Colossians 3:18–4:1 Submit...Love...Obey...You Are Serving the Lord

Colossians 3:18–4:1 Submit...Love...Obey...You Are Serving the Lord

Main Point: Our closest relationships are not separate from our spiritual life, they are the foundation. How we live as spouses, parents, children, and workers reveals whether we truly serve Christ as Lord.

Introduction

Has anyone ever built with Legos? When you set out to create something, what do you consider first? The foundation. You can have all the pieces, but if there is no stable base, everything will collapse. In the same way, God gives us foundational principles that guide our individual lives and the greater society we live in. As the foundation goes, so goes the structure. That’s true in our families, our workplaces, and our hearts. This passage gives us God's blueprint for order, harmony, and holiness in the everyday relationships that shape our lives.

1. Responsibilities in Our Earthly Relationships (Colossians 3:18–22)

Paul addresses the key relationships that form the fabric of everyday life: marriage, parenting, and work. In each relationship, there is a call to live differently—not selfishly, but in a Christ-centered way that displays honor, obedience, love, and respect.

  • Wives are called to submit to their husbands. This is not a matter of inferiority, but a willing posture of support that reflects God's design. The word "submit" means voluntarily yielding in love to leadership (Genesis 3:16).
  • Husbands are called to love their wives and not be harsh. This is a call to sacrificial love, not domination. Paul expands on this in Ephesians 5:22–33, where marriage is portrayed as a picture of Christ and His Church.
  • Children are commanded to obey their parents. But this is balanced with a command to fathers (and parents generally): do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
  • Servants (or workers today) are to work with sincerity and reverence for the Lord, not merely to be seen by people.

Each of these relationships is grounded in our identity as servants of Christ. Our behavior in the home and workplace is not separated from our faith—it is how our faith is lived out.

2. We Do These Things in Service of Our Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:23–24)

Paul makes a bold statement: “You are serving the Lord Christ.” This means every task, every act of obedience, every moment of love and restraint is ultimately directed to Jesus. He is the audience of our lives.

  • Verse 23 reminds us to work heartily, not halfway. Why? Because our true reward comes from the Lord, not people.
  • Verse 24 connects our efforts to an eternal inheritance, not just earthly compensation.

Whether you are a spouse, a parent, a child, or a worker—everything you do is an offering to the One who saved you. You are not working for men. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:24).

3. Christ Our Righteous Judge (Colossians 3:25–4:1)

Paul concludes with a sobering truth: Christ is not only our Savior, but also our Judge. He will repay the wrongdoer without partiality. This includes all of us.

  • Masters (employers or those in authority) are reminded that they too have a Master in heaven, and they must treat others with justice and fairness.
  • Everyone will stand before Christ’s judgment seat (John 5:25–29, Matthew 12:36–37, 2 Corinthians 5:9–10, Romans 14:10–12, Revelation 22:12–13).

Let this not cause fear, but a right reverence. If we live for Christ now, we will have joy when He returns. Our confidence is not in our performance, but in His grace. The judgment of Christ reveals the seriousness of life, but also the depth of His mercy to all who trust Him.

Conclusion

God has not left us to figure out life on our own. He has given us clear instructions for how to live in our families and work lives, and He has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, as the reason and power to obey them. Submit. Love. Obey. Serve. All of it is for Him. And when He returns, we will give account. But for those in Christ, judgment is not condemnation. It is reward, fulfillment, and joy. So let us repent of our sin, believe in the Lord Jesus, and walk in the relationships He has entrusted to us with faith and faithfulness.

Scripture References

  • Colossians 3:18–4:1 — Main passage on household and workplace relationships under the Lordship of Christ.
  • Genesis 3:16 — Describes the cursed conflict between husband and wife after the Fall.
  • Ephesians 5:22–33 — Shows how marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church.
  • Proverbs (various) — Highlights the parent’s responsibility to raise children in wisdom and reverence for the Lord.
  • Genesis 2:15 — Work was given before the Fall, showing it is part of God's good design.
  • Genesis 3:19 — After the Fall, work became toilsome and difficult.
  • Colossians 3:17 — Calls us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
  • Colossians 3:24 — Declares that believers are ultimately serving Christ, not men.
  • John 5:25–29 — Teaches that Jesus has authority to judge and will raise the dead.
  • Matthew 12:36–37 — Warns that every word will be judged by Christ.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:9–10 — Speaks of every person appearing before the judgment seat of Christ.
  • Romans 14:10–12 — Emphasizes individual accountability before God.
  • Revelation 22:12–13 — Jesus promises to return and bring justice with Him.

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