Colossians 3

Colossians 3:1-4

A) THE BASIC . 3:1-4

The saint’ s holy life. 3:1-17

The saint’ s home and work. 3:18-4:1

The saint’ s spiritual priesthood. 4:2-6

V.1-4 The Saints Position.

V.5-17 The Saints Practice.

Resurrection. v.1 Focus. v.2 Sanctification. v.3 Glorification. v.4

V.1 a) Raised with Christ - The inward Ascending.

The saints are spiritual resurrected in Christ. Therefore their spiritual focus, seeking and life should be there where they are in the spirit. Col.2:10-13; Eph.2:5-6 b) Seeking Christ - The Outward Attitude.

The saints focus should not be on the basic principle of the world, nor on philosophy, nor on legalism, nor on asceticism, nor on eastern mysticism: Angels, humility and visions. It should be on the highest and most exalted place in the universe: The Throne of God where Christ is seated. V.2 c) Minding Christ - The Inward Aim.

I. Not only should their mind be focused but it should be set there.

Set your mind (Gr. phroneo) means to exercise the mind.

II. They should not only seek heaven; but also think heaven.

V.3 d) Hidden in Christ - The Inward Attachment.

I. The saint’ s old man died to themselves and to the world and they were raised in a new life, a life that is in Christ.

II. The Christ life is hidden to the lost because they cannot understand the mystical identification of the believer in Christ. John 14:30 III. The saint’ s life draws nourishment from secret springs. John 4:14; 7:38

V.4 e) Appearing with Christ - The Outward Appearance.

I. Christ is the life of His saints and at His coming the bodies of the saints will be glorified. 1.Cor.15:35-58; 1.Thes.4:13-18; Rom.8:18 II. Appear is to make visible what is invisible. Now our eternal life is hidden, but then it will be manifest.

Colossians 3:5-17

B) THE PROPER METHOD. 3:5-17

Leaving the basic principle of who we are and will become in Christ, where we are and where to seek and mind. We then come to the proper method of how to practise our spiritual heavenly position on earth. Heb.6:1-2; Phil.3:12

V.5 a) Dismember - Members executed.

I. The saints had to dismember by faith and obedience to the evil activities of the old man.

II. The Gardener’s practice of grafting - When the graft has been made on the old stock the gardener is careful to snip off any shoot from the old stock that may appear. In the saints life, since he has now been grafted into Christ, he must by the Spirit put to death any products and appearance of the old life. Rom. 8:13 V.6 b) Disobedience - Manifestation of wrath.

I. Unrepentant continual practice of this evil causes God wrath.

II. The sons of disobedience are the lost. Eph.2:2 V.7 c) Direction - Moved to walk in the past.

This evil walk directed the saint’ s former life. Eph.2:3 V.8 d) Disconnection - Mortify the Mouth.

The saints has to disconnect, take off the old mans sinful expressions through evil speaking. Eph.4:25-32 V.9 e) Deeds - Motive of speaking truth.

The old man was put off through baptism into Christ death, but the saints so often lives in the old attitudes and ways.

V.10 f) Design - It Demands a continual Process.

I. Even though the new man was designed in holiness and in Christ’ s nature, it must willingly be put on every day.

II. The new man is manifested and we experience renewal in us by acknowledging its existence in us, and by believing the Scripture that reveals the new man, and by acting out knowledgably the new mans nature.

V.11 g) Dual unity - It Depends on a Divine Pattern.

I. There are no races in Christ but the one race Christ, there is not a variety of citizenship in Christ but the one in Christ. Phil.3:20 There is no evil ones in Christ but only holy ones.

II. The barbarian was one who did not know Greek.

Scythians came from the Black Sea and Caspian Sea area, and the Greeks saw them as the lowest type of barbarian, a very crude and rough person.

III. There is no slave or free in Christ.

Philemon was a Colossian and that Paul wrote to, Philemon was a master and Onesimus was a slave, these 2 had problems with one another. h) Dimension of Christ - It Derives from a Person.

I. All are equal in Christ and Christ’ s nature is all (equal) in all the saints.

1. In Salvation - Christ is all in all, we do not need any man or angels to be our mediators. Col.2:18

2. In Sanctification - Christ is all in all, we do not need legalism, ritualism and asceticism to be accepted by God.

3. In Satisfaction - Christ is all we need, we do not need philosophy to satisfy our intellectual search for God.

V.12 a) Practice - Elected put on.

I. Because the saints are elected and have Christ’ s nature they should put it on.

II. 9 characteristics of Christ nature or fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5:22-23 V.13 b) Pardoning - Erase one another’ s sins.

The saints must forgive like Christ forgave us. Matt.18:21-35 V.14 c) Perfection - Excellency of the saint.

I. Love is the going on to perfection. Heb.6:1; Matt.5:43-48; 1.John 4:18 II. Love is the greatest abiding virtue. 1.Cor.13:13 III. Love sums up all Scripture. Matt.22:36-40 IV. Love is a bond, a rule, a golden thread and a sure way. 1.John 4:7 V. V.12-13 is the garment while love is the robe that ties it all together. V.15 d) Peace - Embracing the peace of God.

I. Peace is also a bond. Eph.4:3 II. The peace of God is also a ruler, the peace of God guides us, by letting the peace of God abide in our hearts if it is right and removing the peace of God if it is wrong, conscience also impacts us at this level. Rom.2:15 III. By 2 or 3 witness every word shall be established. 2.Cor.13:1 In our walk with God we need the witness of God if we are going the right direction, there are 3 of this ways of sure witnesses.

1. The peace of God as a witness.

2. The Word of God. v.16

3. The Spirit’ s witness within us. Rom.8:16 In Eph.5:18-19 Paul explains Col.3:16 as being through Spirit filling.

V.16 e) Possession - Enriched in the Word of Christ.

I. The level we posses or store up Scripture in our hearts, can we experience the peace of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit through our conscience. 1.Cor.15:9 - Eph.3:8 - 1.Tim.1:15 II. The level we posses or store up Scripture in our hearts, can we minister effectively to the saints and to the Lord.

III. Its not enough to “ stay” in the Word, the Word must “ stay” in us.

f) Preaching - Exhortation and Encouragement.

The Storage of His Word causes Sharing of His Word. Matt.12:34-35 g) Praise - Exalting the Lord.

The Storage of His Word causes Singing through His Word.

V.17 h) Pleasing - Energy Employed to God.

Whatever we do, do it to, do it for and do it in the Lord. v.23

Colossians 3:18-25

C) THE . 3:18-4:1

(The saint’ s relationship with Oneself. v.1-17)

The saint’ s relationship with the Home. v.18-21

The saint’ s relationship with the Work. v.22-4:1

The saint’ s relationship with Others. v.4:2-17

This is one of several lists of house rules in the N. T. Eph. 5:22- 6:9; 1.Tim. 2:8-15; 6:1-2; Titus 2:1-10; 1.Pet. 2:18-3:7

V.18-4:1 has 6 classes of people joined into 3 pairs.

The first addressed is the one in submission and the second one is in authority in all 3 pairs. In all 3 pairs the point is the realm of respect for another’s position and place, not in the realm of inferiority.

V.18 a) Wives - Follow the husband.

I. Responsibility - Submission to husbands is important because of peace and order.

II. Reason - As the Church, the bride of Christ submit to Christ, in the same way should wives submit to their husbands.

V.19 b) Husbands - Favourable Feelings to the wife.

I. Command - It is easier to submit than to love, submission can be done without affection but love cannot. The love mentioned here is not brotherly or sexual love but agape (Devoted love).

II. Caution - Because man shall “ agape” his wife can he not be bitter (unloving) toward them. Irritation is a manifestation of lack of love.

V.20 c) Children - Fitted obedience to parents.

I. Duty - Children should obey their parents in everything that is right and true. II. Delight - Why because it pleases God. 1.John 3:22; Heb.13:21 V.21 d) Fathers - Fair treatment of children.

I. Problem - Provoking carries the idea of a continual provoking until they are angry.

II. Purpose - So they will not be discouraged instead of encouraged.

III. Ways fathers can provoke their children to wrath -

1. Overprotection. (Not trusting them)

2. Over strictness. (Unreasonable demands or excessive discipline)

3. Criticism. (Continual faultfinding)

4. Showing favouritism.

5. Neglecting them.

6. Unrealistic goals.

7. Not showing affection to them.

8. Not keeping their promises.

9. Divorce

V.22 e) Servants - Fear God in obeying masters.

I. Follow masters - Servants should obey their masters in everything that is right and true,

II. Fear God - Not in eye service but in sincerity of heart.

Not as man-pleasers but fearing (pleasing) God.

III. In spiritual matters the slave and his master were equal brothers in Christ but in earthly matters he was his master.

V.23 a) Render - Heartily doings. V.18-22 should be done with affections and to the Lord. V.24 b) Reward - Heritage of the Lord. Everywhere we are, we are running the race for the prize (reward).

Phil.3:14 there are different kinds of rewards:

I. The wedding banquet. Matt. Ch.25; Rev.19:9 II. A more honourable resurrection. Phil.3:11; Heb.11:35 III. Reigning with Christ. Matt. 19:27-28; Luke 19:17-19; 22:28-30; Rom.8:17-21 IV. Treasure in heaven. Matt.6:19-21, 29; 19:21; Luke 12:32-33; 1.Tim. 6:17-19 V. Praise and honour from Jesus and the Father. Matt.6:1, 5, 16; 25:21; John 12:26; 1.Cor.4:5; 1.Pet.1:6-7; 2.Pet.1:10-11 VI. Crowns. Phil.4:1; 1.Cor. 9:24-27; 1.Thes.2:19; 2.Tim.4:6-8; James 1:12; 1.Pet.5:1-4; Rev.2:10; 4:9-10

V.25 c) Repay - Harvest of evil. Everyone will be judged for what wrong he is doing. (Are we running toward a reward or toward judgment)

4:1 d) Masters - Fairness and justice toward servants.

I. Way - In light of the reward of v.24 the masters should be just.

II. Warning - In light of the repayment of v.25 the masters should be fair.