The number five denotes
divine grace in the Bible. In the fifth usage of "but
God" we can see God's unmerited favor in the lives
of men. God has called us to peace, and unless we realize
the grace of God we will never manifest His peace.
1 Corinthians 7:15:
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.
One will never manifest
peace unless he knows that he lives by grace. The first
words to the church directly after the salutation in
each of the church epistles are "grace" and
"peace." The Pastoral Epistles to Timothy
and Titus similarly begin with "grace, mercy, and
peace."
Grace and mercy seem to be two sides of the same
coin. Grace is unmerited favor. Mercy is withholding
of merited judgment. Because of God's great grace and
mercy, the believer has peace.
Ephesians chapter five talks about the unique
relationship of marriage. This unique relationship by
proper arrangement and deliberate decision is only available
to the faithful in Christ Jesus. When the attitude of
husband or wife ever ceases to be faithful in Christ
Jesus the unique relationship in marriage is no longer
available. The faithful in Christ Jesus are those believers
who faithfully walk according to the revelation of gospel
of the great mystery revealed.
I Corinthians 7: 1-15 deals with authority over
the spouse's body, deprivation of sexual relationships,
and breaking up of marriages. These are all interpersonal
problems and result from not renewing one's mind to
the Word and walking in love. None of these aspects
are covered in Ephesians. Paul had to deal with these
things in I Corinthians seven because I Corinthians
is a reproof epistle. They were not walking according
to the revelation of Romans. Ephesians is written to
the faithful in Christ Jesus and assumes obedience to
the revelation of Romans.
Romans chapter four talks about Abraham's example.
Verse sixteen says that the promise is of faith that
it might be by grace. Chapter five continues:
Romans 5:1:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The believers already
have peace. They have been justified. Therefore they
have peace. They simply need to live and act peaceably.
Romans 5:2:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God.
By Jesus Christ the believers
have access into the grace wherein they stand, and rejoice
in the hope of the glory of God. Because the believer
is able to stand and look toward the hope of the return
of Christ he can glory also in tribulation.
Romans 5:3-5:
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience;
and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
God has called us to peace.
However, we will never manifest peace and walk peaceably
until we know that we stand in grace. God by His great
mercy and grace has made salvation available. As a son
of God the believer has peace with Him. If the believers
individually have peace with God then they will have
peace with each other. The manifestation of this peace
will end the strife between husband and wife.
The only way a marriage relationship has a chance
to work is for both husband and wife to become faithful
to walk in love and be likeminded on the Word. Then
they can, by proper arrangement and deliberate decision,
enjoy the unique relationship of marriage. However,
should the unbeliever depart and by deliberate decision
choose not to remain faithful to the Word and his marriage
commitment, the remaining believer is not in bondage
to keep a commitment that has become impossible for
him or her to keep. Life is difficult enough when everyone
pulls together. When someone severs their commitment
to their spouse and leaves, the remaining spouse is
released to pursue their relationship with God without
the bondage and entanglement of past sin and mistakes.
For God has called us to peace.