Colossians 3

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three

The Greek text follows: “The things above be constantly seeking.” The word “things” is in the emphatic position, contrasting the above things with those earthly things which the heretics were seeking after.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon Chapter Four: The New Life in Christ

Two things happened in the fall, and in our own fall: (1) we became estranged from God; (2) His image within us was broken, distorted, defaced. Two things happen in salvation: (1) we are reconciled to God; our estrangement is dissolved by the justifying grace of God in the Cross of Jesus. Our status is changed; we become friends of God, accepted by Him as though we were without sin. (2) There is the re-creation of the image of God in the life of the believer.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon (Chapter Four: The New Life in Christ)

A man once said to Dwight L. Moody, “Sir, I am a self-made man.” Moody replied, “You have saved the Lord from a very great responsibility.” It is the Lord who made us and who remakes us. Two things happened in the fall, and in our own fall: (1) we became estranged from God; (2) His image within us was broken, distorted, defaced. Two things happen in salvation: (1) we are reconciled to God; our estrangement is dissolved by the justifying grace of God in the Cross of Jesus. Our status is changed; we become friends of God, accepted by Him as though we were without sin. (2) There is the re-creation of the image of God in the life of the believer. This is the reason John Wesley talked about grace impinging upon us and working in three specific ways: prevenient grace, justifying grace, sanctifying grace. Prevenient grace is the grace of God going before us, pulling us, wooing us, tenderizing our hearts, seeking to open our minds and hearts, and eventually even giving us faith. Even the faith we exercise for our justification is the result of His grace. Justifying faith is our trustful-obedient response to Christ—His life, death, and Resurrection—as our only means of salvation. Sanctifying grace is the work of Christ within us, His Spirit restoring the broken image, completing what has begun in justification.

Nothing less than a new creature “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28), “created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24), “renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10) is the aim.

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three

Lightfoot says: “The same expression repeated for emphasis; ‘You must not only seek heaven; you must also think heaven’ …

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three

Translation. The things above be constantly setting your mind upon, not the things on the earth; for you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. When Christ shall be made visible, our life, then also you with Him shall be made visible in glory.

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three

Stop lying to one another, having stripped off and away from yourselves and for your own advantage, the old man with his wicked doings, and having clothed yourselves with the new man who is constantly being renewed, with a resulting full and perfect knowledge which is according to the image of the One who created him; in which state there cannot be Greek or Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free man, but Christ is all things and in all things.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon United in Christ’s Death

Faith in Christ means “being made comformable unto His death, [having our] nature transformed to die as He died” (Phil. 3:10, Moffatt).

You cannot out perform your inner image.

Romans 8:2 NKJV

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.