Untitled Sermon (5)

Colossians 3 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 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. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians chapter 3 verse breakout

1. Paul’s Call to Live Consistently with New Spiritual Realities (3:1–17)

a.  Your Life Is Now in Christ (Col 3:1–4)

Observation

verses 1-2 talk about the nature of the way disciples ought to live. That is because we are raised with Christ we should have a particular mind set. We are to set our mind(thoughts) on things of heaven not things on the earth. ~in view with the closing of chapter 2, we don’t want to use rules that we do that make us good with Christ. only our union with Christ does that.

v3 According to Paul the Christian has died and his life is hidden with Christ in God. I think this means that we are wrapped up in Jesus. So when he is revealed ( at his return) we will be too.v4 Christ is my life,

Questions & Answers

  Q: When we come to Christ does it mean that God gives us new minds that desire the things above or is it our responsibility to effect that change?

Do we live for christ?

A: I believe that it is both.

Christ who is our life.

 Xref

1Jn 2.15-16

Phil 3:14,

1 Jn 3.2

Phil 3.21

Phil 1:12

Application: DON’T FALL INTO THE TRAP OF EARTHLY DESIRES

Mt 6.32

b.  Put Off All Behavior That Is Inconsistent with Your New Life in Christ (Col 3:5–11)

Observation

 There is a command here. Paul is telling us to kill our earthly desires.

Let list of things to work on are not all inclusive.

Sexual immorality

Impurity

passion,

evil desires

covetousness (idolatry)

~v5 death - nekrosate, meaning make dead not suppress or control evil acts. we are to wipe them out, completely, exterminate them.

These are the things that triggers God’s wrath

v8-11 remind us that we are to actively take off the old self and put on the new man/woman.

~read this from the message.

~Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.1

1 Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Col 3:10.

Questions & Answers

 ~ How do we put them to death? Having the identity of Christ.

The idea is mortification of sin, and mortification of the venues of sin.

 Who will I identify with? With Jesus not the world.

How is God”s Wrath shown? He will judge the world.

Xref

 Col:3 1-4

 Rom 1:24-32

Jm 3.5-6

Application

I like the list but there are 2 list

sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

These are like major sins that involve sexual/power

anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

theses are more self indulgent taking what you want, not letting God lead you.

c.  Put On All Behavior That Is Consistent with Your New Life in Christ (Col 3:12–17)

Observation

 Here is what we put on:

Compassionate Hearts - a deep awareness for someone else's suffering

Kindness- the quality of being warmhearted , considerate, humane, gentle, and sympathetic

Humility—a prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5–7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11–13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).

Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6–8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a “great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory.”1

1 M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 340.

Meekness—a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked (James 3:13). Peculiar promises are made to the meek (Matt. 5:5; Isa. 66:2). The cultivation of this spirit is enjoined (Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; Zeph. 2:3), and is exemplified in Christ (Matt. 11:29), Abraham (Gen. 13; 16:5, 6) Moses (Num. 12:3), David (Zech. 12:8; 2 Sam. 16:10, 12), and Paul (1 Cor. 9:19).1

1 M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 454.

Patience. Ability to take a great deal of punishment from evil people or circumstances without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials without complaint, the ability to forbear under severe provocation, and the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.1

1 Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Patience,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1619.

v14 (Above all) in other words what is most important is love. Love is the good will what binds even makes it possible for us to live these attributes. With love there can be harmony in the body of Christ.

v15 Paul is asking us to let (allow) the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. This is why he is always praying Peace and Mercy to those he loves. this occurs more than 100 time in the NT.

v16 We are to be student of the word, there is no way we can have God word dwelling in us richly without actually spending copious amounts of time in it.

We are told to use the knowledge of God word to do two things. Teach and Admonish in wisdom we are to do everything in Jesus name thanks the Father.

Questions & Answers

How do i keep all this information in mind as I go through my day?

You can’t you must be change and out of the changed life you do the things you do

Xref

 Jm 3.5-6

 Application

Walk in love and forgiveness toward every one. Humbly let the H.S. lead you.

2. Household Code (Col 3:18–4:1)

a.  Responsibilities of Wives and Husbands (Col 3:18–19)

Observation

v18 The submission of the wife is in relation to what is fitting to God. This means that it is proper in the Lord for a wife to submit to her husband. This can be a very difficult topic. What if he is not saved, living in sin, asking her to sin, being abused? There are no easy answers here.

v19 Husbands are given very down to earth instructions to love and not be harsh. That would solve most to the problems in the question above.

Application

There is a thread of kind civility that runs through these verses and not placing yourself first.

b.  Responsibilities of Children and Fathers (Col 3:20–21)

Observation

Fathers a told not to provoke the sense of the word is challenge to stir someone to action, as if by challenging them to a contest; something negative, to the point of exasperation.

Questions & Answers

Men tend to do this to establish dominance over their wives and children.

Xref

 Ep 6.4

Application

c.  Responsibilities of Slaves and Masters (3:22–4:1)

Observation

  v22 Would apply to all workers not just slaves. Soldiers can definitely relate to this.

Does this mean it is ok to have a slave?

no...

Questions & Answers

Xref

 Philemon 16 (ESV)

16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.1 Corinthians 7:21 (ESV)

21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)

Application