Good morning,
This week we will learn how to walk in Christ. We will look at the heavenly focus (1-4), how to live a holy life (5-17), and living the Christian life in all relationships. We will be encouraged and challenged as we study Colossians 3.
COLOSSIANS 3
PRACTICAL LIVING FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (3:17)
The Bible tells us to live holy lives. Paul gives us principles, teaching us what holiness looks like. Holiness is not passive. We will see action words. Things we must do to bring us closer to the example Jesus Christ set for us. Chapter 3, verses 5-17, challenges us to live as Christ lives.
How to live a holy life (5-17)
Mortify (5-7)
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Put off (8-9)
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Put on (10-15)
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
The word of God (16)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (17)
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Paul starts by telling the Colossians to mortify, kill, members, energies and activities of the old man. He continues by telling them to “put off” the activities of the “old man”. Then to counteract the activities of the “old man”, they are to “put on” the activities of the “new man”. These activities are to be bound by charity and love. Having “put on” the activities of the new man, Paul encourages the Colossians to be thankful, allowing the word of Christ to dwell within them, to teach the fellow believers in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Although there is no magic formula to holiness, these verses give us some steps to get there.
Tomorrow, we will see how these principles play out in our individual personal relationships with others?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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