COLOSSIANS 3:5-17

COLOSSIANS 3:5-11 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

BELIEVERS ON EARTH Have a violent war inside them Must make unnatural character changes Must choose to be like Christ The motivation is God choosing them first The power to change is Christ’s power New purpose is to glorify the Triune God Characterized by thankfulness

IF YOU DIED…2:20 PUT TO DEATH…3:5 Believer’s Position – one nature: –100% Justified by God –100% forgiven with no guilt & no sin –Adopted by God with full family privileges –Home is heaven Believer’s Condition – two natures: –Still have an earthly nature –Still able to choose independence from God –Still able to distrust & disbelieve God –Still able to hurt yourself & others

SANCTIFICATION: BECOMING LIKE CHRIST For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…Romans 8:29 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:21-24

GOD’S ATTRIBUTES: HIS ALONE Independent Eternal – Infinite (time) Omnipresent (space) –Sustain –Punish –Bless Unchangeable Unity – not divided into parts

GOD’S ATTRIBUTES: THOSE HE SHARES Knowledge & Wisdom Truthfulness & Faithfulness & Righteousness Kindness & Compassion Humility & Patience Wrath Mercy & Grace Love Peace Contentment & Joyfulness Will & Power Purpose

COLOSSIANS 3:5-11 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

TRUTHS TO REMEMBER It is not hypocrisy to choose to submit to God’s revelation even though you don’t feel like it & it doesn’t seem logical or natural. That is the normal Christian life on earth: a war within you with yourself. Whatever glorifies God is always good for you.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” John 5:6 Where in your life is the “old self” still in charge? What is not Christ-like in your life? Are you satisfied with your condition? Are you willing to fight? Do you really want to be healed?