Community Baptist Church Hastings

House Rules9/13/26

Colossians 3:18-4:1

A. Context
1. Danger of taking verses out of context.
a. Cannot take today’s ideas and project them backward
b. If you pick and choose, you can make the Bible say anything
c. Scripture must be interpreted by Scripture
2. Addresses Christian household – slaves, bondservants widespread
3. Focus on subordinate roles – all subordinate except for grown boys

B. Husbands and Wives vv18-19 Eph 5:21-25
1. Not advocating suppression of women, quite the opposite
 Husbands receive instructions too!
2. Wives submit, military term, voluntarily place oneself under another’s command
 Never an excuse for emotional, physical abuse
3. Husbands love wives like Christ loves the church

C. Parents and Children 20-21 Deu 21:18-21
1. Children are to obey
2. Father – do not embitter, provoke, provoke to anger, exasperate

D. Work Relationships vv3:22-4:1 Lev 25:39-40
1. Slaves - does not condone slavery, simply part of that culture. Today’s employees.
2. So, Who’s the Boss? Ultimately, we all work and live for God, with all our heart.
3. Masters:
a. Slaves obey, Masters be just and fair
b. You have a Master in heaven

E. The Big Picture Gal 3:28, Rom 13:1
1. Equality in Christ
2. Accepting your role (whatever it is) “in the Lord”
a. Concept mentioned five times vv18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25
b. Similar verses command obedience to government
c. BUT “in Christ” rules out any compulsion of sinful acts
3. Mutual submission to one another, all submit to God

F. The Problem: We hate rules
1. Loss of freedom, don’t make sense, can be safely broken, they change
2. My rules vs your rules. Rich/entitled have their own rules.
 Recall Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We want to decide.
3. God’s rules are different – Creator of all, outside source
4. Do you want a good marriage? Relationship with your children? Good working
relationships?
 Not a guarantee of success, but it cannot hurt and it absolutely will help.