A Place Of Grace
6-7-26
  • Paul, in Ephesians 5:22-6:9 presents a vision for family life that is deeply rooted in the gospel. He calls for a radical transformation of household relationships, framing them as opportunities for demonstrating submission and mutual respect, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the church. This passage emphasizes the reciprocal nature of love and duty among family members and highlights the church’s role in supporting these family dynamics in:
    Marriages (wives vs 5:22, husbands vs 5:25)
    Parenting (children vs 6:1, fathers vs 6:4
    Work Ethic (slaves vs 6:5, masters vs 6:9
    Two sentences set the premise for the household text that we have been looking at:
    Ephesians 5:17–21 … “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
    Ephesians 5:17–21 NLT
    Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
    Verse 17 challenges us NOT to “act thoughtlessly”… we need to think and reason through this area of the family unit
    Verse 18-21 as one sentence sets the premise of having submissive hearts and being “Filled with the Holy Spirit” (this requires an emptying of self)
    This filling brings a spirit of humility, selflessness, care, love, patience
    This filling brings a voluntary aspect of submission in or lives and relationships
    The Spirit’s filling brings with Him a focus that is outward, not towards ourselves
    Being a part of a family should teach you and instill in your life values the concept that family is NOT about being selfish or individualistic RATHER it is a focus on being selfless and belonging.
    I feel in our culture and our day this CORE CONCEPT has been lost in our individual family units, in our local churches, and in the church as a whole.
    Marriages are struggling in hurt and pain due to two selfish people seeking thier desires rather than those of thier spouse
    Husbands selfishly fail to take thier God given role as the head of the home and have no passion to fight for thier marriage
    There is a 33% divorce rate in the church today, whereas the world around us has a 34% divorce rate
    Children selfishly are growing up feeling entitled, with a me focus attitude towards life
    Obedience is growing obsolete as individuals selfishly do what they “feel” they want
    Fathers selfishly sit idly by or are just plain absent in the home and family life
    There are parents who selfishly have never grown up, or know how to take responsibility.… they selfishly hand off thier God given responsibility to raise, train, instruct thier child in the Lord to others… (teachers, coaches, pastors, other family members)
    We have an epidemic in our culture and nation where individuals selfishly do not want to work, put forth effort, have a boss or be told what to do…
    There is a growing selfish mindset that someone else “OWES” them, that work is below them or not for them
    As God speaks to the church, declaring they walk in His Light, reflect His Light, He lays out His standard for His Family…

    Family

    The Family Structure is CORE as it spans time and culture, nations, and language… Family is timeless!
    We understand the terminology, functions, struggles
    The family is such a powerful illustration of the Gospel, God’s love and care for us.
    The BREAKDOWN of the HOME… Is impacting the church today and its testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
    Through our family structure as presented in this section we are living out Christian values in everyday family life.
    This Concept holds implications that alter how we live and our testimony for the Lord!
    When we approach passages pertaining to family we must remember that God is the author of this!

    God’s Design & Plan

    God designed and planed the family from the beginning… Genesis 1-2
    Man & Woman (two genders only)
    The two will become one (marriage)
    Be fruitful and multiply (children)
    God gave man responsibility to care for, cultivate, and rule over the earth (work)
    Now… shortly after this mankind sinned… (disobeyed God… our Heavenly Father)
    Sin would cause heartache and struggles in marriage
    Sin would pose difficulty in bringing children up and into this world
    Sin would impact and devastate the family design and plan of God
    Sin would now make work more difficult, a struggle
    Sin would bring self-centeredness into this world and our thinking
    God would continue to express His will, His law, His intensions for marriage and family and work… and sin would continue it’s devastation of pride, selfishness, and arrogance.

    Sin Dealt With

    Jesus Christ came to deal with SIN once for ALL… His death, burial, & resurrection conquered sin!
    Now on this side of the cross…
    God still speaks to the Concept of Family…
    We can now come to JOIN HIS FAMILY!
    You and I become a part of the Family of God through Jesus Christ and we are adopted into His family…
    Ephesians 1:5 “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
    Ephesians 1:5 NLT
    God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
    Galatians 4:4–6 “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.””
    Galatians 4:4–6 NLT
    But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
    Ephesians 2:19 “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
    Ephesians 2:19 NLT
    So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
    Romans 8:15 “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.””
    Romans 8:15 NLT
    So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
    As God’s children adopted into the Family of God, AND as the Bride of Christ…
    We let go of our past identity as sinners, enemies of God and take on the identity as His child
    We bear His name, Christian or Christ follower
    We die to self and live for Him!
    The Old is gone and now we are made NEW!
    This newness changes everything… especially how we live NOW… and it impacts our Families that are a part of the Family of God…
    If we are adopted into The Family of God…
    Then there are roles, relationships, and maturing that need to take place…
    Paul addresses this in 1 Timothy 3:14–15 “I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
    1 Timothy 3:14–15 NLT
    I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

    Household Structure

    The responsibilities of each family member, and the various roles contribute not just to family health but to the health of the church as a whole.
    There are roles (husband, wife, Parents, Father, Mother, Children, slaves, masters)
    Understanding these roles promotes unity and strength, helping families to be a source of encouragement and growth within the church.
    Each role has responsibilities and contributes to the family (outward focus with HUMNILITY)
    Christian families are not just private institutions but vital components of the church’s mission. Every member plays an essential role in displaying Christ's character.
    These family relationships should embody the grace, love, and submission seen in Christ's dealings with humanity.
    A healthy church is built on the foundation of strong families living out their God-given roles, where love and respect flow between all members, reflecting Christ's unity and witness to the world.
    God in His Word has given instruction on how a family should function in these roles
    Problem is that we have broken Families
    The roles and responsibilities are confused!

    Household Reflections

    This Church is a Family made up of many Families / Marriages / Children / Parents / Grand-Parents
    Family is about being selfless… relationship with those in the family
    It is hard at times… !
    But you love them, care for them, minister to them!
    The world is watching us:
    The strength of the church arises from the collective witness of godly families;
    They live out the principles of love and mutual respect,
    They become a beacon of hope and unity in a fragmented world.
    These relationships mirror the gospel's transformative power.
    Healthy family structures are essential to the witness of the church, where love, respect, and mutual accountability create a vibrant community of believers.
    In our marriages, children, parenting and places of work
    I want to close today challenging you to not be satisfied with just knowing that you were adopted into this Family of God, but
    Realize… it is such a noble position…
    Understand… We were adopted into the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Family of God Almighty…
    We are His children, living with His inheritance, we bear His Name, we represent His Family! Let us go and live like it!
    If you belong to the Family Of God… Then you have a responsibility to make sure your family Reflects the gospel message of Jesus Christ!

      • Ephesians 5:17–21NASB95

      • Ephesians 1:5NASB95

      • Galatians 4:4–6NASB95

      • Ephesians 2:19NASB95

      • Romans 8:15NASB95

      • 1 Timothy 3:14–15NASB95

    A Place Of Grace
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