Service in the Household of Faith | Ephesians 6:5-9
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
·
Context
Context
· This is the third and final section of the so-called “household code” which governs the various authority relationships in the Church.
o Marriage
o Family
o Now it will govern the authority relationships between slaves and their masters.
· Slavery is a contentious issue to address Scripturally, made all the more difficult given the difficult history America has with the African slave trade.
o But we do ourselves a disservice if we fail to address what slavery looks like in the Bible.
o Slavery has been commonplace in the world since time immemorial.
§ The Roman Empire had a slave population of perhaps 60 million.
· Paul neither condones nor condemns slavery explicitly.
o This is not due to any proclivity Paul has towards the institution of slavery, but due to Paul’s apostolic priorities.
o He gives instruction for how to live a Christlike life in the world that the Ephesians live in.
o Notably, he does not provide a theological foundation for slavery as he does for other institutions (such as marriage).
§ Rather, he provides instructions for slaves and masters from a biblical worldview.
§ Paul is not a subversive person; he is a paster seeking to equip the church to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.
· When it comes to slavery, we see that Paul overwhelmingly affirms the value of human freedom in Christ.
o He encourages slaves to seek their emancipation, if possible, in 1 Cor 7:21.
21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
o He also encourages Philemon, a Christian slave owner, to receive his wayward slave Onesimus as a brother, while sending Onesimus back to his master. (Philem. 16)
16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
When it comes to slavery, Paul is not concerned with abolishing slavery, but reconciling sinners to God.
· Christianity opposes slavery by promoting the very values that undermine it as a social institution.
o Those who enslave other human beings are numbered among the wicked (1 Tim 1:9-10).
9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
o The Law of Moses prohibited the practice on penalty of death (Ex. 21:16).
16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
· The Christian commitment to universal human brotherhood led directly to the abolitionist movement in the UK and America that led to the end of the institution of slavery in the western world.
· They believed that the enslavement of another human being was more than just a crime against their humanity, but a blasphemy against God.
o Fellow image bearers should never be treated as commodities.
· So, how are we to understand this passage today?
o No one here today is a slave in the sense of the first century meaning.
§ Though I’m sure many of us have worked jobs where we were made to feel like slaves (overworked, underpaid, poorly treated).
· But the principles Paul is dealing with here are timeless in their application.
o We have authority relationships like this today in the form of employment.
o So, when we speak of slaves and masters, it is equally valid to understand the application in terms of employee and employer.
o This is not to make light of the oppression and abuse that slaves have suffered throughout history.
§ It is to give instruction about the ways that Christians are to live in light of these relationships.
Service that Pleases God
Service that Pleases God
· Ephesians 6:5–8 (ESV)
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
· Paul’s inclusion of slaves in the household indicates an amazing level of dignity afforded to slaves and servants in the church.
o They were considered ethically responsible persons and equal members of the church.
§ They are spoke to directly by Paul, so we may assume that they are.
· Spirit-filled persons. (5:18)
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
· Being built up into the body. (4:16)
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
· Numbered among the saints at Ephesus. (1:1)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
· The Command: Obey
o Same as the command given to children.
· Six qualifying phrases (don’t say)
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
· Freedom in Christ doesn’t mean that we have absolute liberty in the world.
o We are to live as gospel people in the world.
o One of the ways we show gospel is by subjecting ourselves to the governing authorities of the world.
With fear and trembling
o Showing proper respect to those in authority over you.
o This involves showing masters/employers the respect their status is assigned in society.
· Even if the master in an unbeliever.
o There is a saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”
§ The better we know others, the easier it is to judge them.
§ As a Christian, we can think ourselves better on account of our salvation.
§ We forget that we are supposed to be a witness.
“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.” (1 Timothy 6:1)
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
· What about with a believing master.
o Spiritual equality can become a gateway for disrespectful laziness in service.
“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.” (1 Timothy 6:2)
2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
· Both are pride.
With a sincere heart
o Showing integrity and purity of motive.
o Not a feigned respect
Like a child obeying while they roll their eyes.
But, “As you would Christ”
· Jesus is our ultimate authority, and he is the authority that authorizes all other authorities.
· The way we serve others should be the same as if we were serving Jesus Himself.
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Not by way of eye-service, as people pleasers
· Paul prioritizes the inward qualities of service over the outward form. (Evangelical obedience over legalistic obedience).
o Christian servants/employees should demonstrate inward dedication to their work.
o This service is not trying to draw attention to itself or to gain honor, promotion, etc.
o Christian service is aimed at pleasing the master.
· Inward service means that we will work just has hard when no one is looking.
o This is beautifully illustrated by Jesus’s Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30:
““For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14–30)
As bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart
· The Roman empire had a saying, “Caesar has spoken”
o This saying indicated his undisputed authority as lord and master of his imperium.
· Paul is turning this teaching on the same logic. Christian slaves should obey because there is one true Lord and Master in the world, Jesus Christ.
We owe our first and most fundamental obedience to Jesus Christ alone.
o This means that Christians must, at all times, remember who they are.
o If that means offering full-hearted obedience to an ungodly master, I am constrained by my true master to do so.
The Christian aims in all things to please the Lord in all aspects of life.
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16–18)
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
§ This is our ultimate reality.
Our ultimate motivation is to please God, and we do that by serving our masters well.
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22)
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
Rendering service with a goodwill as the Lord and not to man
· Because we are serving the Lord, we have every reason to do our work with a good attitude.
o Giving service with eagerness and wholeheartedness.
§ Because we know that we are ultimately offering our service to the Lord.
o Christians should also be noted for diligence and integrity in their work.
Puritan/Protestant work ethic.
The Roman Catholic Church had drawn an absolute distinction between the sacred and the secular: whatever religious leaders did was sacred; everything else was secular.
Although this distinction was rejected by Calvin (and before him, by Luther), its overthrow was completed by the Puritans, who made secular work part of a person’s sacred calling.
Every job, no matter how mundane, was intrinsically important because it afforded the opportunity to glorify God and to love one’s neighbor.[1]
True Christian service and obedience issues forth from a happy heart.
· Accordingly, Paul offers a powerful motivation for wholehearted obedience. (v. 8)
o It is so important that Christians maintain a proper perspective in every circumstance.
o Our true reward is pleasing the Lord and He will render to each person according to their deeds.
“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:6–8)
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
o This cuts the same way for everyone because God, as we will see “shows no partiality” (Rom. 2:11)
11 For God shows no partiality.
Authority that Pleases God
Authority that Pleases God
· Ephesians 6:9 (ESV)
9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
· Scandalously, Paul proceeds to lay an outrageous claim upon masters.
· Do the same to them
o This would have been unthinkable to a first-century slave owner, but what does Paul have in mind?
§ A reciprocal relationship with their slaves, servants, and employees.
· Why not command them to release their slaves, if that’s what he wants ultimately.
o First and foremost, this is because while we can outlaw evil, we cannot legislate righteousness.
The gospel is not primarily a crusade for societal transformation; it is a call to pursue what has eternal value.
“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”” (Luke 12:13–21)
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
· Considering the calling that God has placed on our lives, those in positions of authority should exercise authority over others with the character that they expect from others.
o Govern according to the golden rule.
Stop your threatening
· Aggression, threats, physical abuse, sexual harassment, selling to another owner.
o Slave owners wielded great power over their slaves.
· This kind of abusive power was to be rejected in the church.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:30–32)
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
· The motivation for masters is the same as the slaves, He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven
o Even a slave owner has a master to whom he will give an account.
o In this case, how he treated the slaves under his authority.
· The Lord shows no partiality, or as some translations say, He is no respecter of persons.
o This means that all people are judged before him on equal standing because God is the only just judge.
§ No earthly status will grant greater advantage before God in the day of judgement.
· Since the Lord shows not partiality, neither should we.
o All people should be accorded the dignity and respect of image bearers of God.
o All Christians are members of the one Church in Christ Jesus.
No great name exists in heaven or earth except the name of the Lord Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
· The amazing thing about this passage is that though it seems concerned with slaves and masters, Christ is mentioned in every verse.
o The way we relate to each other, no matter our earthly status, is inherently Christ-focused.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12–13)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26–28)
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Perhaps this relationship of master and slave, more than any other, reminds Christians that it is possible to serve the Lord and bring glory to him in whatever work we may be called to do in life.
Sometimes, from a human point of view, things may appear impossibly harsh and unfair, and yet still we are to find out what pleases the Lord and what his will is, and walk wisely before him, while filled with his Spirit.
We can know with wonderful confidence that we serve a Lord in heaven who watches over us and who will reward without favouritism or distinction on that last day.[2]
· The gospel transforms every part of our lives, not least the relationships we have with other people.
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9–12)
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
· Let us strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to live our lives Coram Deo; “Before the face of God.”
o In all things, let us work in order to please him in gratitude for the many blessings that he has given.
[1]James Montgomery Boice, Philip Graham Ryken, and R. C. Sproul, The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002).
[2]Paul Gardner, Ephesians: Grace and Joy in Christ, Focus on the Bible Commentary (Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2007), 161.
