Marriage and Redemption (b)

The point: Seek to be more judicious and restrained in using the word 'ain't' for rhetorical effect, so as not to undermine parents' efforts to teach correct English.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about his 8th and 9th grade English teacher, Miss Reynolds, who 'drummed the fundamentals of English grammar into me,' to explain his own stickler nature for language and his desire to be a good example.

Now, before we turn to the reading and exposition of God's Word, an older, mature, and greatly respected brother in the church spoke to me this morning and expressed his judgment that I was using the word ain't too frequently, and my purpose in doing that is rhetorical effect. But I know that many of you are working diligently with your children and young people, and some not so young people, to respect the canons of the English language. And some of you know that I'm a stickler about that, that my wife jokes that she's lived with another woman for 46 years in our marriage,

0:04 - 0:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is nothing more, nothing less, than a real life-changing participation in the salvation described in chapters 1 and 2.

Martin uses the metaphor of a 'foundation and superstructure' to explain how the generic identity of believers (Ephesians 1-2) is the foundation upon which the specific directives for wives and husbands (Ephesians 5) are built.

We have the directives given by the Apostle Paul and to husbands, in which there is set before a marvelous picture of a redeemed marriage reflecting as a mirror image really through Christ and the Church, her Savior. I asserted. With equal dogmatism that Ephesians 5 cannot be transposed with Ephesians 1 and 2. When Paul writes in Ephesians 5 verse 22, wives, and he writes in verse 25, husbands,

7:26 - 8:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Never plunk down directly in Ephesians 5 to have a seminar on God-honoring marriage unless the realities of salvation in Christ and new creation are first established.

The foundational prerequisite of salvation is likened to a 'foundational slab and the footings' upon which the superstructure of a redeemed marriage must be built.

and that salvation that issues in new creatures in Christ to what I'm calling the superstructural prerequisites for a redeemed marriage. If we look upon that foundational prerequisite, this real life-transforming participation in the salvation described in Ephesians 1 and 2, we look upon that as the foundational slab and the footings. If we're to have a redeemed marriage built, there must also be a superstructure upon that foundation.

11:02 - 11:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Be seriously committed to the pursuit of a universally radical alternative lifestyle, touching every area of life and going to the root of issues.

To illustrate 'serious commitment,' Martin describes a 'serious golfer' who dedicates significant time and effort to improving their game, contrasting it with a casual approach, to emphasize the intensity required for pursuing an alternative Christian lifestyle.

Now you know the difference between half-hearted and serious commitment. They say of someone, he is a serious golfer. What do we mean? Well he doesn't just go out once in a while to the golf range and whack a few balls and hook some and slice some and top some and miss some.

25:03 - 25:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Check your prerequisites for a redeemed marriage: personal redemption, commitment to a radical Christian lifestyle, engagement in the life of the church, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Martin uses the analogy of college course prerequisites (e.g., Course 101 before 102) to explain that personal redemption, commitment to a radical Christian lifestyle, church engagement, and dependence on the Holy Spirit are necessary 'prerequisites' before one can truly 'matriculate into Ephesians 5' and its marriage directives.

Some of you kids going off to college you see a given course such and such 102 prerequisite, such and such a course 101. No sense matriculating for 102 unless you can show your transcript you took 101. When you come to Ephesians chapter 5 prerequisites, personal redemption 101 commitment to a universally radical Christian lifestyle, engagement in the life of the church, dependence on the Holy Spirit redemptive marriage 102 then you can matriculate into Ephesians 5. May God

54:00 - 54:43 Read in full sermon