May 20, 2007

Intro: Ch.6:1-2- Paul continues the thought of “honor” –

See 5:3, 5:17 and now 6:1

I. The Christian faith was not intended to provoke

revolution or riot against slave masters.

1. “masters”=despotes- we get ‘despotic’

2. Associating the gospel of Christ with political revolt would

have place Christianity into unnecessary opposition.

3. Incidents of rebellion resulted in disasters.

 

II. Instead, the Christian faith would work inwardly

to change individual hearts, then later change

society through consensus.

1- Slaves varied—control was absolute.

2. How would a converted slave react to Matt.5:44?

   Or Col.3:22-25?

3. How would a converted master react to Matt.7:12 or

Eph.6:8-9?

 

III. The key to such change  was removal of

hatred, malice, greed, and anger.

1. Such sins can be removed only thru the transforming

power of the gospel- Rom.1:16

  Slavery is the result of sins of oppression, violence, greed

and lust for power fed by racism, materialism and elitism.

2. The gospel presents men/women as having common

guilt before God and sharing common salvation thru Christ.

Gal.3;28

 

IV. Paul’s directive for slaves to “honor” masters

protected the gospel from political or revolutionary

corruption. 

“that name of God…not be blasphemed”- He challenges

slaves to change their hearts/thinking

Col.3:24 placed “slave-experience” on a higher level.