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Good morning. We will continue our studies on husbands today. Last week we studied 1 Peter 3 verses 1–6 and today we will look into chapter 3 verse 7. And the title of today's sermon is, “Empowered by Grace, How the Gospel Empowers or Enables Men to Serve Their Wives.”
We'll read it together. 1 Peter 3, verse 7. “You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way as with someone weaker, since she is a woman, and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word. And we pray, God, that you would have mercy on us, Lord, to help us understand your design for our marriages, oh, Father, Lord.
We pray that you would give us grace. We pray that you would help us understand, Lord, Lord, and we pray that you would bless our marriages as we submit to the teaching of your word. We ask you that you would help us overcome, Lord, all our false notions of marriage and self-centered pursuits of marriage, oh Father.
We pray that we may honor you even through our marriages. We ask you, O Father, in the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Last week, we have looked at how a wife should conduct herself in the marriage. And quite a few times we have looked at from the Bible and from portions like Ephesians about the different roles in the marriage.
And both men and women are created equally in the image of God. Nevertheless, there are different roles in the marriage. And since we live in an age where we are seeing different kinds of marriages and the most prevalent marriages in a postmodern era is a kind of an egalitarian marriage set where you see that even in roles, both husbands and wives are equal.
But when we come to the Bible, these are timeless principles which apply to all kinds of people at all times. And the Bible is very clear that a husband should lead the family and wife respectfully submits to the leading of her husband. And we have also seen and understood that the wife's role of a proper or suitable helpmate. And we see that we have also learned that without the help of a wife, a man cannot lead his family. Man needs the help of his wife. So we have looked at these different roles and in our last study we have seen how a woman should conduct herself and how focused should be all Christian women, all women who are saved by the gospel should focus on their inner selves.
They should focus on their inner beauty. They should work on their hearts. And we have seen that they should work on having a quiet spirit, right? A gentle and a quiet spirit. And that comes from the work of the Spirit of God. And that's a fruit of the Spirit of God. And after instructing wives to submit to their own husbands, Peter clarifies that this submission does not permit husbands to treat their wives however they wish. We have seen many marriages. You know, seldom we see good marriages. Right? Right? And many marriages are crippled with abusive husbands or absentee husbands.
And the marriages are so greatly, deeply affected. Even Christian homes are greatly affected because of the harsh, abusive husbands. And Peter clarifies here that submission does not mean that men can treat their wives as they like. And the family structure here we see that is designed by the Lord. So the husband serves as the head of his wife. And it is the Lord who established this male headship that defines what male headship entails. tales and we should also understand from this passage that how should male headship be practiced and first peter chapter 3 verse 7 provides an answer peter says you husbands in the same way you know when we read chapter 3 verse 1 addressing to the wives he begins the passage with the same
words, “in the same way.” In the same way here it doesn't mean that husbands have to submit to their wives the same way or just as wives submit to their husbands, right? But Peter is including a new group here. In earlier verses, Peter said all believers should submit to the rulers in chapter 2 verse 13, and slaves should submit to their masters in chapter 2 verse 18, and wives should submit to their husbands in chapter 3 verse 1. And all are called to live in a certain way before a watching world.
And all these different groups are called to be faithful in their respective callings. And in doing so, they are faithful to the Lord. Wives by submitting to their own husbands are faithful to God in their own respective callings as wives. And similarly, husbands have a calling to fulfill. They are given a specific set of instructions. They are to be faithful in their calling to lead their wives. And how should they lead? So there is no scope for passive husbands in marriages. This rules out — this is ruled out, right? There is no scope for passive husbands in Christian marriages. Husbands should take the leadership. No matter what your personality is, it doesn't matter, you have to lead. You have to
have to nurture your family. You have to care for your family. You should provide for your family. You should work hard for your family. You cannot sit at home while your wife is working. No, you have to do the hard work by providing for the family.
You cannot be a passive husband. You should lead, nurture your family in faith. Teach them the word. And you should protect your family from all the schemes. And how should they lead? How should they lead? Firstly, we see here that Peter says, “You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives,” he says. Live with your wives. This is the first thing that we see here. Peter expects husband and wife to live in the same house.
A lot of marriages, I know there are some exceptions. Let’s say a man serves in the military. There are some exceptions. Apart from those exceptions, exceptions, a man and a woman, a husband and a wife should live together. They should not be even separated for the sake of job.
If man is going to a different place to work and earn, wife should also go there. Many marriages are like this, like husbands go to a far off place and they work, wife is elsewhere. I go to a barber shop and there’s this guy, a few men there and they are from the UP. All these guys are married and once in six months, they visit their families. I ask them, man, then why are you married?
So that your wife can live alone? Why? They don’t get the point there. But we should understand that. If you’re married, you are married to stay together, to live together. So Peter expects husband and wives to live in the same house. In the Greek word, the word is sunoikeo, which is used here for live with. You have to live with.
The word live with is used in the Greek Old Testament for marriage relationships. And especially it is used for physical intimacy. It is used for physical intimacy in Deuteronomy chapter 22 verse 13. So cohabitation with your spouse involves physical intimacy as well. And sadly we are, we are living in a world where unmarried people cohabit. Unmarried people cohabit. There are now many co-living spaces available, uh, you know, uh, for unmarried people, even in our city, right? Uh, once I visited my friend in Gachibowli, and right beside his house there is a co-living space. Which means that men and women who are unmarried can come there and live there together in a room.
Right? So, and however, the biblical view on cohabitation remains unchanged. God’s design for an unmarried male and unmarried female is marriage. Marriage. God’s design is marriage. Living together without the commitment of marriage undermines the divine design, undermines God’s authority. Engaging in a living relationship often leads to sexual intimacy outside the bounds of marriage, which the Bible categorically condemn. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 4 says, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all and the marriage bed is to be undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
Fornication refers to generally a sexual relationship among the unmarried meaning that if they engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, it is considered fornication. In contrast, adultery pertains to those who are married and involves sexual relationships outside the marriage bond. And some individuals mistakenly believe that the act of sex itself solely defines sex. That’s a misunderstanding.
Still, any sexual intention, including acts like kissing, which are romantic in nature, can also be viewed as sexual relationships. Relationships, not just the act of sex, but any intention towards a person who is not married to you is sexual. And if you look through the lens of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter 5 verse 28, Jesus said, “I said to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
That’s the reason brothers and sisters we need to guard our marriages, guard our hearts. Unmarried Christians should resist cohabitation and embrace marriage as part of God’s plan. Married Christians need to fight for their marriages because sin and selfishness can destroy the marriage. Some might think that if love or intimacy fades in that particular marriage, they can divorce and remarry.
And lately, it's popular to believe that if you get bored with your spouse, you should move on to someone else who excites you. And this kind of thinking is from the pit of hell. Divorce should only be considered on the grounds of adultery, and even then it is not a commandment. Look, the Bible doesn't say if your spouse commits adultery you should get, you should divorce him or her. It doesn't say that. It's an option. You can consider divorcing your spouse if that person is unfaithful to you, if he's, if he or she is unrepentant. That means that you have a choice to
still forgive. But in our text Peter exhorts husbands to live with their wives in an intimate manner. This living arrangement should be characterized by love, respect and warmth. Married couples should not cohabit merely for the sake of being together. Or, we got married, we have to live together, we have no other options. Or maybe now we have kids, okay, anyways I have no interest in my spouse. Or now we have kids, for the sake of kids let's live together. Your cohabitation shouldn't be for the sake of — your kids are secondary in your marriage. Your wife, your husband is the primary person in your marriage.
And so the essence of the union, our union should be genuine, affectionate bond that thrives on mutual admiration and care. As long as you are alive and living together, maintaining love and respect is essential. Brothers and sisters, you must fight for your marriages. You must fight for your marriages and work harder so that by God's grace, love, intimacy, and respect are alive in your marriages. Let your cohabitation with your spouse be purposeful, which means you both enjoy each other and keep enjoying each other's company till the last breath of your lives. That's the purpose of marriage. Yes, you will see the failures. Yes, you will see the sin of your spouse, but you extend grace.
You forgive. You repent. You seek forgiveness. That's how we live. That's how we grow. Dear husband, understand this as one of the purposes of your life. One of the greatest purposes of your life. And your wife is the most important person to you on this face of this earth.
You must live with her with this frame of mind. Your wife is very important, precious to you. And wives, this is also your purpose. And cooperate with your husband to make your habitation meaningful, cohabitation meaningful and purposeful. How can the husband's cohabitation with their wives become purposeful?
Peter says here, “your husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way.” Live with your wives in an understanding way. The word for understanding is gnosis, which means knowledge. Men, understand that your marriage is not merely to satisfy your sexual desires.
Your marriage is not for your sexual pleasures. Marriage is more than that. It is also companionship. Genesis chapter 2 verse 24 says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” They become one flesh. And many understand that this one flesh is merely sexual. No. And the original word used there, basar, is often used for the entirety of the human being.
It's just not referring to merely the outward layer of your body, but to the whole person. Of oneness here signifies that two individuals are merging into one single entity. You are becoming one entity. Your spouse is neither a rival nor an obstacle in your marriage. Your strengths complement your strengths, and her weaknesses are your shared burdens.
You don't ignore your spouse's weaknesses. You together work on your weaknesses. You don't condemn, you don't criticize your spouse's failures, but you see them as something to be worked upon. And you together come together with your weaknesses and work on your weaknesses. Seek the grace of the Lord. Seek the scriptural in the inside and understanding and apply to your own lives. And each and every time you fail, you extend grace and forgiveness so that you mature, so that you grow together into Christlikeness. It is essential to work together on each other's weaknesses.
A man should give his wife the same attention and care he gives to himself. Paul says that. Right? Is profoundly sacred before God and it should be highly valued. It should be highly valued. Firstly, you must understand that the purpose of your marriage is sacred union established by God.
Secondly, recognize or understand the purpose of your wife in your life. Yes, the primary purpose of a wife in a Christian home is to be a homemaker, and that doesn't mean she shouldn't work outside the home. If she works, she should shouldn't do so at the expense of neglecting her calling as a homemaker. And that doesn't mean that your wife is a cook, your wife is a cleaner, your wife is a caretaker or of you. No, it doesn't mean that. Ask an average Indian man, why do you want to marry? “Man, I have my sexual desires, so I have to marry.” And then he needs someone who will cook for him, who will sets his clothes
or house in order. Or tomorrow they want to procreate, have kids. And later they should care for their own she will care for the kids while the husband is away. Or probably he has his old parents. Or his parents will become old and there should be someone to care for his parents.
Brothers, if your understanding of this marriage is this, you have greatly mistaken or misunderstood the purpose of the marriage. You have misunderstood the purpose of your marriage. Why did God bring a woman to man in the first place? Why did he bring a woman? Look at Genesis chapter 2 verse 18.
The Lord said, and the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.” I will make him a helper suitable for him. Brother, again, don't misunderstand the word helper here. It doesn't mean that he will she will help you in everything. No. Helper fit for him, or suitable for him — what does it mean? Well, it means that he was created to help Adam in the task that God has given to him. First thing to note is that term is a term of dignity, that the term that is translated here helper is most often used for God, as God as the helper of Israel, right? And this is strong language and a strong — it has a strong and a powerful image where God is the helper of his people.
The same term has been used for the wife, right? And God, and especially she's a helper who is fit for him. What does this term mean? It is not a weak term. Being a helper involves strength, it involves intelligence, it involves wisdom, it involves courage, it involves compassion. It does not mean that wife is inferior in dignity. And remember, they are both created in God's image. Being a suitable helper as a wife isn't limited to a few big decisions in marriage. It's all of your life together.
It's an all the time calling. That is whatever you do, whatever you're thinking, raising kids, working at a job, if you have one, building friendships in your neighborhood. All of this falls under that big umbrella of helping him or helping your husband. And the language that Moses uses here is more of identity language than the role language.
That's huge and humbling. Suitable helper is our identity. She is the right helper for you, suitable helper for you. And if you're a married woman, you are a suitable helper for your husband. That's why God brought you into this marriage. And the husbands should understand this, should understand of the role and the dignity that God has placed on your spouse. She is not inferior to you. She is not a second-class citizen in your home. No. And many men treat their wives like that.
You cannot lead your family effectively without your wife. And for that purpose, you must communicate with your spouse. You must discuss things together. You must contemplate about things together. You must discuss and pray together about how well you can lead your family.
Therefore, a husband should live with their wives with proper knowledge of God's design and will for their marriages as revealed in the scriptures. I remember in the early days of our marriage, I was a bad husband. And we, you know, I asked my wife before marriage, “Will you go anywhere I go? Will you?” She said yes. And then within few months of a marriage I decided, I had a conversation with a brother and he asked me to join him for some ministry, for work in Maharashtra. So without discussing with my wife, I went home and I told my wife that next month we are leaving to Maharashtra. She was
working a job and I said, what about my job? You're quitting your job. Dion, I can't quit like that. You must quit your job. Remember you said you will follow me wherever I go? And she followed me. We went. After many years, because of God's intervention in my life and other brothers intervened in, saw this as a pattern in my life and they invested in my life, they taught me how I was an unbiblical husband, and, uh, yeah, God taught me so. And a lot of times, a lot of times, a lot of men make such decisions. They make their decisions and they just announce to their families. But that's not the way, right? So you must come together with your spouse, think about things, discuss about things, pray about things, and make a right scriptural decision, God honoring decision, right? And
Firstly, you as a husband must have a biblical understanding of the marriage. And secondly, you must understand your wife well. You must understand your wife well. How do you understand your wife well? You understand your wife well when you spend time, good time with her. When you talk to her.
Right? This involves more than superficial knowledge. It’s more than, it’s not just knowing about our favorite color, no, or no favorite foods or places or brands, right? Know your wife, our likes or dislikes, our moods, our views, our strengths, our needs, fears, our hurts, our goals. You understand her, you spend time with her, you hear out her, you, you should be a good listener to your wife. You should listen to her stories, even sob stories, you should listen to her. And a former. You must spend time with her, you must listen to her experiences, understand her feelings, you know, and her hurts as well. Get involved in our life, be an encouragement to her, and be with her. That’s
the role of a husband. That’s how you understand her. Spending time together is not limited to the bedtime, brothers. It’s a time you be with her. You’re working in a kitchen, just go stand beside her, talk to her, listen to her. See, she is sitting on a couch, go sit beside her, talk to her, listen to her, right? A man should know the preferences, moods and the needs of his beloved so that he can properly love her. Brother, if you are not knowing your wife you cannot love her well.
You should and you cannot care for her well. You need more than your masculinity to live in an understanding way. You need the grace of God that enables you to love and to understand your spouse. You need to depend on the grace of Christ daily to fulfill your calling as a husband. You should become a sympathetic husband like Christ who is sympathetic towards us.
And thirdly, you must live with your wife knowing that she is weaker. And a few translations use weaker vessel. And the word used here for vessel or translated vessel is sometimes used for human body. It means that women are physically weaker than men. Most of the women are. It's not a universal principle. It's a general principle. Generally, if you look at the men here who are sitting besides their wives, I don't think that any woman is powerful than her husband, right? Men are generally stronger than men. Sorry, women.
Right? And weaker doesn’t imply that women are emotionally weak or intellectually inferior to men. No portion of the Bible suggests that. Sometimes women show more courage than men in marriages. You know, if you read history, or maybe your own mothers, or someone in your family or extended family, you may find some stronger woman, you know. The, the mother of Charles Wesley and John Wesley, she was a very strong woman. She brought her 17 kids while her husband was mostly away from the home. She taught them the word, she trained them for manhood, to live like men. She was a strong woman.
So we see that many women are more courageous, more responsible than men. And not as Peter suggests that women are weaker morally or spiritually than men. Right? Hannah. Who is Hannah? Not James’ wife. The Bible Hannah. The mother of Samuel. You read her prayer, she was more spiritual than her husband, more godly than her husband, right? There are many women like that. He, Peter, indicates that women are generally weaker physically, and Peter says, “since she is a woman.” These are the words that he’s using here, “since she is a woman.” This particularly belongs to a woman.
This kind of a nature particularly belongs to a woman. Peter is particularly speaking about a feminine quality. Men should value that and understand that. The femininity of a woman. And women don't try to become like men. Preserve your femininity. You're precious as God made you. Right? So he's talking about a feminine quality and men should value that and understand her. God requires that men should understand. Men understand this of their wives. The feminine quality of their wives. Therefore, you should not try to dominate her through your strength.
Husbands must never bully, threaten, or strike their wives, nor should they demean their wives. You should not make fun of your wives. A lot of men are cruel. A lot of men are cruel. They are different outside. They may appear very godly outside, but with their wives, they are cruel. Will. A lot of men are. And instead, men are called to be gentle with their wives. Look at Ephesians chapter 5 verse 29. Paul says, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.” Verse 30, “because we are members of his body.” So it implies here that man should nourish and cherish his own wife.
The word for cherish here is something like warmth. You’re gentle with her. You’re kind with her. You nurture her like someone who is precious. Right? Right? So you are gentle with her. Again, gentleness is not contrary to your masculinity. But, “I’m a man, how can I be gentle?” No.
The perfect man who lived on the face of this earth, our Lord Jesus Christ said these words, “I’m meek and lowly. Come and learn from me.” This is the quality that we must grow in and this comes by the work of the Spirit of God. is a fruit of the Spirit. Colossians 3:19, Paul says there, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.” Again, this word means harsh. Do not be harsh with them. Do not be harsh with them. Dear brother, for you and me to grow in this gentle behavior, we must constantly walk in the Spirit of God.
And he brings in us the fruit of gentleness. We men can show our authority in many ways. Right? How? Some can physically dominate them. Some can raise their voices. Right? And we try to control. That’s the way we men try to manipulate our wives.
There’s a different way probably women uses to manipulate their husbands, but men try to show their authority, their abuse, you know, and their voices to control and manipulate their — or sometimes their looks, right? And to control and to abuse their wives. Brothers, recognize that we are weak in different ways. We need our wives to understand our weaknesses. We need their help to overcome them. Your spouse is your greatest accountability partner. She can, she can see your failures, your weaknesses, and you need to be honest with your spouse about your weaknesses. You need to pray regarding your weaknesses.
Marriage is a union between two weak and sinful people who are constantly in need of God's grace. And when the couple experience God's grace in that union of marriage, that marriage becomes stronger and stronger. Stronger. Fourthly, Peter says here, show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life.
Physically, she is probably weaker. But spiritually, she is a fellow heir of grace. She is like you made in the image of God. Honor her in every way and honor her here is not a strong word actually. The original word is timē, which is a word used for valuing by which the price is fixed.
So she is someone valuable and precious. That's what it means here. So you have to honor her. Peter is saying that show her honor. Why? Why? Because she is someone who is valuable and precious. Your own wife should be valuable in her own eyes and precious to you. So you honor her.
And one of the reasons that men have to honor their wives is because they are fellow heirs of the grace of life. And Peter is showing us that fundamentally women are equal to us. They are made in the image of God and both are heirs of grace of life. And this is an eschatological terminology. All believers are heirs of grace of life. And this is something that we are yet to inherit. Men should honor women because they share that same destiny as well. An eternal inheritance in God’s kingdom. They are not going to receive a lesser valued inheritance than men.
You are saved by grace. You are sanctified by grace. You are strengthened by grace. You are servants of God by grace and you are secured by grace. Dear brothers, you are to live with your wives in an understanding way. It is incumbent on you rather to lead your family with biblical values and by God’s grace. Do you know what would happen if you are not leading your family well? You know what would happen if you’re not leading your wives with respect, love and care? If you’re not leading your family in an understanding way? Brothers, take care that you’re not an irresponsible, uncaring, harsh, embittered husband. Peter says here your prayers will not be hindered. Harsh husbands, uncaring husbands, unrepentant husbands, selfish husbands cannot pray
well. Cannot pray well. Why? Because your prayers won’t be heard or answered. You may be a prayer, prayerful person, or you may have a prayer routine, but if you are not living according to verse 7 here, your prayers will be hindered. Your prayers will be hindered. The word for hindered is cut off. It is a military term that describes soldiers blocking a road to stop the enemy from advancing. How you treat your wife can block your prayer life. How you treat your wife can block your prayer life. Your relationship with your wife is very important for your communion with God.
When husbands fail in their duties, whether through harshness, neglect, or dishonor, they damage their relationship with both their wives and their God. Sin breaks fellowship with your spouse and with God. And unrepentance towards one's spouse creates a barrier in your communion with God. This shows how sacred marriage is in the eyes of God.
Brothers, you can’t take your wife for granted. You cannot take your wife for granted. However, it is common for many men to take their wives for granted. The way husbands treat their wives often mirror their understanding of God’s character and their dedication to living a life of holiness.
This is part of your holy life, brothers. The way you treat your wife is part of your holy life. The way you live with your wife is part of your holy life. You understanding your wife is part of your holy life. You giving time and spending time with your wife is part of your holy life.
You may be a praying person. You may be crying out to God for many things. But remember, your prayers are hindered if you are not living properly with your wife. Your wife may be at wrong. Your wife may not be a godly woman, but it is your calling to be godly, to serve your wife, to care for your wife, to suffer in that marriage by God’s grace. Because your wife is ungodly, it doesn’t give you permission to become a harsh husband, to become an abusive husband. If your wife is not a cooperative person, it doesn’t give you a permission to neglect her.
Doesn’t give you a permission not to care for her, not to provide for her. Brothers and sisters, this is an important thing. Your husband or your wife, they are accountable to the Lord, but you are also accountable to the Lord. You as a woman should work on your own heart. You should work on that gentle quiet spirit. And husband should work on growing in understanding, nurturing, caring for their wives.
The way you treat your wives shows whether you fear God or not. And you must repent of sin, of the sin of not living with your spouse in an understanding way. Christ is our greatest example. Ephesians 5 verse 25, Paul says there, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Firstly, Christ loved the undeserving and chose to save those who are unable to save themselves from their sins. Christ went to the cross and our sins were laid on him. We deserve to die and suffer under God’s severe wrath which was burning against us, but Christ became that substitute and suffered in our place for our sins under God’s severe anger which was against us. The Holy Father crushed his own son on the cross for our sins. He died and he rose again on the third day for our salvation. He sympathized with us and he continues to sympathize with our weaknesses as our eternal pre
high priest. Christ is both now our Lord and our Savior. He is our Lord and our Savior. He is the we have to submit to him, and at the same time he cares for us. He’s both the lion and Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. And husbands must reflect both aspects in their marriage. They should lead their families, at the same times they should serve their families. They should serve their families with gentleness, with care. The gospel reminds us that we are all sinners in need of grace.
Husbands will fail in their duties, but the gospel provides both forgiveness and power for transformation. In Christ, there is hope for broken marriages and strength for ongoing sanctification. Identify those areas where you fail and repent of those areas before the Lord and seek his grace. Therefore, a biblical husband is not a domineering person. He should not try to manipulate his wife with through abuse or harshness. Instead he must model Christ’s love and service. You should fulfill your calling as a husband by lovingly leading your family. Praying for your spouse. Nourishing her with the word. Modeling Christ-like character.
Providing emotional support for your wife. Providing food, clothes and shelter for the family. Protecting your loved ones. Brothers, the scriptures are here for us. To be redeemed. By yielding to them, God will redeem our marriages. Many homes are damaged by or crippled by harsh, abusive, irresponsible men. Absentee men.
Wives, honor Christ by submitting to your husbands. And husbands, lead your wives with love. 1 Peter chapter 3 presents us a beautiful vision of Christian marriage where husbands lead through sacrificial love, protect through understanding care, and honor their wives as fellow image bearers and co-heirs of grace. This is neither the harsh patriarchy of fallen cultures nor the role confusion of modern egalitarianism.
but the wise and loving design — it is the wise and loving design of our Creator. This passage calls us to a high standard of love that mirrors Christ’s love for his church. It demands we die to selfishness, grow in wisdom, pursue holiness relationships. And as we do so faithfully, our marriages will become beautiful. They become living testimonies to the Gospel’s transforming power and beautiful pictures of Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church. May God give you the grace. So men and women, look into the Scriptures. Understand how we ought to be.
And redeem your marriages by the grace of God. Let’s pray. Dear God, we pray that we may understand your word. That we may yield to the authority of your Scriptures. May you give us grace to work on our own selves. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.