Sermon Tone Analysis

*Ephesians 5:21-33*

 

Introduction:  When I discuss this passage, I usually talk about husbands and wives.

I decided to discuss Paul’s metaphors about Christ & the church.

Paul uses two metaphors:  head and body; bride and groom, as well as one other description.

I.

Head & body   *vs.

23*

     A.

Responsible for our salvation

     B.

Protector, sacrificial lover, leader, guide, sustainer

     C.

The basis of the passage is not control; it is love.[1]

D.

*Vs.

28-30*

          1.

Love  agapaw

          2.

Nourishes and cherishes

              a.

ἐκτρέφω: provide food for, /feed, nourish; nurture/

              b.

θάλπω:  Literally: keep warm; /take care of/, with the implication of cherishing and comforting

 

II.

Savior   *vs.

23*

     A.

σωτήρ: /rescuer, one who delivers or saves/; note: in the NT, always in reference to God the Father and his Only Son; A savior, deliverer, preserver, one who saves from danger or destruction and brings into a state of prosperity and happiness

     B.

In the NT σωτηρία does not refer to earthly relationships.

Its content is not, as in the Greek understanding, well-being, health of body and soul.

Nor is it the earthly liberation of the people of God from the heathen yoke, as in Judaism.

It does not relate to any circumstances as such.

It denotes neither healing in a religious sense, nor life, nor liberation from satanic or demonic power.

 It has to do solely with man’s relationship to God. [2]

 

III.

Bride & groom   *vs.

25-27*          

     A.

He willingly gave his live    *vs.

25*          

     B.

*Vs.

26*     ἁγιάζω:  /make holy, sanctify, to cause one to have the quality of holiness; to be included in the inner circle of what is holy; //to purify, to cleanse externally, to purify by expiation (make free from the guilt of sin), to purify internally by renewing of the soul.

/

          1.

Christ’s atoning sacrifice is very clearly depicted as a means of sanctification

          2.

How?  “having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word”

               a.

καθαρίζω:  /make clean, cleanse, purify/

               b.

λουτρόν:  /washing, bath, baptism/; ceremonial washing referring to baptism.

In Eph 5.26 the phrase τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος has been generally interpreted as a reference to baptism, since the literal washing of an object by means of water would not be a means of ritual purification in the sense in which the church would be dedicated or consecrated to God. [3]    *Titus 3:5*

          3.

Grooms are not usually responsible getting the bride clean for the wedding, but Jesus was.

     C.

*Vs.

27*     ἔνδοξος: pertaining to being splendid or glorious, /glorious, splendid, wonderful, in splendor./

/Beautiful, magnificent/

          1.

σπίλος:  that which constitutes an unwanted spot or stain upon something; /spot, stain, blemish/.

2.

ῥυτίς:  lines or creases in the skin; /wrinkle/.

In Eph 5.27 ῥυτίς is used symbolically as a type of imperfection

          3.

Jesus makes us look just like He wants us to look; we are beautiful in His eyes!

 

Conclusion:  We know that Jesus loves us because of all the things he has done, and is doing, for us.

I want you to go away from this study with no doubt about Jesus’ love for you.

Central Church.

Wichita, KS.  September 7, 2008.

PM.

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[1]/The letters to the Galatians and Ephesians.

2000, c1976 (W.

Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.).

The Daily study Bible series.

Philadelphia: The Westminster Press./.

2000, c1976 (W.

Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.).

The Daily study Bible series.

Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.

[2]/Theological dictionary of the New Testament.

1964-c1976.

Vols.

5-9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich.

Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin.

(G.

Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.).

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans./.

1964-c1976.

Vols.

5-9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich.

Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin.

(G.

Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.).

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

[3]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989).

/Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains.

New York: United Bible societies.