Title: Whatsoever You Do
Text: Colossians 3: 17-25
Date: March 25, 2012
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Colossians 3: 17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Brethren, you who know and worship the Lord b his grace, this is the heart of the matter. This is our rule of life in all that we do—in worship and in our daily lives--whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
All our strength, all grace, comes to us from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ--for without me you can do nothing.
Do all for his glory with thanksgiving to the Father. Believe on Christ—without faith it is impossible to please God. Walk as you have him for an example. Call on him for help in all things. Do all for the honor and glory of his name. Whether in preaching, singing, praying, teaching, or in conversation with other believers, let us do what we do in the name of Christ and for his glory. Whether in the home, on the job, or in any of our business and social contacts, our Redeemer has given us liberty to aim at doing his will and glorifying him.
Do all giving thanks to God and our Father by Christ Jesus—For "all things", “always”--What hast thou that thou didst not receive. It is by Christ that we thank the Father, for it is by Christ that we have all things, even access to the throne. He choose his people in Christ. He blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. He ordained that we should believe in Christ. He did all things necessary to bring us the riches of the gospel of Christ. He gave us spiritual life by the Incorruptible Seed, the Living and Abiding Word. He keeps us—in good times and sorrowful times—for the sake of Chris. Most of all we thank him for Christ—his unspeakable gift—his only begotten Son—who gave himself for us: made us the righteousness of God, made us holy, perfect and perfectly accepted of God
Colossians 3: 17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
This is the key to our unity of heart and purpose. The key to driving out divisions and strife is right here. Do nothing for self—but do all for the sake of Christ with thankful hearts to God and our Father by him.
Divisions: 1) Husbands and wives; 2) Parents and children; 3) Masters and servants
Every relationship we, as believers, have in this earth becomes sweeter in light of our great God our Father and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving us by his grace.
Before we begin, if your husband or wife, your father, mother, son or daughter, your employer or employee is an unbeliever, as Peter said, do these things as unto the Lord, honoring the Lord, for this cause, “that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by your conduct.” Folks are much more willing to listen to the word of the gospel from someone whose word and deeds are seasoned with grace.
Even, if you are an unbeliever sitting here, if you care anything for your immortal soul then heed these words. It is much easier for a believer to teach you when you are receptive and peaceable than when you are contentious toward them.
I. HUSBANDS AND WIVES
Colossians 3: 18: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
If Christ has preeminence in our hearts then he will have the preeminence in our homes. This is the key to a well-ordered, loving home. The wife must be in subjection to the husband as is fit in the Lord. Obey him, respect his judgments and decisions and follow his leadership as long as he does not violate the word of God. The believing wife follows Christ her husband—so too her earthly husband. As long as his decisions are not contrary to the word of God, follow his leadership.
The husband is to love his wife, be kind—not bitter toward her—respect her and defend her before his parents, before his children, before all who would discredit or abuse her.
The husband and wife are one in the Lord—even as Christ our Husband and his bride are one—inseparable union: maintain this union—let it not be broken, maintain this union in each other’s heart, maintain this union before the eyes of all, particularly our children.
Just as the church is built by the bride being in subjection to Christ our Husband, likewise the home is built, not by contending for our separate, selfish ways. We walk together in love and affection if we seek the glory of Christ.
The reason is because Christ is our Husband and we his bride.
Ephesians 5: 22: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24: Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eve was easily beguiled by Satan. After the fall, when the LORD told Eve that she would be in subjection to Adam her husband, it was for her own salvation. It was a picture of the salvation that the church, we as believers, the bride of Christ, have by submitting and entrusting our well-being into the hand of Christ our Husband. You and I as the bride of Christ are easily beguiled. Our safety and salvation is by being united to Christ and in subjection to Christ our Husband. The same is true of the wife to her husband.
One reason there is so much dishonor in free-will, works religion is this very thing. Their doctrine teaches that the church—the bride—has authority over Christ. Their jesus—their husband—can do nothing except what they permit him to do. Satan has beguiled the woman. He has turned the order upside down. The message that teaches the error that the sinner’s permits Christ gives the sinner the rule over Christ. It is a message that teaches wives to rule over their households and young ladies to try to rule over the man. It promotes disorder in the family and that is one of the reasons our world is continually getting worse.
Ephesians 5: 25: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28: So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29: For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32: This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33: Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Is any godly work beneath a believing husband in order to provide for his bride? Christ’s work was to bear the shameful death of the cross to provide for us his bride. The work may not be in your “field”, what you went to “school to do”—but take what you can get till something better comes along—bring home some provision for your bride--even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
II. PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Colossians 3: 20: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
If we would learn how to be parents and children then we must learn from God our Father and his Son, Christ Jesus. The child’s obedience to your parents is well-pleasing unto the Lord, disobedience is never pleasing to the Father. The first son, Adam, rebelled against his Father and sunk the whole human race into spiritual death. Christ Jesus the Son obeyed the Father unto death—he is well-pleasing unto the Father. Christ is the Firstborn Son in God’s house, the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters. His obedience declared God the Father righteous—just and the Justifier of all who believe. His obedience washed all the children of his Father’s house and saved his brothers and sisters
If you want to honor God the Father then submit to his Son in faith. If you want to honor your Father in heaven then submit to your earthly father and mother. Adam’s disobedience was the ruin of the children; Christ’s obedience is the salvation of God’s children. Do you want to dishonor your father or honor him? Do you want to lead your brothers and sisters to ruin or to Christ the Savior? Obey your parents. Respect them and their rule. Speak honorably to them. Look for ways to help out around the house. When it is time to go somewhere be the first one ready and waiting
Parents we are to raise our children in the nurture and admonition (correction) of the Lord. One danger we face as fathers and mothers is: being too hard and unreasonable with our children. Think how our heavenly Father has nutured us as his children. Our heavenly Father does not teach us in such a way that makes us think there is nothing we can do to please him. His nuture and admonition leads us to Christ in whom God our Father is well-pleased and well-pleased with his children. That is the premenient goal of a faithful father to his children. Lead them to Christ and give them every encouragement in the Way. I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore in lovingkindness have I drawn you. Remember the parable of the prodigal son:
Luke 15: 21: And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22: But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
It is not only what we are teaching, but they are also learning the spirit in which we teach.
the other danger we face is being too indulgent and easy with them.
Hebrews 12: 6: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7: If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Turn to Prov 22: 15: Here is a word preemiently better than any parenting handbook a man or woman has ever written:
Proverbs 22: 15: Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 29: 15: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Either one of these extremes—being overly severe or being indulgent—will make the child become discouraged, spoiled and rebellious.
God our Father is perfectly consistent in teaching us, in giving all things necessary for our encouragement and perfectly consistent in correction when we need it. Seek God's will—not our own. Seek God's glory—not our own. Seek God's way—not our own. This takes consistency between a father and a wife—one cannot undermine the other—especially the husband and father—he is the head of the house.
III. MASTERS AND SERVANTS—this is employer and employee
Colossians 3: 22: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25: But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 4: 1: Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Christ is our Master and we his willing bond servants. Employees, remember, you serve the Lord Christ. And boss-man, remember, you also have a Master in heaven.
For servants—again look to God and his Son—how did Christ serve God when he took the form of servant? Verse 22 says “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God”. So he says to us in verse 23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. Work for your employer as if it were your own business. Treat their property with respect. Do not steal, or waste or mistreat his property. Be content with your wages. And if you ask for a raise do so in the right spirit with consideration for what he can afford to pay
Colossians 3: 24: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Because of how Christ served the Father—you have an inheritance reserved in heaven for you, for ye serve the Lord Christ
To masters, rememvber, what has Christ our Master in heaven given to us? Colossians 4: 1: Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal. It was according to what is just and equal—that Christ Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin. That God might be just in bruising him in your place. Because he satisfied justice for you. Now it is just and equal for your Master to give you perfect righteousness, full justification, no condemnation. So give those over whom you have the authority what is just and equal. They have all the same responsibilities as you. All the same heartaches and troubles as you. Treat them as you want your superior to treat you knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Go back to verse 17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Christ our Faithful Husband who loved his bride and gave himself for it—to whom we submit all as his bride. God our Father, Christ our Everlasting Father, Christ the Firstborn Son whose obedience to the Father is all our salvation. Christ our Master who willingly served God for us and by whom we have the just inheritance awaiting us in heavens glory. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
AMEN!