How can wives submit to husbands as the church submits to Christ? Laying the Foundation: Christ’s Model for Submission • Ephesians 5:24: “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” • The pattern is Christ and His church: willing, joyful, loving surrender to One who laid down His life (Ephesians 5:25). • Submission is first vertical—unto the Lord—then horizontal toward a husband (Ephesians 5:22). What Submission Is—and Is Not • Is: – A voluntary, Spirit-enabled choice (Ephesians 5:18) to honor God’s order. – Respectful cooperation that supports the husband’s headship (Ephesians 5:23). – A reflection of trust in God’s wisdom, not blind agreement with every preference. • Is Not: – Inferiority (Galatians 3:28). Men and women share equal worth before God. – Permission for abuse or sin (Acts 5:29). A wife obeys God above all. – Passive silence. Proverbs 31 shows a wife who speaks with wisdom and initiative. Why God’s Design Brings Flourishing • Mirrors the unity and order within the Trinity (1 Corinthians 11:3). • Cultivates peace: “The wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33), which nourishes his leadership. • Preaches the gospel: the marriage relationship pictures Christ’s sacrificial love and the church’s glad response (Ephesians 5:32). • Protects the home: godly headship paired with submission guards against chaos (Colossians 3:18-19). Practical Expressions of Submission • Attitude of respect—spoken and unspoken (1 Peter 3:1-2). • Prayerful support: interceding for decisions, pressures, and temptations he faces. • Open communication: sharing insights and concerns without undermining (Proverbs 31:26). • Affirming his leadership in front of children, family, and church. • Flexibility on non-moral preferences—budget choices, scheduling, parenting methods—unless they contradict Scripture. • Encouraging his spiritual growth—joining him for devotions, worship, service. Common Challenges and Biblical Wisdom • When the husband is not walking with Christ: continue respectful submission while living out purity and reverence (1 Peter 3:1-2), trusting God to work through your example. • When you disagree: calmly express your perspective (Proverbs 15:1), then entrust the final decision to him, believing God can work through imperfect leaders (1 Samuel 25:32-33). • When fear arises: replace anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7), recalling God’s sovereignty over every outcome. Encouragement for Husbands and Wives Together • Husbands are commanded to love “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Such sacrificial leadership makes submission a joy. • Mutual devotion—her respectful submission and his self-giving love—creates a testimony that draws others to Christ (John 13:35). • God’s grace empowers both spouses: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). |
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