“Above all, Live for Christ”

Colossians 3:1-17

Intro: Paul wrote this letter to warn this church to stay away from false teaching and human philosophy.

There was legalism going on, which is faith plus the law, equals salvation (We know that is a false gospel, good works don’t save you, its faith that saves)

Philosophy is the study of the basic ideas about knowledge, truth, right and wrong, religion, and the nature and meaning of life.

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

One problem in the church today, is often times people live their life based on their own beliefs or as Paul stated, “according empty deceit or human tradition.

Sadly today, people choose parts of the Bible to believe or not believe. Some in the church justify their sin by their own philosophy such as, abortion, homosexual life styles, premarital sex

We can’t pick and choose what we believe or don’t believe in the Bible. Its either Gods written or its not.

In society today, we are lovers of self, the me, myself, and I .

Paul warns us…

2 Timothy 3:2–5 “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

**I don’t about you, but I feel like were living in this generation now

1. (V1) If you have been raised with Christ

Paul begins this section where he focuses on practical Christian living, with the clear understanding that practical Christian living is built on the foundation of theological truth.

a) Seek the things that are above

Knowing God through the mediation of the Word, Prayer, fellowship with believers, serving God with our gifting

b) Set your mind on things that are above

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Application: These days people are very self focused on whats good for me, but Jesus says, seek the kingdom first, and live right and you will have what you need.

2. (V5) Put to death the desires of the flesh

Put to death what is earthly (The appetites of the flesh)

“The verb nekrosate, meaning literally ‘to make dead,’ is very strong. It suggests that we are not simply to suppress or control evil acts and attitudes. We are to wipe them out, completely exterminate the old way of life

a) Sexual immorality, impurity, and passion all have to do with sexual sin

David Guzic commentary says this…Because of these things: The sins mentioned previously are part of the way the world lives and not the way Jesus lives. Every Christian is faced with a question: “Who will I identify with, the world or with Jesus?”

b) (V6) “On account of these sins, the wrath of God is coming”

Sometimes we can be fooled into think we are getting away with something because the consequences haven’t come yet

Sometimes people misunderstand grace and mercy as God is saying our sin is okay

c) Put off the old self / Put on the New Man

Are you being renewed in knowledge?