Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Application of Spirit-filled life

When we come to these points on relationships, we must recognise that they flow out of that which has preceded.

In other words, all of the marks of the Christian that have been outlined previously are to form part of our relationships.

The put-offs are to be put off as we relate to one another.

The clothing with Christ is to be evidenced through our relating to one another.

Everything that will be dealt with here will flow out of the life filled with the Spirit of God

Some cautions and comments

1.

Put away joking

Very often husband / wife, or parent / child, or even employer / employee relationships are the brunt of jokes.

Those jokes or sarcastic comments are very often rooted in real struggles within relationships.

And while I do believe there is a place for humour, used wisely, I would ask that for the purpose of our study that we put that on hold completely.

I want to urge us as the church to take a very serious look at these relationships that Christ calls us to.

To consider them seriously!

To seek to humble ourselves under the teaching and truth of God's holy word, and then to apply these truths as God calls us to.

When we joke too much, we can tend to downplay something of the weightiness of the teaching.

Let us then, all of us, consider seriously these passages that we'll be looking at.

2. Put away worldly influence

The world impacts our thinking.

Satan is at work in the world, and he is working to deceive, and to lead away from God

That does not mean that every single thing or thought or idea in the world is intrinsically evil.

But it does mean that we should be very alert, and that we should look to God's word very carefully for directing our own understanding in terms of what is good and proper.

The current cultural milieu is one in which sexual identity has been radically warped and corrupted.

When we look at the roles of men and women, the Bible has been scoffed at and mocked and scorned for the views that are put forth.

We need to be careful that the world (ungodly beliefs and practices) does not influence our own beliefs and practice.

3. Put away excuses

When we come to specific texts such as these, the temptation is to raise excuses.... scenarios where it mustn't apply.

..

My husband is too self-centered...

My wife is too stubborn to love as Christ loved the church.

My parents are too controlling.

Whatever the case may be, we come up with rationalisations and excuses for why this cannot apply to me, or why I will not live like this, and Christ will excuse me.

I want to urge you... this is Christ's call, and as I preach through this next series of texts, I would call each one to carefully hear the Word of God, and without any excuses or downplaying the weightiness, to say before God, my food is to do your will!

I will do what you call me to.

4. Look to yourself

As we come to these texts, one of the easiest things to do is to find fault with someone else.

Husbands could easily take this evening's message and make a list of areas where their wives are falling short, and then start pointing out their faults at home.

That's going to be easy to do!!

The same with wives being able to point to the fault of their husbands.

The same applies to children/ parents, employers / employees etc..

It's going to be easy to find fault.

I urge you.... in fact I plead with you - look at your own life and evaluate yourself carefully under the relevant sections... and pray that God would work in you to make these things a greater reality in life!

Encouragement

I appreciate that this is not an easy calling.

Because of sin in the world, and sin in our own lives, to do these things is something unnatural.

I also want to say from the outset that I appreciate the fact that there are extreme cases of ungodliness... that ladies, there really are times when you are oppressed.

I don't want to be insensitive towards you in that regard...

I also would say, if you are being mistreated, speak out about it... to the Elders... someone you can trust.

It ought not to be, particularly within the family of God.

My hope is that you will be encouraged towards these wonderful calls of God.

Don't allow this to discourage, or give you a sense of guilt or shame.

Where there is a lack, confess that as is appropriate, and seek to honour Christ.

The encouragement is that if we obey Christ, we have the rewards of joy in Him, contentment, peace etc.

1.

The Call to Submission

"Wives, submit to your husbands...” (Colossians 3:18)

"submit" meaning...

Greek word = hypotasso

"...to cause to be in a submissive relationship, to subject, to subordinate..."

It has the idea of placing someone or something in subjection to or under another.

There is nothing in the word to say that there is an inferiority involved, and therefore you submit.

Rather, the instruction is that you place yourself under your husband's headship.

As used here, the injunction is for wives to accept a lower position with respect to their husbands.

This is not as an acknowledgment of their inferiority, but as a willing choice to defer to their husbands

Be Subject / Submit

The call for the Christian wife is to "be subject" or to "submit."

In other words, the unique manner in which the wife may exalt Christ and bring glory to God is through willingly placing herself in a place of submission, and acknowledging his responsibility of leadership over her.

Christ was subjected himself in various ways. .

As an encouragement here, I want us see that Christ, even though equal with the Father, and having all intrinsic authority, at various times and in various ways demonstrated and practiced an attitude and posture of subjection.

To His parents:

"And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

(Luke 2:51)

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

(Philippians 2:5–8)

In fact, Christ's humility and willingness to subject himself even to the rulers of this world to put him to death, presents for us an example - not only of wives submitting to husbands - but of a general posture of considering others more highly than yourselves.

But having said that, there are certain contexts where a particular kind of submission is required according to the wisdom of God.

A wife's submission to her husband, then, is a particular kind and context of God-glorifying, Christ exalting willing submission.

2. The Extent of Submission

"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

(Ephesians 5:22)

"But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”

(Ephesians 5:24)

The call of submission from the wife is "in everything..."

But importantly, it is "as to the Lord."

It is far-reaching

"in everything" and "as to the Lord..." reaches far!!

The wife is to take a posture, and to assume a position, that demonstrates a willing submission to her husbands leadership and decision making.

The husband is accordingly to take the role of the leader in the home.

This submission is to be something continuous.

It is to be ongoing lifestyle of the Christian wife.

Note from verse 24.... it's as the church is subject to Christ.

Church Subject to Christ...

Certainly this is a willing and joyful submission to their Lord.

Christ is the one that has redeemed them and the submission is delightful.

There is nothing that Christ calls the church to do that they would not willingly do if they are rightly related to him.

What Paul is saying here is that a wife's submission to her husband is to be of like character to the churches submission to the church.

The submission of the church to Christ is voluntary, wholehearted, sincere, enthusiastic.

It is a submission prompted not only by a conviction, “This is right and proper because God demands it,” but also by love in return for Christ’s love (1 John 4:19).

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001).

Exposition of Ephesians (Vol.

7, p. 250).