Since God relates marriage as being as Christ is to the church, in that He died for our sins, He is head of the church, and obeyed God to His death on the cross.
And in Ephesians chapter 5:verses 22-33: we are taught the principles of marriage as it relates to the man and woman in a husband and wife relationship...unties together as one. God tells us not only is the wife to submit to her husband, but the man is also to submit to his wife, and together the both must be in submission to Christ.
Christ made the sacrifice for the church. The responsibility God has given man in a realtionship of marriage, is to love his wife, as Christ so loved the church, and the wife is to submit (respect) her husband as she does Christ.
(1) Based on what God says in Ephesians chapter 5: verses 22-33. How many of you seeking to be wives and husbands again, are willing to make sacrifices to each other as Christ made for us, that you didn't make in your other relationships?
(2) If being married is to be representative and look as the church that Christ setup, as the man being in authority and head of the househouse and savior of his wife. And the wife being humble and supportive and kind, and loving toward her OWN husband. What changes in a new relationship have you made to make it work as Christ says a marriage is to be?
Since it appears none of us fulfilled this in our first marriages and for some second, or third, and/or fouth marriages. Otherwise, we wouldn't be on a singels dating site.:yay:
Also, since God says marriage is symbolic of the church. Would this mean that when we dog out and mistreat each other in a marriage relations... we are really dogging and mistreating Christ in our relationship with Him, since He is the founder of the CHURCH? And, He establish the marriage as be equal to the church in oneness...
What I have learned from all of my failed relationships before Christ is this: my way does not ever work. So for once in my life I would like to have a relationship and marriage that is done His way.
For me it is about giving up what I thought in the past were my rights and dying to self. When I get married, God willing to the man that I have met on this site, I will not choose being right over being happy, I will not slander or complain about him to others, and I will not go to bed angry. I will put his needs above mine and submit to him as he submits to our Lord.
This does not come naturally to me as I was before Christ a rebellious woman, who liked to be in control. But I have learned through the reading of the word, that there is a purpose for God's order in a marriage. I have seen in my old church those couples who have done it His way, who accept their God given roles for marriage and there is a huge difference in the quality of the marriage.
So I will do everything that I can so that our marriage glorifies God and is an example to the younger brothers and sisters.
Pretty much "ditto" to what Lydia said...my change will be a relationship that follows in line with my faith.
That is why I left my last relationship...the whole unequally yoked concept. I know now that it is true - a relationship will never work if your faith does not align.
Now I am fully putting my life in God's hand and fully accepting Jesus as my savior in belief of the Holy Spirit... and I have never been happier or felt more complete. :excited:
this could be a false doctrine. Based on Eph 5:22-23 the husband loves the wife like Christ loves the Church.
The false teaching is that husbands are to love their wives but wives are not required to love their husbands. I believe wives are to love their hisbands as Christ loves the church and gave HIMSELF for it.
Really, the idea that men lay down their lives for innocent women and children is a truth we hold as being self evident. It is a theme in numerous books, movies and of course real life.Most Men make the ultimate sacrifice. This truth is understood and it goes without saying. so why did Paul say it?
The context of this chapter has to do with loving one another in a self sacrificing way. And laying down our lives. Unless you think the first verse is only talking to husbands. I think it is speaking to all believers as well as husbands and yes, wives.
EPH 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
This offering for a "sweet-smelling aroma" is a Love offering not a sin offering. And God is pleased when we Love one another.
The reason, IMHO that husbands are told to love their wives is because again, in my hummble opinion (IMHO), husbands may have a tendency to take their wives for granted. The wife is the husbands property.
Wives are to love their husbands as Christ loves the church and gave HIMSELF for it.
Comparing Christ and the church, to the marriage of carnal mankind, is not without notable exceptions. Some guys feel a little funny about being called the bride but believe they are still part of the church. The Husband, Jesus, is without sin. Husbands of this world may think there they are perfect at times, but wives usually have an opinion on that. I guess the real question is:
does the husband save the wife? Jesus saves the church the bride. And if you carry that over into an earthly marriage, the husband would be the savior of the wife. But the bible says Jesus is only one from which we are saved. Are wives saved by being in right relationship to the earthy husband/man? Or Is the woman saved by Jesus who gave His life for the bride? It would apear that being in obedience to the husband is a gospel of works. And it is a great deal of work for some wives because husbands are not gods.
