The Practice of  Christian Living--Colossians 3:18-4:6

     This writer has been considering the practical outworking of  doctrine in Paul's Epistle to the Colossians.  The Basis of Christian Living was set forth in Colossians 3:5-11.  The Exhortation to Christian Living was taught in Colossians 3:12-17.      On this web page the third of  these will be consider, The Practice of  Christian Living presented in Colossians 3:18-4:6. As this topic is consider, you see:

I. THE PRACTICE IN THE HOUSEHOLD--3:18-22
     A. The Duty of  the Wives--v. 18
          1. Submission to their husbands
               a. The word submit
                    (I) Literally, To arrange under; to subordinate
                    (II) "It is the same word which is used to express our duty to magistrates (Rom. xiii. 1, let every soul be
                         subject to the higher powers), and is expressed by subjection and reverence." (Henry, VI:765; italics are
                         his.)
                    (III) Ephesians 5:22-24--note that verse 21 speaks of  mutual submission.
               b. The reason is twofold.
                    (I) 1 Timothy 2:13, 14
                         (A) Adam was first formed, then Eve.
                         (B) Eve was deceived, but Adam was not.
                    (II) 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8, 9
                         (A) This has to do with headship of  the man.
                         (B) This is the result of  the initial creation.
          2. Submission as fit in the Lord
               a. First, it is a submission as unto the Lord.
                    (I) Because you belong to Christ, you are to be submissive to your husband.
                    (II) This is to picture the relation of  the church to Christ (Cf. Ephesians 5:23, 24).
               b. Second, it is not an absolute submission.
                    (I) Again, note Ephesians 5:21 where a mutual submission is stated.
                    (II) It is not a slavish submission, but a submission of  love.
                         (A) Remember that the first part of  the fruit of  the Spirit is love. (Cf. Galatians 5:22, 23)
                         (B) Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
     B. The Duty of  the Husbands--v. 19
          1. Love your wives.
               a. The word love
                    (I) It is the word agape.
                    (II) This is the highest form of  the word love.
                         (A) It is the word that is used in John 3:16.
                         (B) The same quality of  love as set forth in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
               b. The picture
                    (I) Ephesians 5:25, 26
                    (II) The husbands love for their wives is to be like Christ's for every believer.
                    (III) His was a sacrificial love.
                    (IV) Is yours; is mine?
          2. Be not bitter against your wives.
               a. The word bitter
                    (I) To embitter, to exasperate
                    (II) "They must not be bitter against them, not use them unkindly, with harsh language or severe treatment, but                          be kind and obliging to them in all things." (Henry,VI:765)
                    (III) 1 Peter 3:7
                    (IV) "The apostle forbids that sour and surly" scolding "which want of  love necessarily create; all that hard
                         treatment in look, and word, that unkind and churlish temper which defective attachment so often leads
                         to." (Eadie, 259)
               b. The criteria
                    (I) Husbands are to love their wives as Christ love the church.
                    (II) Nowhere was Christ ever bitter against the church.
                    (III) He had to rebuke the church from time to time (See Revelation 2, 3)
     C. The Duty of  Children--v. 20
          1. Obey your parents.
               a. The word obey
                    (I) Literally, to hear under
                    (II) Thus, to hearken, to listen to with the idea of  heeding
                    (III) "They must be willing to do all their lawful commands, and be at their direction and disposal; as those
                         who have a natural right and are fitter to direct them than themselves." (Henry, 765)
                    (IV) Ephesians 6:1-3
                         (A) This passage again states that obedience.
                         (B) It adds, however, to honor or to esteem their parents.
               b. In all things
                    (I) Not just in those things that are convenient or the child wants to do anyway.
                    (II) Includes mundane things as well as behavior and spiritual matters.
                         (A) Wash the dishes
                         (B) Take out the trash
                         (C) Clean up their room
                         (D) Etc.
                    (III) "The principle involved in is admonition is, that children are not the judges of  what they should or should
                         not obey in parental precepts." (Eadie, 260)
                         (A) Note that it is precepts that are in view.
                         (B) Not things that are obviously wrong or harmful to themselves or others
          2. Well-pleasing to God
               a. The word well-pleasing
                    (I) From two words
                         (A) Well
                         (B) Acceptable
                    (II) The child that is obedient to parents is pleasing not only to his parents but to the Lord as well.
               b. The word this
                    (I) It refers to the phrase "all things."
                    (II) As a child obeys in all things, he is pleasing God in all things.
                    (III) Cf. Ephesians 6:1
     D. The Duty of  Parents to Children--v. 21
          1. Not to provoke
               a. The word provoke
                    (I) Meaning
                         (A) To stir up
                         (B) To excite
                         (C) To stimulate
                    (II) In the bad sense, to provoke is a good rendering.
               b. The words to anger
                    (I) Notice that they are in italics which means they are an addition by the translators.
                    (II) On the other hand, some word or words need to be supplied.
                         (A) To irritation
                         (B) To fret
               c. Note also that it is the fathers who addressed here, not the mothers.
                    (I) This is one of  the problems of  our present day society--the absence of  that paternal government which
                         "must be one of  kindness, without caprice; and of  equity, without favouritism." (op. cit., 261)
                    (II) After chastisement of  a child, there must be the loving touch of  forgiveness and compassion.
          2. The reason not to provoke
               a. Discouragement
                    (I) The word means: to be disheartened, dispirited, broken in spirit.
                    (II) If  whatever the child does results in no pleasing of  the parent, the child is discouraged.
                    (III) As parents we need to discourage the bad, of  course; but we should encourage the good.
               b. The opposite needs to be done.
                    (I) This is accentuating the positive aspects in a child.
                    (II) That is not to say that we should never correct them.
                    (III) Ephesians 6:4
                         (A) This states the same negative.
                         (B) It has the positive emphasis of  nurturing and admonishing in the Lord.
     E. The Duty of  Servants--v. 22
          1. Obey your masters
               a. The word obey is the same word as used with children.
               b. Again, it is in all things.
                    (I) Most of  us do not have servants (the word is actually "slaves") any more.
                    (II) The application would be for any worker whether around a house or some other place of  employment.
               c. According to the flesh
                    (I) Thus, it is an external relationship.
                    (II) In the Lord master and servant are equals.
                    (III) In the employment situation, the boss is just that; due obedience and honor is to be given to such.
          2. Not as pleasing men, but God
               a. The negative
                    (I) Not only when the boss's eye is on them
                    (II) Working steadily whether or not the boss is looking.
                    (III) It is being derelict in duty when the boss is not looking.
               b. The positive
                    (I) "Without selfish designs, or hypocrisy and disguise." (Henry, VI:766)
                    (II) In the fear of  God
                         (A) That fear is to rule our hearts.
                         (B) "Servants who fear God will be just and faithful when they are from under their master's eye, because
                              they know they are under the eye of  God." (Ibid.)

II. THE PRACTICE IN EVERYTHING--3:23-25
     A. The Nature of  the Practice--v. 23
          1. Whatever you do
               a. The context
                    (I) This verse is really a continuation of  verse 22.
                    (II) For this reason it can be considered to apply primarily to servants.
                    (III) This writer believes, however, because of  the larger context, the application is broader.
                         (A) It applies also to wives.
                         (B) It applies also to husbands.
                         (C) It applies also to children.
                         (D) It applies also to masters, which is in the context that follows.
               b. "Do it cheerfully, not discontented as the providence of  God which put you in that relation." (Ibid.)
               c. Notice that it is a heart matter--"heartily."
          2. Do it unto the Lord
               a. The positive
                    (I) This carries on the positive statement in verse 22.
                    (II) Your work whether for a master, a parent, a husband, or a family is sanctified when it is done "with an
                         eye to His glory" and honor.
                    (III) Therefore:  "Observe, We are really doing our duty to God when we are faithful in our duty to men."
                         (Ibid.)
               b. The negative
                    (I) Very often the Scripture uses a positive followed by a negative, or a negative followed by a positive.
                    (II) Though believers work under others, they should not work just to please them, but God.
                    (III) Where the two conflict, believers need to please God first.
     B. The Reward of  the Practice--v. 24
          1. It is from the Lord.
               a. Believers may rightly receive wages from their employers.
               b. The ultimate reward is from the Lord.
               c. This shows that this part is broader than servants, for it is true of  wives, husbands, children, and masters.
          2. It is the inheritance.
               a. believers are children of  God.
               b. Thus, they inherit what He gives His children--Romans 8:16, 17.
                    (I) This is not the reward of  salvation which believers already have.
                    (II) It is the reward of  heaven's glory.
                    (III) It is also the reward of  reigning with Christ here on earth.
          3. It is service to the Lord Christ.
               a. When you serve others, you are actually serving Christ Jesus.
               b. "Your masters on earth have no absolute right over you; the shekels they may have paid for you can only give
                    them power over your bodies, your time and your labour, but the Lord has bought you with His blood, and
                    has therefore an indefeasible claim to your homage and service." (Eadie, 266)
     C. The Rebuke of  Wrong Practice--v. 25
          1. Do wrong, receive wrong.
               a. If  you do wrong to an employer, to a child, to a husband, to a wife, then you will be judged
                    accordingly.
                    (I) Even if  the party in question knows it not, nor if  known, does not recompense you for it, God will give
                         you the wrong that is due you.
                    (II) If  a believer confesses the matter as per 1 John 1:9, then he will not be judged for it.
                    (III) "There is a righteous God, who, if  servants [or any other believer] wrongs their masters, will reckon with
                         them for it, thought they may conceal it from their master's notice." (Henry, VI:766)
               b. Not all wrongs are righted in one's life time.
          2. There is no respect of  persons.
               a. God judges all things rightly.
               b. Scripture
                    (I) Acts 10:34
                    (II) Romans 2:11
                    (III) Ephesians 6:9
                    (IV) James 2:1, 9
               c. Yet, how often we find respect of  persons in the church.

III. THE PRACTICE IN WORK--4:1
     A. The Exhortation to Employers
          1. The requirement of  justice
               a. Notice an employer is to give to his workers a just compensation.
               b. James 5:4
               c. "Require no more of  them than they are able to perform; and do not lay unreasonable burdens upon them, and
                    beyond their strength." (Ibid.)
               d. Cf. Ephesians 6:9
          2. The requirement of  equality
               a. An employer is to give an equal compensation.
                    (I) This does not mean every worker should be paid the same.
                    (II) It does mean that equal pay should be given for equal work regardless of  a person's status or gender.
                         (A) Unfortunately often women are paid less than men for equal work if  equally qualified by training and
                              experience.
                         (B) This is no reason for the government to demand it such equality.
               b. Incentives given to workers are right if  given equally or based on work required.
               c. But how often there is what is called "office politics" played in a place of  work.
     B. The Basis of  the Exhortation
          1. The knowledge
               a. Know who is the real Boss.
               b. A believing employer is responsible to God as much as a believing employee.
          2. The knowledge of  God in heaven
               a. He is the real and final Boss.
               b. The idea is "Let the great Master's treatment of  you be the model of  your treatment of  them." (Eadie, 270)

IV. THE PRACTICE IN PRAYER--4:2-4
     A. The Nature of  Prayer--v. 2
          1. Continuation in prayer
               a. The contextual connection
                    (I) The immediate context is concerning the masters.
                         (A) An employer who continues in prayer is more likely to have prayerful concern for his employees.
                         (B) Thus, a Christian employer should have concern and care for the souls of  his employees.
                    (II) The more remote context
                         (A) This continuing in prayer would apply equally to
                              (1) Employees--such prayer would make for better labor relations
                              (2) Parents--such prayer for their children would make for just discipline and no partiality with their
                                   children.
                              (3) Children--such prayer for help a child be obedient to his parents as he realizes that God will answer
                                   justly.
                              (4) Husbands
                                   (a) Such prayer would smooth your relationship with your wife.
                                   (b) Cf. 1 Peter 3:7
                                   (c) How often do you pray for your wife?
                              (5) Wives
                                   (a) Such prayer would make you more submissive to your husband.
                                   (b) Do you pray for him regularly?
                         (B) This passage also serves as the transition and basis for the believer's attitude to those outside the faith
                              which is dealt with in the verses that follow.
               b. The time connection
                    (I) "Keep up your constant times of  prayer, without being diverted from it by other business." (Henry,
                         VI:767)
                    (II) Ephesians 6:18
                    (III) Have your regular time of  prayer.
                    (IV) Also use spare moments for instant prayer.
          2. Thanksgiving in prayer
               a. Repeatedly the Apostle Paul referred to the importance of  thanksgiving.
               b. Even here in Colossians
                    (I) 1:3
                    (II) 1:12
                    (III) 2:7
                    (IV) 3:15
                    (V) 3:17
                    (VI) 4:2
               c. "Still there are so many grounds for thanksgiving that it cannot be omitted in any approach to the throne of
                    grace.  While we ask for so much, there is also much for which we ought to give thanks." (Eadie, 273)
     B. The Reasons for Prayer--vv. 3, 4
          1. Paul's request for prayer--v. 3a
               a. Paul asks for prayer for himself.
               b. Paul asks for prayer for his coworkers as seen by the word us.
               c. Cf.
                    (I) Romans 15:30
                    (II) Ephesians 6:19
                    (III) This text
                    (IV) 1 Thessalonians 5:25
                    (V) 2 Thessalonians 3:1
                    (VI) Philemon 22
                    (VII) Hebrews 13:18
          2. The purposes of  his request--3b, 4
               a. An open door to speak
                    (I) Paul was in prison.
                    (II) Yet, he requested an opportunity to speak.
                    (III) Cf. 1 Corinthians 16:9
               b. An open door to speak the mystery of  Christ
                    (I) Cf. Ephesians 6:19
                    (II) "Christ is the subject of  that mystery, it has Him for its theme." (op. cit., 276)
                         (A) Colossians 1:26ff.
                         (B) Ephesians 3:4ff.
               c. An enablement to speak the truth effectively
                    (I) "That I may make this mystery known to those who have not heard of  it, and make it plain to their
                         understanding, in such a manner as I ought to do." (Henry, VI:767)
                    (II) Ephesians 6:20
                    (III) This prayer all pastors need also.

V. THE PRACTICE IN WITNESSING--4:5, 6
     A. The Walk to Those Without--v. 5
          1. A walk in wisdom
               a. The word walk
                    (I) It is the word used for walking back and forth.
                    (II) Often used of  philosophers who walked back and forth in front of  their pupils.
                    (III) Here it deals with the sphere or character of  the walk of  the believer.
               b. The word wisdom
                    (I) Witnessing requires wisdom.
                    (II) Sometimes Christians speak indiscriminately or rashly.
                    (III) Distributing tracts is great, but even here care should be exercised.
                    (IV) "The same wisdom will assume the form of  discretion in reference to time and place.  Unwise efforts at
                         proselytism defeat their own purpose; zeal without knowledge is as the thunder shower that drenches and
                         injures, not the rain that with noiseless gentle descent softens and fertilizes." (Eadie, 279)
               c. Toward those without
                    (I) Toward the unsaved
                    (II) Cf.
                         (A) 1 Corinthians 5:12
                         (B) 1 Thessalonians 4:12
          2. A redeeming of  time
               a. The meaning is "purchasing, or seizing on the opportunity."
               b. Cf. Ephesians 5:15,16
                    (I) This passage also speaks about the walk.
                    (II) It also speaks of  reason for redeeming the time.
     B. The Speech given with grace--v. 6
          1. The word speech
               a. It is the term, word.
                    (I) Used for Jesus Christ as the Word--cf. John 1:1, 2
                    (II) Used of  conversation
               b. Thus, it refers to what one says.
          2. Speech with grace
               a. The word grace is the usual one.
               b. "Let all your discourse be as becomes Christians, suitable to your profession--savoury, discreet, seasonable."
                    (Henry, VI:767)
               c. Our speech should always be glorifying to God--cf. Colossians 3:8 (latter part) for removal of  bad language.
          3. Seasoned with salt
               a. Not pepper, but salt.
               b. Salt is a preservative.
               c. "Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, makes it savoury, and keeps it from corrupting." (Ibid.)
               d. Cf. Ephesians 4:29
          4. Know how to answer everyone
               a. The every man is each one.
               b. It refers primarily to those outside the faith.
               c. "We have need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to give proper answers to every man, particularly in
                    answering the questions and objections of  adversaries, against our religion, giving the reasons of  our faith,
                    and showing the unreasonableness of  their exceptions and cavils to the best advantage for our cause and least
                    prejudice to ourselves." (op. cit., 768)
               d. 1 Peter 3:15

     The Apostle Paul has discussed the practice of  Christian living:  The practice in the household--3:18-22; The practice in everything in general--3:23-25; The practice in work--4:1; The practice in prayer--4:2-4; and The practice in witnessing--4:5, 6
     Now believers need to put into practice the practice of  Christian living:  in their families; in everything in the believers' lives; in the workplace; in the prayers of  believers; and in personal witnessing
     Will you do so today?