Colossians 3.1-17

Key verse: Keep seeking the things above … Keep thinking about things above

Know who you are in Christ
The transformation: put to death, put off, put on
Vv 1-4 are theological foundation for the following practical verses.

Focus on things above because:
-you died to the old order
-you are already raised with Christ so that you may participate in his resurrection life.

The lives of Christians are to be different: interest, minds, aims, ambitions, outlook.

This doesn’t come automatically – it must be sought diligently: keep seeking … keep thinking …

"your life is hidden with Christ in God"
Presently, I don’t see who you really are - you don’t even see who your really are – you are hidden; I am hidden. These things are done, they are already accomplished, but they have yet to be fully revealed.

"When Christ appears", at the Second Coming, when we see Christ and he is revealed and we see clearly all that he is, we will see who we are,
"you too will be revealed in glory with him."

But until that time, keep looking up, keep focused on things above, don’t get distracted by things below. And as you focus on things above, v.10 says that you are "being renewed in knowledge according of the image of" Christ. You will see Christ more and more clearly, you will know Christ more  and more and therefore, you will be renewed, you will be more and more like Him.

Not a list to achieve but a description of the Christian life. List is not exhaustive (things the Colossian Church needed to hear)

One body (v.15): “one another”
Do not lie to one another
Bearing with one another
Forgiving one another
Teaching and exhorting one another

Particular to believers and their relationship within the Christian community, but in now way suggest that Christians could be less when interacting with those outside the Church.

v.14 love, perfect bond
v.15 called as one body to this peace

The descriptions to follow are more than just individual character traits, it is about how we live together in the world. It is about being a living organism, bound together in Christ and how that effects the way we live together.

Put to death … (v.5)
Put to death: transformation of will, new attitude of mind, shift of center of personality from self to Christ:

Fornication: any unlawful sexual intercourse; extramarital sexual relationships
Impurity: moral uncleanness
Shameful passion: passion leading to sexual excesses
Evil desire: longing, sin that controls
Greed: (more general term) covetousness, desire to have more, usually material things; closer relationship with idolatry

Put off … (v.8)

Anger, Rage: wrath, outburst of temper (destructive of relationships)
Malice: slander, abusive language
Slander: defamation, blasphemy, lies, gossip
Abusive language: (more general term) foul talk, obscene language

You used to be this way, but no longer. God has transformed you. He has transformed you inwardly, let that be revealed in your outward actions.

Sin is not a popular topic. But sin is sin. Sin, as biblically defined, will be sin. God has expectations for his people. And God says sin will be punished and this passage talks about the wrath of God coming to the sons (7 daughters) of disobedience: those who disobey his word. In the OT, we read of Israel, who is God’s people, they were his chosen people, but God in his holiness, could not allow his people to live unholy lives. And that is the same today. God’s ultimate wrath is being withheld until the day of His coming. A righteous God cannot stand idly by and watch people act unrighteously. We would call that a double standard. But this same God is the God who acquits, who has made a way for forgiveness.

Put on … (v.12)
clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ Rom 13.14
Put to death, put off, put on – decisive act leading to a settled attitude. Make your mind up. “Just do it”

Fruit of Spirit: kindness, gentleness, patience

Mercy: compassion. This is demonstrated in God and his saving action toward us.
Kindness: goodness, generosity. Concrete actions. God’s gracious attitude toward the sinner, to save, to lead to repentance.
Humility: lowliness, concern for welfare of others. Esteem others
Gentleness: humility, meekness, considerate of others. Willingness to waive one’s rights
Patience: longsuffering, endure wrongs of others. Put up with the exasperating behavior of others rather than flying into rage or desiring vengeance.

Also …
bear with one another; forgive one another (mutual; reciprocal). Unceasing, unwearying (70×7 in Mt 18). May have legitimate cause for complaint, but must forgive.
love; peace
thankfulness
teaching and exhorting one another; worship in singing

For Further Prayer and Reflection
Philippians 2.5; Romans 12.2; Matthew 18.22; Galatians 5.16-25; Ephesians 4.17-5.20

Colossians 3.1-17

Let heaven fill your thoughts!
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep
thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your
life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. (Colossians 1.1-4)

“Keep seeking the things above …” and “Keep thinking about things above …”
I love these phrases that Paul uses. "Keep seeking" and "keep
thinking." There’s a persistence that’s necessary in following Jesus,
isn’t there? What’s your focus? Who’s the center of your life? How
committed are you to following God, no matter what?

What does a Christ-centered life look like? I believe a life centered
on Christ has at least three characteristics (this is not an exhaustive
list) … 

• Desire to know God 
• Desire to honor God 
• Desire to obey God
   

Read Matthew 6.19-21,24, 33

“If you have been raised with Christ …”
What is your current relationship with God? Perhaps you may have made a
commitment to serve Christ many years ago, or maybe you were baptized
as a young child. That’s wonderful, but what is the state of your
relationship with God today. We must renew our relationship/commitment
to God every day!

“You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God …”
Our life is in Christ. I think of Galatians 2.20: I myself no longer
live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by
trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Paul talks about the change here in Colossians, using the language of
the "old man" and the "new man" (3.9-10). IOW, when we commit to
following Christ, we are made new. I think of Jesus’ language of being
"born again" or "born from above": unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3.3).

And, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5.17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Here in Colossians, I hear Paul saying, "Are you a Christian? Then act like it!" It matters how we live, and it matters how we treat people!

What is our reputation in the Valley?
What do you think people think or feel when they see our church
buildings or hear the name of our churches? Reputation is so important.
It’s part of our witness! Think about that as God’s Word challenges us
to get rid of bad behavior and practice good behavior.

I am very grateful to those of you who exemplify the good behavior
described in the Scriptures, behaviors that give witness to the life of
Christ.

However, quite frankly, many of the bad behaviors listed by Paul are
also taking place among our ranks! Some may want to blame the
exploratory process we’re in, but the reality is, these bad behaviors
are not anything new. They’ve been part of the "DNA" for decades.
(Incidentally, spiritual transformation is the only thing that can
change our "spiritual DNA").

I believe the process we’re in is simply providing an ample opportunity
for bad behavior to come to light (stress always reveals the cracks in
our character).

That said, the process is going at least as well as I expected it to
go. No one said it would be easy. No one said there wouldn’t be loss
(there’s always loss when there’s movement, regardless of whether the
movement is good or bad).

BUT if we do the right thing (whatever that is) for the right reasons,
we will be "pruned" (to use the language of John 15) and mobilized for
missional life (and fruitfulness) in the Valley. That’s what is (most)
important, taking the next faithful steps!

I can honestly say that it does NOT matter to me what YOU decide (in charge conference, early next year) as long as you fully engage
in this exploratory process. You need to be praying for one another,
especially the Exploratory Team, discussing your concerns with team
members and with me, giving AND receiving.

My ONLY fear is that there will be people who show up to vote (at the
end) who have skipped out on the process of engaging God and one
another in, perhaps, the most important decision impacting the future
of our mission in the Juniata Valley. I know the process is long and
painful, but you owe it to yourself, to each other, to the Juniata
Valley, to future generations, and most of all, you owe it to God, to
give this process your ALL! (IOW, the process is important.)

There was something I said a year and a half ago (toward the beginning
of this process): While God certainly cares WHAT we decide, I believe
God is even more concerned about HOW we come to our decision. IOW, it’s
not just the destination (end point) that God is interested in; it’s
the journey. How we get there is important, too!

Get rid of bad behavior (sin)!
So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual
immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is
idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the
sons of disobedience. You also lived your lives in this way at one
time, when you used to live among them. But now, put off all such
things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your
mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man
with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being
renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.
Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3.5-11)

Put to death … (worldly things) 

• Sexual immorality 
• Impurity 
• Shameful passion 
• Evil desire 
• Greed (idolatry)

“You also lived your lives in this way at one time …” (3.6)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3.23). 1 John 3.4-6 says, Those
who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of
God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is
no sin in him. So if we continue to live in him, we won’t sin either.
But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who he
is.

Put off … 

• Anger 
• Rage 
• Malice (ill-will) 
• Slander (“blasphemia”): Spreading negative info, defamation of character 
• Abusive language

"Splatterers"
John Ortberg once described “splatterers,” people who bottle up things
and then “splatter” everyone with it. Eugene Peterson, in his
paraphrase, The Message, calls it “vomit from the heart.” Mark 7.14-23. Next time it’s directed toward you maybe you’ll get that graphic image!

Get rid of divisions …
Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
(3.11) We could continue the list: In the church, there is neither
American, or, say, Chinese, Democrat or Republican, resident of
Petersburg or Alexandria, etc.

Practice good behavior!
There are unhealthy/sinful ways of interacting/communicating, and there are healthy ways of communicating.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience … (3.12)

Put on (“clothe yourselves”) … 

• A heart of mercy (compassion) 
• Kindness 
• Humility 
• Gentleness 
• Patience

Forgive one another!
Paul emphasizes forgiveness in this passage: bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone
happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also forgive others (see also Matthew 18.21-22). Finally, I think Matthew 6.12 contains perhaps the most dangerous prayer one can pray: Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

It matters how we treat each other!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting
one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in
word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him. (3.16-17)

It matters how we treat each other — what we say and how we say it. Let us treat each other in ways that honor God!