New Life

The Context

In the previous chapter of the Epistle of Colossae Paul has presented to fullest the exaltation of Christ over;

1. worldly philosophy

2. Human wisdom

3. Human tradition

The implications of that are to equip believers in Colossae to comprehend that they are not bound by those 3 things since they are in Christ and Christ is in them. (Chapter 1&2)

What Does a NEW LIFE Look Like?

Chapter 3 opens up with a present Imperative (PIM) SEEK in the KJV. [1]“It is a command to do something in future and involves continues or repeated action. When it is a negative it implies stopping an action that has been taking place”.

[1] HEBREW – GREEK Key Word Study Bible KJV( ©1984,1990, 2008 AMG International, inc)P 1588

This new life has it heart and mind focused or centered on things above as opposed to things on earth with a serious efforts and devotion, because they are dead to earthly things and their life has been withdrawn from the sight and knowledge of earthly things and kept with Christ in God until Christ appearance. (3:1-4)

They are to deal with the flesh which is the sinful nature in them. Sinful nature is bodily substance of human beings that control their behavior in ways which run counter to God’s purpose.

Why Deal with This?

They bring the wrath of God

It is contrary to new life.

Does the Bible really talk about this?

Colossians 3:5–7 (ESV)

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Put to death the FLESH

Put to death - Paul commands believers in Colossae to stop utterly anything in their bodies that is earthly by killing it. When something is dead it is dead it does not matter whether you see it in a day or in your dreams it is dead.

Illustration

For example, you were in a vehicle as passenger and there was no driver the vehicle starts rolling you are helpless and is heading for big crash. Suddenly someone comes and put’s a stop to that vehicle because the person who helped is outside, he asks you to kill the Engine would you not turn the key anticlockwise?

That is exactly what the “Put to death” command means here.

Christ is exalted above

1. Worldly philosophy

2. Human wisdom

3. Human tradition

4. Elementary Spirits (Satan and demons)

5. He cancelled sin and exposed it on the cross.

And now he has taken his residence in a believes life and also the believer’s life is resident in Christ why would a believer be controlled by substance that is counter to God’s purpose?

Point 3

Conclusion