A. Jesus Christ’s love for His church. “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). “Nourish and cherish her, just as the Lord does the church” (5:29). While we cannot attain equality with Christ, yet the quality of our love should be the same m His. How, then, does Jesus Christ love His church?
1) Genuine, without hypocrisy. His love was so real and intense that He died for the church.
2) Free, without conditions before or expectatiom after. He gave Himself to cleanse His church, implying she was no beauty beforehand. The husband must draw love from her by his own love. True love is more about bettering the object loved than enriching the subject.
3) Holy, without impurity. Christ loved the church “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (5:26). This teaches the husband to labor diligently to further the sanctification of his wife.
4) Great, without comparison. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is what Christ did for His church (5:25).
5) Constant, without change. Even until He presents her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle” (Eph. 5:27). Many times has Christ been put off by them, and yet He continues to love them. Husbands should copy His example. No bad behavior on her part is grounds to stop loving her.
6) Active, without neglect. He “nourishes and cherishes her” (5:29). He must do his utmost to supply all her needs, whether for support, or constant friendship, or a nurse for her illness.
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