Col 11 – How Then Should We Live - Col 3:18-4:1 Three Msg’s ago – back in Col 2:16 . . .In a Msg called “Is Christ Enough?” We showed the absolute Sufficiencyof a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ & we said – Thru our Identification with Christthat we have DIED to the Old Life& been RAISED to New Life in Christ Then – starting in Col 3:1 –we looked at the radical difference between . . . “Outside” forces of religion - VS - the Supernatural Powerof the New Life of Christ Transforming us from the “Inside” Finally – Last msg – starting in Col 3:11 . . . we went thru the “New Life Traits” that we inheritedWhen we received Jesus Christ as our Savior & Lord & we ended by saying – now we just need to“Sink Into” – or “Clothe Ourselves” . . . with these “Inherited Traits” that are the “Result” of usbeing Raised to New Life in Jesus Christ So today - Finally - - we get to the Grand Finale question HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE? How should our NEW LIFE look -in our Day-to-Day responsibilities ?? But remember – the last 3 Msgs have made it clear . . . How we live in our Day-to-Day – “New Life”is A RESULT OF – the truths of the 3 previous msgs . . . Because you have Died to the old lifeBecause you have Been Transformed from the InsideBecause you have Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ This Then Is How You Should Live !! AND – Just as Paul does in Eph 5 (companion text)He starts here with WIVES Wives1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 3:18 says - NLT18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.ESV - 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 3:19 says – NLT19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.ESV - 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 3:20 says – NLT20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.ESV - 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 3:21 says - NLT21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.ESV - 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Employees1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 3:22 says – NLT22 Slaves [employees], obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.ESV - 22 Slaves, 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. Employers1) Because you have Died to the old life2) Because you’ve Been Transformed from the Inside3) Because you’ve Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ Then . . . as Col 4:1 says – NLT1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.Each one of us - is in 1 (or more) of these categories;Wives - Husbands - ParentsChildren - Employees - Employers & so - - in these Vital Relationship . . .THIS then is How We Should Live !! NOT – you really need to Clean-Up your ACT & do these things BUT – If Indeed you have been transformed by Jesus Christ . . . these are the INHERITED TRAITS that came with your New LifeSO . . . Put Them On Begin to Live in accordance with Who you Are In Christ But always remember – The Transformed Life – COMES FIRST ! & THEN – The Inherited Traits begin to show (don’t get it backwards) My Prayer - is that we leave here saying; 1) BECAUSE - I have DIED to the old life2) BECAUSE - I have Been Transformed by Christ living in me . . .3) THEN – I am going to Put On (Clothe Myself)with the New Life Traits I’ve inherited from Jesus I hope - If I’ve made ANYTHING CLEAR in these last 4 Msgs,I pray it is that ONE KEY POINT ! SO – Let’s look a bit closer - at How then Each of Us Should Live & - although it may not be where we would’ve started -God starts . . . with the WIVES Col 3:18 - NLT18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.ESV - 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. In our Marriage Series (which I highly recommend)is the Msg – The Role of The Wife - we go into detail But for today - let’s just turn over to Eph 5 -in order to get some “Critical Context” Eph 5:21-22,25 – NLT21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [if that’s new to you – get The ‘S’ Word is for Everyone]
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord . . .25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church . . . Husbands & Wives are actually called to “Come Under”, “Support”one another – Which is the basis for what the word “Submit” means But – for the Wife - what this means – is again the same wordsubmit to your husbands - The issue here is: Order, Cooperation, Relationship, & Partnership AND - As Col 3:18 says (back in our text)This - is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. “Fitting” = How we would say - “it’s only right” If this is a Difficult Vs. for you – ask for 3 msg’s from WBMThe ‘S’ Word is For Everyone – The Role of The Wife - & Husband speaking of Husbands - - - Next – Is Husbands Col 3:19 – NLT19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.ESV - 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. AGAIN – Let’s go back – for context – to Eph 5; Eph 5:21 & 25 – NLT21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.. . .
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church . . . Husbands – How do you “Submit To”Meaning “Come Under” or “Support” - your wife ? All you have to dois Love Them . . . to the Same Extent as Christ loved the church AND that includes - - - never treat them harshlyor (as NASB says) became “Embittered” toward them because of His love for usJesus Christ NEVER treated us Harshly He never did with usso we must never, never become that way with our Wives Next – is Children Col 3:20 – NLT20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.ESV - 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. The word “Obey” means:To heed, comply, & follow the directions of another Children – REGARDLESS OF YOUR AGE –If you have made Jesus Christ as your Lord . . . Then one of the primary “New Life Traits” He’s given you . . .
is the ABILITY toheed, comply, & follow the directions of your parents Now – obviously - this does not apply to any situation of AbusePlease don’t get that wrong But it DOES apply – to even when your Parents might be Wrong Your New Life in Christ – is displayed - in your WILIINGNESSto obey your parents & now – to Fathers (& mothers can learn a lot here also) Col 3:21 - NLT21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.ESV - 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. The word “Aggravate” here means LIT –“to arouse to wrath or anger, to the point of exasperation” & the NASB actually uses the word – Exasperate here Fathers – there are 2 Primary ways that we Exasperate our childrento the point of discouragement The easiest one to see is beingOver Controlling & Over Disciplining This is guaranteed to Exasperate your childrento the point of losing heart – & being totally discouraged HOWEVER - the other extreme ALSO causesExasperation & Discouragement If you NEVER guide, direct, & discipline your childrenyou will ALSO exasperate them - & they will lose heart Parents – We must Guide, Direct, & Discipline our Children,In a Balanced - & Consistent Way . . . So they will not become exasperated or discouraged & Finally – we’ll look at Employees & Employers together . . . because the New Life Traits for the workplacereally apply to both Employee & Employer We can see this by glancing down at Col 4:11 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. Every employer also has a Master,no matter how high up the corporate ladder they are Col 3:22-23 - NLT22 Slaves [LIT - servants], obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.ESV - 22 Slaves, 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, Again – this section is almost identical to Eph 6:5ffso you can get these Msg’s in the Eph Series (for more study) We’ve got to understand – God’s Word deals withPractical Everyday Situations - from an Eternal Perspective & So - It’s BECAUSE OF your New Life in Christthat your Boss should say – “Man, that is the best employee I’ve got” We need to be doing WHAT our boss asks us to do & we should be working for their benefit – all the timeNOT just when they are watching & Most Importantly - We should serve them sincerelyBECAUSE OF our reverent fear of the Lord If we’ll grasp this – it will really “Free Us” in the workplace Because (most often) the stress we experience in the workplaceis because of some offense or strife we’re carrying . . . & that stress is very often – Because we are Focusedon someone else in the work-place – & very often, it’s our boss But if we’ll stop working for that person - & start working for GodThen we can release all those petty disagreements we have . . . & we can just fly in there & do our very best for GodBY doing our very best for our employer So (As V.23 says) - we are to work “WILLINGLY”(even when no one’s watching) . . . out of a reverence FOR God - & ON BEHALF of our employer Again V.23 says23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. & Then – The end result is ;
- we give Jesus Christ a good name in the workplace
- we can release all that strife & offense, & work as unto the Lord
& 3) The LORD will reward us –Because it’s really Him that we’re working for . . . Col 3:24 – NLT24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.ESV - 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. If you really are working for the Lordthen the Lord WILL reward you & He will reward you with thingsthat your Earthly Boss could never come up with There is only One Master above all,& you can go to work for him TOMORROW You can show up to work as a Transformed Employee . . . Working for Jesus Christ& looking to Him ALONE for your reward ! AND THAT is a Great Way to get up & go to work However - - w/ the Blessing of Working For Godalso Comes a WARNING Col 3:25 - NLT25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.ESV - 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. God will reward you for working well But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the
wrong you have done Because God is no respecter of persons (He has no favorites) Have you ever heard anyone say“Yeah . . . But they Deserved it . . .”Maybe so . . . BUT . . . if you do what is wrong, you will be paid
back for the wrong you have done So – Work as Unto the Lord& Respond as Unto the Lord& your Reward will come as FROM the Lord & Finally – The reminder to all Bosses - in Col 4:1 Col 4:1 – NLT1 Masters, be just and fair to your [employees] slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.ESV - 1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. I’ve been a Boss (in one way or another) for a long time& honestly – I’m not all that good at it But I know one thing – I may BE a Boss – But I also HAVE a Boss& He’s watching ME & He’ll either Reward me – or Hold me Responsible – For MY actionsJust like He will - for the people who I’m called to Manage So – Let’s remember . . . SINCE you have Died to the old lifeSINCE you have Been Transformed from the InsideSINCE you have Clothed Yourself with the New Life in Christ This Then Is How You Should Live !!
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