Ephesians 5:25-27 English Standard Version

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

In these passages we are asked to do only one thing, to love our spouse. Yes Paul is speaking to the husbands but in truth the advice goes out to both partners.

Everything else in these passages is done by our Lord. Husband and wife are both betrothed to Christ and members of the bride, His church.

While Christ sacrificed Himself on the Cross we cannot have that same effect on each other’s lives because we do not hold each other’s eternal salvation in our sacrifice to one another. When we place the needs of our spouse in front of our own we do fulfill His command, to love one another.

As for sanctification, we cannot separate our spouses from sin but we can hold our relationship as sacred and therefore keep sin from coming between us. We hold our spouses separate in the sense of protecting the relationship.

As for being cleansed by the washing of the word, studying the Word together we will both grow together, closer in relationship with Christ and with each other.

As for being presented spotless, well our part in that is repentance, confession, forgiveness and obedience of faith. All these things we do for each other and for Christ allowing Him to perform His will in our lives.

Just one more tiny thing before we go.

Give praise and honor and glory to God because without Him what we do would count for nothing.