The Order of Creation
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:22-24
Scripture
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let …
Sermon Description
What does God’s word say about marriage? Sadly, what it does say is often misunderstood and attacked because it confronts the thinking of today. In this sermon on Ephesians 5:22–24 titled “The Order of Creation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that Scripture alone presents a balanced view of the roles and responsibilities within marriage. Only in Scripture is it taught that wives are to submit to their husbands in love and respect just as Jesus Christ submits to God. There is no authoritarianism because the husband’s role as leader is one of love and service, not domination and cruelty. Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows how this view of marriage is taught from the beginning of the Bible in Genesis before the fall. Even in the perfect Garden of Eden, woman was created as a helper for man. Even before the fall, man was the head, provider, and protector of the woman in the relationship between husband and wife. Paul expounds on the teaching in Ephesians 5:22–24 and is not saying anything different from the rest of the Bible. So those who reject this teaching of male headship are not only rejecting the teachings of the historic Christian church, but also of God’s infallible word. The rejection of the biblical understanding of marriage is at the heart of many of society’s problems. When people try to live in direct contradiction to God’s plan, there is always suffering and unrest.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing wives in Ephesians 5:22-24 and exhorting them to submit to their husbands.
- Wives should submit to their husbands "as unto the Lord" - meaning ultimately for Christ's sake and to please Him. It is part of a wife's Christian duty and discipleship.
- The first reason wives should submit is because of the created order - God made man first and gave him authority. Man is the head of the woman.
- The fall brought changes, including that a wife's desire would be for her husband and he would rule over her. A wife's subordination increased after the fall.
- The submission of a wife to her husband does not mean she is inferior or a slave. She is different and a complement. She should not usurp man's God-given authority.
- An illustration of the relationship is Christ's submission to God the Father. It is a voluntary submission for the purpose of salvation. Another illustration is the military, with soldiers submitting to leaders.
- The failure to understand and implement this biblical teaching on marriage is causing many of the world's problems today, like chaos, lack of authority, divorce, family breakdown, juvenile delinquency, and more.
- In many places today, like the U.S., there is a matriarchal society with women dominating in the home. This goes against God's design and is like Eve's original sin.
- Psychology and common sense cannot solve marriage problems. We must return to God's word and God's perfect plan for marriage with men and women in their proper roles.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.