Hello Friends!
Welcome back! This week we’ll continue to work our way through the
powerful
book written by the Apostle Paul to the Colossians as we consider the PERSON and WORK of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “The Supremacy of Jesus
Christ!”
This
week we will begin our reading of verses 1-11
in chapter 3 as
we consider a life of NO Legalism! ONLY Jesus Christ…
Colossians: The Supremacy of Jesus
Christ! (Chapter 3:1-11)
QUIZZING QUESTIONS: As we closed our
previous study in chapter 2, we asked
ourselves these THREE important
questions concerning our “walk”
with the Lord:
ONE ~ WHAT are the things we SEEK most
earnestly?
TWO ~ WHAT is on our MIND most of the time?
THREE ~ WHAT do we LOVE most in life?
Now,
as we begin our study here in chapter 3,
we will find these inquisitive questions to serve as a REMINDER
for “us” to MEDITATE
upon in DETERMINING if our preoccupation
is “heavenly” or “earthly”
focused – GOD or SELF?
The
main
purpose of the Apostle Paul’s PRACTICLE
“admonishment” found in these poignant
passages is to assist us in “seeking”
to establishing WHERE our “affection” ought to BE
and MUST therefore represent the KEY to our THINKING about God:
If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth – Colossians
3:1-2
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: What Paul says in
this passage is quite SIMPLE
and very CLEAR to be sure! In
fact, elsewhere Paul and “Jesus Christ”
our Lord further “teach” that the “brethren” are to be HEAVENLY minded...
Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:13-14
Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things – Philippians
4:8
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal – Matthew 6:20
We
are to be IN the “world” but not OF
it and therefore must divorce ourselves from this “world” in terms of our spiritual ATTITUDE and INNER
man. And this PARADOX runs all throughout
the conversations that “Jesus Christ”
shared with his “disciples” and all throughout
the New
Testament itself – PRACTICLE Christian LIVING!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In the Greek language, these
Scriptural TRUTHS are presented in
the “eros“
or past
tense of which represents something that has ALREADY
happened. Therefore, whenever a Greek wanted to say something that had been accomplished,
was absolutely irrevocable and could NOT
be changed,
he spoke of it in the – PAST tense!
As
we arrive at the precipice of this excellent epistle, Paul has already
established “sound doctrine” in chapter 1 & chapter
2 and has settled the “arguments”
from the “false teachers” concerning
the PERSON and WORK
of “Jesus Christ” our ALL-SUFFICIENT
Savior and Lord. Now, throughout the balance of this Holy Spirit INSPIRED letter, Paul is going to address
the PRACTICE and
APPLICATION through OBEDIENCE
to various areas of our PERSONAL
lives – Living FOR Jesus Christ!
For ye are dead, and your life
is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory – Colossians
3:3-4
And
elsewhere Paul reiterates this amazing TRUTH
concerning our “heavenly”
abode with our “Lord Jesus
Christ” throughout his excellent epistles:
But God
forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world – Galatians 6:14
And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus – Ephesians
2:6
For our
conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ – Philippians
3:20
Prior
to the MOMENT you came to “Jesus Christ” the “Savior” you were “dead” in your “sins” of your OLD
nature. BUT you were then made ALIVE and “hid
with Christ in God” appearing together with “him in glory” forever! Therefore, the POWER for “living”
the “Christian” life is to CONCENTRATE
and FUNCTION through “those
things which are above” found within the KINGDOM
of God – An UPWARD focus!
There
are many “Christians” today who are
clamoring after silly saps and manic men of GNOSTIC
persuasion trying to capture certain UNBIBLICAL
and “mystical” man-made EXPERIENCES
of a SPIRITUAL nature. These “false teachers” promise a quasi “higher
knowledge,” “deeper life” or “second
blessing” of sorts. WHY?
Because they have NEVER truly “learned” what it is to simply
enjoy “Jesus Christ” of Whom is ALL they NEED
within their SANCTIFYING daily “walk” with Him – Jesus Christ is ENOUGH!
TWO SIN Lists!
Next
the Apostle Paul expounds upon TWO contrasting lists of serious SINS we must “put
off” as an ACT
of our WILL. Therefore, true “Christians” are COMMANDED
to “mortify” (kill) the “flesh”
by committing
suicide of our earthly “members”
in regards to the evil “things”
within our lives – Dead to SIN!
SIN list
ONE: The first SIN list is PERSONAL
in nature relating to feelings and speaks about unholy
acts of which can DESTROY our witness FOR “Jesus Christ”:
Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the
wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also
walked some time, when ye lived in them – Colossians
3:5-7
The
Greek words "pornea" and "graphe" are where we get our
English word "pornography" representing sexual SIN such as “fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence” and is
associated with “unlawful” sexual
relationships. The Greek word for “covetousness”
is "plionexia" and is from two words "plion"
which means MORE and "exia"
which means to HAVE MORE of what isn't
yours to have. And this SIN
list goes far BEYOND the sexual “disobedience” between a MAN and a WOMAN
and reflects “idolatry” of the “unrighteous”
wicked HEART:
Know ye
not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers
of themselves with mankind – 1 Corinthians 6:9
These
“unrighteous”
behavior PATTERNS performed by
the UNREPENTANT person will actually cause
then to NEVER ever “inherit the kingdom of God”
but rather RECEIVE the eternal “wrath of God” from on High. And these
passages cover ANY kind of FORBIDDEN sexual activity – Pure EVIL in nature!
Therefore,
throughout the book of Romans Paul
reiterates this poignant point regarding the KILLING
of our “flesh”
and conversely LIVING for God from our POSITION in “Jesus
Christ” through the “Spirit”
quite appropriately:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin – Romans 6:6
Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,
that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto
sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness unto God – Romans 6:11-13
For if
ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body, ye shall live – Romans
8:13
I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God – Romans
12:1-2
It
is our MIND that God wants
to capture! WHY? Because it is the MIND that controls the BEHAVIOR and thus, our “evil thoughts” will produce SIN just as “righteous
thoughts” will produce – Righteous DEEDS!
SIN list
TWO: The second SIN list is SOCIAL
in nature relating to our mouth and speaks about unholy
speech of which can DESTROY our fellowship WITH other “believers”:
But now ye also put off all
these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds
– Colossians 3:8-9
Just
as a man will “take off” his dirty clothes,
so we MUST promptly “put off” the filthy rags – “deeds” – of our OLD
life. What Paul is referring to here is a smoldering “anger”
deep down in the “heart” of man. This then
leads to "malice" or "cachia"
meaning evil speaking and “lying”
coupled with “filthy communication” of the
very “mouth” given to us by God – Mouth of malice!
In
fact, Jesus and James also had this to say of the “mouth”
concerning this serious SIN
issue:
Therewith bless we God, even
the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of
God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not so to be – James 3:9-10
But I
say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall
be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire – Matthew
5:22
Let’s
look at it this way: When we slander a human being, we are
GUILTY of “blasphemy”
wholly against God Himself – Lord
Jesus, help us!
POINGNANT POINT: The English dictionary defines suicide
as the “act of killing one's self intentionally” and this prolific
passage invites EVERY true “Christian” to do exactly that! HOW? Here Paul “admonishes”
us that by “living” the NEW life IN
“Jesus Christ” involves the life-long
process of SANCTIFICATION through
the “mortifying” of the “old
man” who once “walked”
and “lived” in these wicked “deeds” as wandering “children
of disobedience” before God. This boils down to one PRACTICAL point: We are NEW creatures and thus must LIVE and WALK
it out to God’s glory – The NEW
life!
And
God as an ACT of His SOVEREIGN Power, has KILLED
your OLD life by giving you a NEW life IN
His Son! However, this REALITY
has to “work” itself out IN your life PRACTICALLY
through an everyday act of WILLFUL
living – OBEDIENCE to God’s Word!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The “Jews”
and “Gentiles” have been at odds with each
other for centuries, having NOTHING
to do with each other. A “Jew”
was forbidden to ever enter a “Gentile”
house. They wouldn't eat a meal with a “Gentile”
utensil and they wouldn't eat anything cooked in a “Gentile”
pot. They wouldn't buy meat cut and butchered by “Gentile”
hands. And when they traveled to a “Gentile”
country, the “Jew” would shake the dirt
off their clothes and feet upon their return. WHY?
Because they didn't want to introduce “Gentile”
dirt into “Jewish” territory!
Similarly, the “Gentile” were just as bad,
as they felt the same way about the “Jewish”
people. And all of a sudden, the “Gospel”
comes along and says: “You're all ONE
in Jesus Christ!" This was an INCREDIBLE
statement. The “church” was now made up of “Jew” and “Gentile”
and were both ONE in “Messiah” our Lord. As a REDEEMED result, many “Jewish” synagogues began dissolving
into the FAMILY of God – The Church of Jesus Christ!
Therefore,
Paul finally “admonishes” us to “put on” the “new
man” of our NEW
nature:
And have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him, where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all – Colossians
3:10-11
The
“new man” has been “renewed
in knowledge” of God of Whom “created”
us in His “image” and SAVED us by SALVATION
through “Jesus Christ”
in which there is absolutely NO
difference between the “Greek”
or “Jew” of ethnic origin. And there is
absolutely NO difference between “bond” or “free”
in personal citizenry. WHY?
Because “Christ is all” and He is “in all” who BELIEVE
on Him – SAVED
by His GRACE!
In
fact, the Apostle Peter also had this to say concerning the “divine power” of God through His “precious promises” pertaining to our NEW found “divine
nature” that now EMPOWERS
us unto “life and godliness” from the
“corruption” of the “world”
and its evil:
According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust – 2 Peter 1:3-4
You
voluntarily
appropriated the DEATH of “Jesus Christ” and thus you DIED to your OLD
life – Death to the OLD nature!
In closing:
The
ONLY way to REMOVE
yourself from ALL of this rank “religious” NONSENSE
is to MOVE your “heart,” “mind”
and “motives” unto the OBEDIENCE
of “Jesus Christ” our Lord – For HIS Glory!
Before
we can REACH the “world” we have to LEAVE
it behind! And that may sound paradoxical, but it really isn't. In the Gospel of John,
Jesus said:
And he
said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I
am not of this world – John 8:23
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom
were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence – John 18:36
As
long as we are earth bound and PREOCCUPIED
with this “world's” system: caught up
with money, fame, popularity, fashion, education or whatever... As long as
those are the “things” we “love” and “think”
about the MOST, we are EARTHLY and will NOT
reach the LOST wicked “world” with the “Gospel”
of God – He DEMANDS this!
Our
INSIDE lives are SECURED
in “heaven” and yet our OUTSIDE
lives are BOUND to the evil “world” around us! Therefore, to REACH the lost “world”
abroad, we must LIVE from WITHOUT it and yet SIMULTANEOUSLY
bring TO it God’s DIVINE dimension – The ONLY
SAVING Gospel of Jesus Christ!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give
US the courage
and boldness to “contend
earnestly for the faith” that was signed, sealed
and delivered some – 2000
years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 1-11 in the third of the excellent book to the Colossians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
