I. What appears to be a contradiction in teachings is in reality a confusion of the Right Hand and Left Hand Kingdoms of God.

This is understood basically as a confusion of Law & Gospel.

A. The Left Hand Kingdom focuses our attention on God's order which He created and established. This order will remain in place until the Lord's Second Coming.

In the Left Hand Kingdom of God the Law of God and the Order He established maintain society from generation to generation.

B. The Right Hand Kingdom focuses our attention on the Gospel and the Grace of God in Christ Jesus for the Salvation of souls.

There is not Law in the Right Hand Kingdom. Each person stands before God on the basis of the Gospel alone.

It is the Right Hand Kingdom which we pray for in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come. . ." It is the Kingdom of God which expands and grows through the Gospel by His grace.

II. The Equality of Husband and Wife before God! (Right Hand)

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. {13} For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. {14} For the body is not one member, but many. {15} If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. {16} And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. {17} If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? {18} But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. {19} If they were all one member, where would the body be? {20} But now there are many members, but one body. {21} And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." {22} On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; {23} and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, {24} whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, {25} so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. {26} And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. {27} Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

These passages demonstrate that each of us stand before God equal in Christ Jesus. We are all saved by the same grace of God. We are all of equal value in the Church as a member of the Body of Christ.

This does not detract from the fact that although we are equal before God by grace, there are differing responsibilities given to each. The illustration of the body declares this truth.

These differing responsibilities sometimes have gender as an issue and sometimes not.

For example; A pastor must be a man! - But, as we have seen in the past, not all men are pastors.

III. The Husband as the Head of the Household. (Left Hand)

There are three differing views of the Husband/Wife relationship:

A) The wife is to Submit to the husband, in the sense, she is to obey his every command. (I Cor. 14:34-35 & I Tim. 2:11-14)

B) The marriage relationship is a "democracy" - the partners are equal in all things - there is no head of the home.

C) In the marriage there is mutual submission in love (Eph. 5:21) but also an understand of differing responsibilities in the relationship.

Examination of Each View;

A) Male (Husband) dominated

I Corinthians 14:34-35

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. {35} If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

1 Timothy 2:11-14

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. {12} But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. {13} For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. {14} And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

What is the context of these passages?

Answer:_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

What problems arise from the use of this model in the home?

B) Democracy

No Bible Passages demonstrate this view.

Are there any problems or concerns with this approach to marriage?

C) Mutual Submission with differing responsibilities.

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. {2} Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. {3} But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. {4} Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. {5} But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. {6} For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. {7} For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. {8} For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; {9} for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. {10} Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. {11} However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. {12} For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. {13} Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? {14} Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, {15} but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. {16} But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.

This text (1 Cor. 11) is a key passage in understanding the "Order of Creation." In the Left Hand Kingdom, God has established an order of created authority by which people dwell in relation to one another. The following C.T.C.R. quote expounds this point;

The Order of Creation. This refers to the particular position which, by the will of God, any created object occupies in relation to others. God has given to hat which has been created a certain definite order which, because it has been created by Him, is the expression of His immutable will. These relationships belong to the very structure of created existence. (Women in the Church; page 21)

The following passage expounds the foundational aspect of headship as self-sacrifice.

Ephesians 5:21-32

Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. {22} Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. {23} For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. {24} But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. {25} Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, {26} so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, {27} that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. {28} So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; {29} for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, {30} because we are members of His body. {31} FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. {32} This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Colossians 3:18-19

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. {19} Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

1 Peter 3:1-7

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, {2} as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. {3} Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; {4} but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. {5} For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; {6} just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. {7} You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

What does the words subject/submission appear in all three of the previous passages. What doe it mean to be submissive?

Definition: To submit or be submissive means to willing place yourself under the authority and leadership of another.

In Scripture, Leadership is defined as service to others.

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said^ to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Mark 10:42-45 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said^ to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. {43} "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; {44} and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. {45} "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Does this mean the wife has no leadership role in the family and must submit to the husband in anything and everything?

Answer:________

First, as is has been shown, submission is not domination! The two should never be compared to one another.

If a man requests of his wife to do something contrary to the Word of God she must refuse and be obedient to God.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."

Second, the one in the position of leadership seek to act in the best interest of the ones he serves. This means setting aside personal preferences and making decisions which are best for the family.

This means the husband must know the desire of the wife and thus must communicate with her.

IV. Conclusion

In the final analysis, it is understood that Men and Women stand equal before God in Christ. But in relation to each other in the family there is a God ordained created order in which man is given responsibilities which differ from women.

As one who bears the responsibility of leadership, the husband also bears the responsibility to be the image of Christ in both word and actions.

The husband also bears the accountably before God for all actions taken with in the family. The wife is accountable before God as to her relationship to her husband as the one chosen by God to provide leadership for her in the family. The husband is accountable for the leadership he provides.