Sacrifice and Submission in Marriage

In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul calls husbands to sacrifice and calls wives to submit. These instructions have often been interpreted as overbearing and more than spouses are willing to give to one another. Because the Apostle Paul did not give clear examples of sacrifice and submission in action, his instructions have often been misinterpreted and even abused, especially in the case of submission. It is also overlooked that our sacrifice and submission is first and foremost obedience to Christ and, therefore, are not the keys to a perfect marriage. In an exegetical study of Revelation 2 and 3, author R. Joseph Ritter, Jr. provides seven illustrations of Christ's sacrifice for the church and leadership over the church and the church's submission to Christ. The results of this study are seven examples of sacrifice and submission in action. R. Joseph Ritter, Jr. also shows how obedience to Christ in marriage unlocks the promises Christ has for us and deepens our relationship with Christ. This is not a book on improving your marriage. Instead it is a book on strengthening your relationship with Christ and giving Christ full latitude to work in your marriage.