Colossians – Week 5
October 10 – Colossians
Colossians 3:1-4, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Paul, in his writings, often makes a transition from belief to behavior. As he does here, he declares that because the preceding material is true about who Jesus is and what He has done to redeem us, then we should cooperate with His Holy Spirit so that our lives will change in every imaginable way. Just has a diamond has many facets to consider how pure it is, so do we. We are be made holy in every facet of life.
Paul teaches us that because we have been raised up with Christ in His resurrection power, then that is where we need to put our attention. We need to look up. We need to consciously choose to think about and put our affections on the highest possible level where Jesus reigns with the Father. Since we now belong to the eternal kingdom of heaven, we should have our heads and hearts located there.
Since we live in the earthly realm, it is easy to become consumed with temporal matters that ultimately will no longer last or be of any value. Our challenge is to keep looking up into the face of Jesus. We must remind ourselves that we have been redeemed by heaven, and this is our home. It is what our soul longs for to be whole and well. The extent to which we dwell on Jesus, His word, His holy love, and everything about Him, will match the quality and satisfaction that we will find within ourselves as go about living our daily lives.
As Paul says, the truth is if we have truly been raised up into new life in Jesus Christ, then we have died to ourselves. We have died to charting our own path. We have fully relinquished control of our lives to the One who has redeemed and can restore us to the Creator’s original standards.
Paul gives us a beautiful image that we are now hidden with Christ in God. That indicates wherever Christ is so are we. Wherever we are, so is Christ Jesus. Christ is in us. We are in Christ. This is the best hiding place we will ever find. It surrounds us. It keeps us covered. It protects us. It provides all that we need.
Paul goes on to say that Jesus is our life. He is our breath. He is our every movement. So much so, that when Christ appears at the end of time to usher in the new heaven and earth, we will be right there with Him in all of His glory. What a beautiful and compelling image to set our hearts and minds upon!
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:1-2, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Question(s) to Consider: How much do you think about the things of heaven versus the things of earth? What will you do to look up more?
October 11 – Colossians
Colossians 3:5-8, Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
As the resurrected followers of Jesus who look up with heart and mind into the heavens where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, we discover that something happens to us on earth. Just as we pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” so it happens to us! God’s kingdom comes alive through the presence of the Holy Spirit in order that we might act as the residents of heaven of whom we are.
Paul becomes more specific and practical in his teaching to define what it looks like to live a life hidden with Christ in God. Because Jesus is our very life, Paul paints the picture of what our lives will become as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to put to death those qualities that belong to our old sinful nature which still like to make their appearance from time to time. To put to death is to surrender ourselves to Jesus over and over and invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse and empower us to live the kind of lives that reflect the nature and glory of God.
We have been redeemed to a status of saint (a holy one) in God’s sight so that we might be welcomed into His family. Now that we are in the family, we want to act and look like we belong. Through the work of the Spirit, we are being sanctified. It is a big word which means to be made holy or pure. Our declaration as a saint in redemption becomes more vivid in life.
So, Paul gives us some specific examples of what a sanctified life will be. It will be free from sexual immorality, impurity, and lust of any and every kind. Scripture speaks that the sexual union is a gift for a man and woman in the confines of a faithful marriage. It is not surprising to note this as we, the Body of Christ, are described as Jesus’ bride whom Christ loved and gave himself up to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Included in this list are all evil desires and greed which are nothing less than acts of idolatry. Idolatry is anything we value and prioritize that contradicts or replaces the worship of God. It is not a surprise that God’s wrath will come to destroy all such false worship. He goes on to add to his list all forms of ungodly anger, slander, and filthy language. The emotion of anger must be dealt with in a healthy way. As the holy people of God, it matters what words we speak and what we say about others. We represent heaven in all manner of speech.
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:1-2, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Question(s) to Consider: Are there any of these areas in which you need to put to death? If so, will you surrender to Christ and invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse and empower you?
October 12 – Colossians
Colossians 3:9-11, Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Paul continues his practical application of what a resurrected life in Christ will be. When we look up to heaven, rather than focus on earth, to receive our marching orders, life will be vastly different than the common way. Belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will show up in our daily walk, talk, interactions, transactions, and attitudes. A life hid with Jesus in God cannot be compartmentalized to certain times, people, or activities. It will become all-consuming in every facet of life.
So, with that in mind, Paul says, don’t lie to each other. Be people of truth. Lying erodes trust. When trust is eroded so is the relationship. Lying is an attempt to hide oneself from someone else as Adam and Eve did in the Garden with God. Just as it was for them, such an attempt to hide is overwhelmingly harmful to our relationship with God and others.
The people of God are to be pure and trustworthy. Our Christian faith is intended to be done in a healthy community where we rely upon each other and can count on each other’s word. Just as God is faithful to His word and keeps His promises so He expects us to do the same.
This is what taking off the sinful nature and putting on the new nature through the power of the Holy Spirit will accomplish in us. This new emerging image reflects the very image of our Creator God. We are image-bearers of the holy and true God. The Holy Spirit is at work within us to make it so. As we said previously, we are to cooperate with the Spirit’s work by surrendering ourselves over and over to His loving transforming power.
Paul says that whoever is in Christ Jesus is such an image-bearer. Even though we love to make distinctions and label one another, we are all one in Christ. Our background does not matter. Our nationality does not matter. Our ethnicity does not matter. Our earthly status does not matter.
What does matter in the heavenly kingdom is that Christ is everything and is in everyone who calls on His name to be saved. We are all equal at the foot of the cross and at the table of holy communion. The poor and the rich have the same value in Christ. Men and women are on equal footing in Jesus. Black and white and every other skin tone are beautiful manifestations of the family of God in Jesus. One day we will all worship God together.
May we celebrate who we are collectively in Jesus and honor our relationships as we speak the truth in love.
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:1-2, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Question(s) to Consider: How have you witnessed of the destructive power of lying? How can we enlarge our vision to see we are all one in Jesus regardless of earthly distinctions?
October 13 – Colossians
Colossians 3:12-14, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
This week we have discovered the practical application of being hidden with Christ in God. When Christ is truly our life, then our character will become radically different from those who are still controlled by the sinful nature. We have found that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to take off that which no longer belongs to our new resurrected life in Jesus.
Today, we add to our wardrobe. Because Christ is our everything, because we are the chosen people of God, because we have been declared holy by our redemption in Jesus, because we are so loved by above, then by the presence of Christ’s Spirit within us, we are to clothe ourselves with every Godly attribute.
These Godly characteristics are similar to the fruit of the Spirit that Paul writes about to the Galatians. Imagine, if we fully immersed ourselves in Christ’s character and thoughtfully encountered each relationship, conversation, and interaction with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, what high quality of community we would have.
As believers, we must not copy the worldly example of political and personal polarization that dominates culture. Instead, such attributes are meant to increase the quality and unity of Christian community in spite of the differences we might have. These pro-active qualities are employed to prevent elements of brokenness that so easily come in any relationship.
And then when, inevitably, hurtful words or actions do appear in the family, we are to bear with them. This means to put up with and endure each other. We recognize that we are all flawed beings in the process of being fully transformed into the nature of Christ. We must also go one step further and forgive one another.
And then we find out to what extent we are to do so: as the Lord forgave you. This is rather starling since Paul wrote earlier that Christ forgave all of our sins by completely erasing the record of their very existence. We cannot hold on to resentment or bitterness. We cannot hold grudges. Forgiveness is a decision. The feelings of forgiveness may take some time to work through, but we must decide early and often to forgive.
Paul identifies agape love as the supreme and overarching Christian virtue. Such holy selfless love ensures the that the community of God’s people will be united together in a powerful witness to the world.
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:1-2, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Question(s) to Consider: What will you wear today? Who do you need to forgive?
October 14 – Colossians
Colossians 3:15-17, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. 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.
Peace is a gift from God. It is the presence of Jesus within ruling and reigning over our hearts and minds. I love the imagery that Paul uses in Philippians when he tells us not to worry about anything but to pray about everything with thanksgiving,
Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God’s peace stands guard over us when we surrender our fear and worry to Him. Such all-transcending peace anchors us when storms rock our boats. This is beautifully pictured for us when Jesus was found asleep in the boat while the storm raged on. This is the potent power of the peace of God!
However, this peace is also meant to be interpersonal. We are called to be at peace within the Body of Christ. We may not agree on everything. We may have differing beliefs, practices, churches, and even denominations within this one body, but we can still choose to live and serve together in peace.
Paul adds another reminder to be thankful. He intuitively knew how an attitude of gratitude is so beneficial in all of life. It is like hitting the re-set button. It helps us to be humble and trusting and keep life in proper perspective. Using a thanksgiving journal may be one of the most practical tools we can use to keep us spiritually grounded and at peace.
Paul tells us there are two great benefits to singing. One, it allows us to offer the praise and thanksgiving that our hearts long to lovingly express in worship to God. Second, it is a way that we learn. Like the ABC’s song, putting Scriptural truth into lyrics helps us to remember and teach one another. We can learn and retain a Scripture through song much easier than any other method.
And then Paul ties it all together in telling us that whatever we do or say, it is to be done according to the name and nature of Jesus. Remember, we are hid with Christ in God. So, all manner of our lives should be found displaying God’s holy love. And once again, in all things we are to give thanks to the Father.
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:1-2, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Question(s) to Consider: Is the peace of Christ ruling your heart? If not, will you surrender your worry and fear in prayer right now so that Christ’s peace will stand guard over you?