Colossians part 4b

“Losing Sight of Jesus”

Review:

The supremacy of Christ

Jesus alone

Paul continues to point us to Jesus

Keeping Christ the center of home, work, and community

When we lose sight of the supremacy of Christ, we become open to deception.

Paul brings his teaching into the home, the workplace, and the community.

Losing sight of the supremacy of Christ will result in misunderstanding the following Scriptures.

Look with me now in Colossians chapter 3 beginning in verse 18.

[Col 3:18-25 ESV] 18 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

[Col 4:1-6 ESV] 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

The Supremacy of Christ in the Home

Paul establishes proper relationships between spouses.

Wives are to submit to husbands “as is fitting in the Lord.”

Husbands are to love their wives “as Christ loved the Church” (Ephesians 5)

Children are to obey

Parents are to raise their children without provoking them to discouragement.

Keeping Jesus the center of the home:

Wives submit because Jesus submitted to the Father.

Husbands love because Jesus loves.

Children obey because Jesus obeyed.

Where am I losing sight of Jesus in my home?

The Supremacy of Christ at Work

Next, Paul then extends his teaching to the workplace.

Employees are to work as “unto the Lord”

Bosses are to treat their employees “justly and fairly”

Paul addresses our work relationships as he provides us with instructions for both employer and employees.

For the employee Paul encourages:

To “work heartily as for the Lord and not for men.”

Paul also instructs the employee to “not work as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.”

We are to work fully engaged whether being watched or alone.

Sincerity: “not self seeking”

Fearing the Lord would indicate that our work is in recognition and honor of the Lord’s blessings to us in both strength and ability.

The employee works as “unto the Lord” because Jesus came to accomplish His Father’s work.

For the employers:

Bosses are to treat their employees justly and fairly.

We treat employees justly and fairly because Jesus treated all people justly and fairly.

Jesus as “servant leader”

The “greatest will be servant”

Washing the feet of the disciples

Where have I lost sight of Jesus in my work?

The Supremacy of Christ in the Community

He encourages steadfastness in prayer with “being watchful and thankful”

He asks for prayer in providing opportunities to clearly proclaim the gospel.

Finally, Paul addresses our relationships with those who are “outside the faith.”

Walk in wisdom

Make the best use of time

Speak with grace, seasoned with salt, have an understanding of how to answer.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Keeping Jesus the center of our community requires:

Steadfast prayer

Declaring Christ clearly

Walking in wisdom

Gracious speech

Where have I lost sight of Jesus in my community?

In summary:

Keeping Jesus the center of the home requires establishing the supremacy of Christ between husbands and wives, and parents and children.

Keeping Jesus the center of work requires establishing the supremacy of Christ between employers and employees.

Keeping Jesus the center of community requires establishing the supremacy of Christ in prayer, declaration, wisdom, and speech.