Completely Invested Series

Series: Accounting [#20]

COMPLETELY INVESTED

Ephesians 5:25-33

Introduction:

In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi after decorating the graves of her 2 sons who served during the Civil War as Confederate soldiers, an elderly woman also decorated 2 mounds at the corner of the cemetery. An observer asked, "What are you doing? Those are the graves of 2 Union soldiers." The reply, "I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours." Those ladies set in motion what became Memorial Day. Memorial Day is set aside each year to remember those who gave their lives in the armed forces. We remember those who died on far away battle fields to bring freedom and democracy to oppressed peoples. We commemorate their actions by honoring them in ceremonies across the land. We sometimes call it Decoration Day because we decorate the graves of fallen heroes with flags and flowers.

[Have Ernie bring the US Flag down and Sing the National Anthem.]

This morning, we are going to continue in our series. Just as a reminder from last week, this sermon is for each of us.

Ephesians 5:32 (NIV)

32 This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church.

I want us to study the types of love that we should have as Christians.

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

A Christians should have a…

1. Sacrificial love.

Interesting, that on Memorial Day, the 1st type of love we should have is a sacrificial love. That’s the type of love it takes to put your life on the line for your country. In order to have a sacrificial love, you must surrender your wants and wishes. Husband’s must stop worrying about how their wives make them look; and allow Jesus to make them look like Him.

Ephesians 5:26-27 (NIV)

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

A Christians should have a…

2. Sanctifying love.

Paul paints 3 pictures here about sanctifying love. The 1st comes from the traditions of a Hebrew wedding. On the day of the wedding, the bride and bridesmaids would have a ritual bath. They would make sure that the bride was presentable to the groom. After she bathed, they would put her wedding dress and wedding sandals on her. Then, she would wait for the groom to come get her.

The 2nd comes from the Christian being baptized in the Holy Spirit. When a person is saved, they are washed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each day, as a Christian prays and studies God’s Word, they are being cleansed by the Word of God.

The 3rd comes from this picture of marriage. For a moment, we must look at things from Jesus’ perspective. The Church is saved by Christ alone; but the wife’s loving growth should come from her husband’s example. A husband is to love his wife to the point that she can be set apart by God for Christ’s purposes.

Ephesians 5:28-33 (NIV)

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church- 30 for we are members of his body.31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A Christians should have a…

3. Satisfying love.

Often, people talk about how you have to love yourself before you can love others; but Paul actually says differently. Paul says that if a husband loves his wife, he loves himself. Christians, if you love others, you will love yourself. Remember, this love is a sacrificial love and is not about you; but is about others.

Our passage says that a husband is to feed and care for his wife. This isn’t just about putting food on the table. This is about nourishment. The husband is to nourish his wife. Spiritually, that is only possible through the Word of God. Nourishment is for strengthening and maturing.

The phrase to care for is sometimes translated, to cherish. Cherish means to keep warm and comfortable. Husbands, wives need to feel secure. They can only feel secure if you are taking care of their needs.

Conclusion:

Christians, we must have a sacrificial love for all, desire that each person be saved, and that each person be satisfied. You can only find satisfaction in Jesus.