Bible Study from September 28, 2020 - Colossians 3:18-22

We began this study by looking again at Colossians 3:18, which says “Wives, submit (be submissive) to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” We spent a lot of time talking about what submissiveness is. It is not about who is superior and inferior. It is about order and authority that is necessary in any institution in this sinful world, including in the family. We cannot each just do what we want, or there will be chaos. Someone must have the ultimate responsibility, and God is consistent in saying that the husband is to be the head of the family. See last week’s study for a list of some of those Scriptures.    

We spent a lot of time also looking at the fact that all of us are called to be submissive in various ways and situations, for the sake of living in an orderly and caring way with each other in this world:
 - We are all called to be submissive to our governmental authorities. See Romans 13:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-14. Without such authority, there can be riots and destruction, as we have seen recently in our own country.
 - In the church, God wants all things to be “decent and in order.” That includes having only males as pastors. See 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-40, for example. This does not mean that some are better than others. See what Peter says about “elders,” another term for “pastors,” in 1 Peter 5:1-4. Pastors are to serve, not to be domineering over others. God and His Word are superior, above all.
 - Also note in 1 Peter 5:5-6 that younger people are to be “submissive” and respectful of older people, and all of us are to be humble toward one another. See also Ephesians 5:17-21, where we are all called to “be submissive to one another out of reverence for Christ,” and the qualities we all need as Christians in Colossians 3:12: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. These are not qualities suggesting superiority over others, but humble care and concern for others.
 - Children are simply called to obey their parents, because parents are hopefully wiser and more experienced and can guide and protect their children. See Colossians 3:20. (Note also that Jesus also was submissive to His parents in Luke 2:51. He was obviously not inferior to His parents; but this was his orderly role as a child, at this time.)

There is also always a balance in any of the roles and responsibilities that God gives to different people, in His wisdom.
 - Husbands are to love their wives in a sacrificial way, being willing even to die for their wives and families if needed - and not to make life miserable and bitter for them. See Colossians 3:19 and Ephesians 5:25.
 - Husbands (and wives) are not to provoke and irritate and embitter their children or they can become discouraged and lose heart. See Colossians 3:21 and Ephesians 6:4, for example.
 - Being the head of a family also does not mean that a husband cannot talk things over with his wife and children and make decisions together and allow the unique talents of each person to be at work. A good leader seeks to bring out the best in everyone, because everyone is important in God’s eyes, and all can try to work together.

These Scripture verses give the ideal situation, if all could work together as God wishes. The reality is very different - with everyone being sinful and with tragic situations in a fallen, broken world. Sin can break up marriages. Death can come in unexpected ways and divide families, with great losses. Children do not always obey and they make bad choices, with great sorrows that follow. Even in the best of situations, all is far from perfect. But there really is also the forgiveness of sins. We finally live by God’s grace and forgiveness and love, which help restore us and keep us going; and we live by His Word, which gives us the best path to follow for the future. There is always hope in our Lord and His strength and promises!