New Humanity

Summary of the Argument

Chapter 3:1-4 is a summary of the argument to follow. It begins with an IF/THEN statement.

IF/THEN statements have two parts: an If, and a Then.

If you have been raised with Christ

Being raised with Christ means something in particular. Christ was raised, and then was received into heaven. This is the pattern of the Christian life, though it is spiritually true and not yet physically. Even though we do not See our sitting in heaven, we are nonetheless there.

Ephesians 2:6 CSB

He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

Past tense.

The preceding information in Colossians has to do with the doctrine of salvation over against a particular heresy.

The letter begins by underlining the superiority and uniqueness of Christ.

Colossians 1:15–20 CSB

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Whatever the heresy is, it included asceticism or legalism. Legalism is the attempt to justify yourself before God by your works. The problem with legalism isn’t that works are bad, but that it diminishes Christ’s value and importance.

But Christ is infinitely valuable and important. For this reason, Paul spent the whole book insisting on Christ’s preeminence.

If you have been raised with Christ . . . means we have indeed been raised with Christ.

So what is the “Then”?

Then seek the things above

Synergistic Sanctification

Notice what is going on here. Paul is doing two things with this statement.

First, Paul is stating a fact. If you are raised then you will seek the things above.

Second, Paul is commanding the Colossians to do something. If you are raised, then make sure you seek the things above.

Both of these aspects of the argument are in play. God has declared the true nature of Christianity to be a seeking of things above. God saves sinners, and then grants a seeking of the things above. BUT, God does this by calling sinners to seek the things above. So who is responsible for this seeking? Both God and the Christian are operating here. Sanctification is “synergistic” or requires that both parties are operating.

What is seeking things above?

The answer is found in the next verse. Seeking things above is to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Now, we seek those things which are above when, in our minds, we are truly sojourners in this work, and are not bound to it. . . “Let your whole meditation be as to this: to this apply your intellect—to this your mind.” But if we ought to think of nothing but of what is heavenly, because Christ is in heaven, how much less becoming were it to seek Christ upon the Earth. Let us bear in min that that is a true and holy thinking as to Christ, which forthwith bears us up into heaven, that we may there adore him, and that our minds may dwell with him.

—Calvin

What is the point here? It is that the Christian is called to a certain way of thinking. The Christian must hold a certain worldview or philosophy of life. And that life is found in Christ, and Christ is found in heaven.

Our thinking is vitally important. We shall see why as we go forward in our text.

For now, think about what Calvin was trying to get at. Where do we seek Christ on earth?

Do you question God when you don’t get the promotion? When you don’t have enough money to pay the bill? When you get that horrible diagnosis? When your spouse doesn’t give you what you want?

If any of this applies to you — and it certainly does from time to time — then you are seeking from earth what you can only get from Christ. Our thinking must change! Our foundational principles must change!

And this leads us to our next point.

Christians are Dead in Christ

Have you ever considered that Christians have recieved both life and death? If we are to be “resurrected” with Christ and raised to new life, there has to be dying first.

Colossians 3:3 CSB

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:5–11 CSB

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

What this whole section gets at is that certain things must be “put off” or “put to death.”

Christians must live in such a way that certain things don’t stick to them.

Let’s look at each of these things briefly.

Ungodly Actions

sexual immorality

Sexual immorality is behaving in any way contrary to God’s command for sex. This could mean adultery or fornication (taking a sexual partner that is not your spouse), or it could mean engaging with sex in a way that is unbecoming in marriage (like withholding from your spouse, or forcing upon them things that they are uncomfortable with).

impurity

Impurity is literally “uncleanness” or “not pureness.” The concept is aimed at all the things opposite of “cleanness” or “pureness.” The idea would be behaving in an irreverent way, rebellious to even the natural principles of the world that God has put in place. This is spiritual uncleanness. It is intentionally general to include as much as possible. It would be like ignoring your own conscience, seeking a reputation as a “bad boy” or a “strong, independent woman.” This is worldly thinking that “belongs to your earthly nature.

lust

Lust could be sexual in nature and often is, but can include any passions that are inordinate. Sexual lust can be looking at a woman who is not your wife with sexual desire. Pornography is a prime example, and is everywhere. The flip side is often at play as well. We conjure up images of the perfect husband or wife, and then hold our spouses to that standard. This is lust as well. But lust can also be directed an food, relationships, or anything else. Our hearts naturally desire wickedness since the fall.

evil desire

Evil desire is a catch-all term to get at wanting things that are evil. This would include wanting disaster or revenge to fall on your enemies.

greed

Greed is tied in with the final commandment

Exodus 20:17 CSB

Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

We understand greed. It is amassing for yourself as much as possible. This way of living is wicked and opposite living a contented life.

idolatry

Paul links greed, and I think all of the problems, up with idolatry. Why?

He is telling us that jealousy over what others have and discontentment are idol worship.

Keep this in mind for later! It tells us something important about worship!

God calls all of this disobedience in v.6, and says it belongs to your earthly nature in v.5. We all understand the concept of disobedience. God has given rules to follow, and we do not follow them. But this disobedience belongs naturally to our humanity in Adam. Look at v. 6-7.

Colossians 3:6–7 CSB

Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them.

We live in this problem, so we have only one path forward, and it is revealed in v.5.

“put to death”

We require a death for this sort of behavior to be removed.

But the behavior is only part of the problem.

Ungodly Desires

This is found in v. 8.

Even our motivation is wicked. We are full of the following list of things:

anger

wrath

malice

slander

filthy language

lies

All of this comes from the center of one’s being. We aren’t just blank slates at birth, corrupted by our environment. No, we are wicked from our very being. From our hearts.

Our thinking is corrupt naturally.

But if we aren’t careful, we will get mixed up. Look earlier in Colossians at the context for giving this list at all:

Colossians 2:20–23 CSB

If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.

Our inclination is to seek after even worldly ways of handling our wickedness!

Ungodly Legalism

Legalism is the issue being addressed here, not licence. If we aren’t paying attention, we may think Paul is merely saying, “Hey guys, don’t do this stuff.” He obviously doesn’t want us to engage in the list above. But the culture he is fighting already aimed at defeating these things!

Instead, what we should hear is, “The only way to be rid of your earthly nature is through death.” If that sounds harsh, it is because it is harsh. What does Paul say the problem is? Not environment, government, temperament, or even behavior. The problem for Paul, and for the whole Bible, is YOU! Sin is so deceptive that even our seeking out of freedom from sin is sinful!

Jeremiah 17:9 CSB

The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?

The answer is that only Christ can understand it. And if our heart is the problem, the cure cannot be in behavior, environment, government, or temperament. No, our solution or cure must be a heart-level cure.

The required death

The required death is defined in v.9-11.

First, we see that the “put to death” has to do with “putting off the old self.” The death we must die is not a physical death—at least not yet. It is a spiritual death to self. A willingness to acknowledge that I am the problem and cannot save myself.

Second, we see that this death-to-life transition happens starting with knowledge. You may be surprised by that, but you need not be.

“You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.”

This transition starts with knowledge, and conforms the self to the image of God. In other words, God made man in his image, and he is restoring us to that image by changing our thinking.

Christianity certainly involves the commitment of the heart, and certainly involves the movement of the will and all of those things, but whatever else it is, it is also profoundly intellectual. That is to say, the Word of God is addressed first to the mind. And nothing can be in the heart of in the will that is not first in the mind. You can’t respond with love and adoration, for example, or devotion to nothing, or to mental blankness. You have to have some idea of the object of your adoration, some idea in your mind of what it is you believe in and who it is you are following. And so, insofar as faith has content, and the only way content can be processed is by the mind, then Christianity at that point is profoundly intellectual.

-R.C. Sproul

We must die to our worldly way of thinking, which is idolatry, and transition to the Heavenly way of thinking, which is worship.

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Importantly, we are not transitioning to something that is false. It may seem that way because our hearts and minds still lust after things. We still sin every day. We still try to justify ourselves to God by sneaking our works in the back door. But our change of thinking is actually conforming our minds to the way things truly are. We are not defined by artificial distinctives “Greek and Jew, Circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free.” Instead, we are defined by the only true distinctive: in Christ, or not in Christ.

Christians are Alive in Christ

What does life in Christ look like?

God’s loved and chosen ones

This passage, and many others, show that the foundation of the salvation upon which such a change is made is based on two things: God’s choosing, and God’s love for those he has chosen.

Those who are in Christ will and must (twofold imperative again) “put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” They “[bear] with one another and [forgive] one another.” They behave “as the Lord Jesus.” They respond to the love of God by “[putting] on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

The concept here is as follows

Christ saves you

You die to self

You are raised to new life

Your behavior changes

This is the opposite of the heresy

Your behavior changes

God saves you because you’re awesome

Life in Christ looks like individual salvation leading to fruitfulness.

God’s unified church

After the foundational principles at play in individual salvation, there is a transition to a unity with other believers.

Look at how awesome God is! He doesn’t save us in a vacuum to live a life outside the world, like the Buddha meditating on the universe, but he saves us in groups and associates us with his people to spur us on in the “putting off/Putting on” business.

Life in Christ looks like living in community with other Christians.

A Heart and Mind at Worship

After individual salvation and a unified church, Paul shows the way we are to accomplish the work we have.

Colossians 3:16–17 CSB

Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The “things above” we are supposed to dwell on are found in the “Word of Christ.” This word is supposed to dwell richly among us. does it?

The word of Christ deserves elevation. It is unlike anything available in the world AND it is effective in conforming us to reality. If we will commit our minds to it and think like it tells us to, we will be transformed into the image of our creator — as we are supposed to be instead of as we are in Adam.

The world is constantly telling us lies: “God doesn’t exist.” “It’s all about you.” “Sin has no consequences.” “this is all there is.” “The more you own, the happier you’ll be.” In the face of these lies, we gather as the church to proclaim the truth. We gather to declare—to ourselves, to each other, and to God—what we know to be eternal reality. There is one God, who is sovereign over the universe and every detail of our lives. We have rebelled against him. He sent his Son to die in our place for our sins. And through Jesus Christ we have forgiveness and peace with God.

—Bob Kauflin

Our meditating on the Word of God is the foundation for unity, for teaching and admonishing (correcting). It is the consuming fire of God, his holiness and purity, that is the foundation for keeping non-Christians from membership in the church. It is that same holiness that should cause us to call each other to repentance, and celebrate any progress toward conformity to Christ. This is what singing in worship is all about!

Our worship is then the context for our very lives. “Whatever you do” is worship. (v.17) Did you notice in our passage how much “Thanksgiving” is mentioned? v.15, 16, and 17 all talk about gratitude or thanksgiving to God. This is one way we can see how a transition of thinking changes our live.

If we think of a difficulty in life—like a divorce, or cancer diagnosis, or a flat tire, or a massive electric bill—as an accident or something completely random, we will mourn as people without hope. The only hope I have in that case is whether I am man enough to the task—and I assure you I am not.

However, if we will seek to think Biblically first, and then apply that to our problems everything will be eclipsed by the glory of God. How can we be mourning without hope when we have been reconciled to God? How can we believe in accidents when the death of Jesus was intentional and necessary? How can we be so faithless!?

The spiritual things are the real things. My problems are not. And that leads us to the final section with six applications from our text:

Things Above change all the things below

Before we jump into these applications, I want to remind you that all of the following are based on salvation. In other words, if you are not in Christ, if you are not raised with Him . . . then these things are not for you. You must repent and believe the Gospel first. Only then can we “set our minds on things above.”

Glory of Christ overcomes your earthly nature

Meditation on the “things above,” namely God’s glory, His salvation, God’s desire for my life, God’s way of thinking, will produce this heart change I need to be rid of wickedness.

If you want to stand over the dead carcasses of your sins, you must begin with the glory of God.

Knowledge of Christ overcomes your old self

Learning the things of Christ is the “primer” for a renewed life. If you want to “put off the old self” and “put on the new self,” then you better get your mind working at the scriptures.

2 Peter 1:5–7 CSB

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Love from Christ produces the new self

Those raised with Christ are raised on the basis of salvation, which is described in v.12 as God’s choosing, God’s sanctifying, and God’s love.

So God chose, sanctified, and loved; we are transformed into a new life.

Love for the Church produces unity

The love of Christ is the foundation of the love we have. The love we have goes two ways:

Vertical love for God; horizontal love for other Christians.

Unity in the church—unity of vision, mission, polity, responsibility, etc.—comes from love for one another.

Peace of Christ rules the heart

The Peace of Christ is, first of all, Peace with God.

Second, Peace of Christ is a calling.

Third, the Peace of Christ is a corporate reality

Fourth, the Peace of Christ is a Military force. It rules in your . . . HEARTS.

Word of Christ produces Thanksgiving and Worship

The Word of Christ is supposed to dwell richly among us.

How? By teaching and singing.

The Word of Christ (the Gospel) should be producing worship in our hearts and minds. And that worship is the method by which we teach and admonish.

That worship is also the method by which we live our lives. Everything you do should be an act of worship to the Lord. Every step and breath is God’s to give, so we lay it back at his feet like the crowns in revelation.