advantage of being a Hebrew.   

 B. He was trained in the law by the best teacher of that time (Gamaliel).  Acts 22:3

 

V:6. "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

 A. Based on his training and understanding, he did everything to comply with the law.

    1. He jealously guarded the law and persecuted the church because he believed it to

 

       be against the law.  Acts 22:4

    2. Paul lived what he believed.

 

V:7. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

 A. Paul admits that his ancestry, training and education was a gain to him while

      he was in the world.

    Defn: lost= zemia= detriment ( the idea of violence)

    1. But when he met Jesus, he gave all his worldly desires.

    2. He had to lose his worldly gain to gain Jesus.  Matt 19:21

        a. Not only was it a lost but he suffered hardships as a result.

        b. He was stoned and left for dead in one city, beaten and jailed in another and

            falsely accused and imprisoned in Rome.

        c. Paul concluded that his suffering for Jesus gave him his greatest delights.

        d. In our weakness, Christ provides strength.  2 Cor 12:9

    3. He gladly gave up his worldly desires for Jesus.

    4. Things are temporary, but Jesus is eternal.

 B. Paul realized that his soul was more important than the esteem of man.

    1. Paul concluded that to seek the esteem of man was violently detrimental to him.

    2. God hates the proud.

    3. Eternal separation from God is violence to the soul.

 C. Paul did not say that family, education and training was not important.

     1. These things do not provide salvation but they are part of who we are.

     2. We must study the Word to know Christ and to be useful in the ministry.

     3. Our history, education and training should be used to glorify God and not us.

     4. Paul did say, he would rather lose everything to gain Christ Jesus.

     5. What we have gained in life, we gained because of Christ Jesus.

         a. All that we have should be used to His glory.

 

V:8. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

 A. When Paul confessed Christ as Lord and Savior, he lost all of his official and social

      standing in the Jewish hierarchy.

     1. Before Christ, he was a Pharisee held in high esteem.

         a. Both of his parents were Hebrew with no mixing of other races.

         b. He was from the tribe of Benjamin who could trace their descendants back to

             Abraham.

     2. After accepting Christ as his Savior, he was considered a traitor and was hunted

         down to be killed.

     3. Paul was not focused on his personal circumstances, but his eternal status

 

        with Christ.   

 

   B. Paul considered his knowledge of Christ more important than his status and

 

       position in the World.

     1. The word "lost" in this verse has the idea of violence.

     2. Paul considered any hindrance to his love for Christ as violence.

     3. He considered every worldly loss as his gain for Christ.

         a. Paul considered anything he suffered as a result of his love for Christ, as gain.

  C. Paul considered his worldly pursuits before Christ as dung.

     1. The word "dung" means that which is worthless or what you would throw to a

 

         wild dog.

     2. We have to be careful to not let our stuff become our god.

  D. Every Christian suffers lost for Christ.

      1. There is a change in our thoughts, habits and our focus.

      2. Our thoughts become more spiritual and less worldly.

      3. We are careful to give God the praise for our successes and thanks for our

 

          failures.

      4. We dedicate our time to serve others rather than ourselves.

      5. We are careful to fellowship with other Christians.

      6. Every lost is a gain in our relationship with Jesus.

 

V:9. "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

 A. Now that we are in Christ, our focus should be His will.   

     1. It is not any goodness in us but the blood of Jesus that covers our sins.

     2. Paul was trained in the law and perfect in it's execution.

         a. Yet Paul knew the law could not provide the righteousness of God.

         b. Paul concluded that righteousness is obtained  only through faith in Christ.       

             Rom 3:22

 B. Jesus is the author and the finisher of our salvation. Heb 12:2

    1. The death of Jesus on the cross is the atonement for the sins of the world.

    

       Rom 3:25

    2. His shed blood continues to cover our sins.

    3. We are justified before the Father through our faith in Jesus Christ.

    4. The Righteousness of Jesus is imputed upon all believers. Rom 4:22-24

 C. The faith we have in Jesus originated in Jesus.

     1. No man can come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father. John 6:44

     2. Each believer was given to Jesus by the Father. John 6:37

 

V:10. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

 A. "That I may know Him."

     1. To know Jesus is to suffer with Him.

     2. We cannot understand the suffering of Jesus unless we experience some suffering

 

        in our lives.

     3. We cannot know the love of Jesus unless we love others unselfishly.

     4. We cannot understand the compassion of Jesus unless we are compassionate

          toward others.

     5. We cannot understand the forgiveness of Jesus unless we are able to forgive.

 B. "That I may know the power of his resurrection."

    1. Jesus died on the cross, was raised on the third day and is now seated at the right

        hand of the Father.

    2. We have hope in the resurrection powers of Jesus.

     a. Jesus said to his disciples that He was going back to the Father to prepare a place

         for us.  John 14:2

     b. Jesus also said, "Where I am, there you will be also."  John 14:3

 3. "That I may know the fellowship of His suffering."

     a. Suffering for Christ identifies us with Him.

     b. Jesus gives each believer gifts to be used in edifying the body of Christ resulting

 

        in glory to the Father.

     c. The believer should labor with his gifts to serve others.

     d. Jesus said that "The poor will always be with us."

     e. There is always work to be done for Jesus.

     f. The world will know we love Jesus when they see us love one another.

D. "Being made conformable unto His death"

    1. The greatest desire of a believer ought to be an imitation of Christ.

    2. Jesus sacrificed his life for us.

    3. It is the duty and the obligation of the believer to sacrifice his life for Jesus.

       a. Luke 17:33 states,  "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever

          

          loses his life will preserve it. "

       b. The greatest freedom of a believer is to be a slave for Jesus.

 

V:11. "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

  A. What we believe as Christians is that life in the spirit with Christ begins with

        our death on earth.

      1. We have to keep in mind that earth is not our home and that we are just passing

          through.

      2. Heaven is our home which we have already been positioned with our first belief

          in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

  B. All believers will be resurrected with an immortal body at the second coming of

       Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:54, 1 Thes 4:16-17.

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "An Inmitation Of Christ", 1/13/2013

AN INMITATION OF CHRIST

 

Philippians 2:5-11

 

V:5. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

 A. What is the mind of Christ?

    1. Christ is love.

    2. Christ is forgiving.

    3. Christ is patient.

    4. Christ is long suffering.

    5. Christ is compassionate.

    6. Christ is righteous.

    7. Christ is eternal life.

B. Paul suggested that we imitate Christ.

   1. We were made in the image and the likeness of God ( Elohim)  Gen 1:26

   2. Our hearts ought to reflect the heart of Christ.

       a. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.  Prov 4:23

       b. We should always be in harmony with Christ.

   3. Our motives and actions ought to imitate Christ.

       a. Our lives will be most productive if we are in unity with Christ.  John 12:23

       b. Christ took on humanity and performed the most lowest office to benefit us.

       c. As Christ did, we must become a servant to benefit others in the body.

 

CHRIST SEVENFOLD SELF HUMILIATION

V:6. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."

  #1

  A. He rendered His claim of being equal with God.

       1. Jesus and the Father are one.

       2. Yet Jesus did not see a problem with giving up His equality with the Father for

 

           our  salvation.

 B. Form = morphe= shape, nature.

     1. Jesus has the same nature of the Father.

        a. He is Spirit as God is Spirit.

        b. He is the great I Am.

        c. He is Alpha and Omega.

        b. He is divine.

     2. Jesus was with God in the beginning.  John 1:1

 

V:7. "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

#2.

 A. He made Himself of no reputation.

     Defn: made= kenoo= make empty, void

     1. Jesus is God and the creator of all things.  

     2. He took off His robe of glory to become common with us.

     3. He made himself empty of His glory.

     4. He volunteered to empty Himself before He came down out of heaven.

 

#3.

 B. He took on the form of a servant.

     1. Jesus came down from heaven to become a servant to all mankind.

     2. He could have set Himself up as a king on earth for the world to serve Him.

         a. He set Himself up on earth to be a servant to the world.

         b. Only by being a servant could He be the salvation of man.

     3. He laid aside the glory He had with the Father before the world was.  John 17:5

         a. He laid aside the splendor of Ruler, King of Kings, Lord of Lords to be a

 

             servant to all men. 1 Tim 6:15-16

#4.

 C. He was made in the likeness of man.

    1. Likeness= homoioma= form, shape

    2. He is God, but He formed Himself in the shape of a man to identify with us.

        a. His spirit was clothed in human flesh and blood.

    3. Before Jesus was incarnated to human flesh, He placed His Word in the hands of

 

        the  Jewish nation.

       a. Jesus in the flesh was the living example of the Word for the World to see.

       b. Jesus is the light of the world that only believers can understand.  John 17:14

#5

V:8. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

 A. He fashion Himself as a man.

      1. He was God, yet He took on all the infirmities of human flesh.

      2. He was born of a woman by the power of the Holy Spirit.

          a. Laid in the womb for nine months.

          b. Grew in stature, shape and size as ordinary men.

      2. God in the spirit needs no food, clothes of shelter.

      3. God in the spirit does not get tired or sleep.

      4. Jesus became man and subjected himself to all these needs.

#6

  A. He humbled Himself.

      1. He humbled himself first to the Father then to man.

      2. Even though He is equal to the Father, He subjected Himself to the will of the

          Father.

      3. He took the lowly position in the body of a man.

          a. He is the parent of all mankind, yet He submitted Himself to human parents.

      4. He subjected Himself to the laws and rules of nature and man.

      5. He was above all law, yet submitted to the laws and traditions of man.

      6. He was the author of all the commandments and He kept them all.

 B. He is the creator of the universe and is every where in it.

     1. Yet He centered Himself in one place.

 C. He is eternal life.

     1. Yet He channel His life into one body.

 D. He "kenoo", made Himself nothing so we could have everything good.

      1. He is the good shepherd. We are his sheep

      2. Jesus the good shepherd has an intimate relationship with us.

          a. Through His suffering as our shepherd, He knows our suffering and

              comforts us.

#7.

  A. He became obedient unto death, even the death the cross.

      1. He committed no sin, yet He allowed Himself to be judged as a sinner by sinful

          men.

      2. Wrongly convicted, He sacrificed His life on the cross for the atonement of the

 

           sins of the whole world.  Heb 2:17

         a. No one took His life, He gave it up freely.  John 10:18

         b. He is the unblemished lamb whose shed blood satisfied God's demand for

 

             justice.

     3. Death on the cross was considered just punishment for the worst criminals.

         a. He counted Himself among the worst so we could have the best.

 

HIS EXALTATION

V:9. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

 A. As a reward for His humiliation, God the Father elevated Him above all others.

     1. As a result of Jesus supreme sacrifice, God (theos) elevated Him to the supreme

         position.

        a. He is raised to the throne of glory.  Heb 1:3

        b. He is seated at the right hand of the Father.  Mat 26:64

        c. He is the mediator between God and man.    1 Tim 3:5

  2. He is given a name above every other name.

        a. No other name can be compared with the name of Jesus.

        b. He alone is the Redeemer of mankind.

        c. He alone is Savior.

        d. He alone is the Christ, the anointed one.

        e. He is the only begotten Son of God.

        f. He is the only one who laid down His life and took it up again.

        g. He is the only one we can call to forgive sin.

        h. In Him is all grace and mercy.

 

V:10. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."

 A. It is God's design that every one honors Jesus.

     1. Just the mention of His name should cause us to give Him praise.

         a. He is our King, our Prophet and our Priest.

     2. The name Jesus means, Jehovah is salvation.

         a. Jesus is what His name suggest; our salvation.

         b. No other name deserves or can claim this honor.

 B. All things were made by Jesus and is His glory.

    1. The heavens and the earth are the glory of Jesus.

    2. The rocks cry out the glory of God.

        a. Man can dig up a rock, but can't make one out of nothing.

        b. Man can only marvel at it's composition and structure.

    3. Every living animal, plant and tree are the works of His voice.

   

V:11. "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

 A. Confession of faith in Jesus Christ is key to the believers salvation.

     1. Jesus is Lord.

        a. Lord is the Greek word "Kurios" which the supreme authority, controller, 

           

            master.

     2. Jesus is the creator of everything, therefore the owner of everything.

 B. Everything that Jesus does is to glorify God the Father.  John 13:31-32

     1. God= theos= supreme being

     2. Father= pater= parent

 C. When we honor Jesus, we honor the Father.

     1. The parent of all of us is God the Father.

     2. The savior of all of us is Jesus the Son.

     3. The Enlightenment of all of us is the Holy Spirit.

 

We should give God praise and honor for our presence on this earth and for our

 heavenly home made possible through faith in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

 

 

My notes are posted on Face Book and my blog  http://www.revmmitchell.com/ministries

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "In Defense Of The Gospel" 1/6/2013

IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

 

Philippians 1:15-26

 

DIFFERENT PREACHERS, DIFFERENT AGENDAS

V:15. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will."

  A. In Church, there will be two groups of people; those who are sincere in love and

       those who promote the Gospel out of selfish motives.

     1. Those who envy the work of others are quick to find fault.

         a. They find pleasure in the trouble of other Christians as evidence that there is

             something wrong in their ministry. 

         b. They undermine the work of others for selfish gain.

         c. Because of their self-righteousness they are the source of trouble and division.

      2. Those who preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and love will have their

          share

          of distracters.

         a. Our objective is not to please man but to please God.

         b. It is the will of the Father that we find the good in every person.

         c. Realizing that we all have issues, it is the job of the minister of the Gospel to

             uplift, build up and encourage the body of Christ.

  B. The Church of Jesus Christ started in strife and has grown strong because of its

       opposition.

     1. The fact that people are opposed to good work for Jesus is evidence of the 

          Gospel's effectiveness in convicting the hearts of men.

     2. Those who oppose the good work of others have taken notice of that work.

 

V:16. "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds."

 A. The ministers of Jesus Christ are not always accepted and sometime violently  

      opposed.

     1. The Apostle Paul was in prison because religious people opposed the Gospel of

         Jesus Christ and stirred up strife against him.

     2. While in prison, those who preached Jesus for selfish motives stirred

          up additional strife against Paul to promote their views.

 B. There are those in the body who use the troubles of others for personal gain.

 

V:17. "But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel."

 A. Those who love the Lord, love the brethren and are there to support others during

      trials and tribulations.

    1. Those who know the Lord, understand that He works through the troubles of

        others.

    2. Those who know the Lord know that the defense of the Gospel breeds opposition.

    3. Those who serve the Lord with love are quick to defend those who defend the

         Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 B. We are all part of the same body; that is the body of Christ.

    1. Some are given the ministry of taking the Gospel to places where it will be

        opposed.

    2. Some are given the ministry to help and support those who face trials because of

        their defense of the Gospel.

 

ALL PREACHING OF JESUS WORKS TOGETHER FOR GOOD

V:18. "What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

 A. God can use all the ministries of Jesus Christ whether done out of truth and love or

      out of selfish gain.

     1. Those who preach the Gospel affect the hearers of the Gospel.

         a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

         b. It is the Word that does the convicting and the Power of the Word that saves.

     2. We can find joy in the Word whether or not we like the minister.

 B. A minister is just the vessel that God uses to draw unbelievers to Himself.

    1. There is joy in heaven when a sinner comes to Christ.

    2. Likewise, we ought to find joy, no matter who preaches the Gospel.

 

V:19. "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

 A. Those who love the Lord know that trials and tribulations work to their good and to

      the good of other believers.

    1. God has prayer warriors ready to intercede on behalf of those who preach Jesus

        Christ.

    2. Those who preach Jesus Christ in truth and love have the power of the Holy Spirit

        strengthening them. 

        a. God's grace is sufficient to see His workers through any trial.  

 B. Our salvation is through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

    1. What we suffer for Christ through service on earth stores treasures in heaven for

        us.

    2. Endurance of our trials and tribulations gives God the glory for the world to see.

 

NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

V:20. "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death."

 A. Those who love the Lord should never be ashamed of their service or their suffering

      for the Lord.

    1. This life is full of glorious times and troubled times.

    2. In all circumstances, we must give God the praise and the glory.

 B. We must expect that God will allow only what is best to happen to us.

    1. Some of God's best will at times appear adverse to us.

    2. Because of our hope in the Lord, the adverse will work to our good.

 C. In all things, we can boast in the Lord, for His goodness endures forever.

    1. God uses us to show the world His power over trials and tribulations.

    2. Our focus should not be life on this earth, but life in heaven.

    3. Death is not the end for a believer, but the beginning of a New Spiritual Life with

        Christ.

 

V:21. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

 A. Facing death as a possible outcome of his trial, the Apostle Paul concluded that

      death is a gain, because he would be home with Christ.

    1. Paul concluded that if the outcome of his trial was a release from prison, he would

        live for Christ.

       a. Either way, Paul was comfortable with the outcome controlled by God.

       b. When we trust God with the outcome of our circumstances, we can be joyful.

 B. For the believer, the gain of death is heaven.

    1. Heaven is the place where tears and sorrows don't exist.

    2. Heaven is the place where praise and glorification of the Father is the only mind

        set.

 

THE JOY IN LABOR FOR CHRIST

V:22. "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I want not."

 A. Living in joy and peace has some requirements.

     1. Proper living requires labor.

         a. Those who want to accomplish anything in life must labor in some area.

         b. They must be dedicated to the task to make a difference.

     2. Fruitful labor is serving Christ Jesus.

        a. In the end, the only labor that counts is what we do for God.

        b. If we accomplish all things on earth, but lose our souls, what have we gained?

        c. We can accomplish all things through Christ who strengthens us, and gain

            heaven.

 B. When we labor for Christ, our focus is on the gain of other believers.

      a. It is our obligation to use our labor to bring others to Christ and reconcile those

          in Christ.

      b. Surly, the work of Christ is never done.

      c. To die is to leave Christ’s work undone for others to complete.

      d. But we can take comfort that God already has a replacement when

          He calls us home.

 C. Paul saw his work for Christ incomplete, but heaven was his desire.

     a. Paul would not choose to live or die, but left the choice in the hands of Christ.

 

V:23. "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."

 A. The end of this Christian journey of life is better than the journey itself.

     1. The end is to be with Christ and start New in the Spirit with Christ in heaven.

 B. It was Paul's love for his Christian brothers and sisters that gave him cause to

     continue working for Christ in the flesh.

    1. Paul understood the spiritual immaturity of those he shepherded.

    2. Paul knew they needed more teaching and a deeper understanding of the Word of

        God.

 C. To live longer was to suffer more, but he was committed to the gain of his sheep.

    1. Love requires us to sacrifice ourselves for those who love the Lord.

    2. Paul understood that if he gave up his life, he would gain more in Christ Jesus.

 

V:24. "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."

  A. Paul was most concerned about the spiritual welfare of those in his charge.

      1. He would rather live in pain than to see God's people suffer because of lack of

          knowledge.

      2. Paul’s mission from Jesus was to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

         a. Whatever God has gifted us to do, we should do our best to accomplish it.

         b. We should not let our personal circumstances affect God's plan for us.

  B. As long as we have breath, we should do our best to give God our best.

      1. Paul was in prison at this time facing death, yet his concern was the life of

          believers.

      2. When our life becomes secondary to God's work, we live best.

 

V:25. "And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith."

 A. The Apostle Paul derived his confidence in Jesus Christ.

     1. He knew what work he begun in Jesus would be completed in Jesus.  Phil 1:6

     2. Paul gained his joy from the increasing faith of the believers.

     3. Paul was joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out 

        of darkness and into the marvelous light.

     4. Paul was joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out

         ignorance and into the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 B. Like a mother finding joy in seeing her child grow into maturity, so we should find

      joy in seeing the lost come to Jesus.

    1. It should be our joy to testify to the goodness of God and His work in us.

    2. It should be our joy to see others increase in faith and live a joyous life.

    3. There is joy when God uses us to benefit the spiritual well being of others.

 

V:26. "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."

 A.  Joy is contagious.

    1. When you find joy working with others, they will find joy with you.

    2. Jesus is the reason for our joy.

       a. His joy is available to us continuously.  John 16:24

       b. Knowledge of Jesus and His promises should give us joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

     

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "It's All About The Family", 12/30/2012

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY

 

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

 

UNITY BEGINS WITH SUBMISSION

V:21. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

 A. One of the keys to keeping peace in the family is to summit your self to the

 

     direction of another.

     1. Don't get to proud that you can't take advice from or work with another person.

     2. You don't always have to be in charge.

     3. A marriage is a partnership.

         a. Two minds are sharper than one and can accomplish more.

         b. A partnership works best when both are equal participants.

 B. After creating a world suitable for habitation, family was God's first order of

 

     business.

    1. God loves family.

    2. God loves unity in the family.

    3. Submission is against our human nature, but is necessary for order and unity in

 

       the family.

 C. The reason we submit ourselves to one another is our love for the Lord.

    1. Submission is not one sided. It goes both ways.

    2. God has designed the family so that we are dependant on one another.

    3. We all have gifts that are different and necessary for family unity.

    4. It is by mutual submission that we can keep the order set by God.

 

THE POSITION OF A WIFE

V:22. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

  A. In a family God has established positions.

      1. There is a wife of the family and there is a husband of the family.

      2. In the garden of Eden, God created Adam first and then formed Eve around a rib

          bone of Adam.

          a. God bonded them together in marriage.

          b. In Genesis 2:24 God said, " Therefore shall a man leave his father and his

              mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

          c. Even though the husband and the wife are two people they should act like

 

              "one".

    B. The wife is placed under the leadership of the husband.

        a. The leadership of the husband is limited to the will of the Father.

        b. The husband, the man of the family, should counsel, teach, lead and provide

            according to the will of the Father.

        c. For those women who do not have a husband, God is the head of their

 

           household.

 

THE POSITION OF THE HUSBAND

V:23. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

 A. How is Christ the head of the Church?

     1. He is the protector and the provider of the Church.

     2. He and the Father are One, so He leads according to the will of the Father.

     3. Christ is the great Shepherd of the Church.  

 B. The husband, as the head must lead according to the will of the Father.

     1. The Husband is the guardian of  his wife and has the responsibility to provide

          and protect her.

     2. The Husband must be careful to consider the will of the Father in all his

 

        activities.

 

CHRIST IS THE EXAMPLE

V:24. "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

 A. The husbands should trust Christ in all things.

     1. Therefore, the wives trusting their husbands are trusting Christ.

     2. Wives are dependant on their husbands as their husbands are dependant on

        

        Christ.

 B. Christ is the center and the focus of the Family.

     1. Since Christ is the center, the values of the husband and the wife ought to be the

         same.

     2. The husband and his wife should strive to have the same goals and aspirations

 

         and so being unified in their thinking and their activities.

 

V:25. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

 A. Christ is the example for man to fulfill his obligation to his wife.

     1. The word love is the Greek word "apapate" which means to esteem or find joy in.

          a. The Husband is to esteem his wife.

          b. He is to find joy in his wife.

          c. He is to respect his wife.

 B. C. I. Scofield described Christ love for the Church in threefold; past, present and

     future.

     1. For love, He gave Himself to redeem the Church.

         a. The husband should labor to provide for the physical, social and spiritual well

              being of his wife.

     2. In love, Christ is sanctifying the Church.

        a. The husband should take time to teach his wife the Word of God and be God's

            example to her.

     3. For the reward for His labor of love, Christ will present the Church to Himself in

         perfection.

       a. The husband should labor to uplift and buildup his wife to present her to himself

           as a beautiful jewel, priceless and perfect in the Lord.

 

V:26. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

  A. It should be the object of the husband that his wife looks good before him in the

      

      eyes of the Lord.

     1. Love is the center piece of the marriage and the Word is the guiding light.

     2. We are cleaned up and regenerated by the Word of God.

     3. When the husband and the wife are involved in the Word, they will grow in love

          and have respect for one another.

   B. The Word expresses truth in the marriage. .

      1. It is faith in the Word of God that sanctifies us in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

V:27. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 A. At His second coming, Christ will present the Church to Himself, prefect and

   

     without blemish.

     1. Christ, Himself is the perfection of the Church.

     2. When His work is complete in the Church, He will return to redeem it to

 

         Himself.

  B. It is the duty of the husband to grow his marriage into spiritual maturity.

     1. The spiritual growth of the marriage allows the couple to endure tough times as

         well as the good times.

     2. The husband should continue beautifying his wife in love so to continue

 

         presenting her to himself.  

 

UNSELFISH AND DEVOTED LOVE

V:28. "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself."

 A. In order for the marriage to grow and flourish, the husband has to love his wife as he

     loves himself.

     1. If he treats his wife well, then He is treating himself well.

     2. If he mistreats his wife, then he mistreats himself.

 B. When a husband looks at his wife, he should see the love of his life.

      1. When his wife has joy, he should have joy.

      2. When his wife hurts, he should hurt.

 

V:29. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church."

 A. It is God's intention that the husband and the wife becomes one flesh.

      1. In a unified marriage, there is no him or her, just "them."

      2. In a unified marriage, there is no his or hers, just "theirs."

 B. The objective of the marriage is an unselfish devoted relationship.

     1. The husband and the wife should nourish and cherish each other as Christ does

          the Church.

 

V:30. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

 A. A marriage should be an extension of the Church of Jesus Christ.

     1. We are all family and should treat each other as family.

     2. Because we are family, we are all equal in the sight of Jesus Christ.

 B. Because we are in Christ and Christ is in us, the Church is what we should

      always be for the world to see.

 C. Enjoyment in the marriage comes from our love for Christ and our love for each

      other.

 

V: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.:

 A. Once in a marriage, a man's primary focus is his wife and not his parents.

    1. In- law problems can contribute to problems in the marriage.

    2. A marriage needs its own space to grow and develop.

 B. We can take counsel and advice from our parents, but any decisions are strictly

     between the man and his wife.

    1. Only Jesus can keep a marriage together in love.

    2. We must trust Jesus with the solutions to all our problems.

 

V:32. "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

 A. All believers are one with Christ, therefore our actions should be an imitation of

     Christ.

    1. Christ is building His Church with grace and mercy in love and truth.

    2. We should treat each other with grace and mercy in love and truth.

 B. The foundation of a marriage is love which unifies it in to one body.

    1. If unselfish love is our focus, the marriage will continue to grow.

    2. Love never looks back, but focuses on what is good and perfect.

 

V: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."

 A. In a marriage, love and respect is mutual.

     1. Neither the husband or the wife should consider themselves more important than

         than the other.

     2. God so designed us that we have a need for each other.

         a. We are helpmates to each other.

     3. Mutual honor and respect breeds peace in the marriage.

        a. When there is peace in the marriage, love and joy increases.

 

TRAIN THE CHILDREN

V.6:1. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."

 A. Parents have a responsibility and duty to obey the Lord.

     1. The attitude of children reflect the attitude of their parents.

     2. If the parents have no respect for the Lord, the children will have no respect for

         the Lord.

 B. The first obligation of a parent is to be obedient to the Lord.

     1. It is the duty of the parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord.

     2. Children will know and respect the Lord because their parents respect the Lord.

 C. You can command children to obey their parents because they have been trained to

      obey.

    1. You can't expect a child to behave in a certain way if they have not been trained.

        Prov 22:6.

 

V:2. "Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)"

  A. It is a command to honor your father and mother. It is not an option.

      1. Children learn from their parents first.

      2. Children learn to listen from their parents.

      3. Children learn to obey from their parents.

      4. Children learn the Word of God from their parents.

  B. We can expect our children to obey God's command because we as parents obey

       His commands and have taught our children obedience.

     1. The discipline of a child is the duty and obligation of the parents.  Prov 13:24

     2. Without discipline, a child will not learn the importance of obedience.

     3. Without obedience, a child will be unruly, disrespectful and harmful to himself

          and others. Prov 23:14, Prov 29:15

 

V:3. "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

  A. Parents impact the outcome, quality and length of their children lives by

       teaching them obedience to God's Word.

     1. This is a conditional promise based on obedience.

     2. An obedient child is a happy child ready to be successful in life.