Book of Colossians - Colossians 3:1-17

Book of Colossians - Colossians 3:1-17

©2003 www.SpiritAndTruth.org1

Colossians 3:1-17 2

The Context

Last week we discussed Colossians 2 wherein Paul dealt with various competing distractions from the simplicity and completeness of the believer in Christ.

A common element to all of these distractions is a misplaced focus by the believer upon the things of this world rather than Christ. The appeal of these worldly distractions to the believer is an indication of how “alive” we are to them and shows our lack of identification with the death of Christ. In effect, we have not truly “died” to this world, but continue to be enthralled with it as an alternate master.

Paul now sets forth our true identity, having died to the world and our old nature, we are to put on the new man made in Christ's image.

Set Your Mind on Things Above (Col. 3:1-4)

Col. 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Col. 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col. 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Col. 3:4 When Christ [who is] our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Newness of Life

Torn Between Two Lovers (Idolatry)

As Christians, are we torn between our love for the world and our love for God? Are we seeking intimacy with this world before intimacy with God? This is idolatry.

We will appear with Christ in Glory

Put Off the Old Man (Col. 3:5-11)

Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Col 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Col 3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Col 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

Col 3:10 and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Col 3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian6, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all and in all.

Put On the New Man (Col. 3:12-17)

Col 3:12 Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also [must do].

Col 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Col 3:17 And [whatever] you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1Copyright © 2003 www.SpiritAndTruth.org. Verbatim copying of this document for non-commercial use is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

2New King James Bible. TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

3Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Test of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996.

4Arndt, William, F. Wilbur Gingrich, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature : A Translation and Adaption of the Fourth Revised and Augmented Edition of Walter Bauer's Griechisch-Deutsches Worterbuch Zu Den Schrift En Des Neuen Testaments Und Der Ubrigen Urchristlichen Literatur, Page 454. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996, c1979.

5Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament : Based on Semantic Domains. electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., LN 93.615. New York: United Bible societies, 1996, c1989.

6Scythians were considered the wildest of Barbarians (those who spoke a foreign, unknown tongue).

7Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Test of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996.

8Notice that the context of grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) implies it is primarily our treatment of other people which is in view. We can grieve the Spirit by our relational sins, all the while thinking we are ourselves seeking God.

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