This is week 7 of our study of Colossians “Look Up! Living Below For Who Is Above!”
Introduction
Last week, we focused on Paul’s warnings against selfishness, judgmentalism, human wisdom, false teachers, and world based philosophies. Paul reminded us of the obligation believers have for promoting and pursuing the truth. This week we will continue on setting our mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
“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. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
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. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Verse 1 – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,…” Paul begins a section where he focuses on practical Christian living. But practical Christian living is built on the foundation of theological truth. Because we know that Jesus is really raised from the dead, then our identification with Him becomes real. It is only because we were raised with Christ that we can see those things which are above.
Verses 2 and 3 – “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” We live our best when our minds are fixed on heaven. The realization is that our lives are hidden with Christ in God, and since Jesus is enthroned in heaven, our thoughts and hearts are also connected to heaven.
Verse 4 – “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” If we keep our mind in heaven now, then when Jesus appears, we will also appear with Him in glory. Wow! What a thought and what a truth!
Verse 5 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Each of these terms refers to sexual sins. Covetousness is simple, but insidious greed and nothing less is idolatry. There is no way that Jesus would walk in any of these sins, so if we identify with Him, we will strive to not walk in them either.
Verse 6 – “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. The sins previously mentioned are part of the way the world lives, not the way Jesus lives. Every believer is faced with a question: “Who will I identify with, the world or Jesus?”
The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. These sins invite His wrath. Because the world loves this kind of lifestyle, they do not come in humility to Jesus. As they continue in these sins, it adds to their condemnation. One sin is enough to send anyone to hell (Deuteronomy 3:10), but there are greater levels of condemnation (Matthew 23:14).
In part, the wrath of God comes as He allows men to continue in sinful – and therefore self-destructive behavior (Romans 1:24-32).
Verse 7 – “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” These sins may mark a world in rebellion against God, but they are in the past tense for Christians.
Verses 8 and 9 – “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices….”
The sins Paul mentions here (anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language) are regarded by many as “little” sins that Christians can overlook. Each of these sins is primarily committed by what we say. James 1:26 and James 3:3-9 have something to say about that – 1:26“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” 3:3-9 “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.”
The more notorious sins mentioned in verse 5 are easily seen as incompatible with the nature of Jesus. But these “lesser” sins are also incompatible, so put off these sins as well.
Verses 10 and 11 – “…. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Put on the new self: The phrase Paul used is used for changing a set of clothes. We can almost picture ourselves taking off the old and putting on the new man in Jesus.
Which is being renewed in knowledge: The new man is renewed in knowledge by being hungry to know what God says in His Word.
In the image of its Creator: The image of God is being renewed/restored through the knowledge of Him.
There is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all: The new man is part of God’s family which favors no race, nationality, class, culture, or ethnicity.
Concluding Remarks and Application
It’s easy to justify the “little” sins in our lives when we compare them with the “big” sins. Paul makes it clear that “little” or “big” sins have no place in our lives. He doesn’t say, just take off some of the old self. Instead, he admonishes us to take it all off and put on all of Jesus.
Paul also makes it clear that racism, sexism, and favoritism have no place in God’s Kingdom.
How do we practically seek those things above and set our minds on them?
1. By spending time in God’s Word
2. By spending time in prayer.
3. By spending time with things that build us up in God instead of merely entertaining us.
4. By gathering with others in the Lord.
5. By holding our tongue.
Note: Much of this message was taken from Week Seven of the Easthaven Small Group study book, Look Up Living Below For Who Is Above.
