Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 8:
Instructions for the Christian Household
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Paul’s letter (Epistle) to the Colossians
was a letter to correct Heresy.
Heresy is having an opinion which is in
opposition to true doctrine. In other words, the Colossian church had, as many
other early churches, fallen prey to false doctrine.
THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH
We see a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism,
Asceticism, Angel worship, etc.
Judaism would
be the adherence to Old Testament teachings while ignoring the completed works
of the cross.
Gnosticism is the
belief that “secret” knowledge existed, specifically that the world was created
by a lesser divinity, and ruled by an emissary of the remote Supreme Being.
This belief system, which was carried over to Christianity, placed God the
Father as the Supreme and Jesus as the lesser ruling divinity.
Asceticism is the
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for
religious reasons. The
doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by
practicing self-denial, self-mortification (embarrassment
and shame – “mortified”) and the like. Rigorous self-denial; extreme
abstinence; in a severe nature.
It is obvious why this is false doctrine,
and has no place in a Christ following church.
The heresy, destroyed the Supreme lordship
and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it dethroned Him, destroying the mediator-ship
of Christ, making Him only 1 of a multitude of mediators, (such as the Hindu belief in avatars, a manifestation of a
deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.)
However, we know
Jesus is so much more than that, He was, is and always will be God.
TODAY’S SERMON
Instructions for a Christian Household
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Colossians 3:18-25
Wives, submit yourselves to
your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be
harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not embitter your children,
or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in
everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their
favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be
repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of
Christ Jesus”.
I. WIVES,
SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO YOUR HUSBANDS, AS IS FITTING TO THE LORD
a. Key to this
sentence “…as is fitting to the Lord.”
i. God does not expect you to let sexual or physical abuse take place on
you or your children
ii. Submitting in this verse speaks of “respect” not
obey every command even if it is ungodly.
iii. What is fitting to the Lord is you respect your
husbands, even when they are wrong in hopes of winning them over.
b. 1 Peter
3:1-6 “Wives, in the same way… (referring to living Godly lives in a pagan society – from the previous
chapter) … Wives, in the same way submit
yourselves to your own
husbands so that, if
any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not
come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of
gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that
of your inner self, the unfading
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the
holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed
Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and
do not give way to fear.”
i. This is not saying you “can’t” have hairstyles, jewelry, etc. It is
saying do not make outward appearance your mark of “true beauty”, rather your
inner self.
ii. “…the unfading beauty of a gentile, quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
iii. “This
is the way of holy women.”
c. Ephesians 5:21-24 “Submit to one another out of reverence for
Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do
to the Lord. 23 For
the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the
church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything.”
·
Here we read in
verse 21 that each is to “submit” to the other. This is not about
obeying each other’s commands…again; this is about respecting one another.
·
Verse 22 on the other hand is about respecting your
husband’s authority in the household.
·
Submit to “your own
husband, as you do to the Lord.”
o
Other men’s
opinions have no merit or authority in your house
o
You must
respect your own husbands over the instruction of others
·
“…the husband is
the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of
which he is the Savior. “
o
Men, is
everything you do motivated by “saving” your wife?
o
It is supposed
to be
·
“Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything.”
o
Jesus does not
rule over the church with an angry iron fist
o
He does not
treat the church as his slave
o
He does not
abuse or misuse the church
o
Nor does He
take advantage of the church
o
Wives are
trusting you husbands, to love her, protect her, respect her, save her, die for
her.
o
If you do not
live in this way, though she may still respect you out of obedience to the
word, you are not worthy to be the head of the house.
o
It is God’s
instruction to the wife to be obedient to the Word, respecting you regardless,
in hopes you will see her, and be moved by her to be obedient yourself.
d. Proverbs
31:10-31”A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects
wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers
a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a
vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
II.
HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES AND DO NOT BE HARSH WITH
THEM
a. 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your
wives, and treat them with respect
as the weaker (emotionally speaking, they can be hurt) partner and as heirs
with you of the gracious gift of life, so
that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
b. Ephesians
5:25-33 “Husbands, love your
wives, just as Christ
loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or
any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands
ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves
his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no
one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as
Christ does the church— 30 for we are
members of his body. 31 “For this
reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound
mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect
her husband.”
c. Fathers, do not (make bitter, become sour,
POISON) your children, or they will become discouraged
i. Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do
not frustrate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and
instruction of the Lord.”
ii. Proverbs 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they
are old they will not turn from it.”
iii. Proverbs 13:24 “Whoever spares
the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
iv. Proverbs 23:13-14 “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not
die. 14 Punish them with the rod and save them from death (Sheol).”
d. How to be an
Ephesians 5 Husband for your Proverbs 31 wife
i. Give
yourself up for her
ii. Present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or
wrinkle.
iii. Love her as you love yourself (Treat her the same way you
treat yourself)
iv. Become closer to her than anybody or anything else (One
Flesh)
III.
CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN EVERYTHING, FOR THIS
PLEASES THE LORD
a. Ephesians
6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and
mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well
with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
b. Slaves,
obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is
on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for
the Lord.
c. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
d. Anyone
who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
CONCLUSION – INSTRUCTIONS IN A NUTSHELL
Wives –
·
Respect your
husbands, even when they are wrong so you may win them over
·
Obey your own
husbands instructions, not other men
·
This show of
respect shows your purity and reverence and may win him over when he does not
believe the Word
·
Ensure your “true
beauty” is inward, unfading beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit is of great worth
in God’s sight. This is the way of a holy woman
·
Submit (respect)
one another out of reverence of Christ
Children – Obey
your parents in everything, this pleases the Lord
Husbands –
·
Submit (respect)
one another out of reverence of Christ
·
Be considerate to
her (thoughtful, kind, understanding, caring and selfless)
·
Treat her with
respect so as not to hurt her feelings
·
SO that nothing
will hinder your prayers
·
Love your wives (I
Corinthian 13)
·
Present her to
yourself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or blemish and blameless
·
Love her as
yourself
·
Give yourself up
for her
·
Become closer to
her than anyone or anything else…become one flesh
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