Gospel-Driven Relationships

The Gospel Lived Out in Our Marriages Colossians 3:18-19 January 5, 2020 THE BIG IDEA: The foundation for all that is commanded in Gospeldriven relationships is the Lordship of Jesus. Because He is Lord, husbands and wives can have radically transformed marriages where a husband leads and loves and a wife loves, trusts, and follows. Colossians 3:18 – 4:1 (ESV) 3 19 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. What it does mean … | à It is a “voluntary yieldedness to a recognized authority.” à I joyfully accept that God made him responsible to wisely and lovingly lead in the marriage relationship and home. à Christ is my King. A part of my obedience to Him is to follow you as you submit your life to King Jesus. à I trust you to be working for the good of me and our family. I pray that you will lead us well. à I respect you [Ephesians 5:33] and pray for you to become all Jesus desires for you to be. [1 Peter 3:1] à That husbands lose any right to be a coward. Cowards come in 2 flavors – wimps and bullies. Basis of the Appeal: This is “fitting in the Lord”. This is best, not because it aligns with our culture, but because this is God’s design and He declared it best Definitions: “complementarianism” – God created both men and women in His image. They have equal value and dignity but are given distinct roles and responsibilities in the home and in the church. Those differences are of function, not value. “egalitarianism” – since men and women are morally and spiritually equal there can be no distinction in role or authority. The Primary Call to Wives: “Submit to your husbands.” What it does not mean … à that she is inferior and he is superior as a person. “helper” in Genesis 2:20 à that she is obligated to follow him into sin. Obedience to God comes above any other authority. à that she stands at a lower position before Christ than her husband. [Galatians 3:28] à that she is to suppress her own creativity and be passive toward life. [Proverbs 31] à that she remains quiet and never adds to the conversation. Proverbs 31:26; Acts 18:26 The Primary Call to Husbands: “Love your wives.” What it means … à That your treatment of her is better than anything she sees in the culture around her. à That you joyfully sacrifice yourself for her good. à That you lead her to love and worship King Jesus and serve together in His Kingdom. à That your example is Christ and His Church. [Ephesians 5:25-28] The Warning: “do not be harsh” – was used to describe the tastes of bitterness and sourness. Everyone’s marriage morphs into something they didn’t intend it to be. At some point you need something sturdier than romance. You need something deeper than shared interests and mutual attraction. You need changed expectations, you need radical commitments, and, most importantly, you need grace. - Paul David Tripp