Seek Those Things

Colossians 3:1–17 CSB

1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 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.

Introduction: t

Previous section was heavy on the Christology doctrine.

This section is heavy on that practical

OUR SALVATION IS BY GRACE ALONE

Colossians 1:21–22 CSB

21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—

There were heretics roaming around trying to lessen the truth about who Christ was in the mind of the people at Colossae. Paul reminds them of who Christ is and that their salvation is through His grace alone.

Before salvation they were hostile toward God in their minds and it was proven by their actions but now, through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is presenting them to Himself as holy, faultless, and blameless.

In other words, God updated our relationship status from “it’s complicated” to “I’ve been redeemed”. This is not done by human effort but through the finished work of Christ alone. (Others came with different intriguing philosophies and ideas that sounded reasonable but there is only 1 truth).

So Paul commissions them......

Colossians 2:6–9 CSB

6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. 8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,

As we can see, there is a spiritual and intellectual battle going on here.

APPLICATION: “What we believe will ultimately been seen by what we do. Likewise what we do will reveal what we ultimately believe”.-Pastor Tim Allison

GETTING TO OUR TEXT......

NEW AFFECTIONS

As people who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we must understand that not only has our relationship status changed.....our lives have changed.

There is a responsibility that we have. Paul tells us to “seek” things above, where Christ is.

Everyday we are bombarded with so many things that are competing for our attention but our affections ought to seeking those things that are above.

Illustration: Me and my wife (good or bad)

The posture of our hearts ought to be on things above, which makes sense because that is where Christ is. But this doesn't just happen. We have to practice. Yes practice. We must lean into the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Seek-Present, active, imperative (explain) (seeking in the right now) (searching)

NEW MIND

Set-Present, active, imperative (think=set your mind, mindset)

We are to protrayed as an disciplined athlete striving for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), a faithful solider who endures hardship (2 Timothy 2:3-4), a wrestler (Ephesians 6:12), and now an executioner who puts to death the past life behaviors.

Put to death:

sexual immorality

impurity

lust

evil desire

greed

Put away:

anger

wrath

malice

slander

filthy language

lies

Galatians 5:24–25 CSB

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Put on

the new, renewed self

compassion

kindness

humility

gentleness

patience

bearing one another

forgiving one another

unity

peace of Christ

thankfulness

Colossians 3:16–17 CSB

16 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. 17 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.