To whom much is given, much is required.
There are common problems plaguing the body of Christ in that of the area of teacher to student relationships that produce corrupt fruit.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:6-9 KJV
It is as biblical as it is simple
Outside of one’s family, being of age (on their own) and thereby accountable for their actions no longer living in their biological father’s or mother’s house, Godly order has been established as follows;
Young men are to ONLY learn from other men –being that of humble male elders otherwise see 1 Tim 6– and only until the time the Lord appoints for then He anoints them per 1 John 2:27. Younger (single) women are to learn from female elders to teach them righteousness in a marriage per Titus 2.
Married women can learn from anyone, but need to remain humble showing respect to their husbands as Ephesians 5:33 instructs for if he disagrees with another man’s position, she is to submit to him in that he is her head and no one is called to be of many masters.
The bible instructs that if a married woman has a question, they are to go to their own husbands later at home, for they are heirs together in the grace of life.
Error in the church happens often when the husbands are called in a different direction, for one plants and another waters, and the church leaders fight to keep the women as to maintain the numbers in their congregation thereby separating what the Lord has joined together and sewing discord among the brethren.
Remember, Jesus told Simon Peter and Andrew “follow me and I will make you a fisher of men” and the Apostle Paul warns of them that creep into houses to lead astray gullible women.
The is the doctrine the Apostle preached in Ephesus he instructs Timothy to maintain;
“Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine” 1 Timothy 1:2-3 KJV
Therefore, sound doctrine will never conflict in particular with the book of Ephesians. For example, married women cannot have male elders, other men who instruct them in the way of righteousness. In fact, such doctrine is in rebellion to the Lord.
“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 saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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.: – Ephesians 5:22-27 KJV
This is a two way street folks, the pressure does not fall strictly upon one person to make a marriage work, yet the man is accountable before the Lord if he does not present his family to the best of his ability as spotless, without wrinkle; just don’t try to “force the issue”, that’s not His way.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
Forget not the two are one flesh, one body and we are in the body of Christ. It has been this way from the beginning.
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” – Genesis 2:23-24 KJV
An explanation of Godly marriage:
Women being created for man; Therefore shall,
a man = maturity
leave = transition
his father and his mother, = model of complete family
and shall cleave = new family
unto his wife: = complement
and they shall be = process of learning and trust
one flesh. = deep intimacy between two people
The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians this in regards to marriage and the traits of whom the Lord sees as unbelievers.
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?” – 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 KJV
The unbeliever is sanctified by the believer, just as the church is by Christ. Therefore before even considering divorce, remember your children for the blessed union of your marriage keeps them clean through the Lord’s grace.
“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” – Ephesians 5:32-33 KJV
If any teaches otherwise, they simply do not follow Jesus Christ, but the god of their own belly, the god of this word being that of themselves.
Jesus gives a warning of those who fall into this error
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:1-7 KJV
The doctrine of the Nicolaitian to some is a mystery, even those who are aware seem to fall into it through their own selfish desires.
The word ‘nicolaitian’ is a combination of two Greek words; nicos and laity. “Nicos” means ‘ruler.’ “Laity” the people. This doctrine sets up the doctrine of Jezebel the Jesus addresses later on in chapter two. For when a church leader is caught up in his own glory, leaving his first love in Jesus Christ, his identity is then in people’s opinion, specifically deriving strength from females, for this is where every man’s identity is to begin with; just as it became for Adam who played right into Satan’s hand through the transgression of Eve.
This is one of the reasons Jesus tells his disciples they are to be servants, not benefactors as in the Gentiles who exercise authority over others.
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28 KJV
Therefore rebuke those who do not abide in Christ, who have become hears and no longer doers of the word of God; and woe unto them to reject the words of our Lord, for their is only one door into the sheepfold and it is not through any man’s contrary opinion.
Glory be to God and praise the name above all names in that of our Lord Jesus. May the abundance of his grace be with you all. God bless and take care.