Submission and Love go Hand in Hand

ME:

Many of you might have thought we had forgotten about the book of Colossian.

Today we are getting back into that series.

Today we are going to see how, in life, there is some things that should just go “Hand in Hand.”

When I say that statement, many of you thought of certain things that go “hand in hand.”

Cake and Ice cream

Roll .... Tide

OH … IO

Stud .... Pastor

There are things in life that should go hand in hand. Let me explain .....

Transition Statement: Many of us here this morning have entered into matrimony.

WE:

Some of us have done it more than once.

Some of you are looking forward to that day.

I remember that day I stood before Friends, Family and God and said my vows to Shelly ....

I have the right to remain silent, anything I say could be used against me … Over and over and over again.

In all seriousness, I ment the vows I stated that day ...

I, Rodney, take you, Shelly, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better-for worse, for richer-for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.

Have you ever noticed that there are two things (pairs) stated ..... for better-for worse, for richer-for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

Marriage is designed to be something that goes hand in hand.

Demonstrate with your hands ....

for better-for worse,

for richer-for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish

You are committing “hand in hand” to one another, starting on this journey called matrimony.

I would encourage those of you who are not married to not take this lightly.

These vows should paint a picture for you of two people submitting to one another.

This picture is what God helps us see in these few verses we are about to look at.

Transition Statement: Turn to the book of Colossian Chapter 3.

GOD:

Read Colossians 3:18-4:1 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 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. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

We are going to break this up over the next few weeks .....

This week .... (Vs 18-19)

Next week .... (Vs 20-21)

The following week .... (22- 4:1)

Some bibles have sub-caption

In the ESV is titles this pericope (section of writing) “Rules for Christian Households”

The NIV uses the word “Instructions”

Let’s read ..... Col. 3 18-19 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”

I think what is important to understand is not just the content of scripture but context as well.

The reason we find this list of “Rules” or “Instructions” can be found in verse 17 (Col 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

You know what the word “everything” in the Greek means? ...... EVERYTHING!

When we look at verse 3:18-4:1 we can honestly say that this is not an exhausted list of “EVERYTHING.”

What we CAN say is .... this is probably the most important things of that exhausted list. ........ HOUSEHOLD ........ FAMILY UNIT.

And out of that Family unit the first two things deal with the Marriage.

Church, I have come to believe that one of the most important things in the eyes of God is “MARRIAGE.”

I know there are a multitude of other things that we can say is important to God but I believe Marriage is in the top 3.

Look at scripture ..... Gen. 2:18-24

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Skip 19-21............ (21)So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

In scripture, this is the very first thing God instituted and its the last thing referenced in Rev. 22:17 “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Let’s take a look at these first two verses.

Col. 3:18 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

Some might read this and think this was what was taking place .... wives not submitting to their husbands.

I believe this is first is because it is one of the most crucial dynamics to the family unit. Just as important as the Husband loving his wife.

Its not wives keep a good house ..... raise your kids up well ...... maintain your health ..... be a good employee. NO!!!!!!

It’s “Wives submit to your husband.”

Lets look at the word submit.

“Hypotasso” - Means to place in submission

This word is always about "submission" more so than about "obedience."

It doesn’t say “Obey your Husband.”

Even in Ephesians 5:21-22 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

There is a difference of the two words ‘Obedience” and “Submission.”

Obedience is “An intentionality toward what is spoken of a person.”

“Go do your homework!” your children, out of obedience, does what was asked.

This word “Submit” is different.

It is always about “reverent submission,” seen as a self-offering (cf. Titus 3:1–2 “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities)

Submission is “reverently giving of oneself.”

It means accepting the exact place God has assigned, keeping to one’s rank in this or that society,

11 accepting a dependent status,

12 especially toward God (Jas 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

This religious subjection is made up of an obedient spirit, compassion of the heart, respect, and willingness to serve.

Obedience is a component of submission.

I want you to see that “submitting” to someone is not necessarily a positional thing but an Attitude (a posture one takes).

I want us to understand that this is a spiritual thing .... a biblical thing .... a Godly thing!

God has placed everything in submission to Christ, to whom the angels are subordinate (Heb 2:5; 1 Pet 3:22); the church is in submission to the Lord (Eph 5:24); Christians submit to God, to his law and his training, but also to one another to cooperate (1 Cor 16:16)

YOU:

WE: