Colossians 3 put off
Colossians 3
Becoming God’s People
God .
God’s wrath against Sin
Jesus – Raised, glorified at God’s right hand, coming again …
Colossians SAVED - raised with Christ, seeking that above, set hearts on above, and now put to death the ‘earthly’ parts of their lives…
We are not what we WERE. We are not what we WILL BE.
Oft repeated concept – ‘renewal’, ‘regeneration’, new – different – changed
OLD…
Put to death – vs. 5
Put them all away – vs. 8
Put OFF… 9
Be RENEWED .. 10
New birth –
New creature in Christ –
Repent –
In relationship – forgiven / restored –
In character – CHANGE…
Moral – sensual
Sexual immorality
Impurity
‘passion’ –
Evil desire –
Covetousness which is idolatry
Solution for sexual – 1 Cor. 7: …
God’s will – sanctification 1 Thess. 4..
Character / control of emotions
Anger
Wrath
Malice
Slander
Obscene talk
Gal. 5:19f; James 1:19-20, prov. 19:19; Prov. 22:24-25 Rom. 12:17-21
1. Recognize …
a. the temptation / situation…
b. the pattern …
2. make a PLAN … make no provision for evil …
3. Renewal – the changing by replacing evil with good …
Lies –
The enemy of truth and trust.
Be slow to anger, James 1:19–20.
Quick temper, Proverbs 14:29.
Temper control, Proverbs 16:32.
Violent temper penalized, Proverbs 19:19 (nrsv).
Avoid angry man, Proverbs 22:24.
Anger — the emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8).[1]
8. But … put off all these. Put aside and rid yourselves completely of all these. Anger. Uncontrolled temper, a deep-seated emotion of ill will, a settled feeling of habitual hate, revengeful resentment. Wrath. Boiling agitation, fiery outburst of temper, violent fit of rage, passionate outbreak of exasperation. Malice. Vicious disposition, depraved spite, willful desire to injure, cruel malignity, which rejoices in evil to others. Blasphemy. Slanderous talk, reviling, evil speaking, railing insults, reckless and bitter abuse. Filthy communication out of your mouth. Obscene speech, shameful speaking, foul-mouthed abuse, dirty epithets, unclean stories (Eph 4:29; 5:4).[2]
Human Anger. The Bible usually portrays human anger as sinful. Cain’s ire would have been turned to good if he had repented and offered an acceptable sacrifice. But by nursing his wrath against a holy God and the righteous Abel, he ends up committing murder (Gen. 4:3–8).
“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath”—so warns Psalm 37:8. In contrast with our modern emphasis on the constructive uses of anger,
Proverbs urges us to think carefully before expressing anger (12:16; 14:29; 19:11), to be patient (16:32), and to show restraint (29:11). Angry people cause conflicts (29:22; 30:33) and continually get themselves into trouble (19:19); they should be avoided (22:24–25).
In biblical history, Saul stands out as the embodiment of sinful rage (see 1 Sam. 19:9–10; 20:30–34). On the other hand, Job and many psalmists display anger and frustration with their situation—and at times even with God himself. In the end Job is rebuked because he has doubted God’s justice (chaps. 35–36), but the psalmists’ prayers are acceptable apparently because they are viewing the world from God’s perspective; since God knows the heart, it is better for them to voice their anger than it is to deny it.
Jesus warns that angry people will face God’s judgment (Matt. 5:22; cf. Gal. 5:20; Col. 3:6–8). James reflects the wisdom of the Old Testament when he tells his readers to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (1:9). According to Ephesians 4:25–27, people should speak truthfully, but their anger should be restrained, short-lived, and used for righteous ends. Provoking another person to anger without reason is in itself a sin (Eph. 6:4). Anger can divide a church (2 Cor. 12:20) and frustrate prayer (1 Tim. 2:8); an elder must not be “quick-tempered” (Titus 1:7).
People may, however, react to sin in the way that God does—in holiness and without desire for personal vengeance (Rom. 12:19–21). Moses was therefore justly angry with Pharaoh (Exod. 11:8). But Jesus the God-Man gives us the best example of how to express righteous anger (Matt. 23:1–36; Mark 3:5; 11:15–17; John 2:13–17).
At the same time, people may believe that their anger is warranted when it is not; such anger is usually rooted in a desire to justify oneself. Simeon and Levi’s slaughter of the Shechemites goes well beyond righteous anger (Gen. 34:1–31; 49:5–7). Jonah believes that he is right to be angry when God spares the wicked (chap. 4). Those who angrily oppose Jesus think that God is on their side (Matt. 21:15–16). Even the disciples are self-righteously angry with James and John (Matt. 20:24) and with the woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment (Mark 14:4–5).
[3]
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nrsv New Revised Standard Version
[1]Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2]KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (2463). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[3]Elwell, W. A., & Elwell, W. A. (1997, c1996). Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed.). Baker reference library; Logos Library System. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.