Setting – Paul gives instructions to the Colossians on how to live out their faith
Content – Now that Paul established that we are a live to Christ and dead to sin, we (v. 12-13 NASB) “who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” These traits are fueled by love for one another (v. 14a NASB) “Beyond all these things put on love” because love “is the perfect bond of unity.” We are to let (v. 15a NASB) “the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. Peace should be the rule for the body because (v. 15b NASB) “indeed you were called in one body”. This doesn’t condone compromise, but enforces the goal of resolving disputes, that is, unity. And we should (v. 15c NASB) “be thankful” for each other and the body of believers. In order to do this we need to allow the words of Christ fill our thoughts and lives (v. 16a NASB) “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you”. His words are to (v. 16b NLT) “live in your hearts and make you wise”, which has the purpose of (v. 16c NLT) “Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” In fact, all that we do should represent Christ (v. 17 NASB) “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Paul moves his focus from the body of believers to the home, and the individual’s lives. Wives are (v. 18 NASB) “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord”. Greek definition of “subjection”, “to yield to one's admonition or advice” God establishes the role and responsibility of a husbands and wives. The wife does this because it (v. 18b NASB) “is fitting in the Lord”. Stated another way, “this is what Christ wants you to do”. For the husbands (v. 19 NLT) “you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly” This is sacrificial, selfless love for the wife, (Eph. 5:25) “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her”. Husbands, must be gentle with their wives and not to “treat them harshly”. Children are to (v. 20 NASB) “be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord” Their submission comes from the obedience to Christ requests. Fathers are to be gentle and understanding and patience with their children (v. 21 NLT) “Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying” Slaves are to submit and work for their masters as if they worked for God Himself, (v. 23 NASB) “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” And your service should be heart-felt (v. 22 NASB) “not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord”. Your service will be rewarded (v. 24a NASB) “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” In addition remember (v. 24b NASB) “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Application – We have the responsibility to each other, both to our immediate family and to our extended family the body of Christ. Our goal for the church is unity. This unity occurs because of love, love for one another. Unity comes from bearing with, being gentle, being forgiving, and having kindness and compassion, etc. for each other. This can only be successfully done from a heart of love, because love “is the perfect bond of unity”. We need the words of Christ to dwell within us. That is to say, it must fill our lives.
Our focus of unity also occurs with the members of our immediate family. To accomplish, wives are “to yield to one's admonition or advice” of the husband. Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church. Children are to obey their parents. This is all done to preserve unity in the home and because Christ wants it done this way.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to each other. We each carry a responsibility to unify our immediate and extended (church) family. Our efforts to accomplish this purpose must be fueled by love, because love “is the perfect bond of unity”. The family and the church represents Christ love. As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it, so husbands must do so for their wives. As believers we choose to be obedient to Christ so children choose to be obedient to their parents. As Christ chose to be subjected to God’s will, Christ humbled and emptied himself of his deity and served his creation, so wives are to subject themselves to their husbands.
The bottom line is that we represent God through Christ. The Triune God lives in unity so we must accurately represent the same unity. Paul reminds us that “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”
Content – Now that Paul established that we are a live to Christ and dead to sin, we (v. 12-13 NASB) “who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” These traits are fueled by love for one another (v. 14a NASB) “Beyond all these things put on love” because love “is the perfect bond of unity.” We are to let (v. 15a NASB) “the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. Peace should be the rule for the body because (v. 15b NASB) “indeed you were called in one body”. This doesn’t condone compromise, but enforces the goal of resolving disputes, that is, unity. And we should (v. 15c NASB) “be thankful” for each other and the body of believers. In order to do this we need to allow the words of Christ fill our thoughts and lives (v. 16a NASB) “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you”. His words are to (v. 16b NLT) “live in your hearts and make you wise”, which has the purpose of (v. 16c NLT) “Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” In fact, all that we do should represent Christ (v. 17 NASB) “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Paul moves his focus from the body of believers to the home, and the individual’s lives. Wives are (v. 18 NASB) “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord”. Greek definition of “subjection”, “to yield to one's admonition or advice” God establishes the role and responsibility of a husbands and wives. The wife does this because it (v. 18b NASB) “is fitting in the Lord”. Stated another way, “this is what Christ wants you to do”. For the husbands (v. 19 NLT) “you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly” This is sacrificial, selfless love for the wife, (Eph. 5:25) “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her”. Husbands, must be gentle with their wives and not to “treat them harshly”. Children are to (v. 20 NASB) “be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord” Their submission comes from the obedience to Christ requests. Fathers are to be gentle and understanding and patience with their children (v. 21 NLT) “Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying” Slaves are to submit and work for their masters as if they worked for God Himself, (v. 23 NASB) “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” And your service should be heart-felt (v. 22 NASB) “not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord”. Your service will be rewarded (v. 24a NASB) “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” In addition remember (v. 24b NASB) “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Application – We have the responsibility to each other, both to our immediate family and to our extended family the body of Christ. Our goal for the church is unity. This unity occurs because of love, love for one another. Unity comes from bearing with, being gentle, being forgiving, and having kindness and compassion, etc. for each other. This can only be successfully done from a heart of love, because love “is the perfect bond of unity”. We need the words of Christ to dwell within us. That is to say, it must fill our lives.
Our focus of unity also occurs with the members of our immediate family. To accomplish, wives are “to yield to one's admonition or advice” of the husband. Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church. Children are to obey their parents. This is all done to preserve unity in the home and because Christ wants it done this way.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to each other. We each carry a responsibility to unify our immediate and extended (church) family. Our efforts to accomplish this purpose must be fueled by love, because love “is the perfect bond of unity”. The family and the church represents Christ love. As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it, so husbands must do so for their wives. As believers we choose to be obedient to Christ so children choose to be obedient to their parents. As Christ chose to be subjected to God’s will, Christ humbled and emptied himself of his deity and served his creation, so wives are to subject themselves to their husbands.
The bottom line is that we represent God through Christ. The Triune God lives in unity so we must accurately represent the same unity. Paul reminds us that “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”
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