Colossians 3:1-13: “Keep Seeking The Things
Above Where Christ Is / Put Aside The Deeds Of The Flesh / Put On A Heart Of
Compassion…”
By
1. In our last study, we looked at verses 11 – 23 of chapter 2.
1.1. Paul told the Colossians first of all that though the Gnostics told them that they needed to be physically circumcised if they wanted to be really spiritual, that nonetheless when believers in Christ had first come to Christ the real circumcision that matters (the one that physical circumcision had been a type of) had already been performed in their hearts, for they had died to the old sinful nature when they were united with Christ.
1.2. Paul told Colossians how that all believers have a certificate of debt before God, a certificate that contains all of their sins on it. But, God canceled out all of their debts when Christ died upon the Christ, and their canceled certificate of debt was nailed upon Christ’s cross, and publicly declared to be taken completely away from them. When you receive Christ you can partake of that forgiveness which Christ procured for you.
1.3. Paul told the Colossians to not let the Gnostics judge them for not adding this or that observance to their faith in Christ.
1.4. Paul told the Colossians that observing all of these Gnostic rites merely cut them off from the One who is the head of the body of Christ, which is Christ Himself, the One who provides for all they need and brings growth in the body of Christ.
2. We are going to look at chapter 3, verses 1 through 13.
2.1. This study begins the “hortatory” portion of the book of Colossians, that is the portion that begins the exhortations. In Paul’s writings, he always told them in the first half of his letters the things that God had done for them, and then in the second half the things that they needed to do for the Lord, their responsibility before the Lord.
2.2. Whereas the Gnostics were trying to get their followers to withdraw from the world as ascetics, Paul exhorts the Colossians here in order to help them to be effective in reaching the world for Christ.
2.3. Paul tells the Colossians to keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2.4. Then, Paul tells the Colossians to avoid giving in to five different lusts of the flesh that are common to men and women.
2.5. Paul tells the Colossians that they need to consider the members of their body as dead to all of the lusts and sins of the flesh.
2.6. Paul will tell the Colossians to lay aside many of the sins that cause harm to fellowship and friendship, and we will discuss all of those.
2.7. Finally, Paul will tell the Colossians that as those who have been chosen by God, holy and beloved, that they are to put on the heart of God in all of its various aspects.
3. VS 3:1-3 - “1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” – Paul tells the Colossians that if they have been raised up with Christ to keeping seeking the things above where Christ is, and to set their minds on the things above not the things on earth
3.1.
Paul has already written to the Colossians in this letter about the
fact that all things have been created by
Christ and for Christ, for He is before all things, holds all things together,
and He is head over all. Christ is
raised up and seated upon the throne of God in the heavens, and Paul tells the
Colossians that because they are risen with Christ, that they ought to keep
seeking the things above where Christ is.
3.2.
The being ‘raised
up with Christ’ that Paul speaks of refers to the Colossians having died to
their old sinful nature and now having been raised up to walk in new
resurrection life in Christ. We saw in
our previous study that these two transactions are symbolized in water
baptism. The word ‘if’ in verse
one could better be translated ‘since’ because there is no question that
the believer died with Christ, this is not a hypothetical statement but
documenting an actual fact.
3.3.
Now that the
Colossians are raised up and walking in this new life in Christ, they are
exhorted to keep walking in that new life in Christ.
3.4.
Whereas the
Gnostics were trying to teach their followers a new possibility for gaining
access to God through angels, Paul tells the Colossians that since they are
already raised up with Christ who is ‘seated at the right hand of God’,
that they need to stay right there with Him who is the head and Lord over all
creation. To do less would be a demotion
of the greatest magnitude.
3.5.
The Bible
Exposition Commentary states the following:
“While
attending a convention in
When
the nation of
The
Queen of England exercises certain powers and privileges because she sits on
the throne. The President of the
3.6.
Paul tells the
Colossians to set their ‘mind on the things above’, and this refers to
growing in the knowledge of Christ and learning spiritual things. In essence, Paul tells the Colossians to ‘be
heavenly minded’. They were to think
about what they had received in Christ, think about their new life in Christ,
grow in their love for and apprehension of Christ, stay in God’s word and learn
His revelation of Himself to mankind (rather than try to obtain new revelation
through the Gnostic visions, special knowledge, and angel mediators).
3.7.
The opposite of
being “heavenly minded” and setting your mind on the things above is to
set your mind ‘on the things that are on earth’. The Christian is to avoid worldliness and
following the admonition of 1 John 2:15:
“Do
not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him.”
3.8.
Paul has already
stated that he looked at the Gnostic heresy as being of this world, a worldly
wisdom derived from human wisdom and understanding, not derived from God.
3.9.
We Christians of
all eras and times need to take this exhortation to heart and set our minds on
the things above. We ought to have as
our greatest desire and goal to seek Christ and get to know the Lord as closely
as we can know Him.
3.10. We as Christians can be so heavenly minded that we are
of no earthly good, so there does need to be some balance there.
3.11. Finally, Paul says here that it is only right for the
Colossians to set their minds on the things above: ‘for you have died and your life is hidden
with Christ in God’.
3.11.1.Paul speaks of the believer’s identification with
Christ. Christ not only died for our sins, He also died unto sin
and thus broke sin’s power over our lives so that we can have victory over
sin. When Christ died, believers in
Christ died to their old sinful nature.
3.11.2.The Greek aorist tense here reveals that this was a
once for all event for the believer in Christ of having died with Christ.
3.11.3.If we as Christians have truly died to the old life
and the sinful nature within us, then we should not even consider doing or
believing anything that takes us away from Christ and devotion to Him who is
raised up and crowned king over all.
3.11.4.Paul says here to the Colossians, ‘your life is hidden
with Christ’. You cannot see Christ
at this time with your eyes and therefore He is ‘hidden’, and because we
are in Him who is hidden, then our life is ‘hidden’ as well. Everything about our lives as Christians is ‘hidden’
from the people of this world. They
don’t understand us, they don’t understand our God, and they often think as a
result that we are very crazy or foolish people. Yet, we who are in Christ know the One who we
have believed.
3.12. Since Christ is God and came from God, then since our
lives are hidden in Christ we are also ‘in God’.
3.13. Paul writes here that we who believe in Christ have
died to the old sinful nature. The
Pulpit Commentary has the following quote in it: ““The dead,” says Augustus Hare, in a
sermon on this passage, “know not nor care for anything in this world. Their love and hatred and envy are clean
wiped out. A dead man is as cold and
motionless as a stone, to all that the living make the greatest stir
about. How perfectly, then, how
entirely, ought we to be from sin, in order to be dead to it! It is not enough
to keep from outward acts of sin, if the heart cherishes any secret liking for
it. This is not dying to it. Before we can attain to that perfect
sinlessness, our hearts must be as completely closed against the tempter as if
we were nailed in our coffins; our ears
must be deaf to his voice; our eyes must
be blind to his charms. We must not only
give up every evil practice; we must
also stifle every evil desire. Nothing
less can deserve the name of being dead to sin.
This, then, is the perfection of innocency which we are to strive after.””
4.
VS 3:4 - “4
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed
with Him in glory.”
– Paul says here that when Christ who is the believer’s life is revealed then
believers will also be revealed with Him in glory
4.1.
Though Christ is
hidden to the world presently, there is coming a day in which He will be
manifested.
4.2.
The Greek word that is twice translated ‘revealed’
has this entry in Strong’s Enhanced Greek Lexicon:
5319 φανερόω [phaneroo /fan·er·o·o/] v. From 5318; TDNT 9:3; TDNTA 1244; GK 5746; 49
occurrences; AV translates as “make manifest” 19 times, “appear” 12 times, “manifest”
nine times, “show” three times, “be manifest” twice, “show (one’s) self” twice,
“manifestly declare” once, and “manifest forth” once. 1 to make manifest or visible or known what has been
hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other
way. 1a make actual and visible, realised. 1b to make known by teaching. 1c to become manifest, be made known. 1d of a person. 1d1 expose to view, make manifest, to show one’s self,
appear. 1e to become known, to be
plainly recognised, thoroughly understood. 1e1 who and what one is.
4.3.
So, what is the
testimony of scripture about Christ returning in the future and being
manifested here to mankind, and of the believer being manifested with Him at
that time; here are some examples:
4.3.1. Jesus words to His disciples:
4.3.1.1.John 6:40: “40
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and
believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the
last day.”
4.3.1.2.John 14:3: “3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
4.3.1.3.John 17:24: “24
Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I
am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou
didst love Me before the foundation of the world.”
4.3.2. The testimony of the epistles:
4.3.2.1.1 Timothy 6:14:
“14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4.3.2.2.2 Timothy 4:8:
“8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
4.3.2.3.Titus 2:13: “13
looking
for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Christ Jesus.”
4.3.2.4.Hebrews 9:28: “28
so
Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a
second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly
await Him.”
4.3.2.5.1 John 3:2: “2
Beloved,
now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We
know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just
as He is.”
4.3.3. The Rapture of the church will come first, then seven
years later Christ will come to usher in His millennial reign:
4.3.3.1.1 Thessalonians 4:17:
“17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall
always be with the Lord.”
5.
VS 3:5-7 - “5
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the
wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once
walked, when you were living in them.’ – Paul tells the Colossians to consider the members
of their earthly body as dead to things like immorality, impurity, passion,
evil desire, and greed, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God
is going to come
5.1.
This is “a
call to act upon what they know to be true.” Paul infers to the Colossians that if they
have died with Christ and been raised up with him that they ought to also ‘consider
the members of their earthly body as dead’ to the various fleshly lusts
that people.
5.2.
Let’s look at
what consist of these passions,
or physical lusts of the flesh, which drive the people of this evil world that
we live in:
5.2.1. ‘Immorality’.
5.2.1.1.Strong’s Enhanced Greek Lexicon has the following
entry for this word.
4202 πορνεία [porneia /por·ni·ah/] n f. From 4203; TDNT 6:579; TDNTA 918; GK 4518; 26
occurrences; AV translates as “fornication” 26 times. 1 illicit sexual intercourse. 1a adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism,
intercourse with animals etc. 1b sexual
intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18. 1c sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12. 2 metaph. the worship of idols. 2a of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating
the sacrifices offered to idols.
5.2.1.2.This is the word from where we get our English word “pornography.”
The word refers to any kind of sex that is outside of monogamous marriage of a
man and a woman.
5.2.1.3.God gave sexual expression to mankind as something
that is meant to be a beautiful expression between a husband and a wife. But, the sex drive is powerful in people’s
lives, and when people express that outside of monogamous marriage it is
sinful, harmful to many, and dehumanizing to those involved.
5.2.2. ‘Impurity’.
5.2.2.1.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has this entry for the word.
167 ἀκαθαρσία [akatharsia /ak·ath·ar·see·ah/] n f. From 169; TDNT 3:427; TDNTA 381; GK 174; 10
occurrences; AV translates as “uncleanness” 10 times. 1 uncleanness. 1a physical. 1b in a moral
sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living. 1b1 of impure motives.
5.2.2.2.This word refers to an even greater amount of deviancy
from morality and passion than merely giving in to the sex drive in immoral
expression.
5.2.3. ‘Passion’.
5.2.3.1.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has this entry for the word.
3806 πάθος [pathos /path·os/] n n. From the alternate of 3958; TDNT 5:926; TDNTA
798; GK 4079; Three occurrences; AV translates as “inordinate affection” once,
“affection” once, and “lust” once. 1 whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous. 1a spec. a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction. 2 a feeling which the mind suffers. 2a an affliction of the mind, emotion, passion. 2b passionate deed. 2c used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense. 2d in the NT in a bad sense, depraved passion, vile
passions.
5.2.3.2.This word refers to ungodly and sensuous passions and
desires of all types.
5.2.4. ‘Evil desire’.
5.2.4.1.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has this entry for the word
‘evil’ used here:
2556 κακός [kakos /kak·os/] adj. Apparently a primary word; TDNT 3:469; TDNTA
391; GK 2805; 51 occurrences; AV translates as “evil” 40 times, “evil things”
three times, “harm” twice, “that which is evil + 3458” twice, “wicked” once,
“ill” once, “bad” once, and “noisome” once. 1 of a bad nature. 1a not such as it ought to be. 2 of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting. 2a base, wrong, wicked. 3 troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive,
baneful.
5.2.4.2.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has this entry for the word
‘desire’.
1939 ἐπιθυμία [epithumia /ep·ee·thoo·mee·ah/] n f. From 1937; TDNT 3:168; TDNTA 339; GK 2123; 38
occurrences; AV translates as “lust” 31 times, “concupiscence” three times, “desire”
three times, and “lust after” once. 1 desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust.
5.2.4.3.All desire of evil that is outside of God’s will for
your life is intended here.
5.2.5. ‘Greed’.
5.2.5.1.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has this entry for the word.
4124 πλεονεξία [pleonexia /pleh·on·ex·ee·ah/] n f. From 4123; TDNT 6:266; TDNTA 864; GK 4432; 10
occurrences; AV translates as “covetousness” eight times, “greediness” once,
and “covetous practice” once. 1 greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice.
5.2.5.2.This word is also translated “covetousness” for
this passage, and this is the sense in which the word is used here. It implies to deep desire of those things
that are forbidden by God, a constant desire to get more of this and of that,
and never being content.
5.3.
Paul writes here
that it is because of these lusts that:
‘the
wrath of God will come’. God’s wrath is constantly building against
the people of this world who are in rebellion against Him, just as Paul wrote
to the Romans: Romans 1:18-19, “18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident
within them; for God made it evident to them.” The 7 year Tribulation of the book of Revelation reveals
how God’s wrath will be poured out.
5.4.
Believers in
Christ need to realize that when we are walking in disobedience to the Lord
that His wrath builds up against us also until the point in which He will bring
fiery trials and difficulties into our lives to discipline us. Just as a loving parent will eventually spank
a disobedient child in order to teach the child how wrong disobedience is, so
the Lord loves us enough as His children that He will also eventually discipline
sternly a child of His who refuses to walk in obedience.
5.5.
Many times
Christians compartmentalize their lives.
They try to add Christ to their life without realize that they need to
remove the sinful attitudes and actions from their lives to have more of
Christ. They try to live in this sinful
world and do the same things that the people here do and try to live for Christ
as well, and it can’t be done. You must
die to that old sinful nature if you are to walk in the newness of resurrection
life in Christ.
5.6.
Paul reminds the
Colossians of the grace of God in overlooking their previous life of sin. They had once lived in all of the lusts of
the flesh just as all other unbelievers have done.
5.7.
In our human
wisdom, we would think that Paul should tell the Colossians here to keep
working on giving a little more of their life to God, or die to self a little
bit more every day. But, this would
never work because we would never put to death the old self that way. In God’s infinite wisdom, His way is for us to
‘consider’ or “reckon” ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to
God, just as Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 6:11: “11 Even so consider yourselves to be
dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” The believer is to consider it
a fact that he had died upon the cross with Christ, and that he has been raised
up with Him to walk in the newness of life, and then act upon that fact. As we believe we are dead and raised up to
new life and act upon this to be true, we experience the truth of it.
6.
VS 3:8-9 - “8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and
abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil
practices,”
– Paul tells the Colossians to put aside those sins that they sin against
others: anger, wrath, slander, abusive
speech, and lying
6.1.
The sins that are
listed here are not general lusts, but rather they are the types of sins that
people sin against other.
6.2.
These sins that
are mentioned here are “social sins,” the types of attitudes and actions
that destroy fellowships and friendships, and thus they must be rejected from
our lives as believers. One commentator
called these, “sins of good standing” because we who are in the church
often let them remain in our life even though they can be so destructive.
6.3.
So, let’s look at
these sins:
6.3.1. ‘Anger’.
6.3.1.1.Many horrible acts, including murder, have been
committed because of ‘anger’.
Anything done in ‘anger’ can be much more hurtful than if not
accompanied by ‘anger’.
6.3.1.2.Very seldom is man’s ‘anger’ justified and
produces the kind of fruit that pleases God.
There is such a thing as “righteous anger,” and we even see this
expressed in the life of Jesus in the gospels.
But, Jesus saved this type of anger only for the hardest hearted people
who were doing the greatest harm to people, the Pharisaical leaders in
6.3.1.3.Jesus equated the sin of ‘anger’ to murder in
Matthew 5:22: “22 But I say to
you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the
court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the
supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to
go into the fiery hell.”
6.3.2. ‘Wrath’.
6.3.2.1.‘Wrath’ is the storing up and expression of
heated anger.
6.3.2.2.Strong’s Enhanced Greek Lexicon has the following
entry for this word translated ‘wrath’ here:
2372 θυμός [thumos /thoo·mos/] n m. From 2380; TDNT 3:167; TDNTA 339; GK 2596; 18 occurrences;
AV translates as “wrath” 15 times, “fierceness” twice, and “indignation” once. 1 passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and
soon subsiding again. 2 glow,
ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad
or kills him with its strength).
6.3.2.3.Again, a number of scriptures tell us that anger and ‘wrath’
of man seldom works anything good, including:
6.3.2.3.1.James 1:20: “20
for
the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
6.3.2.3.2.Ephesians 4:26:
“26 Be angry, and yet do
not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
6.3.3. ‘Malice’.
6.3.3.1.The one who has ‘malice’ for another desires
harm to him, and this is a sinful thing for believers to do to one another as
it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:3: “3
for
you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are
you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”
6.3.3.2.Strong’s Enhanced Greek
Lexicon has the following entry for this word:
2549 κακία [kakia /kak·ee·ah/] n f. From 2556; TDNT 3:482; TDNTA 391; GK 2798; 11
occurrences; AV translates as “malice” six times, “maliciousness” twice, “evil”
once, “wickedness” once, and “naughtiness” once. 1 malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure. 2 wickedness, depravity. 2a wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws. 3 evil, trouble.
6.3.4. ‘Slander’.
6.3.4.1.This word is translated “blasphemy” in the King
James version.
6.3.4.2.Strong’s Enhanced Greek Lexicon has the following
entry for this word:
988 βλασφημία [blasphemia /blas·fay·me·ah/] n f. From 989; TDNT 1:621; TDNTA 107; GK 1060; 19
occurrences; AV translates as “blasphemy” 16 times, “railing” twice, and “evil
speaking” once. 1 slander,
detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name. 2 impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine
majesty.
6.3.4.3.When we speak poorly of others behind their back, then
we are slandering them, and this is sinful and destroys fellowship in any
body. The Bible Exposition Commentary
states the following about this word used here:
“Blasphemy describes speech that slanders others and
tears them down. Often among Christians this kind of malicious gossip
masquerades as a spiritual concern: “I would never tell you what I know about
her, except that I know you’ll want to pray about it.” Evil speaking is caused
by malice (1 Peter 2:1). If you have deep-seated ill will toward a person, you
will use every opportunity to say something bad about him.”
6.3.5. ‘Abusive Speech’.
6.3.5.1.The King James translated this Greek word to be “filthy
communication.”
6.3.5.2.Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon has the following entry for
this word:
148 αἰσχρολογία [aischrologia /ahee·skhrol·og·ee·ah/] n f. From 150 and 3056; GK 155; AV translates as
“filthy communication” once. 1 foul speaking, low and obscene speech.
6.3.5.3.This word refers to cursing and using foul and crude
language, and this type of speaking is sinful and to be avoided as we read in
Ephesians 4:29: “29 Let no unwholesome word
proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification
according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those
who hear.”
6.3.6. Lying (‘Do not lie to one another’).
6.3.6.1.Satan is described as a liar and the father of all
lies (John 8:44). Likewise, in the book
of Revelation we read that there will be no liars in heaven (Rev. 21:8).
6.3.6.2.The Bible Exposition Commentary says the following
about this word:
“A
lie is any misrepresentation of the truth, even if the words are accurate.
The tone of voice, the look on the face, or a gesture of the hand can alter the
meaning of a sentence. So can the motive of the heart. If my watch is wrong and
I give a friend the wrong time, that is not a lie. Lying involves the intent to
deceive for the purpose of personal gain. An old proverb says, “Half a fact is
a whole lie.”
Bishop
Warren A. Candler was preaching about the lies of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts
5), and asked the congregation, “If God still struck people dead for lying,
where would I be?” The congregation snickered a bit, but the smiles disappeared
when the Bishop shouted, “I’d be right here—preaching to an empty church!””
7.
VS 3:10-11 - “10
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image of the One who created him 11 —a renewal in which there is no distinction
between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,
slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” – Paul tells the Colossians to
put on the new self who is being renew to a true knowledge according to the
image of the One who created him
7.1.
Paul saw the Christian
as having the ability to ‘put on the new self’.
7.2.
Though each of us
as Christians have died to the old self and also raised up to new life in
Christ, and this speaks of the ‘new self’, we still have the choice as
to whether we will live in the ‘new self’ or in the “old sinful
nature.” We can either reckon
ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God, or we can just let the flesh
dominate in our lives, and live in the old stuff.
7.3.
It is interesting
that Paul says here that the new self in us as believers ‘is being renewed’
and this renewal is according ‘to a true knowledge’, and this phrase is
the translation of the Greek word “epignosis,” which means an accurate
and precise knowledge of God. We as
Christians have available to us the ability to come to this true and accurate
knowledge of God through Christ, as we have seen. Man was created in the image of God, however
the fall caused that image within man to become marred. But, this renewals is ‘according to the
image of the One who created him’.
Jesus is the One man who is completely like God created man to be, in
His image. The believer in Christ then
is being renewed and made just like Christ, in that true and accurate knowledge
we have of Him, and the perfect likeness and image of God.
7.4.
Paul tells the
Colossians that this truth, and indeed all Christian truth, pertains to all
men, without any distinctions, ‘Greek and Jew, circumcised and
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman.’
7.5.
The evidence has
been amassed that present day Russians are descendants of the Scythians.
7.6.
Paul speaks of
the preeminence of Christ here by saying, ‘Christ is all and in all’. In other words, Paul is stating that all of
the ways in which God works in this world are through Christ. A Commentary Critical And Explanatory states
the following:
“Christ is all—Christ absorbs in Himself all distinctions, being to all alike,
everything that they need for justification, sanctification, and glorification
(1Co 1:30; 3:21–23; Ga 2:20).
in
all—who believe and are renewed,
without distinction of person; the sole distinction now is, how much each draws
from Christ. The unity of the divine life shared in by all believers,
counterbalances all differences, even as great as that between the polished “Greek”
and the rude “Scythian.” Christianity imparts to the most uncivilized the only
spring of sound, social and moral culture.”
8.
VS 3:12-13 - “12
And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart
of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each
other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so
also should you.”
– Paul tells the Colossians that they as those who have been chosen of God,
holy and beloved, are to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other
8.1.
Now, Paul exhorts
the Colossians to imitate the heart of God in their relationships with each
other. He tells them that since the have
been ‘chosen of God’ and thus they are ‘holy and beloved’, that
they need ‘put on a heart of...’.
8.2.
In the
exhortations here in our study where Paul tells the believer to ‘put off’
certain things, or ‘put on’ other things, the aorist tense is used which
indicates a once for all type of action that is being admonished.
8.3.
Let’s look at the
various aspects of the heart of God that Paul tells us as believers to put on,
the very heart that God has for each of us:
8.3.1. ‘Compassion’.
8.3.2. ‘Kindness’.
8.3.3. ‘Humility’.
8.3.4. ‘Gentleness’.
8.3.5. ‘Patience’.
8.4.
Next, Paul tells
us that as believers we ought to be ‘bearing with one another’ and ‘forgiving
each other’. We as believers need to
be longsuffering with others in the same way that the Lord deals with each of
us.
8.5.
Paul tells the
Colossians that they are to be ‘forgiving each other…just as the Lord
forgave you’. God expects us as
believers to treat others just in the same way that He treats us.
9.
CONCLUSIONS:
9.1.
Keep seeking the
things above where Christ is since you have died to the old sinful nature and
have been raised up and seated with Him.
9.2.
Put off all of
the various sins of passion.
9.3.
Put off all of
the social sins that destroy fellowship and friendship.
9.4.
Learn to forgive
and forebear one another.
9.5.
Put on the heart
of God of: ‘Compassion’, ‘Kindness’,
‘Humility’, ‘Gentleness’, ‘Patience’.
9.6.
Beloved, love one
another just as Christ has commanded us.