Peace In The Home

Colossians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  33:18
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Being in Christ transforms all of life and the relationships we have with one another. Colossians 3.18-4.1 helps us to keep things in perspective reminding us we are all one in Christ and our family relationship may be submitted to him.

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How do we live in Jesus?

This is an important question we must answer. We do this not just with words, or I would say primarily not with words, but with actions. Show me your faith by what you do, the apostle James may say. For those

Context is Key: passage and culture.

Colossians 3:11 NIV
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Colossians 3:17 NIV
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Following Jesus changes daily habits.

This is the point and main principle for our passage this morning. One does not just believe in Jesus, one lives in Jesus.

All members of house are Christ followers.

This is the assumption Paul has as he pens the words of this passage. He is not talking to mix households of faith. He is talking not just to Christian wives, but also Christian husbands. The husband is also the master.

The “lesser” is spoken to as a human.

This is extremely counter-cultural. Paul is not being domineering with what he is about to say. He is not speaking down to any individuals he is trying to help all understand how to live out this new faith in Jesus. He is asking, in these specific relationships, to make sure you “put on” the traits of living in Jesus.

Submit voluntarily IN the Lord.

The wive is not to be forced, coerced, nor demeaned into submission. She is to voluntarily, out of her own control do so. But there is a catch. As is fitting to do so knowing she is united with Christ. This is done out of realizing what Christ has done.

Christ submitted himself to God and death.

This is the example wives, and all of us, are to look for. In our culture were submission is a bad word, where this is only used in regards to oppressive individuals to get their way. We need to redeem the word from our culture and show a better way. Our marriages are that way.

Husbands love your wives.

This is the agape love of God husbands are to have.

Husbands don’t be harsh/embittered.

The husbands get a double command of love and not be harsh or allow bitterness to grow inside them. As the head of the household a double responsibility is given. Men we must rise up to this challenge. We can do this because we are IN Christ.

Children obey as IN CHRIST!

This is one way our kids, and you kids, can please God. However, I believe Paul is also assuming anything your parents ask would be honoring to Christ. Paul does not envision blind obedience but a thoughtful obedience.
In Paul’s day children were thought to be property and had no rights. Fathers could do as they please, to some extent. By speaking to children Paul is elevating their status within the home to greater heights, reminding everyone that when someone is in Christ that makes a difference.

Fathers don’t irritate/provoke your kids.

The issue is how one treats kids. Paul makes it clear the rules of anything goes as long as you are the father, does not have a place in Christ’s family. Fathers are to raise their kids in such a way where the children know the love of God the father.

So that they don’t run from God.

This is the point Paul is making. How children are treated is a direct teaching of who God is. The hurts of the family to a young child is projected and placed onto God/Jesus. It is a good time to be reminded of the context of an earlier passage.
Colossians 3:12–14 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Fathers/Men we may like to talk about wives submitting and children obeying but if we do not obey and submit to Jesus, living out His traits for us, then don’t expect them to.
Wives and kids: don’t expect your husbands and fathers to treat you in this way if you cannot submit to Jesus first. The point of this is for all of us to submit to Christ and one another because we are all IN CHRIST. Yes there must be structure and order in a family. We all don’t live for ourselves, anymore, but for one another.

Slaves obey whole-heartedly as IN JESUS.

How many wish this was not the words of Paul, yet it is. Paul does not take the time to denounce what many would like for him to denounce, slavery. Slavery was not just an issue in those days, or in the early days of our country. It is still an issue. It is still a sin how we imprison and treat people as a commodity, property, and not as a human being. Paul highlights the humanity of slaves by addressing them. This is KEY to understand!

In Jesus you have a future.

He speaks of an inheritance which in those days slaves did not get. When the master died whatever they were allowed to have went back to the next master in some cases.

Masters/Men show justice and equality.

Sometimes the way of Christ is subtle and subversive. Paul does not do as I may have wanted him to but he makes it clear to Christian masters there is a higher standard.

Christ is the supreme Master.

This is specifically mentioned to earthly masters but it is a good reminder for all of us.

Christ does not have favorites.

Though Paul originally says this to the slaves as a way to remind them, though the world sees you as not human God does see you as responsible individuals with a choice. God will bring about true justice and equality one day. Start living like it now. This is a good reminder for all of us this morning.

1. Submit to Jesus.

2. Be transformed by the Word/Bible.

3. Treat all with love.

4. Show equality to those “below”.

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