Putting Off Our Grave Clothes

Colossians 3:1–11 KJV 1900

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

We have been spending our time understanding that what really matters is what the Lordhas for our lives. Everything that is profitable comes from God. The Beliver needs to settle that they are dead to the world when they trusted Chrst as Saviour. We are notlike this world, or desires, ambitions are now sourced outof Heaven. Weare risen with Chrst and our life is in Christ. The life that we have lived must be lost to gain a new purpose.

We are however still connected to the world in th fact that our bodies are corrupt and can be subject to fleshly desires. Our hearts can be stolen by tehworld and what it offers, so we must daily die to our flesh and choose to live in the Spirit.

This message is dealing with this connection we still have with the earth. Our bodies are in the middle of this wicked earth. We have some real choices to make.

The earthly part of our lives is referred to as the old man in Scripture.

The part of us that was created at salvation indwelt by God’s Spirit is the new man.

This is the truth of truly walking in Christ. This is how we can practically live our lives after Christ allowing Him to live through our lives.

Ephesians 4:17–24 KJV 1900

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The new man is a new creation, born out of righteousness and true holiness

The old man is our old creation born out of Adam’s transgressions and defilement of our soul.

We have been given a new nature (man), now we must learn to put off the remnant of the old man.

Illustration:

Lazurus was risen and walked out of the tomb, but he still had on some graveclothes. These graveclothes identfied him with his death, not his life, and therefore need to be removed, even though he was already alive, he still needed help to remove the old.

John 11:43–44 KJV 1900

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

We have already determined that to walk in Christ we must have our focus on Christ. We must reckon ourselves risen with Him.

We must seek the things that He wants us to have and to do.

We must set our heart towads God and make Him our treasure, so we will gve our energy to His pursuit.

Now we consider dealing with the earthly part of our lives.

I. Crucifying our Earthly Members

Here we see that the Lord wants us to put to death our members that are on the earth, not the new man that has been created in righteousness and holiness, but the old man.

We are dead to the world, but we must make practical the positional truth that we are risen in a new life. We must take off the graveclothes that stink of our old life.

nekrós (G3498), dead. To put to death; pass., to be put to death, to die. Used metaphorically meaning to deaden, to deprive of force and vigor

Members — A limb or member of the body (Matt. 5:29, 30; Rom. 12:4; 1 Cor. 12:12, 14, 18-20, 22, 25, 26; James 3:5, 6). In the pl. tá mélē, the members of the body as the seat of the desires and passions

This is why we are told to set our affections above, but we cannot do that until we have turned our heart from his earth. As long as your treasure is on this earth, you will keeping digging the garbage can for it.

Romans 6:12–13 KJV 1900

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

so we have to mortify, or deaden our members, this is not church members by the way...

Sin does not come from the eye, hand, or foot; it comes from the heart, the evil desires within. Centuries ago in England, if a pickpocket was convicted, his right hand was cut off. If he was convicted a second time, his left hand was amputated. One pickpocket lost both hands and continued his “trade” by using his teeth! Physical surgery can never change the heart.

A. We must crucify our flesh to walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:24–26 KJV 1900

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Affections — passion

Lusts — to desire greatly. Strong desire, longing, lust.

We live in the Spirit is since we became born again, the potential now is that we walk in the Spirit.

B. Our members are related to our corrupt body.

We fail when the desires of the body forbidden by God, become our motive in our decisions.

Our appetites need to be understood.

Appetites grow when we feed them and they die when we don’t

1. Our members relate to the senses of the body

a. Sight

Matthew 5:27–30 KJV 1900

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

b. Hearing

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

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.

We lsiten to things that either encourage godliness or that encourage sinfulness.

c. Touch

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 KJV 1900

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

d. Speech

James 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

2. Our members are motivated by our appetites

a. Godly appetites need to be fed

Bible reading

Church attendance

Witnessing

Prayer

b. Carnal appetites need to be controlled.

Eating

Sleeping

Working

Intimacy

c. Fleshly appetites need to be crucified.

These are the things that we are discussing in this passage

II. Removing Our Earthly Graveclothes

Colossians 3:5–7 KJV 1900

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Illustration: I am reminded of a pastor who preached a series of sermons against the sins of the saints. A member of his congregation challenged him one day and said that it would be better if the pastor preached those messages to the lost. “After all,” said the church member, “sin in the life of a Christian is different from sin in the lives of other people.”

“Yes,” replied the pastor, “it’s worse!”

Colossians 3:6 KJV 1900

For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Let us not yhink that the wrath of God is only speaking of hellfire a d brimstone. Civilizations have been destoyed due to these sins. There is real judgment upon mankind. There is a specific surgical consequence for living after these sins.

Sodom and gomorrah found this out

Babylon found this out

The world in Noah’s day found this out.

Romans 1:18 KJV 1900

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 2:8–9 KJV 1900

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Oh we need to make sure we are saved today! Are you a child of disobedience? Do you revel in teh sinful things of this world?

A. Sins characterized by the unsaved mankind

These sins are of the old man in relation to the body. These sins will bring your body into bondage

1. Sexual Immorality — fornication

fornication GR-porneia — to commit fornication or any sexual sin. Fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin.

Ephesians 5:3 KJV 1900

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

2. Impure Desire and behaviour — uncleaness (loose living)

uncleanness — moral uncleanness, lewdness, incontinence, any unnatural pollution, whether acted out by oneself

It is opposite to holiness

It is behaviour that shows rebeliion and filthiness

1 Thessalonians 4:7 KJV 1900

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

2 Peter 2:10 KJV 1900

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

3.. Excessive passion (Loose thinking) inordinate affections — out of control feelings

inordinate affection — to suffer. Passion, lust. These are lusts that dishonor those who indulge in them. state of the soul's diseased condition out of which the various lusts spring. Epithumía is the active lust or desire springing from the diseased soul.

4. Wicked desires and conduct — evil concupiscense

evil — (I) In a moral sense meaning wicked, vicious, bad in heart, conduct, and character (Matt. 21:41; 24:48; Phil. 3:2; Rev. 2:2, impostors). Of things (Mark 7:21, evil thoughts; Rom. 13:3, evil works; 1 Cor. 15:33, evil conversations; Col. 3:5; Sept.: Prov. 6:18; 15...

concupiscense — 1939. ἐπιθυμία epithumía; gen. epithumías, fem. noun from epithuméō (G1937), to desire greatly. Strong desire, longing, lust.

5. Covetousness

covetousness — to have. Covetousness, greediness … the root from which these sins grow, the longing of the creature which has forsaken God to fill itself with the lower objects of nature.

idolatry — worshipping or serving something that is not God.

The covetous person is never satisfied with what he has, and he is usually envious of what other people have. This is idolatry, for covetousness puts things in the place of God. “Thou shalt not covet” is the last of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:17). Yet this sin can make us break all of the other nine! A covetous person will dishonor God, take God’s name in vain, lie, steal, and commit every other sin in order to satisfy his sinful desires

B. Sins Characteristic of uncrucified Believers

These are the habits of life that we learned and lived in. We many times treat peoplke the way our parents treat people. We learn bad behaviour and attitudes.

These are the sins of emotion and our tongue. They have to do with the feelings that go deep in your heart and the expression of those feelings

Evil Whims

1. Anger “Feeling of ill”orge — covet after , anger as a state of mind

Aristotle says that orgḗ, anger, is desire with grief

Many times people with sexual sin issues also have anger issues.

Anger is an ongoing feeling of il towards people, or experiences

Ephesians 4:26 KJV 1900

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

2. Wrath “Flash of Ill” — to move impetuously, particularly as the air or wind, a violent motion or passion of the mind

James 1:19–20 KJV 1900

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 14:29 KJV 1900

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Wrath is the passionate reaction to circumstances in anger, lashing out in a moment of time

3. Malice “Fostering of Ill”— bad. Wickedness as an evil habit of the mind, not only doing evil, but being evil.

Ephesians 4:31 KJV 1900

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Malice is seeking for opportunities to hurt someone and their reputation. The social media is full of malice.

This is holding gridges and wishing hurt on people.

Titus 3:3 KJV 1900

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Evil Words

4. Blasphemy ‘Defame”— verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander mentioned in Matt. 15:19 with false witnesses; wounding someone's reputation by evil reports, evil speaking

Acts 26:11 KJV 1900

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Paul placed so much pressure on these believers that they renounced and bore false witness about what they believed.

Blashphemy is not being honest about our loyalty to Jesus Christ out of fear. It is making God less than He is.

It is when we rail against someone else to damage them in teh mind of others.

5. Filthy Communication “Defile”— to be foul-mouthed, shameful words

should never utter improper or filthy words which he may have uttered in his life of unbelief. A Christian ought to have a changed vocabulary, and the genuineness of one's Christianity can be discerned by his vocabulary.

Peter’s speech betrayed him as a disciple, so he started to swear and curse to make them believe he was not associated with Jesus. This is blashphemy and filthy communication.

Ephesians 4:29 KJV 1900

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

6. Lying “Defraud”

Satan is father of all lies. He can infiltrate our souls in such a way that we perptuate his agenda and ideas.

John 8:44 KJV 1900

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Lying is a remnant of the old wicked nature, christians should not lie to each other.

Ephesians 4:25 KJV 1900

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

III. Putting on the New Man

Colossians 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

A. Wea re being renewed by knowledge to become the image of Jesus.