Class Notes, Col 3:1-17

• What is Paul's relationship to the Colossians? Never met them or spoke to them

• We are moving into the practical application of Christian doctrine in the letter. How might Paul's relationship or lack thereof affect what he might say? He won't be filling in or augmenting previous points. His arguments will not necessarily be exhaustive but they will cover the ground of most of the practical aspects of a walk with God

• In Chapter 2, Paul discusses four dangers
• Gnosticism -- secret knowledge to walk the Christian life
• Legalism (from the Judaizers) -- need to obey OT laws to win God's favor
• Mysticism -- other beings are required to mediate between people and God
• Asceticism -- one must abstain from things to earn God's favor

• "When we make Jesus Christ and the Christian revelation only part of a total religious system or philosophy, we cease to give Him the preeminence. When we strive for 'spiritual perfection' or 'spiritual fullness' by means of formulas, disciplines, or rituals, we go backward instead of forward. Christian believers must beware of mixing their Christian faith with such alluring things as yoga, transcendental meditation, Oriental mysticism, and the like. We must also beware of 'deeper life' teachers who offer a system for victory and fullness that bypasses devotion to Jesus Christ. In all things, He must have the preeminence!" (Wiersbe)

Col 3:1-4 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• Even more important than our practices is what? Our focus.  The Christian life revolves around the heart, not rules

• Paul commands two things, what are they?
• Set your heart on things above
• The heart is the seat of our affections
• The heart is where our love resides
• Set your mind on things above
• The mind is the seat of our logic and thinking
• Our thinking rules our behavior
• Our feet are on earth, but our head needs to be in heaven (Robertson)

• Why the emphasis on "things above?" Because our reward is in heaven and not here on earth.  Many Christians struggle with this concept.  I've struggled over the years.  My retirement home is not here -- probably wouldn't be San Antonio anyway.  I'm still in God's service until he takes me away.  It is not time to retire -- that day will come, but it is not now, no matter how old we are

Col 3:5-11 (NIV) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

• Now we get into practical matters of daily life.  There are two lists, a "put off" list and a "put on" list.  In this list, what do we not see?
• We don't see any of the ceremonial, civil, or dietary rules of the OT
• We don't see the Sabbath.  We don't see tithing
• We see the basics of the Christian rule of life (the law of Christ as Galatians calls it)
• This is a list to people who had never heard Paul speak or teach.  Paul is not supplementing or adding or emphasizing to a previous list he has given.  This is to a group he was unfamiliar with.  These are the fundamental actions of a believer, repeated throughout his letters

• What are some of the key moral behaviors? (Constable)
• Sexual immorality (Gr. porneia) -- illicit sexual intercourse
• Impurity (Gr. akatharsia) -- any form.  This would include many immoral, impure actions
• Lust (Gr. pathos) -- any uncontrolled illegitimate desire
• Evil desires (Gr. epithymian kakian) -- in the Old Covenant, these moral rules were spelled out in excruciating detail.  In the New Covenant, they are put in more general terms, and consequently can also be more broadly interpreted)
• Greed (Gr. pleonexian, literally "desire to have more") -- "any materialistic desire, including lust, that disregards the rights of others. It is "the arrogant and ruthless assumption that all other persons and things exist for one's own benefit." (G. B. Caird)

• These five latter areas of sin are the reason for the wrath of God.  The wrath of God usually refers to the end times, the tribulation period

• The second list is different from the first -- how? (thoughts from Constable)
• This list focuses on our speech or communication
• Anger (Gr. ogre) -- is a settled attitude of hostility
• Wrath -- means a verbal outburst of evil passion
• Malice -- is ill will, a vicious disposition that results in hurt to one's neighbor
• Slander (Gr. blasphemia) -- refers to insulting, injurious, malicious speech in general
• Abusive speech -- filthy, disgraceful, dishonorable speech
• Lying -- deceptive, distorting, untruthful speech

• Why should our desires and speech be different?
• Because we our new creatures that are being renewed in knowledge in the image of the creator
• And there is no difference between Greek, Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, racial difference, slave or free.  In the NC, Christ is in all persons who believe

Col 3:12-14 (NIV) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

• But moral behavior in the NC also requires things to put on or wear.  What is in the list? (thoughts from Constable)
• Compassion -- showing sensitivity to those suffering and in need
• Kindness -- sweet disposition and thoughtful interpersonal dealitys
• Humility -- having a realistic view of oneself.  Phil 2:3,4 says to consider others more important
• Gentleness -- not behaving harshly, arrogantly, or self-assertively, but with consideration of others
• Patience -- the quality of long-suffering and self-restraining.  Constable suggests that the next two items expand the definition of patience
• Forbearing -- putting up with others and enduring discomfort
• Forgiving -- not holding a grudge or grievance
• Love (Gr. agape) -- means doing what is best for another person

Col 3:15-17 (NIV) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• Four imperatives follow in this section. Let's list them:
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
• We don't have to worry or strive, our future is assured
• We have a heavenly Father who cares for us
• We have an incredible inheritance
• Sometimes a choice is involved, and we have to be the ones who choose what will bring peace in a situation
• Be thankful
• James says to give thank in all things
• One of the biggest attitude changers and a protection against bitterness and anger is the ability to give thanks
• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
• God can renew our mind through the word of God (Rom 12:1-3)
• As our mind changes, our behavior will change
• How do you do this? One key is scripture memory
• Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus
• Whatever we do, we are serving the Lord
• It is the family name that we represent, not ourselves or someone else
• The NC does not provide a code of rules, but the basic principles of life.  It is true, though overused today, to consider "what would Jesus do?"

• SUMMARY:
• Focus of our desires and our thinking needs to be on Christ in heaven
• We need avoid sexually immoral activities (both in our hear, mind, and actions)
• We need to be careful with how we use our speech
• We need to put on positive moral character qualities
• We need to apply proper biblical principles