Our impact on the next generation will live beyond us. Whether your own kids or those that you teach, coach, influence. We are all leaving a legacy.

Last week: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 “God Looks on the Heart” What’s in your heart has a great influence over you and spills out at home, work, church. God wants men and women who will allow him to shape and re-make their hearts.

Ephesians 5:21-33 These verses are a mixture of Jesus’ ministry to the church and husband /wife relationship. The commands are to husbands and wives, but Jesus is mentioned 10 times in 12 verses.

v. 25b-26. Jesus Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy by cleansing her. By cleansing her, he removed her sin. By making her holy, he set her apart to God. v. 27. The goal of Christ’s sacrificial love and sanctifying work is to present the church to himself in splendor with no spot, wrinkle or blemish, but holy

The church presently has shortcomings and failures. You and I struggle with sin. But Jesus Christ has done everything necessary to make us holy. One day, when Jesus presents us, his church, to himself; these spots, wrinkles, blemishes of sin and failures will give way to splendor and glory.

What does Jesus’ loving and cleansing the church have to do with husbands and wives? Jesus used his authority to serve and provide for others’ needs ahead of his own. The gospel is powerful; it impacts every aspect of your life. It is whole life changing. The gospel is reflected in the relationships in the home between husbands/wives, parents/children, and in the church, it is reflected in relationships between believers.

What affect does the gospel have in relationships? It changes our focus, our goals, our purpose from being self-centered to others centered. “As Jesus loved me and gave himself up for me, how can I love you and use my strength, influence, and resources for you?”

Jesus used his power and authority to love and save others. Jesus did not use his power and authority to serve himself. Jesus has all authority – rightful power – over heaven and earth. Yet he submitted to his Father’s will and served us, his people, instead of himself.

v. 21. “Submit to one another” – This is Jesus’ command for the church. Why submit to each other? Because Jesus put your salvation ahead of his own life. Jesus gave us an example to follow in mutual submission.

These are God’s standards for the church and the family: Mutual submission, pouring our strength, influence, and resources into each other. Mutual submission says, “you are of no less value than me.”

v. 22. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Why submit” Because Jesus Christ put your need for cleansing ahead of his own life.

v. 25. “Husbands love your wives (sacrificially)” Why love sacrificially? Because Jesus loved you and sacrificed himself for you.

v. 6:1 “Children obey your parents.” Why obey? Because Jesus obeyed his Father’s will to give his life for you.

Response:

If we would follow Jesus, we would ask our spouse, children, parents, younger generation, “How can I help?” PK speaker – 2 questions: “What do you need from me?” & “How am I doing?”

Who do you need to ask “How can I help?” Spouse? Child? Parent? Brother or sister in Christ?