What are some things in my life that I should “put to death”? (v5-11)
- Sexual immorality
- Uncleanness
- Depraved passion
- Evil desire
- Covetousness which is idolatry
- Placing things above God. Desiring anything above all sufficiency in God.
- Anger
- Wrath
- Malice
- Slander
- Shameful speaking out of your mouth
- Don’t lie to one another
What are some things in my life that I should put on? (v12-17)
- A heart of
- Compassion
- Kindness
- Lowliness
- Humility
- Perseverance
- Bearing with one another
- Forgiving each other
- Even as Christ forgave
- Above all,
- Walk in love
- Let the peace of God rule in your hearts
- Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly
- With all wisdom
- Teaching, admonishing one another with
- Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
- Do everything in the name of Lord Jesus,
- Giving thanks to God the Father through Him
How is this different from the ordinances of Colossians 2:20?
- Physical vs spiritual:
- Not eating certain food is an ordinance in the physical world / realm.
- Speaking kindly is from a spiritual realm
- Motives
- Acts of self righteousness vs
- Actions that are driven by the fact that we are born again children of God
- Commandment of God vs tradition of men
Conclusion
- Focus on things above
Passage Colossians 3:1-17 – World English Bible (WEB)
3 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; 8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
Notes / Cross references:
Matthew 15:11 That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
2 Chronicles 25:2 He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 9:13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Mark 5:5-8 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7 But they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’Isaiah 29:13
8 “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
