Colossians 3:1-11

The pagan religions of these days typically said little to nothing about personal morality. A “religious person” or “temple-goer”/”church-goer” could bow before an idol in worship, put an offering on the altar, and go back to living the same sinful lifestyle. A person’s belief had no relationship to a person’s behavior. But Christianity comes in and introduces this what would’ve been new concept to the pagan society. Forget the chapter division between 2&3 here

Seek the Heavenly

Colossians 3:1 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

i. The idea of being raised with Christ was introduced back in Colossians 2:12, where Paul used baptism to illustrate this spiritual reality. It says in Rom. 6.3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” In fact the entire Romans ch. 6 would be a good reference to understanding this whole concept, but for sake of time we will not get too deep into it.

ii. “The opening verses of chapter 3 connect with the closing verses of chapter 2. There the apostle reminds the Colossians that ascetic regulations are of no real value in restraining indulgence of the flesh. The only remedy for sinful passions is found in the believer’s experience of union and identity with Jesus Christ, death and resurrection.

There are many 12 step programs and countless books have been written on how to change. People, even within the church, begin by saying; “deep down you’re really good inside”, and then people buy it hook line and sinker, just tell me what to do and i’ll do it, and numerous have then embarked on journeys to try to heal the old man, rehabilitate their sinful nature, but let me be very clear with you. THE BIBLE does not say the old man and sin nature needs to be REHABILITATED. It’s very simple, that person needs to DIE, and die a specific death, daily. what death is that? He needs to be crucified. There’s only one place we ought to go to in our dealing with sin, sinful habits, sin nature, etc. Not a Psychologist, not a hospital, not a library, BUT TO THE CROSS.

so not only do we reckon our old man crucified, having died with Christ, the believer also needs to identify the new creation risen with Christ, who is where right now???

therefore we have v.1, if then we be risen with Christ.... since being a more accurate word, because our position in Christ is not an uncertainty, or goal, or hypothesis… it’s an accomplished fact.

Colossians 3:2–3 KJV 1900

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Some translations will read set your mind. Again, I think it important to remind that the cure for sin nature is not in our doing or keeping laws of don’t eat ice cream, blah blah blah, the answer is in Jesus Christ. BUT, successful christian living begins in the mind, and we must examine ourselves honestly... and our minds (desires, passions, aspirations) should not be the same as they were BC. The literal translation would sound more like; habitually set your attention.... indeed something that requires practice and repetition.

Colossians 3:4 KJV 1900

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Theres a common phrase we use today when we talk about people, how we identify what they’re obsessed with, we’ll say;

“oh yeah, bob, hunting is his life”

or “music is his life”

‘football, or sports, his life” and on and and on...

Let’s insert your name here. What would outsiders or family members say about you? For the believer, it should be said; “Jesus Christ is his life, he/she is obsessed with Jesus Christ!” back in the day it was ‘Christian’ a mock term, more recently ‘Jesus Freak’. Something we should wear proudly, because just like Jesus said, marvel not if the world hates you, knowing it hated me first.

The bible teaches that one day Christ will come to take His people home, and when He does, we will enter into eternal glory with HIM. In fact, according to Paul, we have actually ALREADY been glorified (see Rom.8.30

Romans 8:30 KJV 1900

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

this glory simply has not yet been revealed. Already in effect, not yet visible to us because of the limitations of time and living on earth.

Slay the Earthly

Colossians 3:5–7 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

This word mortify here means put to death. Jesus even mentioned the same idea when He said “if your right eye.....” Obviously Jesus and Paul were not talking about literal disembodiment or surgery. Sin does not come from the hand or the eye, it comes from deep within the heart. Years ago it was more common, but even today i’m sure in third world countries, upon being convicted, a thief would get his or her hand chopped off.

Paul continues by actually naming sins, and some people don’t like that kind of “negative” talk. We just want you to preach the positive, make us feel good! Tell me God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life. I heard a guy say once, could you imagine if that was plastered on the side of the ark? “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!” Yes it’s true, don’t get me wrong, but His wonderful plan includes deliverance and victory over sin, and the first step in that direction is acknowledging and repenting.

These sins belonged to the old life and the old man, but they have no place in our new life in Christ. That’s not to say we have attained perfection and nobody should ever struggle the slightest with this stuff, but that is to say this stuff should not MARK our lives, this stuff should not be consistently practiced. In fact, the judgement of God is coming for those who practice such things.

Fornication-general sexual immorality

Uncleanness-lustful impurity connected with luxurious and loose living

Inordinate affection-describes a state of mind that excites sexual impurity

Evil concupiscence-base, evil desires.

It is clear that desires lead to deeds. If we want our actions to be pure, we must start with our minds and hearts being purified.

If I create in my kids an appetite for sweets, I must then satisfy that appetite, then if they become unhealthy and fat, what must I do? I must change their appetites, teach them to enjoy better foods. In the same way, our old nature had an appetite for these sins, and so we would satisfy the appetite by giving in, obeying the sinful desires because sin used to be our master. But now, through the power of the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit, we have a new nature in us.

Our prayer then should be like David’s in Ps.51.10, create in me a clean heart, o God. Because it is out of the heart these evil desires come. (Mark 7.21-23)

Then covetousness is mentioned. Dissatisfaction, always wanting more, whether that be pleasures or stuff. This is idolatry because it puts other things in the place of God.

Although this may seem like down and negative talk, it’s necessary talk. None of this is fitting for a Christ follower, and some may think, it’d be better to preach this portion to non believers, after all, sin in the life of a believer is different than that of an unbeliever.... you’re right.... it’s worse!

After warning against the sensual sins, Paul warns against what Dr. G. Campbell Morgan calls “the sins in good standing.”

Colossians 3:8–9 KJV 1900

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

The picture is that of a person changing clothes, take these off, put these on instead.

As Christians, identifying with Jesus Christ in death burial and resurrection, we must put off the old graveclothes of sin that covered the old man who is now dead

anger describes habitual attitudes, wrath speaks of sudden outbursts of anger, the word wrath is the same one used earlier describing God’s wrath. You see God has a right to be angry at sin and pour out His wrath, because He is perfect and just and righteous.

Malice is an attitude of ill will toward someone and the bible speaks plenty about how this is wrong. Do not rejoice while your enemies are suffering. Being mad about an enemy’s success is just as malicious.

Blasphemy describes speech that slanders others and tears them down. Oftentimes these two are connected, for deep seeded ill will towards someone will cause you to speak badly about them. This gossip in the church should not be, but is often deceitfully disguised as a ‘spiritual concern’ “oh, you should really pray for so and so, they’re struggling bad...”

filthy communication is just that, crude talk, does not jive with Col.4.6

Colossians 4:6 KJV 1900

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Lying is that last one addressed. but lying is not just with words. tone of voice, body language, and things of the like can all alter the meaning of a sentence. So can the motive of the heart. there’s an old proverb that says ‘half a fact is a whole lie’. Even only giving half the truth is a misrepresentation of the truth, therefore it’s a lie.

Strengthen the Christly

Colossians 3:10–11 KJV 1900

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

The Greek verbs translated put off and put on indicate a once and for all action. But the word renewed is a present participle, it means constantly, be being renewed. you see the sanctification process is a continuous one, but how? through knowledge.

See knowledge was the big thing to have for the gnostics that plagued Colosse with their false teaching, but again, all the spiritual knowledge they claimed to have access to could never change a person’s life--to make him more like Christ.

This is important to keep in mind when ANYONE brings ANY doctrine to you as though it’s a new secret thing you’re missing out on. How Christ-like is this person in their presentation? Do you see the fruit of the Spirit in their life?

I had a brother one time call me out because I was telling him all these truths and convictions I had and blah blah blah.... and he said to me, i amen everything you’re saying, but i hate how you’re saying it. I lacked love, gentleness, kindness, etc.

The point is, you may have some claim to some great spiritual knowledge. but obviously if it has no impact in translating over to changed life, fruit of the Spirit. If it is of no use to actually working Christ likeness in my life, surely i’ll be ok without it.

The Word of God does this, actually produces transformation in us. See we were formed in God’s image, but sin DEFORMED us, but now, through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and His Word at work, we can be TRANSFORMED into God’s image! After all, this is God’s purpose for us

Romans 8:29 KJV 1900

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This refers to character, the inner man. When we see Jesus we will be like Him, that is in glorified bodies, but while we are waiting, we can become like Him in the inner man, we should be becoming like Him.

Finally, human races, distinctions, and differences should be no barrier in the church of Jesus Christ. This is one of the big and beautiful things about the gospel, as they say, the ground is level at the cross, all are saved the same way, rich, poor, slave, free, Jew, Greek, does not matter. One of the things the Judaizers and the Gnostics taught was that circumcision was necessary and important in being spiritual, But Paul makes it clear the this physical act of surgery gave no advantages.

We know of the wall that separated the Jew from the Gentile, Christ tore that down, there was a wall between slave and free, also torn down through Jesus Christ. Paul even writes to the Galatians that the similar wall that was between male and female is also torn down. The church is the church because of one man, Jesus Christ. And it was not because of our great status that he saved us. WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US!. and you’re not a Christian because you’re a white american. it don’t work that way. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church.

This is one great evidence of the Spirit working mature growth and renewing of your mind, that being the willingness to receive and love ALL who sincerely know Christ and seek His glory.

COl.1.18

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

We are complete in Christ, so beware of any false teachers/doctrines like the gnostics who would try to rob you of the richness you already have in Christ.

We are alive in Christ, therefore we should seek the heavenly, we are dead in Christ, therefore we should slay the earthly, and we can become like Christ, therefore we should be being transformed.

BENEDICTION

Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

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