Colossians 3:18- 4:1
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Ok . Tonight we are going to go over the first part of Colossians chapter three.
I'm just kidding. You know I was having a hard time with this lesson but I talked to Ron at the beginning of the week . Ron said to me { Tony , you just need to get up there it put these woman in there place}.
I told him I was going to get even for last week.
Seriously , this is a very important lesson.
I think at times we here different messages in the Bible and we begin to put them on the world. Like these are worldly problems, not Church problems.
but the truth is the Bible was written to believers. As instruction and encouragement to believers.
We might get conviction over God’s word which is a good thing because Gods plan is always to build up the people the coveted community He designed us to be.
Gods word should never make us mad or judgmental or taken as instruction for another time.
Gods word is the infallible truth of God.
What this means is this : God’s communication is without error or failure, it will always accomplish it’s intended purpose , provide accurate truth, and never lead’s people astray.
I’ve heard other people at times speak on this subject and felt the need to give a disclaimer. I'm not going to do that, because there is no disclaimer needed. It’s the word of God.
I know some have been put in positions where this plan was not easily obtained , but it is still God’s plan
Through out this study of the book of Colossians ‘ Paul has been giving the church instructions on what there new life should look like in Christ.
We’ve talked about it many time through this study what Christ is to the Christin and to all of mankind for that matter , but as Christians we know and need to acknowledge He is everything, and above everything. This includes family, because He invented the family
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
As Christians we are to put off all of these behaviors. To all man kind actually, but also to people in the church. The big picture church. To our church family and to our family. It seems like that last one should go without saying .
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
This is the behavior as new creations in Christ that we are to put on . To the world to the church as a whole , to our church family and to our family. Once again it seems like that last one should go without saying.
Paul is now going to go into the way that family’s should relate to one another. He has already explained as Christians what are behavior should and should not look like.
So here we go
Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
I was hoping to get a laugh here but in all honesty and I know that Paul had a reason for putting
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
First, but men we have been given a grate responsibility. I’m going to be incredibly harsh here ,and this I would say to any man but like we discussed earlier , Paul wrote this to the church. If you are an unmarried man and don’t what the responsibility of being a husband or father do not get married and do not have children. If you are all ready married or if you have children. Regardless of what your family dynamic looks like right now. God’s design for your family is for you to be the head of your house. This starts with how Paul said we should behave in the scriptures we just read.
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
What Paul is saying , men you are the spiritual leaders of your home and the head of the household, but there is nothing written here about with an iron fist.
In this picture here the husband represents Christ. We should represent Christ character to our wives.
The wife here represents the church. The church submits its life to Christ out of love and respect.
As the husband that are to represent Christ we should be willing[ as Christ did for the church ]
To lay down our lives for our wives. This doesn’t necessarily mean to take a bullet for her but it might depending on the situation. What this means is your life is no longer your own
Like it says in verse 31 now that you and your wife are one flesh
As it says in verse 25 no one hates his own flesh he nourishes it and cherishes it just as the Lord loves the church
As we husbands show our wives our love and devotion and sacrifice . Christ like behavior and sacrificial love will show her that she respects you and in return she will grow in her walk with the Lord.
Now wives you are to submit to tour own Husbands as it is fitting in the Lord
So first off unlike the world perceives this verse and Christians never should. This is not about value.
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
So men and woman are both created in Gods image
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
So this has nothing to do with value. It is design. It’s God’s design .
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
So man and woman are equally valuable equally important in God’s design. We are both completely covered by God’s grace , so even as we have equal value we have different role’s in God’s plan.
Wives I will tell you this. Yours is also a hard role to take on. Men as leaders of your home the victory’s and failures or on your hand’s. So every thing you do must be prayed about and discussed, and thought out not felt out.
Woman have to put your trust in God that this flawed man which all humans are, will ultimately make the right decision.
The Greek word for submit here means: to arrange under or to willingly place oneself under authority of a leadership.
This is not inferiority or servitude. This is a voluntary act, a loving act. This is an exercise in faith an a loving act towards your husband recognizing his God given role to be the leader of your home.
It says submit to your own husbands. This means you are not under the authority of men. This means you are under the authority of the man you choose to be the head of your home.
Then Paul says as is fitting in the Lord
The meaning for the Greek word fit here is : proper, right , becoming
So here is the deal, this is what a Christian marriage should look like. Just as Paul told us back in verses twelve through seventeen what Christians should look like and how Christians should relate to one another in a covenant community, this is what the marriage covenant should look like between a husband and a wife. This is the design from God. There is equal importance and responsibility.
If you are a man living a Christian life and your wife is not your responsibility and action towards her are the same in hopes of leading her to Christ.
If you are a woman living in that circumstance
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
With all of this just like we are supposed to submit to are governing authority’s . God word is the ultimate authority.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
Anyone here that is not married. Don’t as a Christian even consider a spouse that is not a Christian. Not only in word but in deed.
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Now Paul goes into the Parent child relationship. The Greek word used for Father in verse 21 can mean parents. All though at this time the father would have been responsible for discipline, and defiantly still should have a very active roll in it.
Children obey your parents, in all things , for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
obey: to listen under or to heed and comply with authority
Just as the wife submits to the authority of the husband the children should submit to the authority of the parents.
This is also to be a willful response. It always has to be a willful response to God’s will, in order to please the Lord
This is a big deal. It is God’s fifth commandment. Honor your father and mother.
This also needs to be in the confinement of God’s will for the child. What I mean by that is, if the mother or father are leading there children into sin, God’s will for your life takes precedence over the sinful will of the parents, but Paul here is talking to a Christian audience and that should not be an issue.
We just talked in detail of what a husband and wife looks like in God’s design
so obey your parents in ALL THINGS, that’s what pleases the Lord
Father’s {parents] do not provoke your kids least the become discouraged.
don’t irritate , frustrate ,or embitter them through harsh treatment, inconsistency, or unreasonable demands.
This is a very important message to parents.
I have thought about this a lot over the years. You are basically a child at home for eighteen years, give or take, but that eighteen years good or bad will be there for a life time. If done correctly or incorrectly it is the building block for the rest of a persons life.
We know even the bible tells us children need discipline, but you can not discipline without love.
I hear the word constructive criticism from time to time. It might be needed from time to time but don’t forget praise can be constructive as well
We can’t be hypocrites with our children. It cant be do what I say not what I do
They have to be able to count on our word and are lives have to be consistent.
We have to be an example of what Christ wants us to be, to our children.
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Bondservant here also means slave. At the time this was written there were both Christian masters and Christian slaves. Today in our world this could be a boss and an employee.
This word authority ,it seems like it is almost in our DNA to hate it, but when you are under the leadership of a good leader it doesn't seem like a burden at all , and your Master is Christ
Really here Paul is saying what ever position we are in we can live as witnesses to Christ.
So Paul is using a common word to this passage [obey] your earthly master. This shows your reverence to God. This is a life of obedience.
Obedience: an active , willing submission to God’s will and commands, stemming from love, trust, and faith in Him rather than fear or obligation.
That makes the word obedience feel good.
So do what you are asked to do to fulfill your duty’s and then some . You are a representing Christ. Be the person that completes the task without being watched and do it because it is what needs to be done not for a pat on the back.
Your true master is God.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
What ever task great or small is done for Christ. So do your work with your whole heart.
Because your reward is in heaven. Slaves in the Roman world inherited nothing but as a child of God slaves could inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Everything we do is for Christ and we have all ready received our reward eternal life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
For there is no partiality with God.
In Christ both master and slave are justified the same and will be judged the same.
Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
The Greek word for master here means those who have authority
Here it is talking about the relationship between master and slave but I think it can apply to each steep we have taken through these verses.
Husband to wife
Parents to children
Master to slave
Those who have authority
1. Give: here means continual fair treatment
2.Just: right ,fair ,righteous, in line with God’s moral standard
3. Equal: fairness, equity, impartiality, treating others with dignity and respect
We are to treat others , fairly ,honestly, and humanly.
These masters were Christian like there slaves and both serve there master in heaven.
Husband and wives, and children . Christian we all serve the same God and He has a design of what that looks like.
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
