Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 5:22-33
The Family and the Church
November 17, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
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2. References
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, Nelson Publishing,
1997).
• Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1985).
• Missler, Dr. Chuck, Ephesians, Session 7, Koinonia House Ministries, YouTube
Channel.
• Got Questions Ministries: www.GotQuestions.org.
Outline of Ephesians
• Chapters 1-3:
‒ Emphasis on the doctrine of Christianity.
‒ What we are in Christ.
‒ Our position in Christ.
• Chapters 4-6:
‒ Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
‒ Our response to Christ living in us.
‒ How to treat one another.
Introduction to Ephesians 5:22-33
• These verses create great discomfort and controversy when taught in
churches.
• These verses have been misapplied and misunderstood in our culture for
the role of women.
• These verses must be interpreted in the context in which they were written.
• Satan uses these verses to create conflict and turmoil.
Approach to Scripture Lesson Today
• Review the process of spiritual growth of the Christian as they imitate God
and walk in love as Christ (Ephesians 5:1-14) “Sanctification.”
• Study how Paul presents the example of marriage as how Christ loves the
church.
• Examine Ephesians 5:32 NKJV
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the
church.
Spiritual Growth
• Ephesians 5:1-2, 8 NKJV
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ
also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to
God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light
‒ Paul is describing the process of sanctification.

3. The goal of imitating God, walking in love as Christ and walking in the light is
Sanctification.
• Sanctification – Set apart for special use; to make holy.
• John 17:17-19 NKJV
17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the
world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify
Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
Phase 1 of Sanctification
1. Positional Sanctification (Justification)– We have been set free from every
sin by the blood of Christ.
‒ Acts 13:39 NKJV
39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from
which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
‒ God sees the righteousness of Christ when He looks at us.
‒ Our position before God.
Phase 2 of Sanctification
2. Progressive (Experiential) Sanctification – The effect of obedience to the
Word of God in one’s life.
‒ 2 Peter 3:18a NKJV
18a but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
‒ Ephesians 5:8b NKJV
8b Walk as children of light
2. Progressive Sanctification – Becoming more like Christ and not living under
the power of sin.
‒ Galatians 2:20 NKJV
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Forgiveness of sin for the Christian
‒ Christians continue to sin even though we are justified before God.
‒ The past, present and future sins of the Christian are forgiven and
covered by the blood of Christ.
‒ 1 John 1:8-9 NKJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

4. Phase 3 of Sanctification
3. Complete or Ultimate Sanctification (Glorification)
‒ 1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed
what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like
Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in
Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
‒ In our glorified state, we will be separated from sin and be totally
sanctified.
Summary of Sanctification
1. The positional sanctification separates the believer from the penalty of sin
(justification).
2. The progressive sanctification separates the believer from the power of sin.
3. The ultimate sanctification (glorification) separates the believer from the
presence of sin.
Definition of “submit” in Ephesians 5
• Ephesians 5:21 NKJV
21 submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord.
‒ Submission, to submit – “hypotasso” Greek military word meaning ‘to
arrange under a leader.’
‒ To voluntarily place oneself under the authority of another or to
carry the burden of another.
‒ No believer is inherently superior to another, and submission to
each other is out of reverence for God.

5. Definition of the “church” in Ephesians
• “church” – The collective body of believers in Christ.
• The relationship between Christ and the church described in Ephesians
applies to believers both individually and collectively.
• When you accept Christ as your savior, you become a member of the
“church” – The body of believers.
What is First Baptist Church Jackson (FBCJ)?
• FBCJ is a building dedicated as a place of worship and composed of
believers who worship God there.
• Your salvation is not dependent on being a member of any specific
Church, such as FBCJ.
• But, God desires for believers to assemble and worship Him together, and
the Church is where this occurs:
‒ Hebrews 10:25 NKJV
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner
of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see
the Day approaching.
Ephesians 5:22-24 NKJV
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head
of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in everything.
“Christ is head of the church”
• Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV
22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all
things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all.
• Matthew 28:18 NKJV
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
He (Christ) is the Savior of the body.
• body – church.
• Christ saved believers from the dangers of sin, death and hell.
• Christ provides for, protects, preserves and loves the church.
• The church is subject to Christ.

6. Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of
water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.
A broader meaning of Ephesians 5:26-27
• Verse 26 refers to the process of sanctification of the believers (the
church).
• Verse 27 is the presentation of the church to Christ referring to the rapture,
glorification, marriage and marriage supper of the Lamb.
Ephesians 5:28-29 NKJV
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves
his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and
cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
• Paul wants us to see the example of the relationship of Christ to the church
for husbands and wives in marriage.
Ephesians 5:30-33 NKJV
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this
reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in
particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects
her husband.
• The ‘great mystery’ is the relationship of the church as the Bride for Christ
and the Jewish wedding ceremony as a prophecy of end times.
The Jewish Wedding as a type of prophecy
• The Betrothal – Formal engagement (marriage contract) of the bride and
groom.
‒ Ephesians 1:4 NKJV
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
‒ God chose us (the church) in eternity past for salvation to become
the Bride for His Son.
• The Betrothal – The dowry paid would be the blood of Christ shed on the
bride’s behalf.
‒ The Groom’s gift to the Bride (church) is the Holy Spirit as a pledge.
‒ The Betrothal is the justification of the believer.
‒ Sanctification is the preparation of the Bride for the wedding (the
church preparing ourselves for Christ’s return).

7. The Jewish Wedding as a type of prophecy
• The Presentation – The Groom coming for the Bride and taking her to His
house.
‒ The rapture is the presentation of the church to Christ in our glorified
bodies.
‒ Ephesians 5:27 NKJV
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and
without blemish.
Christ’s promise to return for the church
• John 14:1-3 NKJV
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am,
there you may be also.
Rapture of the church
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord.
Glorification of the body at the rapture
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NKJV
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.

8. An Illustrated Timeline
The Marriage of the Lamb
• Revelation 19:6-8 NKJV
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of
many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For
the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him
glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made
herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
The Jewish Wedding as a type of prophecy
• The marriage of the Lamb will be a ceremony of rejoicing and giving glory
to God.
• The fine linen worn will be clean and bright (signifies purity).
• The type or amount of linen will be according to the righteousness in
believers’ lives.
‒ The outward manifestations of inward virtue awarded at the Judgment
Seat of Christ.
The marriage supper of the Lamb
• Revelation 19:9 NKJV
9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called (invited
guests) to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These
are the true sayings of God.”
‒ The marriage supper of the Lamb is the celebration after the wedding
ceremony.
‒ The marriage ceremony occurs during the 7 years of tribulation time on
the earth.
‒ The presentation feast will signify the end of the wedding ceremony in
heaven, then comes to earth for the celebration of the final meal.
‒ This final symbolic meal will take place at the establishment of the
millennial kingdom and the celebration will last throughout that 1,000-
year period.

9. Who are the “called” to the marriage supper of the Lamb?
• The “called” or “invited guests” are those who were saved before Christ
(Pentecost) – faithful believers saved by grace through faith up to the birth
of the church.
• Included guests are OT saints (Matthew 24:31).
• They are not the bride, but they are glorified and reign with Christ in the
millennial kingdom.
• The called or guests will also include tribulation saints and believers alive
in earthly bodies in the kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).
• The presentation feast is in heaven, and then Christ and the Bride come to
earth (Glorious Appearing) for the celebration of the final meal (the
Millennium).
• After the Millennium, the new order comes, and the marriage is
consummated (completed, made perfect).
The Jewish Wedding as a type of prophecy
• The marriage is consummated.
• Revelation 21:1-2 NKJV
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John,
saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The Marriage is Consummated – All Things Made New!
• Revelation 21:3-4 NKJV
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of
God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His
people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will
wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away.”
“Welcome Home!”

10. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.

11. Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/