Daily Living In Christ

The Gospel in Context

What Paul has said of our lives in Christ

You have died with him - no longer under the authority of sin and set free from the curse of wrath

You have been raised with him - to new life, to righteousness, as citizens of God’s kingdom

Your life is hidden in Christ - you are secure for the inheritance, the coming glory, the hope laid up in heaven

Applying our life in Christ in our Relationships

Your circles - 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours at school or work, 8 hours of family, play.

How does your life in Christ impact these relationships of family/work/school?

We are called to put on Christ - that his life of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love - these things ought to be seen in us

Paul, in our reading today, brings Christ in us to these spheres - marriage, home, and work

Our identity in Christ at home

Christ in our Marriages

Wives Submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord

What Submission means. Not subservience, or subjugation - but ordering, organizing your life, in a certain way.

Eph 5:24 - as the Church submits to Christ

It is voluntary - not commanded by your husband, but your gift to him

There is equality and dignity even in submission

God defines equality differently than our culture, and His Word judges us, not vice versa. He shows us that equality and submission are not mutually exclusive. The Father and the Son are coequal in deity and dignity, but the Son submits Himself to the Father. Similarly, husbands and wives are of equal value, though wives submit themselves to their own husbands.

As is fitting in the Lord - not a blind obedience, but submitting to those things that are consistent with living faithfully in relation to her Lord Jesus.

Husbands love your wives

Notice how Paul addressed the wife first - someone who culturally had little standing, then he goes to the husband

If she is submitting, the natural implication is that you are to lead

The husband is to be the head of the household, to lead, instruct, provide, guide, guard, pray

A father who understands the Bible, loves the Lord, and has surrendered his life to Christ should accept the Biblical authority of his home—for the blessing of his wife and children. Wives, if he is submitting to Christ and His word, it should be a joy to submit yourself to him Leading in Love

A Christ-like love - agape

Ephesians 5:25 - As Christ loved the church

Christ is the model of love in action. Paul’s word to husbands is not about authority and rights, but of sacrificial, other-centered love. You are not her savior, you are not her Christ, but you are called to practice Christ’s love in immediate context - with your wife

Do not become embittered, exasperated, harsh

This isn’t directed to the wife but to the husband who wants to enforce his will but won’t win her love, and feels cheated and embittered at not getting what he thinks he deserves.

Christ in our Families

Children obey your Parents in everything

The fact that Paul addresses the children tells us that they are expected to be in worship, part of the church

Obey - to “listen under”

This pleases the Lord - focuses more on living influenced by your relationship with the Lord than doing what is your duty in the Lord

Fathers do not provoke your children

What is lacking in this world are families who teach their children to listen and obey

Fathers, if children are expected to obey, it is implied that you are leading them as well, giving instruction. You are called to shepherd their hearts to Christ - through instruction and gentle discipline - direction and correction

Do not provoke, stir up, your children lest they become discouraged

It’s hard to be a Christian in school today - holding to strange, old-fashioned traditional living. Our youth face tremendous pressure - without strong fatherly encouragement, they are easily discouraged

Our Identity in Christ in the Workplace

A word on Slavery in Paul’s letters

Not an endorsement of slavery - actually would be used to bring about the end of chattel slavery.

Even if Paul does not call directly for slavery's end, that does not mean that he thinks it represents the ideal design for human relationships. He is applying the gospel to a society in which slavery is a given, not working to transform immediately every element of the culture.

The types of slavery most likely found in Colossae - indentured servitude - family service - debt bondage

Slaves had no rights, no protections. Notice, again, the pattern - wives, children, slaves - all in the Graeco-Roman culture had little to no political power or inherent rights. They were considered the possession of the husband, father, master. But Paul is addressing them personally, and calling them to Christlikeness in their relationships

Slaves and Free - would be sitting together in the church, each hearing the message and treated as equals in Christ

Slaves were clearly members of the Christian congregation, along with those who own slaves

The gospel brings transformation to individuals who then transform culture - but it starts from within in the person Christ in our Workplace

A word to the Servant

To whom is your work directed?

Who is your true Lord - serve him. Your employer may own your time, but he does not own your heart - that belongs to Christ. Whatever position you have in life, you live before the Lord and for the Lord.

Not people-pleasing or half hearted - insincerity

Younger generation has a bad reputation at work. You want to change that, do all things as though you were serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ will reward

An inheritance for slaves?

Under Roman law, slaves couldn’t inherit anything. But Christ has laid up an inheritance for you The one who does wrong will be repaid

A word to the Master

Revolutionary - Again - implied, if you are a follower of Christ and have someone working for you, you need to lead them, provide for them, as Christ would

Justice and fairness - again, these were things that normally a slave could not expect.

You have a master, the Lord - there is one that even you are serving, Christ Jesus

Christ the Center

How to have a full, rich life…

The longing for belonging, the search for satisfaction, the hope for happiness - only found when your identity is rooted Christ

Wanting your home-life to be a place of peace, love, and happiness - only when each of you are seeking Christ first, and letting who you are in Christ transform how you are with each other

Modeling Christlikeness, and discipleship, to your children

Fathers - shepherding their hearts, in every moment, to see their need for grace, the love of God, first and foremost demonstrated in your humility, love, and service.

In the workplace - You bring Christ with you, and serve him in all that you do

Colossians is About the Preeminence of Christ in all things

Even our marriages, our homes, and our work

6 times in this passage the Lord is mentioned - but the spirit of Christ is found through it all

Applying our life in Christ to every sphere