What does the word “church” mean in Ephesians 5?
In Ephesians 5, the word “church” means the body, which is subject unto Christ. The passage uses that relationship as the pattern: as the church is subject to Christ, so wives are to be to their own husbands. Husbands are likewise to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
Les teaches that in Ephesians 5 the word “church” is again the body. The verse says the church is subject unto Christ, and that becomes the pattern for wives to be subject to their own husbands in everything. But he warns not to lose the connotation: husbands are to have the same attitude toward their wives that Christ has toward the church—total love to the point that He died for her. Les wonders how many American husbands today would die for their wives, calling it a real test, yet that is how much husbands are to love them. He also notes that Scripture commands husbands to love their wives, but never commands wives to love their husbands; Peter tells mothers to teach daughters how to love a husband, but it is not commanded. This goes back to creation: God created Adam with the ability to love his helpmate, and He created Eve with the ability to respond. Likewise, when God saves us and places us into the body, if our salvation is genuine, we have an innate ability to love Him in return.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.