What do you need to put to death?
Transcript Search
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Today we are in Colossians 3:5-11. So far in Colossians, Paul has been laying strong theological foundations, reminding the Colossian believers of the truths that they had been taught.
He wrote this letter to remind them of the truth, as there were false teachers and wrong ideas spreading about how one becomes a Christian, and then how one should live as a Christian.
First, Paul reminded them of the gospel, that they were saved through faith in Christ. He reiterated to them that Christ is God, and He is supreme over all. We come to God through Jesus. Jesus reconciles us to God through his death on the cross. Christ’s death cleanses us from our evil behavior, our sin that separated us from God. He canceled the charges against us and condemned us. He paid for it all on the cross. It is faith in Christ who accomplished this that we are Christians.
Then, how do we live as Christians? Christ not only paid for our sin when he died on the cross, he also defeated our enemies: the World, our own Flesh or sinful nature, and the Devil and his spiritual forces. He took away their power over us, and the threat of death as he rose from the grave. And what is more, he made us alive in Christ! Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so to, those who have faith in him have received new life. Not the same old life we had before, but one to be lived in holiness and righteousness as we follow Him!
Those are the theological foundations. But what does that look like in everyday life? How do we live as Christians in this world?
The false teachers tried to bring the believers in Colossae back into legalism, mysticism and asceticism.
Paul told them that they are empty, man-made rules that have no power to help us live Christian lives.
How are we to live?
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We live as Christians by living out what Christ has done for us! We were raised to a knew way of life, so we need to raise our minds to the things above, where Christ is. We need to get our minds off of the things of this world, and onto the things to which Christ has called us.
But what does that look like exactly.
Well, that brings us to the next section we are looking at in Colossians 3:5-11. Let’s read it together.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Paul has already pointed out that as believers, the moment we trust Christ, we have died with Christ.
Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
now, he tells them again in Col 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature
Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature
This is the first of three commands:
Put to death
rid yourselves
do not lie
weeding - pulling out the roots so it will die
what are we to put to death?
whatever belongs to your earthly nature - your desires related to earthly passions, things that are contrary to following the Lord. Notice, he doesn’t just say stop doing this or that.
To say put to death this action or that action is only dealing with the surface.
He is going to the root. He goes down to the desires and passions. That is what needs rooted out.
Sexual Immorality - most general word for sinful sexual acts, that is, anything sexual outside of a marriage of a man and a woman. pornography from this word
Impurity - this has a wider connotation, going to the thoughts and words. crude jokes
Lust - feelings and emotions
Evil Desires - this really gets down to the heart of it for sure, self-serving
Greed - desire for more, has a sense of disregard of others, and only focusing on selfish gain
which is idolatry - looking to things other than the Lord for satisfaction and direction.
b/c of these things, the Wrath of God is coming - eschatological - God’s wrath that is coming
and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
You used to
Rid yourselves of...
Rid yourselves of...
taking off clothing that you want to get rid of...
sewer pipe break...
anger - inner feelings
rage - release of the inner anger
malice - wanting evil for others, “viciousness of mind”, “malignant attitude”
slander - speaking ill of people to hurt them
filthy language - abusive speech, or just plain bad language
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
Do not lie
Do not lie
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Motivation
Motivation
Taken off the old self with its practices
have Put on the new self
being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
No Gentile or Jew - race
circumcised or uncircumcised - religion
barbarian, Scythian - cultural
slave or free - social
God removes all barriers, so that we can be unified as he is living in unity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Christ is all and is in all
What do you need to put to death?
What do you need to put to death?