“That in all things He might have the preeminence."
A. Architectural Plans—
a. The Word
"Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
b. Circle of Grace (Your household)
"And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.”
“So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.”
“Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household home unto thee.”
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country. Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as he sware unto her.”
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites. in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house. forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”
“Cornelius... a devout man. and one that feared God with all his house.”
c. Christ and the Church (God's eternal plan)
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
B. Foundation—
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
"Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
“Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.”
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”
C. Superstructure— (Four Pillars of a Godly Marriage)
The husband and the wife must leave their parents and cleave to each other, and love one another 100% and be transparent and guileless (naked) before each other.
D. Building Bricks—
Wives
a. Submission
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [lifestyle] of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement [great fear].”
1 Peter 3:1-61Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:1‑6)
Today, in our society women are usurping God's role for men and missing their role before God.
b. Deportment
"While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”
c. Appearance
"Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.”
It is very important to say here that a tidy, clean, attractive wife welcoming her husband home from work is very important, but the essential part is the inward meekness and quiet spirit.
d. Keepers of Home "That they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.”
“She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”
e. Love Husband and Family
(1) Good Wife
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do' him good and not evil all the days of her life. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”
(2) Good Woman
"Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”
(3) Good Neighbor
"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”
(4) Good Christian
"Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Husbands
a. Love (Spiritual, emotional, physical)
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.”
b. Dwell and Know
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
c. Provide
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
d. Manage
"One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.”
E. Crowning—
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
“And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (After 1000 years still a bride!)
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
“As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.”
E. Ferguson