Day 9
Read Ephesians 5:21- 6:9
Christianity is the relationship between God and men. Church, Home, and work spot are primary areas of relationships. One cannot be a Saint at Church and wicked at work spot and Home. Holiness is not in a vacuum but in wholeness. Holiness must affect every dimension of life such as spiritual, intellectual, physical and social.
5:21 Submit to one another: No authoritarians, dictatorial, but submissive to one another. In the fear of God and out of reverence submit and obey to one another such as Husband and Wife, Parent and Child, Master and slave.
5:22, 6:1, 5 talk about obedience as to the Lord (v.22), in the Lord (6:1), as to Christ (6:5). Relationships are Gen 1:26, 27. Acts 17:26, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 3:6. All are equal no one is greater except the authority given by God.
5:22-25 Marriage is a divine institution with the equal partnership of Husbands and wives. Loving and dying for one another, carrying and caressing. Prime motivator in this relationship is Rm. 5:8, I Jn. 4:10,11 and Jude 21. The intimate relationship between Christ and church should reflect in family life. Love and submission are equal to partners (Colossians 3:18, 19, 1 Peter 3:1)
6:1-4: Children and Parents: William Wilberforce ended child labour in England; William Carey ended child marriage in India. Female infanticide leads Christians to set up Cradle babies. Roman culture allowed the children deformed to be drown. Christians divided the commandments as first four to God and the last six to human relationships whereas the Jews divided them as five and five. The Honoring of Parents was associated with duties with God. One well-structured family is the best sermon on the earth for people to see.
6: 5-9 Slaves and Masters: The Slaves during the Roman Empire were treated like animals. What is Modern slavery?
