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Today we begin to look at a section of Colossians that is practical and ethical in its emphasis, Paul encourages his readers, and that means us, to give outward expression of what we believe in daily living to the experience of knowing Jesus. The Christian life is a life “hidden with Christ in God,” but it is still a life lived out on earth. Christians must give careful attention not only to their inward experience with God but also to their outward relations with their fellow human beings.
That’s what we will look at today and next week.
To get the ball rolling Paul again emphasizes the relationship to Jesus. COL 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Since we have been raised with Christ. Nice statement, but what does it mean???
Well the imagery here is about being raised from the immersion of Baptism. Raised up from death to life in Jesus Christ. In those days baptism was done pretty much as soon as you became a Christian. Not a bad precedent, Baptism is one of those very personal issues yet one of those very public examples. Baptism as I see it is in response to an understanding that Jesus Christ has dealt with the sin issue in life, and is really symbolic of dying to the world and selfish ambitions and rising again to be committed to the world that Jesus gives. The imagery in this passage gives us that but takes us on from that commitment. Set your minds on things above. Set you minds on Jesus stuff. Set you minds on what Jesus would have you think about.
The next part of the passage he puts some ideas about what NOT to think about.
COL 3:5 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. The “Put to death” in the geek comes out kinda like “ treat as if dead” In other words – treat as if dead and gone the following things.Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.
What an interesting list. Notice what happens here. These things were issues to the Colossians. Sexual immorality was a way of life, the laws of purity that the Jews held to meant nothing to the Colossians, lust was connected with all this and evil desires were praised. Now my assumption is that we perceive we are above all these. But let me out a slightly different perspective on it.When was the last time you wanted to thump someone? That is an evil desire.What about the last time you saw something that someone else had that you would really like? That’s lust.Who watched underbelly? There was sexual immorality there and if you watched it, in some ways you condoned it.
See what I am saying – they still affect us. I haven’t even mentioned greed.
Paul goes on, and what he does is hones in on the more basic or the more prevalent or surface issues. It is nearly as if he expected the people of
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Now, who can really say that they haven’t been involved in all this! And it narrows down even further with V 9 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
The word lie in the NT comes from the word pseud – and it means false.This little bit of a verse says don’t be false to each other. That is a bit different from our contemporary idea of lying. Really the modern idea of real lying is a total absence of the truth. Yet in the bible any falseness is a lie there is no grey area – 1% of falseness is equal to 90%. This passage says no level of falseness is acceptable. I find this a bit tough sometimes with confidentiality issues. One person say one thing that isn’t right but because of a confidential situation you can’t correct their information, yet we need to work out how to do this. I take confidentiality very seriously, I also take this verse very seriously. I need to be able to find a balance there.
In each of our lives we have issues like this, yet the bible says truth is paramount, truth is essential and truth is to be proclaimed. We need to spend some time on this as individuals. But Paul gives us a perspective on it.
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
The concept of putting on a new self is like that of putting on new clothes. It is a practical reclothing. I think my wife will like this verse. She likes new clothes - a lot. But putting on new clothes is a conscious decision You choose the clothes, you put them on you check if they look any good in the mirror. I know I have watched my wife do it.
In the same way – we deliberately and consciously “put on” what Jesus would have us put on in the way of behaviour and standards. It is interesting where Paul takes the conversation.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. The standard is the same for everyone, there is no distinction of race, but also no distinction in spiritual maturity or social status.
Paul gives us the clothes to where.
Firstly – Holy. Holy does not mean pure. It means set apart. It is a contemporary myth and misuse of the word to make it mean perfect or pure. God calls us to be set apart for Him. That is the first part of our clothing. Secondly – dearly loved. – We need to recognize that our clothing is an act of love from God. Our clothes come form God. We are set apart by God as an act of love – oh yeh.
From there we have a list of characteristics of lifestyle.Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Now let me point something out here. These are not natural to the Australian way of life. They are God induced. They are conscious decisions to be made for each characteristic to be part of our life. Look at the verse.
COL 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. In other word put on these things – make it a deliberate choice.Paul is blunt enough, we get what he means but he goes further.
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. Paul knows our nature doesn’t he, God knows our nature and had Paul write this down for us. We need to clothe ourselves with tolerance for each other. The greek word for the term bear with each other is anechomai which literally means to “Put up with each other.” That says it pretty plainly – put up with each other. Cope with it. After all we are all different, to use a biblical phrase – “we are a peculiar people.” Yep. Differences often cause stress, but we are told to bear with it. Why? God designed us all different, and with a reason. If you were all like me this would be one bizarre church!!!!
But notice what is next – Forgive whatever grievances. Oh mate this is tough. Whatever – you can’t hold back, we can’t hold back. It doesn’t say discuss it and come to an arrangement –that maybe working through the process of dealing with nit – it says point blank – forgive. No questions asked. What is more look at how Paul states it. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Now that puts some pressure on.After all Jesus forgiveness is total, without agenda, without memory.
So – we have to do it too!!! Just like Jesus.
I’m going to let you keep thinking about that as we sing the next song. Use this song to deal with each issue, but make a promise to yourself and to God to work this through during the week.
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