Colossians# 27 3-13 thru 3-15
A. In Col 3:13 he says, “Forbearing one another”
1. Forbearance is kind of a funny word, not used very much,
a) The NIV puts it this way, “Bear with each other.”
b) Another definition is to “TOLERATE AND ENDURE” It also means “ENDURE, BEAR WITH, PUT UP WITH; HEAR OR LISTEN TO WILLINGLY.” Or “ACCEPT”
B. Next he says in V 13, “Forgiving One Another”
1. How? By forgiving as the Lord forgave them, graciously and freely [1]
a) Completely
2. Grudges have no place in a Christian’s life. They may lead to the sins already mentioned in Colossians 3:8-9.[2]
C. COL 3:14
1. The NIV says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”[3]
2. Look at 1COR 13:13
a) Gal 5:6 says, “Faith witch worketh by love.”
3. Back to Col 3:14, Paul says that this LOVE will cause in us a “bond of perfectness.”
a) The NIV says that it should be worded as “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” [4]
b) LOVE binds us together in perfect unity.
(1) Psa 133:1-3
II. Col 3:15
A. Depending on the original texts being used, some of them say, “Let the peace of CHRIST rule in you hearts.”
B. Now the word “RULE” in this verse literally means, “To be an umpire, to decide, determine, to direct, control, rule.”[5]
1. In other words, we are to let God’s peace on the inside lead us and guide us.
2. We are to be lead be the spirit of God.
3. Look at ROM 8:16
a) In other words, this verse is saying that the Spirit of God testifies to our own spirit that we are the children of God.
b) The point being is that the Holy Spirit will speak to our spirit. He will lead us and guide us from His Spirit to our spirit.
C. Here again we have the present imperative again which means continuous action.
1. We are to continue to let the peace of God RULE in our hearts, now and forever.
D. Paul goes on to say in Col 3:15, “to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”[6]
1. The closer believers are to Christ (and His likeness), the closer they are to each other.[7]
a) We are one body, but sometimes we don’t act like it.
b) We are to be concerned about every member in the body of Christ.
c) Even if they don’t belong to this group of people here at Word of Life.
(1) Sometimes they might even seem against us.
(2) Paul said that it doesn’t matter if they are for me or against me as long as they are preaching Christ.
(3) We are all on the same team, it’s unfortunate that some don’t know that, but we are on the same team. We should be for them.
d) And as Paul said in Verse 15, we are to be thankful for them, but we must always have an attitude of gratitude.
e) 1 Thess 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”[8]
WOLCC Thurs. 9/11/2003
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[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Col 3:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Col 3:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[5]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G1018). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[6]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Col 3:15). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[7]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (1 Th 5:18). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.