Ephesians 5:22

Introduction:

1. Southern Baptists statement of faith ..

2. World of feminist movement was BOUND to gender controversy

3. Take a look at such and then the Bible.

NPR Talk show debate - brought about these 'arguments' -

1. More agree with me than agree with you

a. Tell that to Noah

b. Tell that to Joshua & Caleb

c. Tell that to Elisha -

d. Truth is NOT determined by how many believe it..

2. This is the historical view

a. Truth is not determined on HOW long one has believed something …

b. 'old wives tales' -- fables -- are often ANCIENT in origin

c. astrology goes clear back to ancient Babylon -

3. We CANNOT understand the Bible alike …

a. This is always used when one wants to be accepted without showing

b. SOME things are hard --

4. HS CAUSED my understanding ..

a. YET - if it is based upon misreading and poor exegesis -- it is NOT the HS --

b. HOW did they come to their conclusion --

5. You are stupid

a. 'you ought to sue your seminary for breech of contract'….

b. 'the modern' - 'enlightened' -- 'scholarly'

6. This position is the same as slavery ..

a. IF can parallel with a known error -- make such an analogy -- then proven your position to be false???

II. MUTUAL SUBMISSION (21) means equality among ALL believers and hence denies an 'hierarchical' understanding of relationships.

a. First, IF this is true, then :

1. would deny such hierarchical understanding of father / children?

2. would deny such hierarchical understanding of master / slave?

3. would deny such hierarchical understanding of Christ / church?

b. The submission of wives to husbands is SPECIFIC.

c. The submission of wives to husbands if paralleled with Christ / Church of Christ

d. The submission of wives is used in contrast with the headship of the husband.

HENCE -- my conclusion is that vs. 21 is describing the nature of submission in all relationships that demand such. All such is to be done in respect to my relationship with God. It is based upon my relationship to GOD, not personal likes or discomfort.

a. children -- obey in the LORD

b. servants -- 'as unto the lord' -- as the servant of Christ …

III. Submit = middle voice

a. 'Shows' is 'mutual' -- NOT SO, shows it is done to / for oneself. It is the WIFE that submits herself -- not the husband that 'beats her into it!"

IV. Head - concerning the contrast with the husband …

a. NOT 'arche' -- hence

1. 'arche' - ruler, 'beginner', 'source' --

b. Kephale --

1. Used as 'head' to 'body' - Eph. 1:22,

2. Used of CHRIST and the church -- Col. 1:18, 2:10

3. IS Used of relationships - 1 Cor. 11:1f

V. Such demeans the worth of woman --

VI. Such will produce abuse of women --

VII. Such will close off the gospel to those who refuse to accept such teaching ..