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good evening to everybody welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church it's good to be here a second time on this Lord's Day evening uh to worship our great Triune Gods let's turn in our Bibles as we begin our call to worship with the reading from Psalm 119 can turn to Psalm 119 and when you get there you can turn to verse 9 we're going to read verses 9- 16 Psalm 119 beginning beginning at verse 9 this is the word of God how can a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to your word with my whole heart I have sought you oh let me not Wander from your Commandments your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you Blessed Are You O Lord teach me your statutes with my lips I have declared all the judgments of your mouth I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies as much as in all riches I will meditate on your precepts and contemplate your ways I will Delight myself in your statutes I will not forget your word amen well let's stand together and sing as a church in our hym books you can turn to hymn 166 hym 166 with joy and let the children joy [Music] in is for every of his PR [Applause] he Grace Ador of you Joy and Glory the God shall your and to God for all let's go to our God In Prayer let's pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in this blessed opportunity this evening to gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to worship you our one and only living and true God Father Son and Holy Spirit and once again we would ask that you would help us by your spirit to hallow your name this evening we pray that our worship would come to you acceptable through the mediation of Jesus Christ Our Savior we thank you that you have called us from from out of the world to gather into this place and as we often pray we pray Lord God as we long to as Christians to worship you in spirit and in truth and we pray for the spirit's Aid in this act of worship we pray that you would help us to uh exalt your name Upon Our Praises we just ask ask that you would fill us with your holy spirit that we might worship you a right this evening we thank you as we gather together as the Saints of Christ that we can reflect upon so great a Salvation we reflect upon a Salvation that is not given to us by virtue of Deeds of righteousness which we have done but solely according to your mercy that you have saved us from Darkness to light that you have saved us from deadness in sin to life in Christ and that not by what we have done but but solely and alone by what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in our stead we rejoice in his perfect life of obedience to your law we thank you for his death upon calvary's cross we rejoice in the fact that these things were done in our stad in the stead of all those who believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we also rejoice in the Resurrection on the third day as he rose in power and in great Victory and that we we reflect as well Lord on the fact that he has ascended to your right hand where he now lives ever lives to make intercession for his people we thank you for so great a savior that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for the Forgiveness of sins by virtue of his shed blood we thank you for that righteousness of his imputed to us and received by faith alone and we pray that we would rest this evening not upon uh not Upon Our Own Strength not Upon Our Own splendor but solely and alone upon the splendor of the Triune God who saves without a helper through Jesus Christ Our precious redeeming King we pray Lord God that as we worship as we engage in the the reading of the scriptures as we engage in prayer as we engage in the singing of Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs as we engage in that Central act of worship the preaching of your word that again Lord God you would be hallowed that the Lord Jesus Christ would be exalted upon the Praises of this gathered assembly that we would leave this place singing the Praises of our great God we think of those unable to join us we think of those struggling physically with disease struggling with injury uh struggling with many things we pray that you would strengthen our dear brothers and sisters that you would cause them to know your nearness as they endure Affliction and we pray Lord God for those who are struggling spiritually uh we know that we can often uh fall into those those valleys where the the the the rain rains roll in where the storms uh where the storms are thundering in our Christian walk and we do just pray that you would bring a calmness that you would bring by the knowledge of you a measure of peace to those who are struggling spiritually and that you would lift them up from out of that pit and cause them to Rejoice to to have returned unto them the joy of their salvation and cause them to be resting upon Christ alone uh for their strength and courage and confidence we do think Lord God of the persecuted Church throughout the world as we're called to pray for those who are in chains for those who suffer Affliction for the name of Christ we pray Lord God that you would be with our dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in in many places that endure the uh the Tyranny the the the Venom the uh the the the horrible opposition of the enemies of the church we pray that you would strengthen them and cause them to know your nearness cause them to be looking with eyes of faith upon Our Risen Christ to find strength to find courage and and confidence in him we do pray as we often pray Lord God that you would deal with those who persecute your people that you would bring uh bring them to Salvation and the knowledge of Christ that you would bring uh the gospel in spirit to them that they might turn from their wickedness turn from their idolatry turn from their uh their wicked opposition unto the living and true Christ and be found among those whom they formerly persecuted and we do pray Lord God for those who would remain in in reprobate opposition we pray Lord God that you would take them out of the way that you would cause them to no longer bring violence upon your people upon your church and Lord God that you would even bring temporal judgment upon those who who oppose your church and in all of this Lord God we pray uh ultimately that you would cause your gospel to go forth victoriously we pray that the the Lord Jesus Christ uh through word and spirit that our our exalted Lord Jesus would go throughout the Nations conquering by gospel Proclamation uh conquering by the power of His Spirit bringing forth many to a knowledge of our precious Christ we do pray for pastor Butler as he comes up here in a few moments to preach we know Lord God that Ministers of your precious gospel rest not upon their own strength in this Pulpit but they rest upon the strength that Father Son and Holy Spirit afford Ministers of the Gospel throughout the world we do pray that you'd give much strength and and courage to Pastor Butler in this place that by the spirit he might Proclaim to us the riches of your word and the glories of our Christ and it's in his name that we pray amen well let's stand and sing our next hym will be Psalm 103e Psalm 103e let's Stand [Music] Together the Lord and all he bless His holy name for all his meres his singing the [Music] Angels Ser to Will and all of my compass all that see as the of bless the Angels bless his ser children and to all his our we and our and we are are bless the Angels Ser is my and beuty I will is is still sh to to the angels his Ser to in his forevering for all bless be the Lord through all is down my soul bless the Angels bless Ser through his will [Music] you can turn in your Bibles with me to Deuteronomy chapter 22 that's our Old Testament scripture reading this evening the entirety of Deuteronomy chapter 22 Deuteronomy 22 beginning in verse one once again the word of God you shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray and hide yourself from them you shall certainly bring them back to your brother and if your brother is not near you or if you do not know him then you shall bring it to your own house and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it then you shall restore it to him you shall do the same with his donkey and so you shall do with His Garment with any lost thing of your brothers which he has lost and you have found you shall do likewise you must not hide yourself you shall not see your brother's donkey or his Ox fall down along the road and hide yourself from them you shall surely help him lift them up again a woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man nor shall a man put on a woman's garment for all who do so are an Abomination to the Lord your God if a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way in any tree or on the ground with young ones or eggs with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs you shall not take the mother with the young you shall surely let the mother go and take the young for yourself that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days when you build a new house then you shall make a parapet for your roof that you may not bring guilt of Bloodshed on your household if anyone Falls from it you shall not sew your vineyard with different kinds of seed lest uh lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your Vineyard be defiled you shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together you shall not wear a garment of different sorts such as wool and linen mixed together you shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself if any man takes a wife and goes into her and detests her and charges her with shameful conduct and brings a bad name on her and says I took this woman and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the Elders of the city at the gate and the young woman's father shall say to the elders I gave my daughter to this man as wife and he detests her now he has charged her with shameful conduct saying I found your daughter was not a virgin and these uh and yet these are the evidences of my daughter's virginity and they shall spread the cloth before the Elders of the city then the Elders of that City shall take that man and punish him and they shall find him 100 shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel and she shall be his wife he cannot divorce her all his days but if the thing is true and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house and the men of the Cities shall Stone her to death with stones because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel to play the Harlot in her father's house so you shall put away the evil from among you if a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband then both of them shall die the man that lay with the woman and the woman so you shall put away the evil from Israel if a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband and a man finds her in the city and lies with her then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that City and and you shall Stone them to death with stones the young woman because she did not cry out in the city and the man because he humbled his neighbor's wife so you shall put away the evil from among you but if a man finds a betroth young woman in the countryside and the man forces her and lies with her then only the man who lay with her shall die but you shall do do nothing to the young woman there is in the young woman no sin deserving of death for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him even so is this matter for he found her in the countryside and the betrothed young woman cried out but there was no one to save her if a man finds a young woman who is a virgin who is not betrothed and he seizes her and lies with her and they are found out then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman's father 50 shekels of silver and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her he shall not be permitted to to divorce her all his days a man shall not take his father's wife nor uncover his father's bed amen well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for this the reading of Holy scripture we thank you for your wisdom set forth in uh in this Revelation to us the sons of men we thank you that you have disclosed your will in the scriptures and we rejoice in the fact that once again page after page chapter after chapter points to Christ and his righteousness and his crosswork and in the glory of his Redemption we pray as we continue in worship that you would cause us to be attentive in that worship that we would focus now upon the word preached and that we would rejoice in Father Son and Holy Spirit we pray in Christ's name amen amen let's stand again our final hymn before the preaching is 471 let's stand and sing 471 together of s the of Heaven praise the the the and Glory [Music] glorying wor [Music] and Glory Glory Christ is [Music] the Earth for and his mercy of and Glory Glory well bright my I will and glor of prise all is all the glory well please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians Ephesians chapter 6 as we conclude a particular unit in the book that begins in chapter 5 at verse 22 and ends in chapter 6 at verse 9 I'll do I will read the entirety of chapter 6 though and then our Focus will be on verses 5 to9 so beginning in verse one children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth and you fathers do not provoke your children children to wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord bonder servants be obedient to those who are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity of heart as to Christ not with eye Service as men Pleasers but as Bond Servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with Good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatever good anyone does he will receive the same from the Lord whether he is a Slave or free and you Masters do the same things to them giving up threatening knowing that your own Master also is in heaven and there is no partiality with him finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the Ws of the devil for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand stand therefore having girded your waist with truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace above all taking the shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known The Mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak but that you also may know my Affairs and how I am doing to IUS a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will make all things known to you whom I have sent to you for this very purpose that you may know our Affairs and that he may Comfort your hearts peace to the Brethren and love with Faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you that you've not left us without uh instructions in terms of sanctification we thank you for justification for that salvation that Paul so wonderfully explains in chapters 1 and two in this book and we thank you as well for chapters 4 to six which instruct us as the Blood Bought children of God how we are to live how we are to relate to one another so we pray now that you would guide us by the Holy Spirit we pray that you would forgive us for all of our sin and unrighteousness we pray pray that you would be glorified in this glad hour and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well we are in the Practical section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians and here specifically in what has been called a household code something that was not unique to Christianity but there were philosophers and ethicists who would give instructions to people at that time on how they were to conduct themselves in their various relations remember the broader context goes back to chapter 5 at verses 18 to 21 so we have I'm sorry verses 15 to 21 I need my glasses or I can't can't see those things so from 15 to 21 we're exhorted to walk in wisdom we're told or prohibited from being drunk with wine and which is dissipation but to be filled with the spirit and filling with the spirit looks like speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God the father and then submitting to one another in the fear of God so Paul takes that principle in verse 21 and then concretely applies it in the several relationships that he deals with first he has wives and husbands then he has children and parents and now we come to bonder servants and Masters here in verses 5-9 so I want to look first at the exhortation to bonder servants in verses 5 to8 and then secondly the exhortation of Masters in verse 9 now this is not unique in the new test it's not unique in the Old Testament the word we have translated as bonder servants is literally slaves there is a distinction in the Greek words this is slaves there's another word for Servant usually uh the the word Deacon is where we uh the the Deacon is that particular word you have deacons that serve in the context of the church the civil government is referred to as a deacon and then as well you have various persons that are servants rather in the church or in other spheres and they're referred to as as deacons so this deals with slavery and it deals with slavery not just here but you have it in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 you have it in Colossians 3 which is parallel to Ephesians 6 and then you have 1 Timothy chapter 6 Titus Chapter 2 the book of philimon and then first Peter 2: 18-25 so it's not a unique situation in the New Testament it's not a unique situation in the Old Testament what really is unique is that we live in a day and age where there isn't slavery for most of human history there has been and so when we come to this particular passage the Apostle isn't necessarily endorsing it he's not as well challenging the civil magistrate to end slavery but rather he is speaking God's truth to a particular situation that men redeem men redeem women would find themselves in and so when we come first of all to this command to our exhortation of bonder servants we ought to notice first the command to obey and then secondly the manner of compliance so look at the text in verse 5 uh bonder servants be obedient to those who are your Masters according to the flesh now with reference to the practice of slavery in Paul's time there's a famous book about it's a history of early Christianity by a fellow named Everett Ferguson and he says it is estimated that one in five of the residents in Rome was a slave so again it was widespread and the slavery wasn't always is what we might be inclined to think there were slaves that were utilized in terms of civil service slaves I think could own slaves themselves and so it was a widespread practice that obtained so he says it is estimated that one in five of the residents in Rome was a slave a proposal in the Senate that slaves be required to wear a distinctive dress was defeated lest the slaves learn how numerous they were so there was this recommend ation that slaves wear a uniform but somebody with a bit of wisdom said wait a minute if all the slaves recognize themselves then they might band together and rise up against us so that was AB crushed he goes on to say the legal status of a slave was that of a thing so that Paul addresses slaves here distinguishes Paul from say Aristotle in fact Aristotle defined a slave as living property in his book on politics in his book on ethics he said the slave is a living tool and the tool a lifeless slave so again that Paul addresses redeemed slaves shows their dignity and their equal status in terms of nature now there's different status in terms of Masters and slaves but essentially we're the same and when it comes to Redemption those distinctions are obliterated in terms of a spiritual emphasis but temporally they're not suspended and that's why Paul is writing here the idea that Christ redeemed a slave doesn't necessarily mean he is now temporarily a free man he doesn't get a career as a baseball player he doesn't get a career as an astronaut he doesn't get a career in business he's still a slave and that's why Paul addresses him some Scholars estimate that slaves comprised about onethird of the population of a city like Ephesus and if we ask asked the question how did persons endend up in slavery it wasn't based on ethnicity it wasn't a racist sort of a thing Ferguson again says the condition of slavery might result from war piracy and brigandage exposure of a child sale of a child or self to pay off debts condemnation in the Law Courts or birth to a slave mother and so that Paul addresses slaves he is doing so in distinction from the ethicists and the persons of his own day in fact another fellow says slaves were not normally addressed in household codes since attention was given to how Masters should treat their slaves like women and children Paul treats all groups including slaves as ethically responsible and as equal members in the body of Christ and then in terms of the necessity of the exhortation you've got the general struggles of life I mean what are we looking at in this particular passage verse 21 in chapter 5 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ and then specific spheres of submission wives to their husbands children to their parents why do you think Paul has to address that because generally we struggle with that you're not the boss over me that is something that is in the hearts of all men we don't want to be governed we don't want to be taught we don't want to be lectured we don't want to be scho it we don't want anybody above us and so the general problem of that is necessary for the Apostle to address but then specifically the the the problem of a slave he's now redeemed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ he may come to despise his current condition I'm a free man in Jesus I had to be a free man in my pursuit of business I have to be a free man to be a a cowboy or whatever it is that I want to be but as well he might despise his Master you know his master is is holding these things over him when he's free in the Lord Jesus Christ so the Apostle addresses the slaves with the specific counsel or exhortation that they need need to hear notice the text again Bond servants or slaves be obedient to those who are your Masters according to the Flesh of course we're to be obedient to our Master the Lord Jesus Christ but this sort of phrase according to the flesh indicates the the slave master relationship in the temporal sphere as Matthew P says Christian Liberty doth not take away civil Serv servitude and then John Calvin made the observation observation lest they should vainly imagine that carnal Freedom had been procured for them by the gospel in Christ we are new creatures in Christ all things have become new spiritually speaking we're Justified freely by Grace we're being s Sanctified by the power of the spirit we're going to glory in terms of our final resting state but in this present evil age we're still men we're still women we're still workers we're still employers we're still in this world and so the Apostle in the larger context go back to Ephesians 4 and verse 1 where he says I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called in Philippians 1 27 which is a bit of a parallel to that he says to to walk in a manner let your conduct rather be worthy of the Gospel so as a conquered by Grace slave you need to do so in a manner that is consistent with Christianity as a conquered blood-bought Master you're to do so in a manner that is consistent with Christianity that's the emphasis that we find here so with reference to the admonition he says be obedient to those who are are your Masters according to your according to the flesh that includes believing Masters look at verse 9 and you Masters he's addressing them in the church in Ephesus do the same things to them giving up threatening knowing that your own Master also is in heaven and there is no partiality with him so of course the slave will obey his Christian Master but Peter tells us that he's also to obey his non-Christian master in fact you can turn to First Peter chapter 2 where you see see that emphasis I mentioned this this morning that our Command to do a particular thing is not conditioned upon that particular thing in other words it's not just that a wife has to submit to her believing husband but Peter tells her she needs to submit even to her unbelieving husband according to 1 Peter 3:1 with reference to Slaves notice in verse 18 of chapter 2 servants be submissive to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh probably the good and gentle are believers or at least common Grace having men that aren't tyrants but also to the harsh most likely the unconverted most likely the unbeliever most likely the one that is severe in his treatment of his slaves so salvation in Christ does not mitigate the temporal obligations are that are upon us we don't come to the office of our boss and say I'm redeemed now you should promote me to you know vice president of the company that's not how we're to interpret salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ so the command is very simple be obedient like the other times we see this command it's qualified in so far as he's not commanding you to sin if the master commands the slave to engage in criminal Enterprise if the master commands the slave to drive the getaway car while he goes goes in and robs the bank the slave must obey God rather than men he is not Duty Bound in that particular instance to render obedience he should do it respectfully to be sure but he must obey God rather than men now in terms of the manner of compliance he deals with that at the end of verse 5 all the way into verse 7 notice he says at the end of verse 5 with fear and trembling in sincerity of heart as to Christ not with eye Service as men Pleasers but as bonder Servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with Good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatever good anyone does he will receive the same from the Lord whether he is a slave or free now there's three things that I think he's saying here first The Obedience of the slave to the master must be heartfelt it's not just this external compliance because I have to do it it must be heartfelt secondly must be Christ centered notice the religious obligation involved on the part of the slave as to the Lord You're bonder servant of Christ and then thirdly it is to be future oriented or eschatological in nature in other words his present performance in terms of obedience to the master has a future orientation according to verse 8 knowing that there is a day of judgment knowing that you will appear before the high King Of Heaven knowing that you will give an account of Deeds Done in the body whether good or bad but let's look first at The Obedience that is to be heart uh that is to be heartfelt notice first with fear and trembling that doesn't mean the slave always runs from the master and hides in the closet the fear and trembling there probably means with reverence with respect with humility with an attitude of correctness before the master in fact John Gil says with great humility and respect with reverence of them and giving honor to them with careful carefulness not to offend them with submission to their reproofs and Corrections and with fear of punishment but more especially with the fear of God being by that influenced and constrained to obedience so it is to be heartfelt relative or specifically with reference to this fear and trembling again this is not just the slave that is addressed this way the Apostle tells Christians in general they must do this in in uh 1 Corinthians chapter 7 but then notice he says under this heading of heartfelt he says it with sincerity at the end of verse 5 in sincerity of heart as to Christ and he's going to flesh out those details specifically in verse six but the attitude or the idea is is just that you to be sincere other words you're not just going through the motions because you have to do it you're Blood Bought now you're Justified freely by God's grace how how then are you supposed to conduct yourself you're not supposed to be the mopy BR boy slave that just whines incessantly know you're to render service unto your slave or under your master rather knowing that it's the Lord Christ whom you you serve ultimately so there needs to be sincerity and again he fleshes that out now specifically in verse six he says not with I Service as men Pleasers but as bonder Servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart I think the idea is clear Ecclesiastes 9:10 whatever your hand finds to do do it with your might in the parallel passage in 1 Timothy chapter 6 The Apostle says that the slave's conduct has direct bearing on the word of God first Timothy 6 verse1 let as many bonder servants as are under the Yoke Count Their Own Masters worthy of all honor and then the purpose Clause is simple so that the name of God and his Doctrine may not be blasphemed other words if the slave is contrary if the slave professes faith in Jesus but he's lazy he's insincere he only works when the boss is watching that boss is going to conclude this Christianity this religion that my slave got really doesn't matter it really doesn't measure up it really doesn't uh produce any practical effect or yield any net effect so when it comes to this the the emphasis is very clear but then notice the obedience is to be uh christocentric so verse six that word is wonderful not with I service just going to Define that from beeg service that is performed only to make an impression in the owner's presence IE service pretty dazzling huh it it's that thought of hey the boss is coming look look busy the boss is coming pick up the Broom the boss is coming start making widgets no the Apostle condemns that that's not sincere that's insincere when you're only seeking to be viewed by men and you're not thinking in terms of God who's overall you're not functioning as a Christian slave ought and then notice not with ey Service as men Pleasers paradoxically when you shoot to only please men you are ultimately going to disappoint them but as a Christian believer when your aim is the glory of God guess who benefits from that men your wife benefits if you're a Christian believer your husband benefits if you're your Christian believer your children benefit your employer benefits your your body politic benefits even your cat benefits as lloy Jones said you don't come home drunk at night and kick the cat across the living room you're now a redeemed blood-bought child of God you've read the Proverbs and you see that a righteous man has regard for his Beast that prohibits kicking the cat across the living room so when it comes to men pleasing paradoxically it doesn't deliver the goods sincerity of heart means not with ey Service as men Pleasers but then notice what he goes on to say in terms of that Christ centered reference he says but as bonder Servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with Good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to men the slave of an Earthly Master is a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ that's very very clear In this passage the slave that obeys not actually the slave that is a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ may be a slave to the Earthly Master the slave that obeys the master is doing the will of God from the heart now Brethren I'm not sure what all slaves did in this particular context but let's just say for instance they made widgets for the slave that's just a little object that is manufactured and then you take it to Market and sell it probably the slave making widgets didn't think I'm I'm doing Service as unto the Lord I'm I'm doing service unto God himself you see that's the glory of the Christian Gospel it dignifies those things that we set our hands to as long it's not criminal as long as it's not prohibited there's dignity in every form of work remember years ago we used to go to Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver to preach on Tuesday nights and there would be a whole lot of people that would come in there and they were you know looking for a free meal they'd have to sit through a sermon or two but they'd get their free meal and then we'd typically hit them with gospel tracks or give out Bibles or that sort of thing once in a while you'd meet a fellow who said I just want to work not just for money but for the dignity that's involved with working that's right we we've lost something of that in this present generation it's hard to find employees it's hard to to hire people it's hard to get them to to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time there is that that sort of uh approach to work or labor now that it's bad or it's it's something beneath us or it's below us no it's what God made us to do 6 days you shall labor and and do all your work so the slave manufacturing for his master was engaged in doing the will of God from the heart the slave that obeys the master is doing so with good will he wishes his master Prosperity he wants him to profit he wants him to benefit from his slavery or his service and the slave that obeys the master is doing so in a Christian context again look at the context verse 5 as to Christ verse 6A as bonder Servants of Christ verse 6B doing the will of God from the heart and then verse seven as to the Lord what's Paul's Point Paul's point is that the blood of Jesus Christ his son has washed you from all sin the the glories of Ephesians 1 3-14 where God predestined you un adop as Sons The Glory of of of Ephesians 2 1:10 by Grace you are saved uh uh through faith and that not of yourselves all that's true with reference to the slave but it doesn't free him it doesn't emancipate him from his Earthly bondage and so in that Earthly bondage he is to conduct himself in a particularly Christian way he is to evidence and manifest the grace of God in his own life by putting in a good days of work a good day of work doing good will for his master and seeking the man's prosperity and not his destruction and then thirdly and finally under this head the obedience is to be future oriented or ES eschatological eschatology simply means a study of or doctrine of end things end times or last things notice that in verse 8 why does the slave do this because he's got an eye on the future knowing that whatever good anyone does he will receive the same from the Lord whether he is a slave or free the believing uh the beli Liv slave lives in light of the day of judgment now he doesn't do this service in order to be pronounced innocent on the day of judgment the slave doesn't think well by making widgets by promoting my my Master's good by earning him profit by by making sure that he doesn't falter then I'm going to earn my way into heaven no the rest of the epistle mitigates against that idea we're not saved by our works we're not saved by our efforts we're not saved by our doing we're saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ the consequence of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ means that we live in a particular manner we walk in a manner that is consistent with our High Calling we do what Paul says in Ephesians 41 we do what Paul says in Ephesians 5:21 and we see that spelled out in our interpersonal relationships in 522 to 69 The Blood Bought child of God must live consistently with that gospel and that's precisely what he's thinking here he knows that whatever good he does he will receive the same from the Lord whether he is a slave or free the believer functions in sanctification the way that he does because of the doctrine of justification he has been saved by grace The Works simply manifest or demonstrate rather the reality of saving faith in his heart that's the way Matthew 25:31-46 reads when the Lord Jesus talks about that separation between the sheep and the goats the Sheep are already sheep Brethren they don't get sheep status at the day of judgment they are sheep and their sheep status is Vindicated or demonst uh demonstrated by what they had done in this present evil age and so this particular slave is called to reflect upon the reality that he'll stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of of Deeds Done in the body whether good or ill and he's also C certain of a comprehensive judgment notice knowing that whatever good anyone does he will receive the same from the Lord whether he is a slave or free again the Apostle dignifies slavery the Apostle says that the that you have equal status in terms of free men and you will stand before the Lord God most high on the day of judgment this isn't a living tool this isn't some iner object this isn't some you know animal that can happen to walk without dragging his knuckles this is a human being he has create created in the image of God he is renewed because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ therefore he has dignity he has status with God and so this is a great encouragement the Lord doesn't say well you know the the the Master's over here but you slaves you're you're second tier no they're all going to stand before that judgment seat of our blessed God so slave be obedient to those who are your Masters according to the flesh notice secondly the exhortation of Masters in verse 9 the statement is simple you Masters do the same things to them that does not mean that the master is to be obedient to the slave that that's not can't be what it means you don't be a master with slaves and say I'm going to serve you slave that that's just counter c not just cultural that's just not the way it's supposed to be read the master is Under The Sovereign authority of Christ and as such he must conduct himself in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel he's got the same connection to Ephesians 4:1 and to Philippians 1:27 as does the slave the master is to do the same things not obedience but sincerity of heart kindness and affection and love a desire for the welfare of the slave a desire for the prosperity of the slave a desire such that the slave has a good slave life that's indicative of a Christian Master remember last week I read Westminster larger catechism with reference to superiors and inferiors what is required of superiors toward their inferiors in the context husbands are superiors again not a comment on essential nature not a comment that men are somehow more image Bearer than women no men and women are the same essentially but in terms of function in terms of role distinction husbands love your wives as Christ love the church wives submit to your own husbands as unto the Lord children are not inferior at the level of essence they're not you know 70% people that that's just not the case they're 100% people but they're inferior with reference to the superior namely their parents and in this context obviously the superior is the slave uh the master what is required of superior toward their inferiors answer it is required of superiors according to the the to that power they receive from God and that relation wherein they stand to love pray for and bless their inferiors to instruct counsel and admonish them countenancing commending and rewarding such as do well and discountenancing reproving and chastising such as do ill protecting and providing for them all things necessary for soul and body and by grave wise holy and exemplary courage to procure glory to God honor to themselves and so to preserve that Authority which God has put upon them so there is responsibility and the Apostle addresses that he doesn't say slaves knuckle under Masters you get to do whatever it is you want no a redeemed master has obligation relative to the way that he functions as a master he cannot be a despot he cannot be a tyrant he cannot give the whip he cannot do those things that are not righteous and given by God so the same things does not mean obedience on the part of the master toward the slave the same things refers to the heart disposition of believing Masters toward their slaves and again saved and unsaved the slaves a saved slave to be a happier situation for the master but if the slave is unsaved he still has to treat him with love respect and dignity he can't say well you're the unsaved slave so you you know you go live you go eat GRL and I'm going to give you you know Hamburger Helper to the to the save slave that that's not what he does he has that dignity with reference to both of them Gil says this does not refer to service and obedience but to singleness of heart benevolence humanity and regard to Christ and the will of God and to the doing of good things and to the performance of their Duty as they would have their servants to do theirs and then he gets uh specific with the manner of compliance here notice in verse 9 uh uh uh the second part of verse 9 so you Masters do the same things to them giving up threatening why do you think Paul says that I've never been a master to Slaves but I'm guessing that the threat would probably be utilized in many instances to get the slave to perform there's a bit of an analogy in terms of parenting as well parents have you ever threatened your children with you know certain chastisement or discipline in order to get them to comply don't look at me puzzled you know you have the Apostle Paul deals with real life real world situations giving up threatening if prior to your conversion to Jesus Christ you exercise that kind of despotism over your slave where you cracked the whip where you threatened him with deprivation where you threatened him to go out and sleep in a shack if you have that propensity give it up that is not consistent Christian Behavior you're not supposed to rule by force you're supposed to rule with love you're supposed to engage in a manner that is consistent with the calling of God upon your life and then the encouragement goes in the same direction that the slaves had in the in verse eight notice knowing so the slave knows something according to verse 8 but the master knows something according to verse 9 knowing that your own Master also is in heaven and there is no partiality with him so that indicates the accountability of the master he's not a law unto himself he doesn't have absolute authority over this person he is not a tyrant he is not a king he's not a lord rather he is one under the master the Lord Jesus Christ and as a result of that Sovereign rule he must comply with his sovereign's directions as well this eschatology again or future orientation notice the knowing that your own Master also is in heaven and there is no partiality with him when we see that Clause there is no partiality with him we think Deuteronomy 10 2 Chronicles 19 acts 10 Romans 2 Galatians 2 Colossians 3 1 Peter chapter 1 where that's rehearsed over and over again that there's no partiality with God what does that statement refer to well it refers to a context of judgment God does not judge based on ethnicity judge not doesn't judge based on economic status oh you're poor off you go into the pit of fire no there's no partiality with him he's no respector of persons it kind of points toward that eschatological future so the master understands his role under the master the master understands that eventually he's going to stand before the one in whom there is no partiality so there is accountability there is eschatology but as well there's there's imitation if there's no partiality with God in the way that he treats his people there ought not to be partiality with a master in the way that he treats his slaves so the Apostle not only exhorts slaves and Masters but he specifies the means of compliance for both groups now in conclusion just a couple of thoughts first the place of slavery in the first century the Apostle addressed slaves again that underscores their dignity he treated them as Christians not as property or as a living tool secondly he exhorted Masters by commanding them specifically how they were to engage in their duties he showed their accountability he showed that they had gospel orientation that necessitated a particular life and manner in which they conducted themselves thirdly the Apostle regulated the relationship between slaves and Masters according to God's will again Brethren Paul's not endorsing it oh slavery is the best possible conception of things there is he's not challenging it at the level of the Roman Empire did he go to Nero's house did he go to Caesars did he hold up a sign outside no more slavery it doesn't say that I mean maybe he did I I kind of don't think he did because he was busy convert or traversing thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of miles preaching Christ and him crucified you don't get this sense that he you know picketed outside of n residence but with reference to the the institution of slavery I would suggest fourthly the Apostle recognizes the benefit of freedom in 1 Corinthians 7:21 were you called while a slave do not be concerned about it but if you can be made free rather use it one of the interesting things we've seen in our studies in The Book of Leviticus is in Leviticus 25 God is pro Liberty now slavery exists slavery is a reality but all things being equal prior to the fall of Adam and Eve there would be no slavery right prior to the fall of Adam and Eve there was no divorce prior to the fall of Adam and Eve there was no abortion there was no infanticide there was no you know made none of that obtained but in a postf fallen world there's all kinds of stuff that happens now and in God's law he addresses those things in order to protect the innocent parties so you get legislation concerning polyg for instance you get legislation concerning divorce you get legislation concerning slavery again that's not an endorsement but that's because of the hardness of your heart God has spoken additional things in order to regulate the conduct of parties involved in that stuff but as far as Paul is concerned Liberty is the way to go as far as God is concerned Leviticus 25 love to give a quiz to anybody who was there a couple of weeks ago what was Leviticus 25 the Year of Jubilee what was that it was that time when there was an emancipation of slaves where there was a cancellation of debts so we've learned in The Book of Leviticus God is pro Liberty God's Pro Prosperity not weird Benny hin Prosperity but hard work Prosperity that's what we see in the blessings and curses in Leviticus chapter 26 go into the land do what you're supposed to do and guess what you'll have stuff you'll have food you'll have shelter you'll have good benefits from the land this idea that God wants everybody miserable that's not biblical that's communism God is okay perfectly content with pro-liberty and pro prosperity and the Apostle Paul is the same way but if in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 if you can't achieve your free Status you still have obligations as a slave to function in a distinctly Christian capacity now secondly I want to want to just end with the modern parallel in the 21st century but it's not an exact parallel I'm speaking about the employer employee relationship it's not an exact equivalent no matter how bad your job is no matter how miserable you are you can quit the slave couldn't quit right so it's not an exact parallel the the closest parallel today to this particular situation would be military you I mean they're making the military so weird nowadays probably you can but it used to be you couldn't quit uh you know Chief I I'm done C Captain I yeah it's just not for me I I don't like the uniforms I don't you guys yelling at me I don't like getting up early the chow hall food's not good I'm I'm just done you don't do that you obey you carry out what they call you to do and you do it so so the closest parallel would be military service in our own context so so it's not exact the employer employe relationship you can always quit you can always find another job you can go elsewhere you can move you can you can move to another country you can open businesses there's there's Limitless opportunity for you so you're not a slave I'm not a slave we're not Masters you're not Masters so this is not an exact parallel but there's obviously some overlap there's obviously a few things that I'd like to comment on and I think we'll summarize the entirety of the section first with reference to the employee employer relationship I've got four C's and I'm not going to keep us long but I think I want to get them out there at least first the condemnation of laziness the Commendation of diligence the consideration of Christ in all things and then the cultivation of self-control now that sounds like a whole other sermon to me uh but instead of carrying it over next Sunday night I'm going to try to pack it into about five or seven minutes you're probably going right sure the condemnation of laziness we won't go through all the text I'll just give you the heads first the exhortation to the sluggard in Proverbs chap 6: 9 to 11 as well the example of the man who is afraid of lions in Proverbs 26 13 to 16 he's not really afraid of lions I I mean he might be if he met one at his front door he's afraid of hard work that's his there's a lion in the street I I can't get up and go to work there there's Lions out there Brethren there were no more Lions out there in civilized Israelite Society than there are in the streets of chilak it's just not the case in fact that was a blessing of God when they went into the land the the the beasts were were already gone because of the presence of the Canaanites he said you're not going to drive out the Canaanites to the point where it's going to be so fast the beasts come back in it's going to be a gradual thing so that the beasts don't come back in so the guy whining about the lion in the street his problem isn't Lions his problem is work he's an excuse making lover of sleep too lazy for simple task remember he buries his hand in the bowl but he can't bring it back to his own mouth and he's full of Pride as well with reference to the lazy man he frustrates others Proverbs 10:26 he frustrates others the way that smoke is in your eyes or vinegar on your teeth those are irritating things aren't they so is a la man in your employee so is a lazy man that is supposed to be helping you in your job he as well lacks understanding Proverbs 12:11 he has unmet desires Proverbs 13:4 he's always got you know something else that he's aspiring for but he doesn't make it he is a destroyer Proverbs 189 and he will most certainly suffer hunger Proverbs 19:15 1924 uh 24 24 2013 215 and 25 uh uh 2125 and 26 so this condemnation of laziness is replete in scripture do Paul say in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 if a man doesn't work what do you do just give him an abundance of food just you know fill his gut give him you know stay and lobsters and shrimps and whatever it is that he want no if a man doesn't work neither shall he eat and in thessalonica that was a reality why because they had this idea that Christ was going to return at any time so instead of going out to work they'd sit around and wait for jesus' return how does Paul meet that go out to work if you don't go out to work you're not supposed to eat it's just kind of the law of nature you don't labor you don't pick you don't grow you don't make money to buy you're not going to eat that's the simple facts of things and the church shouldn't countenance that kind of behavior so the condemnation of the lazy man is not once in the Bible secondly the Commendation of the diligent you have the example of the ant go to the ant you Slugger get out of your bed the little aunt is out there Gathering up her food because in the winter time she will starve if she doesn't have a Garner as well you've got the expectation of the diligent there's this emphasis on hard work there's this do you see a man who excels in his work he shall stand before Kings Brethren that ought to be the aspiration in the hearts of God's people to work in such a way that they get promoted I'm not saying be greedy I'm not saying be you know miserly I'm not saying you know do this to the neglect of your wife your kids just be driven only and solely for money no I'm not saying that but I am suggesting that hard work pays off that's just again a light of nature principle that we see in shrouded in Holy Scripture and then of course the exhortation of the diligent in Proverbs 27 get your act together get your house in order make sure you got sheep make sure you got land make sure you're able to feed that that wife of yours and those kids they're addicted to food it's a crazy thing they need nutrients they need protein go out and grow them some protein make sure you fill that the diligent will be blessed not always sometimes things happen thirdly the consideration of Christ in all things just quick turn to the parallel in Colossians 3 Colossians chapter 3 similar household hold code beginning in verse 18 continuing to chapter 4 uh verse one but prior to that notice 31 if then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting or where Christ is rather sitting at the right hand of God set your mind on things above not on things of the Earth for you died and your life is hidden with Christ and God when Christ who is our life appears then you also will appear with him in glory so notice again verse two set your mind on things above not on things in the earth that does not mean that you check out from society you build a Hut on top of Mount sham and all you do is contemplate Christ that's not what he's saying Brethren he's saying keep an eye on Christ while you're engaged in your Earthly chores keep an eye on the Savior as you're engaged in slavery or masterhood keep an eye on the Savior while you're an employer or an employee we we know that because notice in verse therefore put to death your members which are on the earth fornication uncleanness passion evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry dropping all the way down to that household code in verses uh uh Verse 18 all the way to 41 focusing on Jesus is the best way to do well in this present evil age and then finally the cultivation of self-control I think this is undering all of these relationships between the the the husband and the wife between the parent and the child and between the slave and the master self-control I I listen to a podcaster and he's a political guy and he sometimes makes the observation he professes faith in Christ I've no reason to doubt that but this observation I'm not sure if he ever has specified it's from the Bible or it's my biblical worldview but but when he sort of surveys the political landscape in the US he says we have a people problem oh if we just get a new president we just get a new Vice President we get a new prime minister okay we still got a People problem we have put up with abortion we have put up with maid we have put up with drug abuse on our streets we have put up with an open border we have a people problem and that speaks specifically to another emphasis that you find throughout Solomon self control federal government provincial government familial government and Eccles ecclesiastical government is only as good as self-government in other words if the people are a mess as individuals guess what else is going to be a mess church family Society see we need to get back to this idea where we're not dependent upon the nanny state but we're dependent on our own hard work we're dependent on our own efforts we're dependent upon on our own sort of pushing through the the mock and mire of this present evil age and seeking to do the best that we possibly can so this time we will survey a few of these Proverbs go back to the Book of Proverbs remember this isn't just a collection of wise sayings from Solomon it's Christ speaking through the spirit in this particular book we have an emphasis several times over I'll go quick Proverbs 4:23 keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life keep your heart not keep your brother's heart not keep your neighbor's heart not keep your government's heart but keep your heart it's full-time job 247 you keep your own heart you got enough to do that doesn't mean we don't help our brother doesn't mean we don't help our neighbor doesn't mean we're not there for our wives or our husbands or our children our parents that doesn't mean that but your primary orientation is keep your heart imagine if everybody just kept their heart be a good place to live wouldn't it that's the problem we don't keep our hearts but then notice how practically he gets in verses 24 to 27 put away from you a deceitful mouth put perverse lips far from you let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established do not turn to the right or the left remove your foot from Evil so keep your heart and what happens when you keep your heart it helps you to keep your members it helps you to guard the eyes it helps you to guard the hands it helps you to guard the feet in other words selfcontrol Proverbs 14 and verse 17 Proverbs 14 in verse 17 a quick-tempered man acts foolishly and a man of wicked intentions is hated guess what you're not supposed to do that I'm not supposed to do that do we ever do that yeah we we do but it's not commended in the Bible a quick-tempered man 1518 a wrathful man stirs up Strife but he who is slow to anger look at what he does he allays contention how about Proverbs 16 and verse 32 he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his Spirit than he who takes a city see basically's saying any fool any army could take a city but it's the wise man who can control himself it's the wise man who can govern his own heart it's the wise man who can keep it with all diligence notice in 1916 19:16 he who keeps the Commandment keeps his soul but he who is careless of his ways will die Proverbs 20 verse1 wine is a mocker strong drink is a brawler and whoever is Led astray by it is not wise I mentioned that in Ephesians 5 Paul's not forbiding prohibiting or condemning the use of alcohol he is forbidding condemning and prohibiting the sinful use of alcohol and immoderate use of alcohol wine is a mocker strong drink is a brawler but look it whoever is Led astray by it is not wise if a man's not LED astray by it and has a glass of wine with his dinner he's not the he's not the target audience here in Proverbs 20 ver1 it's self-government Proverbs 21:17 he who loves pleasure will be a poor man he who loves wine and oil will not be rich again this is not wow I can't believe how revolu uary this wisdom is Proverbs 23 1 and2 when you sit down to eat with a ruler consider carefully what is before you put a knife to your throat if you're a man given to appetite do not desire his Delicacies for they are deceptive food self-control look at verses four and five and I mentioned this earlier it's not wrong to labor hard to be promoted but if that is the overarching concern of your life instead of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness then there's a problem do not not overwork to be rich you may be called upon by your boss to overwork that's a different story you've got a job as an employee and typically this is true of younger man the older you get the wiser you get now the younger you are that's when you got to put in a lot of effort you got to put in a lot of Labor you got to make your way but here it's do not overwork to be what to be rich honey I not going to see you for five weeks cuz I'm going out to make money now again there might be that temporary NE necessity that that that there there's always qualifications no hard and fast rule here but look at the prohibition do not overwork to be rich because of your own understanding cease will you set your eyes on that which is not for riches certainly make themselves Wings they fly away like an eagle toward Heaven look at 2410 2410 if you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small and we should be mindful of the fact that doesn't mean there's Grace you you have no Grace in your heart there are those Seasons there are those times where we may just have the ministers or the regular person's fainting fits notice 2516 2516 have you found honey eat as much as you can shove it down your gullet faster than anything I mean just just just take it in have you found honey eat only as much as as you need lest you be filled with it and vomit notice as well 2527 25 527 a lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it and a flattering mouth Works ruin exercise self-control I'm sorry 2528 that that's the one I I missed that but 2628 certainly is is Germaine but notice 28 in chapter 25 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls you know what a city broken down without walls in this context was it was Easy Pickins for anybody I mean if you didn't have walls if you didn't defend yourself you didn't have Armament you didn't have you know gun nests for for enemy Invaders you didn't long have food you didn't long have water you didn't long have freedom you didn't long have your your families and then 2911 2911 the rich man is wise in his own eyes I'm sorry 2911 the fool vents all his feelings but a wise man holds them back and then 29:22 an angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression and then one final passage and then we close Galatians chap 5 Galatians chapter 5 the argument here is simple self-government self-control rule over one one's own sort of kingdom castle is absolutely crucial for the various relationships that Paul mentions here the master can't just threaten his slaves and and whip them he has to exercise self-control the slave can't wish his master dead and not do his job he's got to have self-control the wife can't throw things coffee cups at her husband's head because he came home late or he didn't do such and such no she has to exercise self-control the husband doesn't tyrannize his wife or be a despot to her no he exercises self-control you you see how I think Jesse Kelly is right we we have a people problem we got big problems wait we expect everybody else to do everything else but God's word doesn't say that you're always the ward of the state they will take care of you from the Cradle to the Grave you'll never have an issue you'll never have a problem the benevolent state is there to care for you if you believe that may the Lord God most high open your eyes to the truth that what we find here is an emphasis on self-government and self-control notice in Galatians 5 a very amiliar passage of scripture but a thing I think we Overlook but the fruit of the spirit verse 22 is love joy peace longsuffering kindness goodness faithfulness G gentleness look at that next phrase selfcontrol huh a fruit of the holy spirit is self-control is shouldn't it be Spirit control a fruit of the holy spirit is self-control self-government self-discipline you want to relate effectively as husbands and wives you want to relate effectively as children and parents you want to relate effectively as as servants and and Masters exercise self-control and the way to get that is ultimately At The Cross by God's grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ there's no fruit of the spirit without the spirit present in your life and the way that you have the spirit present in your life is by God's free Grace justification by faith alone in Christ alone you receive re the Holy Spirit you're able to comply you're able to engage in this self-control and have relationships that are marked here in Ephesians chapter 6 well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the clarity of the Apostles instructions in each of these uh social spheres each of these uh relationships give us Grace and the presence and the power of the spirit that we may comply that we may be faithful as individuals as families as a church and may you indeed save more people and affect this nation in a positive way For Your Glory for Solomon says righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people and certainly we see evidence of this each and every day so God we pray to you in your wrath you would remember Mercy bless the preaching of the Gospel throughout this land and may many come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his Most Blessed name amen close with a brief time of meditation sh