Before we continue our walk through Colossians, I want to share an observation I found in J. Sidlow Baxter’s ‘Explore the Book’:
‘… The arrangement of these nine Christian Church Epistles as a group. The first four belong together (Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians); so do the middle three (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians); so do the final two (1&2 Thessalonians). In the first four the emphasis is on Christ and the Cross; in the middle three, Christ and the Church; in the final two, Christ and the coming. In each case the order in which the Holy Spirit teaches truth is that of 2 Timothy 3:16: “Doctrine…reproof…correction.” In the middle trio, we have doctrine in Ephesians, reproof in Philippians, correction in Colossians.’ 1
We continue our walk through Colossians by remembering that last week we looked at Colossians 2:6-23 and the idea of the ‘Spiritual Fullness in Christ’.
This week we are looking at Colossians 3:1-17 and the ‘Rules for Holy Living’.
Colossians 3:1-17 NIV
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
“Then” joins this next line to the previous discussion of finding fullness in Christ. We need to look to Christ for everything if we have accepted Him.
Romans 6:8-10 NIV
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Baxter states, ‘Oh, that increasingly we may become heavenly-minded, not in any dreamy, merely mystical sense, but in the sense of prayerful, practical Christ-like godliness’. 2
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 2:12-13 NIV
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
These are the bodily attitudes and actions expressed by “the old man”, the person we left behind to follow Jesus. 3
Romans 7:21-25 NIV
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;
23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
The day of judgement is coming when all will be in the presence of God and answer for all that they have done in their lives.
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
We all at one time were run by the body only, with no understanding of the freedom of living with Christ. For some of us, it was a long time ago, for others very fresh in mind and time.
Becoming a Christian means a definite break with the old selfish way of life. It means being determined to let the new life which is in us govern all we think and say and do. It means making a permanent resolve to become like Christ, to take on His character (3:10).4
8 But now you must also 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.
Fee says: ‘Paul then describes what we have died to (vs.5-9) and, by a shift of images (changing clothing), urges us to a life that reflects God’s own image (v.10)’.5
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 NIV
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
(Scythian – the lowest type of Barbarian slave).6
Fee gives us: ‘Verse 11 anticipates the imperatives that follow by reminding his readers that Christ has eliminated all cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and racial barriers’.7
12 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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Eerdmans states: ‘His life – His love and forgiveness – is our model’. 8
Fee says: ’Based on God’s love and election, Paul proceeds to illustrate how God’s image (in Christ) is to be lived out in their relationships with each other. Notice how everything flows out of the character traits of verse 12, two of which describe Christ in Matthew 11:29, and most of which are called “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. Remember as you read that these instructions in Christian behavior are not directed toward individual piety, but toward life in the Christian community, the basic expression of which is the Christian household’.9
Some say gifts, some say fruit, but I say this is God’s way to live taught by Jesus and modeled by the Apostles.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
As a member of God’s family, you have the responsibility to be a peace keeper and always be thankful for what God did for you.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
His Word shapes our thinking. The hallmark of the Christian life is prayer and thanksgiving to God, and outgoing unselfish love in all our human relationships. Our concern is no longer to get, but to give.10
This is one of the reasons we come together for Sunday service, Bible Studies, breakfasts and lunches.
‘And it is no exaggeration to say that “songs” have taught more theology to new converts than textbooks.’11
Halley’s Handbook puts it like this:
‘The person to person relation with Christ is the emphasis of this Epistle:
Raised with Him (3:1). Your life is hid with Him in God (3:3) The Word and Singing (3:16), are mentioned together. This refers to Christian assemblies, where the teaching of the Word and the singing of hymns are the main means of promoting the growth of Christian life.’ 12
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.
ETTA sums this passage up this way:
‘3:5-17 A new kind of life, a new way of living is demanded.
3:16, 17 The one in whom “the word of Christ dwells richly” will give evidence of this new life’. 13
Paul very clearly tells us how to live a holy life. He reminds us of what Jesus taught and how He demonstrated all these rules for holy living. We need to read this chapter over several times and let the Holy Spirit guide in what we learn from it.
We should be excited to be a part of God’s family, His body! When we come together it should be to learn from God’s Word and encourage each other in our daily walk through this world.
Satan wants nothing less than for us to be fighting amongst ourselves. His job is easy if we allow him to influence our behavior. Join with me in prayer for the strength to walk tall and strong for Jesus
Next week we look at ‘Rules for Christian Households’ in Colossians 3:18-4:6
Join me as we participate in Communion together.
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