A Scriptural-Spiritual Lens for Resolve in 2022 - Part Twenty One

Introduction

Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

PRAY

Colossians 3:1–4:6 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have 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 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Our scriptural-spiritual resolve is built on work of Christ (Verses 3:1-4)

Scriptural-spiritual resolve is not an activity that can be accomplished apart from a real relationship with Christ founded on his person and work.

Since you have been raised with Christ - Because you have been resurrected from death. Born again, regenerated, then… our spiritual life is built on the historical resurrection of Jesus. When he was raised, we were and in time he revealed that to us through the preaching of the gospel and the new birth. Only after spiritual life can there be spiritual resolve.

Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God - R. Kent Hughes, Things above” were not material, but rather have to do with Christ’s sovereign reign over the universe as he fills the universe with his power. They include his character, his presence, his heavenly joys. We are not to be seeking heavenly geography, but the One who dwells there.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth - This is a parallel phrase to the first about seeking things above.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God - Our spiritual location is the person of Jesus Christ. We are not any longer in Adam.

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory - Our hope is not relegated to this life and this age but also the next life and the age to come. This is Paul telling the church that it is worth and they are not missing out on anything in this life.

Our scriptural-spiritual resolve demands killing the flesh (Verses 3:5-11)

Though we are in Christ, redeemed, seated in the heavenly places, there is remaining the influences of the old man, the old self, the flesh, therefore, we must wage a spiritual war against all that is not of Christ and friendly to God, our Father.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you - kill, slay, starve, reject, deny, not befriend, pursue, nourish, or cuddle up with.

Sexual immorality, impurity, passion and evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry - Loving created things rather than the creator is off limits for us.

On account of these the wrath of God is coming - Do not engage in what is the cause of God’s anger

In these you too once walked when you were living in them - Do not engage in the lifestyle that in no longer your path.

But now you must put them all away - Our new life calls for an exhaustive hunt to cast off every evil and vice.

Anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene talk from your mouth, do not lie to one another - This is not every sin, but represents what displeases God.

Seeing that you have put off the old self with it practices - Once again, you are no longer of the old man. And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The new man is being shaped, and fashioned into the image of Christ.

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; But Christ is all in all. - In the the new man, the church all fleshly identifiers are diminished to nothing. You are either in Christ or not in Christ. Other designations are meaningless apart from him.

Our scriptural-spiritual resolve requires clothing ourselves in the character of Jesus (Verses 3:12-17)

Our resolve is not only to reject, but to receive. We are not only seeking to not be conformed to the world, we are seeking to be transformed by God. That transformation necessitates that activity of clothing ourselves in the character of Christ Jesus.

Romans 13:14 ESV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved - elect, select and loved unconditionally.

Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience bearing with one another - these are actions toward one another in the body of Christ specifically.

And if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive - Do not be a hypocrite regarding forgiveness.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony - Love is the glue of togetherness and community.

And let the peace of Christ rule your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. - Christ harmony alive in us will reveal itself in the body of Christ, the church.

And be thankful - gratitude in the seedbed of the grace and the result of knowing God’s goodness.

Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs - The inspired word of God is central to instruction and encouragement in the congregational life of believers.

With thanksgiving in your hearts to God. - Reminder #2 - Thanksgiving embedded.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus - We are seeking to draw attention to one person, and it is not ourselves. It is only and always Jesus.

Giving thanks to God the Father through him - Reminder #3 - Jesus empowered gratitude.

Our scriptural-spiritual resolve manifests itself in the common life (Verses 3:18-4:1)

Common, normal life is always transformed by Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord - Wive come under the Christ submits to the Father. They embrace God’s design for them in marriage.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them - Husbands are humble life Christ, willing to die for their wives. They do not abuse their authority and place of leadership.

Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord - Children learn the path of obedience, listening to the commands of their parents and doing them, because God desires it.

Fathers’ do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged - Fathers, parents, do not excite their children to anger or frustration as they learn to be more like their Father in heaven.

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 you 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. - Work is transformed into a display of love to God as one who rewards his children for their obedience to him.

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly knowing that you also have a Master in heaven - Those in authority come under the One who has all authority to treat those under them with equity and grace.

Our scriptural-spiritual resolve witnesses to the lost world (Verses 4:2-4:6)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. - There is dependence on God for all things.

At the same time, pray for us, that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison That I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak- There is intercession for the advancement of the gospel through God-called servants.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders Making the best use of the time let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person- There is resolve to apply knowledge to life among the unregenerate world as to not be influenced by them but to take opportunity to communicate the words of life to them with accuracy, tenderness and skill.

Practical Application

If you are a Christian you will be concerned about your resolve in these matters.

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

What is your need this morning?