Personal Sanctification and Biblical Marriage
In each of these things that we will look at, the connecting thought will come from Ephesians 5:22-26 where both the man and the woman are working to help the spouse become more like Jesus. In other words, the common goal in each of these characteristics is SANCTIFICATION.
- Jesus is the one, in Ephesians 5:25-26, who does the sanctifying. Look how he describes this; “having cleansed her by the washing with the Word.” It can be compared to washing a wound with water and nothing else. If you were to do this, it takes a high volume of water. Christ is the only one who has the power to sanctify.
These are a couple of things to understand concerning what you CANNOT do for, to, or IN your spouse:
- You cannot force yourself into their conscience. In other words, you cannot convict him or her of sin. But Jesus can.
- You cannot, personally, change them. But Jesus can.
- You cannot make him or her understand you perfectly, and you cannot understand him or her perfectly. But Jesus can.
- You cannot change or enhance his or her desires. But Jesus can.
- You cannot fill whatever void exists in his or her life. In other words, you are not a functional savior for that person. Jesus is.