Colossians 3:18-4:1

Colossians 3:18-4:1

We have a tendency to take this passage about domestic life by itself, and that is a mistake. These directions about life at home are in the context of how we live out God's love described in verses 12-17 and the greater context of Christ’s supremacy. We tend to use the commands in verses 18-21 as a battering ram to have our way at home, forgetting what it says about compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in verse 12. If we don't get the prior virtues right, we will have a hard time getting home life right, and these verses will become another occasion for legalism. With the legalism and manipulation of the false teachers, there would inevitably been a nitpicking about every little thing and every little rule, which always makes domestic life miserable. These commands are, or should be, practical ways of living out our love and freedom in Christ. We should also notice that in this passage about domestic life, over half of this passage, 6 out of 11 verses, deals with the treatment of slaves.

For the wife, the key word is “fitting.” This is a compound word from “in the midst of” and “come up to.” It carries the implications of intimacy. The wife knows her husband at the core of his heart and soul and supports his life as it comes from his inner being. The husband's keyword is “embittered.” It means to have a bad taste or feeling in the stomach, which might seem odd, but if you nitpick your wife, that is what you will have. Every word or thought of complaint about your wife makes another and larger complaint likely. Often we look for an escape clause for verse 20; we can't find it here. In the context, we may presume that the parents are believers. Notice it is the ‘fathers’ who are admonished about children. Not because mothers are always perfect, but a Biblical life presumes and begins with the fathers’ being primary in care, discipleship, and engagement with their children. But fathers must be careful not to push so hard as to break the spirits of their children. Legalism is poison to parenting. Space given to slavery is no doubt because of Philemon and Onesimus within this congregation. For employees, the teaching of this passage will produce the very best workers in the market. Christians ought to be highly desired as workers. 

“Lord, shape my life by the virtues that will reflect Christ. AMEN”

Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17

Being in and responding to God's love has a profound ethical effect on us. We respond to God by first being “holy,” that is, set apart for God's special life for us, and being “beloved”, that is, enjoying being loved by God. Do I enjoy being loved? Do I enjoy being loved by God? Do I live in the awareness of what that love means in terms of daily life? Here is how I respond to God’s love. First, I choose to have a gut-level demeanor that is expressed in my dispositions. The word heart in verse 12 is the word for belly, the place where we get butterflies during highly emotional moments; at this place I have compassion. Compassion means a sweetness of disposition, an approach to life that is the opposite of severe or harsh. Harshness or cynicism should not be the mark of a disciple. The five virtues or characteristics listed in verse 12 build on each other and are not optional equipment for a Christian. So how did we develop this life? It begins with the decision to want to. We will fail, but that is why there is grace. If we truly want to, God will supply the fulfillment.

These virtues are essential because we are all jerks. We are jerks in the way we behave and respond to the people who are jerks to us. The question is never, “How are they behaving?” It is always, “How do I forgive and respond to them?” Paul assumes that there will be conflict; he had no illusions about a happy, harmonious church. Rather, how do we love while in conflict so that love and unity are more pronounced than conflict? When the bond of love pulls us together, we will, in certain ways, have begun to arrive at our destination.

Life in the community has to be governed by the terms of the “Peace of Christ.” This peace acts as the umpire over our hearts. This is a different word for heart than the one used earlier; this is the mind and the will. One way we might put it is that the Peace of Christ, acting as the umpire, will direct us not to follow a course of action that will get our mind or head cranked up about conflict and anger. Again, how do we do this? The interaction between disciples happens in the atmosphere of worship. Singing, studying, and fellowshipping that focus on building each other up and coaching each other is the life of the disciple. In this atmosphere, where we do all for Him in thanks, the importance of our disagreement fades to its rightful place, and we realize how unimportant these issues really are.

“Lord, help me to love and live in the Peace of Christ. AMEN”

Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11

Our baptism, which is a completed act, was in a way just the beginning. Because we shared in the death and the resurrection of Christ in our baptism, we, like Christ, enjoy a post-resurrection life. This resurrection life, which we have in Christ, has significant relational implications and will result in ethical behaviors. We must avoid the mistake, of which we are often guilty and is so common, of getting behavioral issues right, thinking they will solve relational issues. That is an error of legalism. As disciples, we will have the highest ethical standards, but they are the result of our relationship with God through Christ, not the cause of it. It is never, “If I am good, God will love me, and I can love Him.” Rather, it is always, “Because God loves me and has drawn me into Him, I will want to be like Him.” Notice that the relationship in verse 1 precedes behavior in verse 2. 

Notice also that the life we live now is intimately tucked away in Christ. Our life is hidden in Christ. The important part of this picture is not so much about our life but where this life is kept. It is not in a secret box or a secure storage area, but it is kept with a person—safe, secure, and intimate.

What we are is greater than we know. There is a thin veil that separates Heaven and Earth. These two places are not as far apart as we tend to think. Heaven and earth are very close, and sometimes they overlap and intersect, as in communion, baptism, prayer, and love. This hidden life is not that far away; rather, it is near. Near because Christ is near and God is near. Right now we gain glimpses of this life; at some point these glimpses will be the norm. Right now we have those moments when we are aware that we are fully alive, but then we slip back into the lifeless doldrums. At some point these moments when we are most alive will be the norm. These are the moments when we are most profoundly aware of and living in the Father's Love. That is what being alive is: reveling in the Father's love.

“Lord, help me to live constantly in the Father’s love. AMEN”