Put some clothes on!
Colossians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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When toddlers run around the house half naked we think it is cute and funny. But at what age do we stop thinking it is cute and funny?
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
raised with Christ
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set you hearts on things above
Our sphere of life is not this earth, but heaven; and the things that attract us and excite us belong to heaven, not to earth. This does not mean that we should ignore our earthly responsibilities. Rather it means that our motives and our strength come from heaven, not earth.
Set - seek, look for, desire
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Set your minds - Think
Believers must be tuned in to the Heavenly Broadcasting Network to receive the data needed for daily living. Take a good look at heaven’s perspective on every issue so you will know how to live on earth.
How much news or social media do you take in?
What you set your mind on is what you will see and believe.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
To help the Colossians develop a new mentality, Paul reminds them of their new identity. First, he says, you died. Your old life has no more power over you.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
(1) believers have a common spiritual life with the Father and Son
(2) the world cannot understand the full import of the believer’s new life
(3) believers are eternally secure, protected from all spiritual enemies, and with access to all God’s blessings.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
who is your life
Notice it does not say; is part of your life.
Basketball players will follow a Youtube channel called “Ball is life”.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
Put to death
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
you must / rid yourselves of all such things as these
Rid - A Greek word used for to take off clothing
How often do you change your clothes?
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
I don’t know about you but I say the dumbest things when I am angry.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
Do not lie to each other
Paul adds lying to the list. Notice it is just not lumped in with the others.
Satan is the father of what? Lies (John 8:44), while the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. When a Christian lies, he is cooperating with Satan; when he speaks the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), he is cooperating with the Spirit of God.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Taken off your old self / Put on the new self
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
renewed in knowledge
How does this renewal come about? Through knowledge. The word knowledge was one of the key terms in the vocabulary of the gnostics. But their so-called spiritual knowledge could never change a person’s life to make him like Christ. The better we get to know Christ, the more we becomes like Him.
It is God’s plan that believers become progressively more like Jesus Christ, the one who made them.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved
There is an expectation to live up to.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Clothe yourselves
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Let the peace of Christ
The Greek word for Peace - includes both the concept of an agreement, pact or treaty and the attitude of rest and security.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Rule
How can a Christian know when he is doing God’s will? One answer is: the peace of Christ in the heart. When the believer loses his inner peace, he knows that he has in some way disobeyed God. It is found here in the word rule.
The word translated “rule” is an athletic term. It means to act as a judge or umpire. In the Greek games, there were judges who rejected the contestants who were not qualified, and who disqualified those who broke the rules.
The peace of God is the “Umpire” in our believing hearts. When we obey the will of God, we have His peace within; but when we step out of His will (even unintentionally), we lose His peace.
Dr. Warren Wiersbe: When a Christian loses the peace of God, he begins to go off in directions that are out of the will of God. He turns to the things of the world and the flesh to compensate for his lack of peace within. He tries to escape, but he cannot escape himself! It is only when he confesses his sin, claims God’s forgiveness, and does God’s will that he experiences God’s peace within.
When there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips:
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Admonish - instruct
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus
All that we say and do should be associated with the name of Jesus Christ. By our words and our works, we should glorify His name. If we permit anything into our lives that cannot be associated with the name of Jesus, then we are sinning. We must do and say everything for the honor of His name.