Untitled Sermon (3)

Slaves and Masters

The last section is the biggest and is the most likely to be misunderstood. In it Paul addresses slaves and their masters.

Unlike the other two home relationships, slavery is not part of the creative order. It is not legally a part of our culture. It is a result of the fall that people think they could own other people.

Let’s really grasp the 1st century Romans context.

Richard Melick:

“Most slaves found themselves in situations of hopelessness. Slaves were, generally speaking, victims of war. The slavery was political and economic (bondservants), not racial.

“Similarly, virtually every class of person lived with the realization that war could cause them to lose everything and be sold into slavery.

NAC

"Owning slaves was not limited to the rich; many households included at least one slave. The Greeks and Romans both employed a system in which slaves could own property, earn money, and buy their freedom. This system was probably implemented to keep slaves submissive. (LBD)

Slaves who revolted in the Roman empire found themselves in a worse position than before.

So, Slavery was deeply engrained in the culture and an accepted reality.

Yet, the gospel confirms a trajectory away from slavery. In Lk 4:18-19, Jesus said he came to set the captives free. Christ first deals with our spiritual slavery under sin. But we see that the end vision is the eternal state where people do not oppress one another, but we only serve the Lord.

Through the gospel, there is this leveling out and equality established among all those who express faith in Christ, so that in the church, everyone is of the same class, -redeemed.

Galatians 3:28 ESV

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.

1 Timothy 1:10, Further, Paul classifies slave traders among other groups who practice evil and are outside of the kingdom of God.

However, the 1st century was not the time for the Lord to destroy slavery. So, the emphasis in the NT is not on abolition, but on the attitude of Christians who were enslaved, or the believers who possessed them.

Paul urges all Christians—slaves and free persons—to identify themselves in terms of their status in Christ rather than by their circumstance and worldly standing, knowing that these were temporary. (LBD)

Back to the context...

The amazing thing was that slaves, freemen, and masters all composed the church body of Colossae.

Paul explains that there is a stencil that Christ lays over even this kind of relationship.

So to the Colossians, Paul counsels

Colossians 3:22–25 ESV

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.

Paul tells slaves to obey their masters. They were to help their masters to make the home & business great for everyone.

They were to do so with a right heart and with respect for those whom they served.

This meant they served not with...

1. eye-service- a person who appears to be fulfilling his duties actively only when his master is present.

2. people-pleasers- trying to curry their master’s favor, (disingenuous flattery)

Rather, they were to do their work with all their souls and strength, without duplicity or ulterior motives.

While their circumstance may not be just, they can count that same work as unto the Lord, rather than only toward their earthly masters.

Paul explains that God will see the spirit of work they do and will reward their work. They need to have a long range-vision that they will one day pass away from earthly enslavement and will be brought into God’s household. There they will receive the inheritance of heaven, that God promises to His people.

If they have a rotten master, they should take solace in the fact that God will pay back the wicked for his harm, with no partiality 2 Chron. 19:7

Now, slavery is not a legal fixture of our society. Praise God for the abolitionists whom He used providentially to rid our country of that stain.

So how do we apply this passage? But we do have employment. Most of us have bosses. Paul’s instructions translate very nicely to your work environment.

Employees, approach your work with a good heart and a godly work ethic. Do your job like the Lord is your boss, because He is.

You may be treated unfairly, trust that the Lord will repay wickedness on His timetable.

Philippians 2:14–15 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

You work for heavenly reward.

This is how knowing Christ affects your employment.