Branson: Biblical Manhood

This was presented by Voddie Baucham. This presentation is based largely on Ephesians 5-6.

It starts with "wives, submit to our husbands"... This is repulsive to our culture.

Some try to avoid the clear meaning by saying that it means "mutual submission", but verse 21 negates that idea. The meaning of the greek word is a military word meaning "to voluntarily submit in rank or order" (not in value, we all have the same value before the Lord). If you look at the whole chapter the basic outline give 3 constrasts (wise-unwise, foolish-understanding, wine-spirit), 3 commands (worship/sing to the Lord, pray/give thanks to the Lord, submit to one another), and 3 context for submitting (wives to husbands, children to parents, slaves to masters). These specific contexts for submitting are also repeated in two other places in scripture.

Some try to avoid by claiming that the headship of man is the result of the fall (Genesis 3), and Christ restored us and reversed that curse. The problems are that other parts of the curse from our fall are still in effect (women still have pain in child-bearing, we still sweat when we work) and there was male headship before the fall. The new testament states that "death came through one man," not one couple. God held Adam accountable, not Eve.

Some try to avoid by claiming they will only submit when he's worthy of my submission. The problem is, they will never be worthy. We are all sinners, he will never do this perfectly. See 1 Peter 3, which says women should submit so that they may win their husbands over. Women should never tell their husbands, "you need to step up and be a man", this backs them into a corner, if they do it, they've admitted that they failed, if they don't haven't fulfilled their Biblical mandate.

Biblical Manhood:

• Leads in love: not the Greco-Roman myth of romantic love. Love is an act of the will, that leads to action on behalf of it's object. Men are to love as Christ loves the church, Jesus laid down his life for his bride (the church). There is no excuse for a man to sto loving his wife (an act of the will).
• Leads in the Word: It is the man's job to wash his wife in the Word.
• Leads in righteousness:
• Leads in selflessness: Men should protect their family in Holiness and righteousness, presenting his wife and family pure and unblemished. Men should never be put in a situation to compete with women, that undermines their ability to love and protect. Same with boys and girls. We leave father and mother to cling to his wife.