Above All These Things
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We have been talking about how one grows spiritually, or how one stops the indulgence of their flesh, or how one becomes mature in Christ. That is Paul’s goal in the letter of Colossians.
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Paul wants these Colossian believers to become mature- he wants them to actually grow in their relationship with Christ- he wants them to learn what it means to faithfully walk in Christ.
In Colossians 3 Paul has given us a pattern to follow in order to be able to grow unto spiritual maturity.
If we would become spiritually complete, spiritually mature believers then we must seek after Christ and set our minds on the things that are above. We must put to death what is earthly is us, we must be renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator, and we must put on or clothe ourselves in the very character of Christ.
Here in Colossians 3:14-17 Paul concludes his model for sanctification. All along in our study of Colossians 3 we have been stressing that real spiritual growth is only possible IN CHRIST. That is, spiritual growth is only attained out of a growing relationship with Christ. The closer you become to Christ the more you become like Christ- that is the only way practical holiness is attainable.
Here in Colossians 3:14-17 I think we find 4 elements of our relationship with Christ that are paramount to spiritual growth. I think it is safe to assume that if you are a believer at some point in you spiritual walk you have expressed something like this, “I wish my relationship with God were more real, or that I was closer to God, I wish it were more personal, or I wish it were more genuine.” I think ever believer has expressed this sentiment. The burning question is, “How do I do that?”
I don’t know that you could do better than to focus on these 4 aspects of your relationship with Christ. In other words if you “work out your salvation” as Paul says in Philippians, in these four areas you will grow in your relationship with Christ. And not only will these areas effect the closeness of your relationship with Christ they will also effect the closeness of your relationships with each other.
So what are these four areas, and how can we put them into practice in our lives?
I. Putting on love is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 14)
I. Putting on love is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 14)
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
A. The bond of love (v. 14a)
A. The bond of love (v. 14a)
“Above all these things”
What are the “these things?”
I think it is the list of virtues that Paul began back in v. 12
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Put on all these virtues, but above all these things put on love.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon 3. Putting on the Practices of the “New Self” (3:12–17)
But the clothing imagery that is picked up from v. 12 suggests rather that love is being pictured as a garment that is to be put on “on top of” the other items of dress that Paul has enumerated in v. 12. In this case, the implication would be that love is not just another virtue to be added but the supreme virtue
Love is the supreme virtue. I think that is exactly right. In fact all of these other virtues are just different aspects of biblical love. Turn quickly to I Cor 13.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Put on kindness — Love is kind
Put on humbleness of mind — Love doesn’t vaunt itself, it is not puffed up
Put on meekness — Love seeks not her own
Put on longsuffering — Love suffers long
Forebear one another — Love is not easily provoked, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
If we are to put on all of these characteristics of Christ, then above all or over them all (like a garment) we must put on love for it is the supreme virtue.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon 3. Putting on the Practices of the “New Self” (3:12–17)
“Compassion,” “kindness,” “humility,” “gentleness,” and “patience” attain their full power only when they are unified by and empowered by love.
That is why Paul calls love the bond of perfectness. Love is the thing that unifies all the other virtues. In fact if you try to be compassionate and kind and humble without love those other things cease to have the value they are meant to have. Kindness without love is empty and meaningless. Patience without love is force and insincere.
This is exactly what Paul expresses in the first part of I Cor 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Love is the bond the unifying force the thing that gives value to all other virtues.
B. The goal of love (v. 14b)
B. The goal of love (v. 14b)
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Bond of perfectness-
Perfectness- perfection, completeness, maturity
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Completeness or maturity in contrast to the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ.
This is again the goal of what Paul wants to see accomplished in the lives of these saints.
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
I think what Paul is saying here at the end of v. 14 is that love is the binding force of all the other virtues and that the goal of this binding force of love is completeness or maturity. The goal of love is spiritual maturity or genuine growth. So, if you want to effect the closeness of your relationship with God and with each other, you must put on love.
How do we do that?
Love God primarily
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
When we put on love, primarily we must put on a love for God. When we love God with all our heart and soul and mind it transforms all other loves in our life. When we love God, then we will love what He loves, in other words we will love our neighbour as ourselves.
2. Win the battle of love
In Col 3.5 Paul tells us that we are to put to death covetousness which is idolatry. You see there is a battle that is taking place in our hearts. We struggle every day with idolatrous loves that replace our rightful love for the Lord. Today, am I going to put on love- primarily love for the Lord- and as a result produce spiritual fruit such as compassion, kindness, humility, patience… or am I going to be allow myself to participate in idolatry? Am I going to love something else other than the Lord? What doe I usually end up loving? The answer is myself- primarily we replace our love for God with an idolatrous love for ourselves. So instead of putting on that which would please God out of a love for Him, I clothe myself in that which pleases my flesh out of a love for myself. Instead of compassion I am filled with anger, instead of kindness I lash out with slander and obscene talk from my mouth. And it all stems for the fact that I have become an idolater in my heart, because I rather than putting on love for my Lord, I rob that love and instead I love primarily myself.
So If if am to become spiritual complete spiritually mature, I must put on love. I must cast down all idolatrous loves and instead give all my love to the Lord. As I put on love it becomes the unifying factor of everything else in my life and love brings me to the goal of maturity.
Pastor Jon how do I put on love for God?
II. Being ruled by peace is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 15)
II. Being ruled by peace is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 15)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
A. The source of peace (v. 15a)
A. The source of peace (v. 15a)
“Peace of God” alternate reading “peace of Christ”
We have positional peace with God because of the reconciliation made possible through the blood of the cross.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Beyond the peace that we have with God through the blood of the cross- we can also have daily practical peace because of our relationship with Christ.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
B. The purpose of peace (v. 15b)
B. The purpose of peace (v. 15b)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Paul here commands these believers to let the peace of God rule in their hearts.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon 3. Putting on the Practices of the “New Self” (3:12–17)
“Rule” translates a Greek verb that refers to the activity of the “umpire,” who renders verdicts in contested situations. The verb thus naturally takes on the connotation of “control”; the standard Greek lexicon paraphrases, let the peace of Christ “be the decisive factor.”
The decisive factor / that which controls your heart ought to be the peace of God. The mature believer is the one who learns to put their trust in Christ, who learns to rest in Christ and thereby becomes one who is controlled by peace.
When things in life go wrong (struggling with kids, struggling in your relationship with you spouse, loose your job or your job isn’t going the way you want it to go, when the money gets tight, or when life just seems to fall apart) what is the controlling factor in your life? Is your heart controlled by peace, because you have been seeking Christ and growing in you walk with Him, and you can say- I know that God will use this trial for my good, that He will work even this terrible thing in my life unto His praise and honor and glory. I have confidence that He will do so, so I can rest in His peace.
Notice the other effects of being ruled by the peace of God-
You will have peace with each other-
“unto which (that is unto the peace of God) you have been called in one body. The body, the church will function in peace, because each one of its members is being controlled by peace.
2. You will be thankful
This is an imperative, we are commanded to be thankful. When one grows in their relationship with Christ, and learns to be controlled by His peace how can we be anything but thankful.
III. Letting the Word of Christ live in us is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 16)
III. Letting the Word of Christ live in us is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 16)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
A. Our need for the Word of Christ (v. 16a)
A. Our need for the Word of Christ (v. 16a)
Let the Word of Christ (the message that proclaims Christ / the gospel), let it live in you / dwell in you (present, imperative) - this is not optional and it is something we need on a continual basis. We must constantly let the Word of Christ live in our hearts.
To show you the deep level of our need for the Word and its importance Paul uses two modifying clauses- it must live in us richly or abundantly and it must live in us in all wisdom.
The gospel must take up permanent residence in you, it should be constantly at the center of your activities and worship. It should not be superficial or passing, it should not be just a small part of you, but it should be a deep and penetrating contemplation that enables the message to have transforming power in you life.
How many of us have put in this kind of effort in our relationship with Christ? And then we wonder why our relationship with Christ is shallow. We wonder why we see little to no actual spiritual growth taking place in our life. Do you read the Word of Christ, but more than that does it live in you richly with all wisdom? Does the message of the gospel run deep in your heart so that as you spend time in serious contemplation it message transforms your very life?
B. The effects of the Word of Christ (v. 16b)
B. The effects of the Word of Christ (v. 16b)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Teaching and admonishing one another- As the Word of Christ lives in you richly the Holy Spirit enables you to take that truth and use it in a discipleship role. You can take what God has done in your heart through the work of His Spirit and you can share that with others- specifically within the local church.
Singing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs- with grace in your hearts to the Lord. So often we hear that the music is meant to prepare our hearts for the message of God’s Word. That is why we put the singing at the beginning of the worship service. What if it’s the other way around. What if first I need the Word of Christ dwelling in my heart richly in all wisdom, then when I am walking in Christ and in the Holy Spirit it is possible to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with grace in my heart to God. How many times have you sung a hymn with little to no heart involvement? Maybe it is because you did not have the Word dwelling in you. That is why we moved the song service to the end of the message this afternoon by the way.
Natural to labor in the Word in the morning, then go out on a bike ride and allow that Word through deep and penetrating contemplation to transform my mind and for God to bring to my heart different ways for my life to change. Then that naturally leads itself to labouring in prayer for others, or often times I find myself needing to sing a hymn to God for what He has revealed to me in His Word.
How about you? Does the Word of Christ dwell in you richly? Have you seen any of its effects in your life lately? Teaching / admonishing someone? Singing with grace in your hearts to God? How many of us need to make a change to the way that we enable the Word to live in our hearts? It is paramount to your spiritual growth IN CHRIST.
IV. Doing all things in the name of the Lord is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 17)
IV. Doing all things in the name of the Lord is paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST (v. 17)
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
A. What it means
A. What it means
Whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. What does it mean to do something in Jesus’ name?
When we pray we pray in Jesus’ name. That is how many times we end our prayers- in Jesus’ name amen. So do we mean that we utter Jesus’ name before we do anything? No, if fact I think that would be most like lead to us taking His name in vain. So then what does it mean to do all things in His name?
View everything that you do, whether in word of in deed, as an opportunity to worship the name of the Lord Jesus. To do all things in His name means that I always act in a manner worthy of the nature and character of my Lord.
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
We get that when we are here in church and we are singing hymns and listening to sermons- it is easy to make the connection in our brains that these acts are opportunities to worship and must be done in accord with the nature and character of Christ. But what about everything else? The text does so whatever you do, and whether in word of in deed doesn’t it? That doesn’t leave anything out.
So kids, the next time your brother or your sister does something that really annoys you (they walk by you in the hallway and they for no apparent reason smack you in the head), the next time something like that happens you need to think about responding to that sibling in the name of Jesus. Do you think you could view that as an opportunity to worship? Do you think you could respond to your sibling in a way that is consistent with the nature and character of Christ?
Adults, what about the next time someone cuts you off on the freeway? Or you spouse irritates you in some way? Or things go poorly at work? Do you view those moments as opportunities to respond in the name of the Lord Jesus?
B. What is produces
B. What is produces
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
As we begin to view all events in life as opportunities to respond in the name of the Lord Jesus, along with that comes the idea of thanksgiving. We are to give thanks to God the Father by or lit. through Jesus. As I walk in Christ and live every moment in His name, and I begin to be renewed back into the image of my Savior and I continue to put to death earthly things in me and instead clothe myself in the character of Christ, as all this takes place in me, how could I do anything else but to thank God. God thank you so much for all that you are accomplishing in me through Christ! How often do we thank God for all that he is doing in us IN CHRIST?
We have looked at four areas in our spiritual walk that are paramount for spiritual growth IN CHRIST.
Putting on love, being ruled by peace, letting the Word of Christ live in us, and doing everything in the name of Christ I believe are paramount to our spiritual growth IN CHRIST.
If you seriously work on these areas of your salvation you will grow spiritually, you will develop a close personal deep relationship with the Lord, you will actually be able to stop the indulgence of your flesh, you will be restored back into the image of your Creator. Imagine how much God would grow each and every one of us if we sought Him in this manner! What has God laid on your heart today? What area do you need to seek Him in? How do you need to change? What steps of obedience do you need to put into practice to better walk IN CHRIST?