Eph 5:33
INTRO: Marriage brings two people, who are likely of very different backgrounds, into a union which God has decreed ends with the death of one of the people. The fairy tale ending lived happily ever after is one which truly is possible in marriage. But it takes the best both partners have to give to the relationship. And it takes the best seven days a week ... minute by minute. Our thoughts continue this morning as we think of what the wife can give. She can give her husband:
1. Attractiveness
a. 1 Pet 3:3,4 the most important attractiveness!
b. if one is attractive from within, that attractiveness will show in the manner of her life ... in her marital relationship
c. notice: a meek and quiet spirit - modesty!
d. but this does not mitigate against physical attractiveness and concern
e. Song of Solomon 2:1,2 she is attractive as a beautiful flower - to him she is a lily among thorns
f. the effort needs to be made to continue to be attractive as a Rose of Sharon
g. Song of Solomon 7:10 ... why? if this little book is any indication, one reason is she made herself attractive to him
2. Loving submission
a. Eph 5:22 as unto the Lord
b. yes, those things which a husband can give his wife are givens here
c. submission does notsuggest mindless servitude
d. but in this relationship there must be submission at times ... diverse thoughts, opinions, etc. require a point of submitting to the head
e. what kind of submission? thats an important question
f. it must not be grudging; of necessity; with an ugly spirit ... as unto the Lord should determine the spirit
g. so, Col 3:18 as is fit (proper)
3. Wise counsel
a. Prov 19:14 a prudent wife
b. that word prudent has in it wisdom, intelligence
c. why is such a wife a gift rom God if her input is not important valuable
d. Prov 14:1 and 31:26 with wisdom, wise counsel she builds
e. as earlier said, wives give submission - but that does not deprive of her giving wise counsel (listen)
f. still, the decision must be made ... and accepted in a wise spirit
g. a wise wife is a blessing to her husband
4. Care at home
a. Titus 2:5 (1 Tim 5:14)
b. home is the special province of the wife
c. yes, I know about the stresses of working wives and mothers - the need for a husbands interest
d. but a wifes care at/of home makes it a place to which a husband wants to go, to retreat
e. home should have great magnetism for him
5. Respect
a. Eph 5:33b and 1 Pet 3:6 whose daughters ye are ...
b. reciprocity? yes ... but wives must give their husbands the respect which God has enjoined
c. without such respect the entire order is unworkable and will collapse!
d. Joyce does not call me Lord - but when she calls my name, the respect is in the tone and manner!
CLOSE: Happily ever after? Oh, yes! When a husband and wife give to the marriage, happiness will be the result. (1 Cor 7:33,34).
Cecil A. Hutson
09 September 2001
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)