29-33 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since

we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t

pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of

how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

EPHESIANS 5:29-33 TMSG

a beautiful covenant

1

When God stands as witness to the covenant promises of a marriage it becomes more than a merely human agreement. God is not a passive

bystander at a wedding ceremony. In effect he says, I have seen this, I confirm it and I record it in heaven.

And I bestow upon this covenant by My presence and My purpose the dignity of being an image of My

own covenant with My wife, the church.

JOHN PIPER::

a purposeful union

2

Love as distinct from "being in love" is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will

and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by the grace which both partners ask, and receive from God. They can have this love for each other

even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you

do not like yourself.

C. S. LEWIS::

“DON’T LOOK FOR THE FINISHED STATUE.

LOOK FOR A GREAT BLOCK OF MARBLE”

a divine reflection

3

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for

her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will

be holy and without fault.EPHESIANS 5:25-27 NLT

HE DIDN’T LOVE US BECAUSE

WE WERE LOVELY, HE

LOVED US TO MAKE US LOVELY.

What higher motive could there be for the husband to love his wife? By loving her as Christ loved the church, he honours Christ in the most

direct and graphic way. He becomes the embodiment of Christ's love to his own wife, a

living example to the rest of his family, a channel of blessing to his entire household, and a powerful

testimony to a watching world.

JOHN MacARTHUR::

take full responsibility.

1

forgive one another.

2

develop deep friendship.

3

pursue oneness.

4

serve potential.

5

faithfully persevere in what you are creating.

passionately serve who you are becoming.