New Life in the Home (Part 2)

Before I review last week’s message, I want to take just a few minutes to answer a question card that was turned in last Sunday morning. The question is about Colossians 3:17.

Notice that at the end of the verse it says, “giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

The question is whether in this verse “God” and “the Father” are the same or different. That’s a good question because the phrase is worded differently than perhaps what we would expect. Probably we are more used to seeing something like, “giving thanks to God the Father by him.” So in this verse is “God” and “the Father” the same or different? In verse seventeen, the Greek language indicates that Paul is referring to the person of God the Father. Now, as I briefly explained last Sunday night, the Bible teaches that the Father is a distinct person of the Trinity. But here, Paul is referring to the Father in particular and not to the Godhead first and the Father second. So, in answer to the question, “God” and “the Father” are both referring to God the Father. If you would like more detail, I’d be happy to explain how this is apparent in the Greek after the service.

Review

Last week we considered a command to the wives and two commands to the husbands. We saw that God is the designer of the home, but it has been corrupted by sin and under Satan’s greatest attacks since the fall of man. In Genesis, God created man and woman as equals. They are both made in the image of God, but with different roles. Wives are to voluntarily place themselves under the leadership of their husbands according to the boundaries of Scripture. Husbands are created to lead in love and in tenderness. Both must individually have this goal: that the new life in Christ would be lived out in the home.

Introduction

Have you ever stopped and imagined what it must have been like when these apostolic letters were read to the churches?

I can imagine the Colossians gathered together at someone’s house - possibly Philemon’s. Young and old are gathered in his living room, if you will, and they are there because something special is about to happen. Tychicus and Onesimus have just arrived from Rome! They brought with them a letter from the apostle Paul. Perhaps they deliver it to Archippus, a man who was a minister in the church. He begins to read the letter to the congregation.

The first half of the letter is doctrinal and Paul is teaching them about the person of Jesus Christ. But then, as Archippus continues to read, the Colossians start to notice a definite change in what Paul is saying. He begins to talk about the home. First, he addresses the wives. They all sit up and pay extra attention. Then, he addresses the husbands. They all lean forward a bit. Then, Archippus reads, “τὰ τέκνα!” and he addresses the children. Their eyes get big. Paul is writing specifically to them! What is he about to say?

Let’s find out. Look at Colossians 3:20.

Read Colossians 3:20.

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New life in Christ and the command to the children - Colossians 3:20.

There are several Greek words for “children” in our New Testament. Some words indicate particular age groups, such as little infants, or school children, or even up to teenage years. This is not one of those words, however.

Children: τέκνα, means the offspring or descendents of another. In John 13:33, Jesus called His disciples “little children.” They were His spiritual descendants, the ones that He had raised up and taught the Scriptures. In 1 John 2:1, John calls the people that he is writing to, “my little children.” They were his spiritual offspring - the ones that he had taught and raised to maturity in the faith. This word emphasizes the lineage rather than the age of the individual. It doesn’t specify any particular age group. It simply refers to anyone who is the offspring of another. Keep that in mind because it will be relevant in just a moment.

Obey: to listen with the intent of doing what you are told.

Now, notice…

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The extent of the command - “in all things”

Now considering what the word “children” means, that’s a pretty broad directive from God, isn’t it? Literally, Paul is writing, “you offspring, obey your parents in all things.” He’s not saying that to little infants only. He’s not saying that to middle schoolers or to high schoolers. He’s saying that to anyone who has parents. That raises some interesting questions, though. You might be thinking, “so when do children not have to obey their parents anymore? When are they no longer under their parent’s authority?”

Before we consider that question, let’s make sure we understand where we are as a culture.

Application: Folks, the reality is, we live in a country where the authority of parents is under attack. It is mocked and belittled at every opportunity in pop culture. The vast majority of modern entertainment teaches rebellion and a rejection of parental authority. We’ve reached a point where some public schools have the nerve to tell parents that the schools know how to raise children better than the parents do. That defies common sense! Others are trying to help students “change their gender” without their parent’s knowledge or consent. Parents are being told that they can’t be involved in their children’s education. These attacks on the authority of parents are straight from the devil’s playbook! It is anti-God! It is in direct violation of the Scriptures!

These attacks on parental authority should concern you greatly because they are attacks on the fabric of society. A country cannot be long sustained if it rejects the design and structure that God has established for human life.

Application: Parents, stand against the culture and exercise your authority, but do it graciously. Wield it biblically. Exercise it lovingly. As your children grow older, your objective is for your authority to transition to influence. That will require more work of you than simply telling them what they can or cannot do. It will require that you develop a relationship with them and carefully maintain a biblical influence in their lives.

One verse that provides a clear limitation on parental authority is found in Genesis 2:24.

Genesis 2:24 KJV 1900

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

A lot changes with marriage, including one’s relationship with their parents. According to the Scriptures, children, or offspring, are commanded to obey their parents, but fathers must not abuse that authority, as we will see in the next verse.

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The reason for the command - “for this is well pleasing unto the Lord”

If obeying one’s parents sounds burdensome, notice the end of verse twenty, “for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

Well pleasing: acceptable, or to seem good to someone

I know for myself, when I get to the end of my life on earth, I would like nothing more than to know that my life was well pleasing to God. In fact, that is all that will matter to me when I step into eternity.

Application: Despite what our culture might say, we would do well to take verse twenty seriously if we want to please the Lord and be acceptable in His sight.

Galatians–Philemon 3. The Docility of Children (Colossians 3:20)

few people are eager to please the Lord. They mostly want to please themselves or other people, but to please God is too disinteresting. But if you have eternity in mind, you will embrace the idea of pleasing God above pleasing others.

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New life in Christ and the command to the fathers - Colossians 3:21.

Read Colossians 3:21.

I’ve been preaching verse by verse on the home from verse eighteen to verse twenty-one. I want to ask you: is there anything that seems to be missing? Notice, Paul speaks directly to the wives, to the husbands, to the children, and then to the fathers. Is there anything that Paul doesn’t say that you thought he might say here? Where is the command to the mothers?

I say this in jest, but there’s a little part of me that feels like we husbands and fathers really get the preaching here and nothing is said to the mothers! Same thing is true over in Ephesians chapters five and six!

Fathers, that’s because we’re the spiritual leaders of the home. Now, over in Proverbs, Solomon writes,

Proverbs 1:8 KJV 1900

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

Mothers have a vital role in a child’s upbringing, but fathers, I’ve been challenged as I’ve studied this week: we fathers must be leaders in bringing up the next generation. There’s no place for absentee fathers in the Bible! In fact, many examples of family problems that you find in the Bible were directly the result of fathers who did not invest their lives into their children. Our responsibility is to teach the next generation the way of the Lord and what it means to walk with God. But fathers, we cannot teach them if we do not practice it ourselves.

Provoke: to stir up, to excite, to rouse to anger or to fight

Discouraged: to be disheartened, dispirited, broken in spirit.

Fathers, you are a leader, but the way you lead your family matters greatly.

You can provoke your children by continually demanding of them what you don’t do yourself.

All of us are inconsistent in some way. But be careful about correcting their behavior that they regularly see in you. When you are inconsistent and when your words or your actions are not Christlike, ask them for forgiveness. They are human beings too. They have feelings too. They also know when you do not practice what you preach. A father that never asks God and children for forgiveness is a father that will provoke their children to wrath.

You can provoke your children by harsh words.

Proverbs 15:1 KJV 1900

A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.

I quote this verse to my children sometimes, but I find I often need it myself.

You can provoke your children by continual correction but no praise.

Children need to hear your praise - when they do right, when they do well, and even when they fail but tried their best. Look for opportunities to praise them!

Fathers, you have considerable authority as a parent, but Paul gives a word of caution: don’t abuse that authority! Be a leader that reflects Christ. Live the new life in Christ, and your leadership in the home will reflect our Savior’s mercy, kindness, and grace.

This command to fathers provides the perfect counterbalance to the broad command that children are given in verse twenty. They are to submit to parents in all things, but fathers, as children grow older, exercise Biblical wisdom in how you lead them so that you point them towards Christ rather than push them away from Him.

Conclusion

From verse 18 - verse 21, we’ve seen that every member of the family has an important role in living out the new life in the home. Wives, husbands, and fathers: take God’s Word to heart. Allow it to take root in your heart. As we individually practice the new life in Christ, we can live the new life in the home.

Invitation

Communion/Lord’s Supper:

Ask the men to come and have a seat at the front.

Today we are going to celebrate the Savior who gave us new life. Our new life is possible only because He gave His life.

If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, then you are welcome to participate in the Lord’s Supper. It has significance to you. However, take a moment to make sure that you are in a right relationship with God. If the Holy Spirit convicts you and you remember some sin that you have not confessed, then confess it. Agree with God that it is sin. In faith, ask Him to forgive you and He will. He promises to forgive. Don’t treat your sin or the Savior lightly. Let’s make sure that we do not partake unworthily.

Pray and thank the Lord for giving His body and shedding His blood for us.

Serve the bread

Read Mark 14:22.

Mark 14:22 KJV 1900

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Partake

Serve the grape juice

Read Mark 14:23-24.

Mark 14:23–24 KJV 1900

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Partake.

Read Mark 14:25.

Mark 14:25 KJV 1900

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

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