Today's lesson comes from Colossians 3: 1-9; 12-17. Paul is instructing the new Christians in regard to those things which should not be in their lives, and those things which should be a part of their lives. Some things are "put off" when a person is saved. Others, are "put off" in sanctification. Some things are "put on" in salvation in a crisis experience while others are developed on an individual basis as one grows in grace. Paul will give specific advice to the Colossians that is as relevant to us today as as it was when he originally wrote this epistle.
The first section is: "Risen With Christ." (vv. 1-4) The believers at Colosse had been "risen with Christ." The language is in the aorist tense which means a specific act as opposed to an ongoing action. The believers had been risen. It was a completed act. As a result, Paul says to "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." A new life begets a new appetite. A Christian should be more concerned with things of the Kingdom as opposed to things of the world.
It is a choice to set your "affections on things above." Satan and his demons will do everything they can to sidetrack you and get your mind off Christ. The battle begins in the mind. If we focus our affections on Christ, we will have taken a big step in resisting temptation. Paul gives three reasons for why the Christian should "seek...things...above." They are:
1. They were dead (not physically, but to the things of the world) and the things of the world did not control them any longer;
2. Their life was "hid with Christ in God” (they knew Christ was the focal point of life); and
3. A glorious future awaited them when Christ appeared.
The summary points of this section are:
1. Believers are risen with Christ and have made spiritually alive.
2. Believers should set their affections on heavenly things not the world.
3. A glorious future awaits the Christian when Christ appears.
The second section is: "Old Life Put Off." (vv. 5-9) Verse 5 says we are to "mortify" our members. Paul was saying that we are put to death the carnal nature which is manifested in its various traits. Prior to being saved, the carnal nature controlled your life. After conversion, the carnal nature is no longer in control, but it exists. In entire sanctification, the carnal nature is eliminated. Paul lists three types of sins. One, are the sins associated with the lusts of the flesh. The second is the sins of the spirit. The third is sins of the tongue.
The sins associated with the lusts of the flesh are:
1. Fornication (illicit sexual relations);
2. Uncleanness (impurity of lustful, wasteful or extravagant living);
3. Inordinate affections (depraved passions, twisted desires); and
4. Evil concupiscence (wrong desires, cravings).
Paul includes covetousness which he declares to be idolatry.
The sins of the spirit are:
1. Anger (settled hatred);
2. Wrath (boiling up);
3. Malice (ill will, desire to injure);
Sins of the tongue include:
1. Blasphemy (slander, injurious speech);
2. Filthy communication (low and obscene speech); and
3. Lying (attempting to deceive by falsehood).
The believer is to put these sins off. The action is to be instantaneous and complete. We do this by making a total abandonment to God and faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. God responds by sending the Holy Ghost in purifying power and purges the carnal nature.
The summary points f this section are:
1. Believers are to put to death their carnal traits.
2. There are sins of the flesh, spirit, and tongue, but they can be put off.
3. Only the Holy Ghost can purge the carnal traits from the believer.
The third section is: "New Life Put On." (vv. 12-14) When the Holy Ghost comes in sanctifying power, that life will manifest the fruit of the Spirit by "putting on" the following:
1. Bowels of mercy (a heart of compassion);
2. Kindness (doing good to others);
3. Humbleness of mind (esteeming others better than themselves);
4. Meekness (quietly submitting to the will of God); and
5. Long-suffering (patiently bears personal injuries and ill usage).
As "the elect of God, holy and beloved," we are to be "forgiving one another, and forgiving one another." In addition, we are to "above all these things put on charity (love). Divine love in the heart is essential. These are the things we are to "put on."
The summary points of this section are:
1. We are to "put on" mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and long-suffering.
2. We are to most of all "put on" love.
3. We are to forebear the present and forget the past.
The fourth section is: "New Life Manifest." (vv. 15-17) As a result of what has been "put off" and "put on," your new life will manifest in the following ways:
1. The peace of God will rule in your heart. The word "rule" means to umpire of preside. The peace of God will serve as an umpire to your soul.
2. The Word of God will dwell in you providing you spiritual wisdom. Reading, hearing, and meditating on the Word will cause your soul to prosper.
Paul references (verse 16) singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Much of today's music which is called Christian has little or no value. The church should sing the sacred songs of the past that have good theology as it has done so for years. Music has always played an important part of worship and we need to be mindful to keep true to the Scriptures and not compromise on this issue.
3. Whatever we do, we should do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Our entire lives are to be a testimony of what God can do in the human heart.
The summary points of this section are:
1. God's peace should umpire you.
2. To be wise, read and study God's Word.
3. Do all for the glory of God.
The Golden Text is: "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." (Col. 3:10) God is the artist and wants to make a copy of Himself and takes man as the copy. He will renew man day by day conforming him more and more into His image. While we will never be perfect, He wants us to resemble Him and will renew us in knowledge since it is He who created us.
Next week: "A Prisoner's Prayer." (Philippians 1: 3-18)
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