Colossians 3:1-17 Put Off Put On

Colossians 3:1-17

Put Off, Put On

December 23, 2018

Lynchburg, Virginia

EXHORDIUM

         He just told us various ways in which we cannot be helped along in our Christian faith. The lies of pseudo-science, agnostic academia, and man-made religion all subvert our growth in Christ and lead to damnation for those who abandon Jesus and the way, the truth and the life. 

So, how do we walk in this newness of life in Jesus Christ? He says that we have put off the old ways and are to put on the new ways. The Bible elsewhere speaks of this as being clothed in Christ. We have put off the garments stained by our old man of sin and have put on the new man of righteousness, our Savior Jesus. So, since you are clothed in Jesus, then walk around in Jesus.

EXEGESIS

Col. 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

         Where is Jesus Christ? He is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. In Heaven, the Lord’s will is done perfectly. We pray in the Lord’s prayer that His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. This is part of our task in discipling the nations. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

         Since Jesus is seated in the heavenlies and we are seated with Him, we are to learn to set our minds on heavenly things and not on earthly matters. We are in the world but not of the world.

         To gain a heavenly perspective, we need to see the world from above, if you will. This is not easy. It takes practice. We are learning to do this. From the trials in our lives, to our answered and unanswered prayers, to the

providences that occur to us, we are learning the Lord’s will. That is a heavenly perspective. 

The goal of all of this learning of the Lord’s will is so that His will will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. That will of the Lord is that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

If that is the case, then perhaps your happiness is not the chief end of man? The Lord does indeed bless us and we go through times of great happiness. But our happiness is not the end goal. Our suffering is therefore not at all out of accord with the Lord’s will. Particularly, if our suffering, your suffering is a substantial means through which the glory of God is revealed. And it, in fact, is.

         Christ is Your Life- Do you understand that you are alive because of Jesus? He is the creator of all things including you? Furthermore, He has given you new life in the recreation. You are not only born of Jesus to life, you are born again of Him to renewed life.

         How are we to think then? How are we to act? He answers that in the verses below.

Two Lives Contrasted

         He puts two sorts of people side by side. We can objectively compare them. What characterizes you? The characterizes is important here. Sins exist and even persist in the life of the believer but what rules you? Is the reign of sin over? Can you break free in the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus? Do you want to? Have you gained victory in some area or other? Are you like the incredibly judgmental but still sinful Pharisee, or are you more like the renewed but empathetic Paul?

Col. 3:5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

         Put to death- This is a command to mortify the flesh. We have a new principle of life in us through the Holy Spirit. This should give us a longing for Heavenly things. But it does not come purely naturally. We have to side with the Spirit. That means that it is an act of volition, an act of will, to put to death the deeds of the flesh. They will not simply decay and die. We have to kill them. We do this through practice, worship, prayer, bible reading, discipline, confession, repentance.

         That is why these wicked desires and actions can exist in the life of the believer. However, they cannot persist and dominate. A believer must learn to put death the desires of the flesh. But at some point the IF in this sentence comes to bear. If then, you have been raised in Christ.

         A believer can fall into sin, even be plagued life-long with remaining sin. But a man, woman or child givento sin is someone who has not been raised with Christ. By given to sin, I mean someone who willingly persists in it, enjoys getting away with it, plans new ways to pursue it, longs to escape into it. And there can be any number of sins that compete for our allegiance. The most dangerous ones are the ones he mentions above, pseudo-science, arrogant academia, man-made religion. 

But do not discount the power of the flesh mentioned here to drag us into simple fleshly lusts and away from Christ Jesus. Things like unlawful sexual gratification, petty covetousness for things pretty, envy of your brother’s or sister’s earthly blessings, house, car, clothes, looks, talents. These things, too, unrepented of, and pursued, can drag one into perdition.

Phil. 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

         

         Sexual sins are at the top of the apostle’s list. Sexual immorality, fornication, adultery, various other kinds of sexual sins, homosexuality, transgenderism and many other such things. These ungodly desires have to die.

         The way we kill sexual immorality is through gratitude for our current condition, whether single, married, divorced or widowed. We must thank God and learn contentment now and pray to Him for strength.  Also, God’s means for avoiding sexual sins like fornication is marriage.

         In the world of the internet, sexual sins are rampant among adults, children, men, women, boys and girls. All levels of society are affected by this. So, in addition to seeking to be spiritual in these areas, we must also implement wise protections and accountability, particularly for our children.

         Covetousness- This should not surprise us. We have a difficult time living contented lives filled with gratitude but that is what we are called to do. The way we kill covetousness is through thanksgiving for all the people and things the Lord has blessed us with.

         He calls covetousness idolatry. That is interesting. He is saying that when we are not content with what God has given us, then we are serving another god. The stuff replaces God.

⁶On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Do not believe the antinomian lie that says the God of the Old Testament was wrathful but the God of the New Testament is all love. Our God is the same God then as now. He will judge sin and sinners. His wrath comes upon those who plunge headlong into sin and will not repent of their sins and follow Jesus.

But there is forgiveness, even for very great sinners who used to do vile things. 

And now, it not just those sins we think of as big sins: fornication, adultery, idolatry. He subjoins us to abstain from all those old sins and lists them for us.

This list has to do with living in the body of Christ together. Speak the truth in love. There is no room for:

Anger- An emotion arising from the sense of being wronged. Tame it.

Wrath- the need to take personal vengeance. Let God sort it out.

Malice- a bitter spirit that makes plans to harm others. Confront sin and forgive it. Don’t harbor it and grow bitter.

Slander- Speaking ill of another to harm their reputation. Christians ought rather to protect one another’s reputation.

Obscene Talk- Filthy speech, probably referring to some forms of sexual talk, but could include vile speaking, using foul language.

Lying- Usually to get out of a jam or said to harm another. speak the truth in love.

Put Off the Flesh, Put On the Spirit

Col. 3:12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

Compassionate hearts- Is your first thought judgment or compassion?

Kindness- It is His kindness that leads us to repentance. How is your kindness towards brothers and sisters in the Lord? Your spouse? Your children? Kindness gathers but harshness drives away.

Humility- Are you humble? Teachable? Willing to learn from others?

Meekness- We think of meekness as humility but the apostle makes a distinction here. A meek man is not aggressive. We might think of this man as gentle.

Patience- Of course, we know that patience is a mark of maturity. How few find themselves truly patient. But God requires this is of us. Be patient with others. Be patient with God as His will is revealed. Be patient in life, not growing weary of doing good.

Bearing with One Another- this is patience but it is the result of love. We bear with one another because we know that God bears with us. 

Forgiving Complaints (sins)- Matthew 18- Confront or forgive. The offended party has the obligation to address the problem. Otherwise, hold no record of wrongs. A good record keeper is bad at forgiving.

Love- agape- affection; benevolence- If we actually love our brothers and sisters, have a fond affection for them and seek their good, then we will not commit sins against them. And if we do, we will be quick to confess, repent, seek forgiveness and on the other side as the offended one, not easily offended and quick to grant forgiveness when there is an offense. Our desire should be to have whole relationships with others. As much is it in our power to be at peace with all men.

¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 

Peace means no record of wrong between you and God and between you and other people. Of course, with God, the offense is on our part, so we seek to be reconciled through the forgiveness of sins offered by Jesus Christ.

In relation to the body of Christ, peace is necessary and the breaking of fellowship may be our fault, or someone else’s or both. But we need to seek peace as much as it is in our power to do so. If you are the offender, go and confess and ask forgiveness. If you are the offended party, then seek reconciliation by confronting the sin. If the other party is unwilling to be reconciled, then leave the offense up to the Lord and move on without bitterness in your heart. Otherwise, the offender, and their sin, still controls you. Let that go.

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

The words of Scripture ought to be often our lips. This is how we exhort one another to love and good works in Christ Jesus. Wisdom is from the Scriptures and the smallest of us can teach the greatest from the Word.

Singing of Psalms is key to growing in maturity. In them we have the story of the Bible in poetic form. Singing and memorizing the Psalms puts the Word of God in your heart and mind.

Thankfulness- This really is the key characteristic of the godly and mature Christian. When Christ rules in your heart and you understand that Christ rules everything, the result is peace. This brings thankfulness and thankfulness brings contentment. 

EXHORTATION

¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Jesus really is the rule of all things. He is seated in the Heavenlies. That might be reason enough to do everything for Him. But we are also seated with Him. We have to learn our place. It is not earthly, fleshly but heavenly, spiritual. 

If we focus on this truth and practice the reality of it, then we can be transformed into the image of the Son, who does the will of the Father.