The Relationships of the New Man (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

Colossians 3:18-4:1 record the impact that biblical Christianity should have on the culture.  The new man is a new wife (3:18), a new husband (3:19), a new son or daughter (3:20), a new parent (3:21), a new employee (3:22-25), and a new employer (4:1).  As any one of these, the new man does what he does in the name of Jesus, letting the peace of God rule in his heart and the Word of Christ dwell in him richly.

These descriptions of the new man indicate the standard a Christian possesses in his relationships.  A saved wife will subject herself to her husband’s authority, a saved husband will love his wife, a saved child will obey his parents, a saved parent will raise his children in a scriptural way, a saved employee will work hard, and a saved employer will treat his employees with justice.  The change in relationships provides a great judgment of the genuineness of someone’s profession of faith.