Sermon Tone Analysis

Col 3:18 AiJ gunai'ke", uJpotavssesqe toi'" ajndravsin wJ" ajnh'ken ejn kurivw~/.

Col 3:19 OiJ a[ndre", ajgapa'te ta;" gunai'ka" kai; mh; pikraivnesqe pro;" aujtav".

Col 3:20 Ta; tevkna, uJpakouvete toi'" goneu'sin kata; pavnta, tou'to ga;r eujavrestovn ejstin ejn kurivw~/.

Col 3:21 OiJ patevre", mh; ejreqivzete ta; tevkna uJmw'n, i{na mh; ajqumw'sin.

Col 3:22 OiJ dou'loi, uJpakouvete kata; pavnta toi'" kata; savrka kurivoi", mh; ejn ojfqalmodouliva~/ wJ" ajnqrwpavreskoi, ajll j ejn aJplovthti kardiva" fobouvmenoi to;n kuvrion.

Col 3:23 o} eja;n poih'te, ejk yuch'" ejrgavzesqe wJ" tw'~/ kurivw~/ kai; oujk ajnqrwvpoi",

Col 3:24 eijdovte" o{ti ajpo; kurivou ajpolhvmyesqe th;n ajntapovdosin th'" klhronomiva".

tw'~/ kurivw~/ Cristw'~/ douleuvete:

Col 3:25 oJ ga;r ajdikw'n komivsetai o} hjdivkhsen, kai; oujk e[stin proswpolhmyiva.

Col 4:1 OiJ kuvrioi, to; divkaion kai; th;n ijsovthta toi'" douvloi" parevcesqe, eijdovte" o{ti kai; uJmei'" e[cete kuvrion ejn oujranw'~/.

*Translation*

 

Col 3:18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter towards her.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents, according to all, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

Col 3:21 Fathers, do not rouse to anger your children, so that they might not lose heart.

Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart pleasing the Lord.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily out of the flesh as to the Lord and not unto men.

Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; serve the Lord Christ;

Col 3:25 For he that deals wrongfully will receive the wrong that is due him: and there is partiality.

Col 4:1 Masters, show to your servants righteously and fairly, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

\\ *Exalt His Name; Live His Purpose*

/“God Centered Christianity - in the Home”/

/Colossians 3:18-4:1/

 

Thesis:  Family relationships are the “litmus test” of our renewed status in Christ.

As we are being transformed into His image, Christ serves as our model of love and submission.

I.

Introduction

            A.

ILL: Housekeeping Monthly, 1955

            B.

This passage is viewed as having several problems.

1.         The passage doesn’t seem to jive with Paul’s previous comment                                                that all are equal in Christ (3:11).

a.

Didn’t the work of Christ on the cross erase all the barriers                                                        between people?

b.

Isn’t it true that in Christ there is no gender barrier, no                                                   ethnic barrier, no economic barriers...?

                                    c.

Just one way that we as Christians are distinct from the                                                  world – there are no barriers between the people of God                                                           because despite diversity we are all in Christ.

d.

Then, why does Paul now speak about “submission,                                                      obedience, and servitude?”

2.         Whatever the difficulties in this passage, it doesn’t really matter                                      because Paul’s culture operated a lot different than our own.

a.

Times have changed – Paul lived in a male dominate                                                      society, and we do not.

b.

So Paul’s instructions were applicable for his day, but not                                                          for the 21st century.

c.

Today, slavery is outlawed and women enter the marriage                                                         union as their husband’s equal not in a submissive role.

d.

Does this passage even apply to us in this day?

C.

Authority of God’s Word

                        1.         Q:  What are we guilty of if we say this passage has no application                                             for us today?

2.         A:  We are guilty of making our culture more authoritative than the                                 Bible.

3.         In other words, if the Bible fits the context of our culture, then we                                              can draw application; but if the Bible doesn’t fit our culture, then                                          we can claim that passages like this one cannot be authoritative                                            over our lives.

4.         This mindset is a growing trend in the church today.

D.

Although this passage can make us feel uncomfortable, we cannot and                           must not abandon the fact that we are dealing with the authoritative Word                          of God, and that His Word is used by His Spirit to conform us into the                               image of Christ – and therefore must be obeyed and applied to our lives.

1.         It is easy to dismiss this passage – the instructions seem barbaric                                                and at the very least outdated, so skim over it and resign the fact                                          that it was appropriate for Paul’s day but not for ours.

2.         However, if we affirm that Scripture was inspired by God and is                                                authoritative for all people of all time, then we need to understand                                              this passage.

3.         We will begin by …

                                    a.

Understanding the instruction from Paul’s point of view

                                    b.

Understand how Paul’s instruction fits in the context of his                                                         letter.

c.

Draw application

II.

Why did Paul write these words?

A.

Understanding the culture

                         1.

Paul’s instruction specifically targets the “family unit” of the first                                      century.

a.

Family unit consisted of more than just husband, wife and                                                          kids.

b.

The family unit could include the husband’s brother and his                                            family or the wife’s brother and family…

                                    c.

It also included servants and their families…

                                    d.

However, in each family unit there was a definite structure                                                          – a pecking order if you will.

e.

The husband was considered to be the authority of the                                                   household and his word was law – everyone else was under                                          him.

f.

In giving instructions to the family unit, Paul seems to be                                                             accomplishing two objectives.

2.         Objective #1 – Becoming a Christian does not cancel the                                                          requirement to show respect for authority and to fulfill your duties                                              as a family member.

a.

As Christianity spread, the issue of Christ’s lordship was                                                           viewed as a threat against the structure of the family unit.

b.

Paul repeatedly taught that Christians are free – there is                                                             distinction in the body of Christ (see 3:11)

                                    c.

The unsaved community was starting to see Christianity as                                                         a revolt against the foundations of their society.

d.

However, Paul was NOT trying to destroy the family unit                                                          of their culture.

e.

As you notice there is still structure…

                                                1)         Wives are to submit

                                                2)         Children are to obey

                                                3)         Servants are to obey

                                    f.

Paul makes it very clear that “freedom in Christ” does not                                                          cancel our obligation to respect and obey authority.

g.