Colossians 3
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Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The following material is adopted from John MacArthur’s commentary on Colossians and his Study guide. Additional material taken from sources listed at the end
Living the Risen Life (3:1-4)
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Practical Paul now moves to the practical aspects of Holiness
— He wants us to think of our heavenly realities and that we don’t belong to this world (John 18:36)
— We have overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5)
— We are citizens of Heaven ( Eph 2:6; Phil 3:20)
The Reminder
(3:1) If then you were raised with Christ
— “If” is better translated as “Since” (NIV)
— It is an accomplished act
Same teaching Paul teaches the same thing in Gal 2:20 and Rom 6:3-4
— I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ( Gal 2:20 )
— “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” ( Rom 6:3-5 )
— Rom 6:3-4 is a dry verse (as is 1 Peter 3:21)
New Life The new life is powerful
— But so is SIN; it can still over power us
— We need to “work out our new life”
— Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ( Phil 2:12 )
— Live out the reality of our union with Christ
The Responsibility
(3:1b) seek those things which are above
Seek ζητέω (zēteō). vb. to seek. To seek what is lost, what is due.
— Keep seeking, continuous preoccupation with the eternal realities that are ours in Christ
— Be preoccupied with Heaven
— View the world from His eyes with an eternal perspective
— Set your mind on things above
— In contrast to the evil man who (Pr 6:14) devises evil continually, He sows discord
— Or men whose thoughts are futile (Ro 1:21) and have a debased mind (Ro 1:28)
Our Resource
(3:1c) where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God
Right Hand A place of honor
— An exalted position
— The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ( Ps 110:1 )
— Jesus told his accusers that He would be seated at the Father’s right hand
— “Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” ( Luke 22:69 )
— Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of the father (Acts 7:56)
— and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ( Acts 7:56 )
— Writer of Hebrews says Jesus is in the place of honor
— who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ( Heb 1:3 )
(3:2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth
Q: How does a person set their mind or heart on “things above” (3:2)?
— Set your mind; “think” or more thoroughly, “have this inner disposition”
Lightfoot Lightfoot paraphrases it, “You must not only seek heaven, you must also think heaven”
MacArthur — “The believers whole disposition should orient itself toward heaven, where Christ is, just as a needle
orientates itself north.”
The Reason
(3:3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
We Died We died to the world
— Our life is hidden with Christ
Died ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) You have died, past tense
— Took place at the time of our salvation (2 Cor 5:17)
— Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ( 2 Cor 5:17 )
Q: In what sense has the believer died?
Penalty Paid The penalty for our sin has been paid
— The wages of sin is death, we must die
— Because of our union with Christ we have died in Him
— Died in the sense of paying sin’s penalty
— We have not died to the presence and power of sin but it no longer can condemn us
(3:3) your life is hidden with Christ in God
Q: How is your life “hidden with Christ in God”?
(1) We have a common life with the Father and the Son
— by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ( 2 Pet 1:4 )
(2) The world cannot see who we really are.
—Our new life is concealed from the world
— Our true manifestation of the sons of God is yet to come ( 1 Cor 2:14; Ro 8:19; 1 John 3:2 )
— But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ( 1 Cor 2:14 )
(3) We are eternally secure
— We are protected from spiritual foes ( John 10:28, 1 Pet 1:4; Heb 7:25; Ro 8:31-39 )
— And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ( Jn 10:28 )
(3:4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
The Revelation
Not Recognized The world doesn’t recognize those “hidden in Christ”
— One day it will!
— We will be revealed at Christ’s second coming (Rev 19:11-13; Rev 19:15-16; 2 Tim 2:19)
— Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” ( 2 Tim 2:19 )
Our Life Paul adds that “Christ is our life”
— He doesn’t merely give life; He is life (Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 4:10)
— For me to live is Christ (Phil 1:21)
Putting Sin to Death (3:5-9a)
( 3:5-9 ) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Positional Reality There is a positional reality that our sin was put to death
— knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ( Ro 6:6 )
— We died to the penalty but not the presence or the power of sin
Yield We must yield to the Holy Spirit to put to death the power of sin
— For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ( Ro 8:13 )
Word/Filled We are to be strong in the Word (1 John 2:14)
— I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. ( 1 Jn 2:14 )
— Filled with the Word and filled with the Spirit
— Eph 5:8 is the same as allowing the word to dwell richly in you (Col 3:16)
Therefore (3:5) Therefore
Since we:
— Share in Christ’s death and resurrection (2:12-13)
— Our lives are hidden in him (3:3)
— God will one day be revealed in Glory with Him (3:4)
Our duty We must kill sin
Doctrine & Practice Romans 6 shows us the connection between doctrine and practice
— The truth about our union with Christ (Ro 6:11-13)
— Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ( Ro 6:11-13 )
(3:5) put to death your members which are on the earth
— Don’t think of your members dead of passion, desire, lust
— You still need to put them to death
— Paul is saying that the body should be holy, under the control of the spirit
MacArthur The battle with sin is common to all believers, even Paul (cf. Rom 7:14-25). The desire of the new inner man to live a life pleasing
to God is held by back by the old, sinful flesh with its fallen patterns. Although believers are new creatures on the inside (2 Cor 5:17),
the new creatures live in old bodies. Thus our bodies can either be instruments for righteousness, or for iniquity. For this reason
Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Commentary:
Colossians and Philemon, 137)
Q: How do you think the sins mentioned in 3:5 relate to each other?
Two Lists of sins
(1) Perverted Love (3:5) fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry
— Begins with “acts” like fornication, uncleanness
— Moves to “motives” like passion, evil desire and covetousness
— These are all personal sins and relate to feelings
Fornication πορνεία (porneia) immorality (NASB), fornication (NKJV), sexual immorality (NIV)
— porneia refers to sexual sin
— Our English word pornography comes from porneia + graphe (γραφί) which means writing
— porneia originally referred to a prostitute (the related word porne is the Greek word for “prostitute”)
— This text is not talking about Prostitution just as Hosea marrying a Prostitute (Hos 1:3) not about prostitution
— or Israel being called a Harlot (Isa 1:21) wasn’t about prostitution
— In the NT the meaning is broad and can mean any illicit sex, translations like NIV call it “sexual immorality”
BDAG — prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich Greek-English Lexicon)
Q: Do we know that the bible forbids any sexual activity outside of marriage? News Flash! Yet, we are all guilty
Bible forbids The bible forbids any sex outside of marriage between a man and a women (Gal 5:19)
— Jerusalem council ordered believers to abstain from it (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25)
— Paul was shocked to hear it was happening in Corinth ( 1 Cor 5:1)
— Paul summarizes what is the will of God in this regard (1 Thess 4:3)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
(3:5) uncleanness
Uncleanness ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia). uncleanness, impurity
— Catharsis - cleansing, “a” negates the meaning, ie. impurity
— But more general than impurity
— The thoughts and intentions of the mind
— While porneia refers to sexual immorality this is relates to our impure thoughts, intentions
— Entertaining sinful thoughts will lead to sin; “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Gal 5:9, Matt 5:28)
— And this sin should not be indulged (Eph 5:3; 1 Thess 4:7)
Q: Where does evil behavior start?
Stinkin Thinkin It starts with our thinking, our thoughts. Our “Stinkin Thinking”
— Pure thoughts lead to pure behavior (Phil 4:8)
— Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ( Phil 4:8 )
(3:5) passion — Sexual passion
(3:5) evil desire - greed
— Mentioned last in the 10 commandments (Ex 20:17)
— Insatiable desire for more, it is the source of all fights and quarrels (James 4:2)
— “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war”
Idolatry Greed is idolatry, we do what we want not what God wants
William Barclay “It is, therefore, a sin with a very wide range. If it is the desire for money, it leads to theft. If it is the desire for prestige, it leads to evil ambition
if it is the desire for power, it leads to sadistic tyranny. If it is the desire for a person, it leads to sexual sin”
Contentment The opposite of covetousness and greed is contentment
— The antidote
— It comes from trusting God
— Our basis? Knowledge of Him as revealed in Scripture
Reasons for putting Sin to Death (Col 3:6-7)
( 3:6-7 ) Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
(3:6) the wrath of God
Pink The wrath of God is the holiness of God stirred into activity against sin (Arthur Pink, Attributes of God)
Storing Up Unbelievers are “storing up” God’s wrath
— But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ( Ro 2:5 )
Result Sin brings wrath not blessing
— God’s wrath abides on unbelievers because they no not believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:36)
— He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” ( Jn 3:36 )
Q: Does this mean that Christians who sin will experience God’s wrath?
No But those who love Christ would not want to practice those things that characterize unbelievers
— God will react to sin
— Unbelievers will receive His wrath
— Believers will receive chastening (Heb 12:5-6)
— And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” ( Heb 12:5-6 )
Sin is parts of the believers past (3:7)
(3:7) in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
We were just like this, sinners
— But God was rich in His mercy (Eph 2:1-5)
Spurgeon Charles Spurgeon asks: “Christian, what have you to do with Sin? Hasn’t it cost you enough already? Burnt child? Will you again play with fire? What?
When you’ve been between the jaws of a lion, will you again step into the lion’s den? Did sin ever bring you real pleasure? If so, go back to your old
ways and wear that chain again. But in as much sin never did give you what it promised, but mislead you with lies, be free.
Once Rich Why would anyone who was once rich return to the slums of poverty? (Ro 6:1-2)
— What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ( Ro 6:1-2 )
Sins of Wicked Hate (3:8-9a)
(3:8-9a) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another
Social Sins Unlike the previous list, these are not personal but social
— Committed directly against people
Putt off ἀποτίθημι (apotithēmi), lay aside; take off
— Take off the old clothes
— In the early church when you were baptized, you took off the old clothes and put on new white robes
Q: And what are we told to take off? (3:8)?
(3:8) anger
Anger ὀργή (orgē). n. fem. wrath, anger
— Deep, smoldering, resentful bitterness.
— A settled attitude
— Provocations don’t create this anger, they reveal it
— We should put it away (Eph 4:31) and long with wrath and evil speaking
— Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ( Eph 4:31 )
— We should be quick to hear but slow to speak (James 1:19-20)
— So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ( Jam 1:19-20 )
(3:8) wrath
Wrath θυμός (thymos). n. masc. anger, wrath, rage
— Anger and wrath are closely related and Paul uses them together θυμός + ὀργή ( Ro 2:8 )
— Anger is below the surface but can suddenly explode in wrath
BDAG Can mean passionate longing like ( Rev 14:8, cf. 18:3 )
“she has caused the nations to drink the wine of her passionate immorality” ( Rev 14:8 )
— A mixed metaphor: the wine of harlotry which Babylon intoxicates the nations becomes the wine of God’s wrath for them
(3:8) malice
— The translations translate this as Malice (NASB, NKJV, NIV, ESV)
— malicious behavior (NLT)
Malice κακία (kakia), wickedness; evil; malice
— “The vicious nature bent on doing hard” (Lightfoot)
(3:8) blasphemy
Slander βλασφημία (blasphēmia). n. fem. blasphemy, slander
— The word is “blasphemy” when used to speak against God
— “Slander” when used to speak against people
— Actually, still blasphemy because we are made in the image of God
— With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ( James 3:9 )
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
— People are to be treated with dignity because we are all made in the image of God
(3:8) filthy language out of your mouth
Filthy Language αἰσχρολογία (aischrologia), abusive language
— You can’t watch a movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime without hearing filthy language
— Abusive speech and foul-mouthed abuse is forbidden for a Christian
— neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ( Eph 5:4 )
— We have to consider how serious are our words
— A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ( Matt 12:35-36 )
(3:9) Do not lie to one another
Lies It would be time consuming, but start with Genesis and record and look at every lie in the bible
— (Gen 3:4-5) Satan lied deceiving Adam and Eve
— (Gen 4:9) Cain lied and murdered Abel
— (Gen 12;11-19, 20:2) Abraham lied, said Sarah was his sister
— (Gen 18:15) Sarah lied to three (3) angelic visitors
— (Gen 20:5) Sarah lied to the king of Gerar
—(Gen 26:7-10) Isaac lied denying that Rebecca was his wife
— (Gen 27:6-24) Rebecca and Isaac lied to defraud Esau of his birthright
— And there are still more in Genesis
Satan Lying characterizes Satan not God; God can not lie (Titus 1:2)
— When we lie we are imitating Satan, not God
— You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ( Jn 8:44 )
— The battle for holiness is being fought every day
— Starve sin, don’t feed it (3:16)
— Meditate on positive graces (Phil 4:8)
Putting on the New Man (3:9b-17)
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
(3:9a-10a) since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man
Old Clothes Idea of taking off old clothes and putting on new clothes
Old vs New Many teach that we get a new self and keep the old self
— Experience feels this way
— They teach that salvation is addition, not transformation
— Our daily struggle is the battling betwen these two
— This is not consistent with the bible (2 Cor 5:17)
— Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ( 2 Cor 5:17 )
— Salvation is transformation
Q: What is the old self, man?
Old Self This is the old, wretched, depraved, sinful man
— that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ( Eph 4:22 )
New — The “New Man” is the regenerated you, the new creature (2 Cor 5:17)
— The new man walks differently
— This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ( Eph 4:17 )
— We are not 1/2 old man and 1/2 new man as some teach
In Light of God’s truth The new man walks in light of God’s truth
— For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ( Eph 5:8 )
Love And we are also to walk in love
— Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ( Eph 5:1-2 )
Wisdom And we are to walk in wisdom
— “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” ( Eph 5:15 )
Adam or Christ All men are either in the old man (Adam) or in the new man (Christ)
Goodwin Puritan writer Thomas Goodwin writes:
“There are but two men that are seen standing before God, Adam and Jesus Christ; and these two men have all other men hanging at their girdles”
Paul contrasts Adam and Christ in Romans 5:12-21
— Through Adam came sin and death (5:12-14)
— Through Christ comes Grace and righteousness (5:15-18)
— Adam’s disobedience made all men sinners (5:19)
— Through Christ’s obedience men became righteous (5:19)
Impossible It is impossible to be both “in Adam and Christ”; “In the old man and new man”
Q: But why do we sin if the old man is gone?
Where sin abides Sin does not live in the “inner man”
— Sin abides in our bodies; we live in our bodies (Ro 7:14-25)
— The “I” that loves what is holy
— The sin is in the flesh, not the flesh in and of itself
— Rather, the body as being used and tyrannized by sin
— The body possessed by evil and sin includes all sinful desires, drives, passions.
— Paul concludes ( Ro 7:25 ) “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin”
Hope But there is hope, our body awaits redemption
— What is already a reality to the inner man will also happen to our outer man, our flesh (Ro 8:23)
— “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body”
(3:10b) who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him
Maturity NOT INSTANT Maturity
— We are complete like a body is complete but we have to grow
Knowledge From mature knowledge flows holy living
— Peter exhorts believers
— “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” ( 1 Pet 2:2 )
(3:11) where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Greek & Jew Greeks and Jews had noting to do with each other
— A Greek is another word for Gentile, non-Jew
— A Jew would not even step into the house of a Gentile
— A Jew would not eat meat from a Gentile butcher
— When a Jew returned to Jerusalem, shook the dust off their feet
— Apostles did not think they were equals ( Acts 10-11)
Separate God gave the Jews the Law to separate them from the Gentiles, they were an island surrounded by Gentiles
— So He gave them Feasts, festivals, dietary laws, certain dress codes and the moral law
— God made it very difficult for the Jew to interact with his non-Jew neighbor
— The Jews embraced it and elevated it and began to hate the rest of the World
— They were supposed to take the truth of God to the rest of the world but instead they hated the world - illustration is Jonah
Gospel The gospel broke down those barriers (Eph 13-16)
— We became one in Christ, Jew and Gentile
(3:11) Scythian
Scythian A nomad people, barbarians people
— Onomatopoetic word used to describe someone who spoke an inarticulate, stammering speech
— Hated and feared, warlike people
— Invaded the Fertile Crescent in the 6th Century B.C.; came from Southern Russia
Crescent Canaan W, Syria N, Assyria E, Babylonia SE to the Persian Gulf
Herodotus The Greek historian Herodotus wrote
They drank the blood of the first enemy they killed, made napkins of scalps, bowls of skulls
Josephus The Jewish historian wrote
The Scythians delight in murdering people and are little better than wild beasts (Against Apion 2.269)
(3:11) Christ is all and in all
Barriers broken Christ broke down the barriers
— He demolished social barriers
— Because Christ dwells in all believers, all are equal
— He breaks down all social, religious, cultural barriers
— All are new men in Christ (Eph 2:15)
( 3:12-13 ) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
(3:12) as the elect of God
— Chosen of God
— Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves (NLT)
— God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved (NIV)
Chosen No one comes to Christ or becomes a Christian because of their own choice
— People will argue
— But God chose us and this is clearly taught in the bible
— The reformers called this divine election
Divine Election
When? Before the foundation of the world
— just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ( Eph 1:4 )
— Paul referred to the Colossian church members as chosen (3:12)
— Paul knew that the church members at Thessalonica were chosen and he referred to them as chosen (1 Thess 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13)
— knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ( 1 Thess 1:4 )
— But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ( 2 Thes 2:13 )
— Our names are in the book of life written before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8, 17:18)
Saved The “saved” are the chosen (John 15:16; Ro 8:33; 2 Tim 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1)
Not works Paul reminds Timothy that we are chosen not based on our good works (2 Tim 1:9)
— who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, ( 2 Tim 1:9 )
(3:12) holy and beloved
Beloved We are objects of his special love
— Election is not cold, fatalistic
— It is based on his incomprehensible love for us! (Ep 1:5)
— “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will’
Holy And because of God’s election we are holy
— Set apart, different than the rest of the world
— When we don’t act differently, when we act worldly, we violate the very purpose of God calling us, choosing us
What was once true of Israel, now true of the Church
Chosen Israel was chosen (Deut 7:4, 14:2; 1 Chron 16:13, Ps 105:43, Ps 135:4, Isa 41:8, 44:1, 45:4)
Holy Israel was holy (Ex 19:6, Lev 19:2, Jer 2:3)
Beloved Israel was beloved (1 Kin 10:9; 2 Chron 9:8, Hos 11:1)
Set aside Israel is temporarily set aide (Ro 9-11)
— Gentiles have been grafted in
Ordains God ordains us to eternal life
— Paul and Barnabas preached the Gentiles had been appointed (ordained) to eternal life (Acts 13:46-48)
46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Sovereignty God expresses his sovereignty in choosing whom He wills (Ro 9:13-16, 19-22)
Election The doctrine of election crushes human pride, exalts God
— Produces joy and gratitude
— Gives us assurance
— Makes us bold and courageous
Put On
(3:12) put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Put On Earlier Paul told us to take off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy language (3:9)
— Now, he tells us what we should put on
(3:12) tender mercies
— A heart of compassion (ASV)
— tenderhearted mercy (NLT)
Heart The heart is the seat of emotions, inward part of the human body
— We are to have heartfelt, deep compassion
— We are not to be indifferent to suffering, homelessness, hunger
Compassion Jesus is our model; he showed great compassion (Matt 9:36)
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Attribute One of God’s attributes (Luke 6:36; James 5:11)
(3:12) kindness
Kindness χρηστότης (chrēstotēs), kindness, goodness
— Not harsh to bear
— Very similar to compassion, goodness (Luke 6:35)
— The Greek word refers to the grace that pervades the whole person, mellowing out all that is harsh
— Jesus uses this same word χρηστότης (chrēstotēs) when the translators translated “easy” in Matt 11:30
— “My yoke is easy”
— As concerned about our neighbors’ welfare as our own
— It was the Lord’s kindness that led us to repentance (Ro 2:4; cf. Titus 3:4)
(3:12) humility
Humility ταπεινοφροσύνη (tapeinophrosynē). n. fem. humility, modesty
— Humility characterized Jesus (Matt 11:29)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
— Humility is the antidote to self-love (hubris) that poisons relationships
— It is the most treasured virtue (Eph 4:2)
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
— We are to be clothed in humility (1 Pet 5:5)
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Classical Greek In Classical Greek the word ταπεινοφροσύνη (tapeinophrosynē) was always seen as a bad thing
— Christianity elevated humility to a virtue
(3:12) meekness
— Gentleness (NIV, NLT)
Meekness πραΰτης (prautēs), meekness, gentleness; humility
— It is very closely related to humility
— But it is not a sign of weakness or spinelessness
— Rather, a willingness to suffer injury rather than inflict it (1 Pet 2:23)
— A gentle, meek person knows that he is a sinner living among other sinners and is willing to suffer the burdens of others sins
— Meekness is not natural and can only be produced by the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23)
(3:12) longsuffering
Patience μακροθυμία (makrothymia), patience; forbearance
— The opposite of resentment and revenge
— The patient person does not get angry at others
— This was characteristic of Jesus (1 Tim 1:16)
— Were it not for God’ s patience none of us would be saved (2 Pet 3:15)
Q: How do we learn patience?
Trouble Enduring trouble teaches us patience (Ro 5:3, James 1:2-3)
(3:13) bearing with one another
— It means to “endure, to hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not retaliate”
— Paul told the Corinthian church “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure” (1 Cor 4:12)
— Forbearance should be a mark of every believer (Eph 4:2, 2 Thess 1:4)
(3:13) and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
— The Lord is our pattern for forgiveness
— He forgave us, we should forgive others ( Eph 4:32;Matt 18:21-35)
— And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. ( Eph 4:32 )
(3:13) if anyone has a complaint against another
— Someone is at fault because of sin
(3:14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection
Belt Like a belt, love pulls it all together and produces unity in the church
— Love is needed to experience all of the previous things (3:12-13)
— Nothing is acceptable to God if not motivated by love (1 Cor 13:1-3), including knowledge (Phil 1:9), faith (Gal 5:6) and obedience (John 14:15)
— To try to practice the virtues of (3:12-13) apart from love is legalism
The Peace of Christ
(3:15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Peace We are at peace with God
— Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ( Ro 5:1 )
— The war between the believer and God is over
— The treaty was paid for by the blood of Christ
— Paul told the Philippians that the “peace of God…shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7)
— Here he calls it the peace of Christ because it is the peace He brings (cf. John 14:27; Eph 2:14)
(3:15) rule in your hearts
Rule βραβεύω (brabeuō), rule; be judge, decide, aware prizes in contests
— Used to describe an umpire in a game making decisions
— The peace of Christ should guide believers in making decisions
— When we are faced with a decision we should ask
(1) Is it consistent with my union with Christ? (1 Cor 6:17-18)
— But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ( 1 Cor 6:17-18 )
— It is because of our union with Christ that we flee immorality
(2) Will this leave me with deep abiding peace?
—Peace is relational
— We are called to unity, peace with the body, the church
— If we have peace, we will live in unity with others
Thankful To have peace we have to be thankful
— Being thankful is a consistent theme in Colossians (1:3; 1:12, 2:7; 3:15,16,17; 4:2)
— Being thankful is a mark of believers (Eph 5:20; Phil 4:6; 1 Thess 5:18; Heb 13:15)
Unbelievers Unbelievers are marked by ingratitude (Ro 1:21)
— because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ( Ro 1:21 )
The Word of Christ (3:16)
(3:16) 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.
Word (3:16) the word of Christ
— Scripture
Dwell ἐνοικέω (enoikeō), live; dwell; dwell in
— to be at home
Q: How does the Word dwell? What does that look like?
Hear it When we hear it (Matt 13:9)
Handle When we handle it (2 Tim 2:15)
Hide When we hide it (Pss 119:11)
Hold When we hold it fast (Phil 2:16)
Dwell (3:16) dwell in you richly
— identical to being filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Eph 5:18)
Macarthur
“The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the Spirit turns the will
It is clear that these concepts are identical because the passages that follow are so similar”
Col 3:18-4:1 is a parallel to Eph 5:19-6:9
— To be filled with the spirit is to be controlled by His Word
— To have the Word dwell richly in you is to be controlled by the Spirit
(3:16) teaching and admonishing
— Teaching is the positive
— Admonishing is the negative; warn people of the consequences
(3:16) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
— the Word dwelling richly in you will produce emotions
— Expressed by song and music
The Name of Christ (3:17)
(3:17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Rule A basic rule for Christian living: whatever you do, act consistent with who Christ is and what He wants
Paul Paul said the same thing elsewhere (1 Cor 10:31)
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Goal Our daily goal should be to Be Like Christ (Ro 13:14)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
The New Man Makes a New Home (3:18-4:1)
Our Society The biggest problem in our society is the inability of people to get along; never been so divided
— The problem can be summed up in 3 words: Amorality, Anonymity, Alienation
— Amorality: Apart from Gods, no absolute moral standards, situational ethics
— Anonymity: Man doesn’t know why he is here or who he is (sexual identity)
— Alienation: Francis Schaeffer points out in his book, True Spirituality, the fall alienated man not only from God, but also from himself and from other people
Cease When we become a Christian those three problems cease to exist
— The Word of God is our absolute moral authority
— No longer anonymous, you are not a child of God and fellow heir with Christ (Ro 8:17)
— No longer alienated or lonely because we are loved by the father and part of a family of believers
Relational Christianity is not just personal it is relational
— The New Man is to have an impact on society (Phil 2:15; 1 Pet 2:12, cf. Matt 25:31-46; James 2:15-16)
— This is the theme of 3:18-4:1
— Jesus said the same thing in (Matt 5:13-14)
— “you are to be the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world”
Examples John Wesley spoke out against social evils
— John Howard (contemporary of Wesley) worked for prison reform
— Pressure by evangelicals led by William Wilberforce cause Britain to abolish the slave trade in 1807
— American evangelicals were involved in the outlaw of slavery movement and culminated in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863
— British evangelical Lord Shaftesbury got Parliament to pass laws regarding child labor
— The Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA are all active in social work
— William Carey, missionary to India, worked for the abolition of widow burning and child sacrifices
The Home Our role as a change agent for good is no more evident than in the home
— Our intellectual faith must produce real works
— Hard to see how we can influence society if we can’t manage the home
A Word to Wives (3:18)
(3:18) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Critics Some critics see this as chauvinistic, rabbinic al attitude towards women
— No One argues that (3:19) we should no longer love our wives!
— Paul expands this though in Ephesians (Eph 5:22-24)
Submission The principle of authority and submission in the marriage is throughout the NT
— Head of the women is the husband (1 Cor 11:3)
— Women are not to be leaders of the church (1 Cor 14:34-35)
— Women are not over the man (1 Tim 2:11-14)
Wounds When a women submits to the leadership of her husband and follows God’s intention for her she is fulfilled
— So is her husband
— When she does not submit, she wounds the marriage
(3:18) submit to
Subject ὑποτάσσω (hypotassō), subject; subordinate
— to be subject to someone worthy of respect
— Not by compulsion but willingly
— Jesus was subject to his parents (Luke 2:51)
— We are to be subject to the commands of God (Ro 8:7)
— Subject to governing authorities (Ro 1:1,5)
(3:18) to your own husbands
— Not submit to any man but your own husband
Not Inferior Submission is not inferiority
— No spiritual difference between men and women
— Jesus submitted to His Father and was inferior
Not Absolute — Submission is not absolute
— Don’t submit to your husband if it violates God’s Word
— Husband cannot be overbearing, must be loving
A Word to Husbands (3:19)
(3:19) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
Q: How? To what extent are we to love our wives?
(3:19) do not be bitter toward them
Without bitterness We are to love our wives
— Just as Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25)
— Without bitterness; Christ never became bitter because of the church’s many sins
— Continuously; keep loving, willing love, not the love of emotion, the love of choice
— Covenant love
— Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ( Eph 5:25 )
Bitter πικραίνω (pikrainō), make bitter
Something bitter in taste, or stop being bitter
— Don’t call your wife honey and then act like vinegar
— Men must not be harsh, do not irritate and/or exasperate them
—Be the leader, Paul calls for mutual concern in marriage
— But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ( 1 Cor 7:33-34 )
A Word to Children (3:20)
(3:20) Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Children τέκνον (teknon) general term, not a specific age group, male and female, living at home under the parent’s roof
Obedient ὑπακούω (hypakouō). vb. to obey. This verb means “to obey,” with nuances of hearing and then doing
— past tense of the imperative, continuous obedience
Taught Obedience is taught in scripture; 5th commandment (Ex 20:12)
— “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. ( Ex 20:12 )
— Striking and cursing your father is punishable by death (Ex 21:15-17)
— “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. 17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. ( Ex 21:15-17 )
Continued OT addresses continued disobedience ( Deut 21:18-21 )
— “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. ( Dt 21:18-21 )
— Children are to listen to their parent’s instructions and obey (Prov 1:8)
— Consequence if they disobey (Prov 30:17; cf. Matt 15:4-5; Mark 7:10-13)
Ungodly Disobedience marks the ungodly ( 2 Tim 3:2; cf. Ro 1:30 )
— For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ( 2 Tim 3:2 )
Limits The only limit is when obeying the parent is contrary to God’s law
— Some children would have to defy their parents in order to follow Jesus (Luke 12:51-53; Luke 14:26)
A Word to Parent (3:21)
(3:21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Fathers πατήρ (patēr). n. masc. father, forefather
— Parents, as in Heb 11:23 (cf. Eph 6:4)
Provoke ἐρεθίζω (erethizō), stir up; provoke, exasperate, irritate
— Stop nagging your kids
Q: In what way can we exasperate our children?
Exasperate Given them no liberty, don’t trust them
— Show favoritism
— Compare them to siblings or classmates
— Depreciate their worth, refuse to listen to them
— Set unrealistic goals, never let them feel like they succeeded
— Failing to show affection (verbal and physical)
— Not providing for their needs (privacy, protection, good meals, a place to play)
Flip-Side The flip-side of over-protection is no discipline
— They have all the freedom but can’t handle it, become insecure or wild
Discipline Parents exasperate with excessive discipline
Criticism Parents exasperate their children with criticism
Ginott Haim Ginott wrote: A child learns what he lives. If he lives with criticism he does not learn responsibility. He learns to condemn himself and to find fault
with others. He learns to doubt his own judgment, to disparage his own ability, and to distrust the intentions of others. And above all, he learns to live
with continued expectation of impending doom
A Word to Servants (3:22-25)
( 3:22-25 ) Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Q: What attitudes are servants to have towards their work (3:22-25)?
Servant Today this is comparable to an Employer / Employee relationship
— The bible never advocates slavery
— It recognizes it
— Beneficial if both the master and slave treat each other correctly
— In Philemon Paul upholds the duties of the slave and the master
— he asks that a runaway slave be treated with kindness and forgiveness
(3:22) obey in all things your masters according to the flesh
— Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything (NIV)
— Paul is not advocating the overthrowing the system
Submission Paul’s point is submission
— Not done with reluctance
— in all things, comprehensive
(3:22) not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers
(3:22) but in sincerity of heart, fearing God
— Hold God and his Will high should be our motive
(3:22) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men
— Put in all your effort
— Work as unto the Lord, not simply your master
Q: Shy should obedience and honor be given? 1 Tim 6:1
Honor God So that God and his doctrine are not ill-spoken of (1 Tim 6:1)
— Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. ( 1 Tim 6:1 )
Two Reasons fro Employees to Obey their Masters
Positive The Lord will repay them for their faithfulness
— They can endure inequity now
(3:24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance
Negative The Lord will discipline in cases of disobedience
— We will reap what we sow
(3:25) But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
— We cannot presume to justify disobedience (Gal 6:7)
— Onesimus was responsible to repay Philemon (Phil 18)
— God is impartial (cf. Acts 10:34)
Additional Resources
Lightfoot, J.B. St Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon [1879; reprint Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1959]
Ginott, Haim. Between Parent and Child [New York: Macmillan, 1965]
Macarthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Colossians and Philemon [Chicago: Moody Bible,1992]
Pink, Arthur W. [A.W.]. The Attributes of God. [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1975]
Schaeffer, Francis. True Spirituality [Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1972]