Colossians: More Jesus

Sunday, October 19^th 2025

Colossians 3:18–4:18

Introduction

When Christ is supreme in our hearts,

He transforms our homes, our work, and our witness

“Paul will not allow us to relegate Christ to the lofty halls of theology. He brings Him down to the kitchen, the nursery, and the workplace, insisting that the Lordship of Christ must be lived out where we spend most of our time.” Kent Hughes

1. Christ in the Home

Orthodoxy teaches that the Son is simultaneously equal to the Father and submissive to him. Equality and submissiveness can coexist in human relationships, including the marriage relationship.

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

This word “submit” is not a call to inferiority but to order. It means to willingly arrange oneself under God’s ordained structure. It’s not forced domination, but voluntary alignment under the headship God designed.

“Submission is the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and to help carry it through according to her gifts.” John Piper

The key phrase is “as is fitting in the Lord.” Paul grounds submission not in culture, but in Christ.

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”

The command is not “rule,” but love—and the verb is agapaō, the same love that took Christ to the cross. This love is sacrificial, gentle, and protective. It does not demand but gives. It does not dominate but cherishes. Paul adds, “Do not be harsh.” 

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

The word “obey” literally means “to listen under.” It calls children to respond to parental instruction as unto the Lord, not merely to avoid punishment.

“Children are to see in their obedience to parents a reflection of their obedience to God. They are learning worship through submission.” John Piper

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

Fathers are warned against provoking, which means “to irritate or embitter.” This can happen through constant criticism, harshness, inconsistency, or neglect.

“Few things discourage a child more than never feeling they can please their father. The gospel father corrects, but always in the shadow of grace.” Kent Hughes

1. Christ in the Workplace

Paul now applies the gospel to the most unseen and undervalued laborers—bondservants. The principle transcends time: Work as unto Christ, not for human applause.

“When you work for the Lord, every task, no matter how small, becomes a way of worship.” John Piper

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

This means the Christian doesn’t need external motivation. The worth of their work is not measured by visibility but by faithfulness.

“You are serving the Lord Christ.”

“Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

In today’s terms, this means treating employees with dignity, paying fair wages, showing compassion, and remembering that leadership is stewardship.

• Christ in Prayer and Witness (Colossians 4:2–6)

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

“making the best use” means redeeming the time seeing every interaction as a gospel opportunity

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”

“Seasoned with salt” means words that are both truthful and tasteful, preserving what is good and pointing to Christ.

1. Christ in Community (Colossians 4:7–18)
2. Gospel Partnership (vv.7–11)

“The roll call of names reminds us that Christianity is not a solo sport. The advance of the gospel depends on the fellowship of the faithful.” Kent Hughes

2. Gospel Encouragement (vv.12–14)
3. Gospel Endurance (vv.15–18)

“When the heart is satisfied with the supremacy of Christ, suffering becomes service, and chains become instruments of grace.” John Piper

Conclusion:

“When Christ is truly preeminent in the believer’s life, no part of that life will remain the same. The home, the office, the neighborhood—all become arenas for His glory.” Kent Hughes