Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Mortifying Your Flesh, Pt. 1 Colossians 3:5-7 Philosophy, legalism, mysticism, ritualism or asceticism cannot produce a godly life (Colossians 2:23) Sin is a problem of the mind and heart and not just outward behavior Jesus is pre-eminent over Creation and the Church - Colossians 1

Mortifying Your Flesh, Pt. 1 Colossians 3:5-7 It is superior to be in Jesus and walk with Him - Colossians 2 Colossians 3:1-4 - the foundation for living a successful and fruitful life pleasing to the Lord Colossians 3 - specific instructions on living as a consequence of being raised up with Jesus

Mortifying the Flesh Colossians 3:5 “Therefore” takes us back to what Paul said in verses 1-4. The key to godliness is Jesus Christ Our identification with Jesus’ death, resurrection, life and glory is the basis of Paul’s command in vs. 5 The command is similar to Paul’s arguments in Romans 6

Mortifying the Flesh Colossians 3:5 Our identification with Jesus’ crucifixion frees us from our former slavery to sin Our identification with Jesus’ resurrection is the basis of being alive to God in Christ Jesus Colossians 3:5 is stronger - put to death, “mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth”

Mortifying the Flesh Colossians 3:5 This command is not an advocation of ascetic practices in any sense. Paul corrected that in chapter 2 We are to put these things to death and leave them dead - don’t go to the graveyard to resurrect them! You are freed from slavery to sin, so stop serving it - Romans 6:18

Mortifying the Flesh Colossians 3:5 You are raised up with Christ in newness of life, so live a new way. The “members” encompass your mind and will as well as the cravings of your body. The five things listed are representative and move from physical actions to personal motivations

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Immorality Immorality (porneiva / porneia) a general term for sexual sin - Leviticus 18 God’s design for expressing human sexuality is only within a man and wife in a monogamous marriage

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Immorality 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 Ignorant, immature and weak believes easily succumb to sexual temptation - flee immorality

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Impurity Impurity - ajkaqarsiva / akatharsia - unclean. A broad category for anything not morally clean The term is used to describe to what is acceptable to God and what is not. 2 Corinthians 6:17 - Christians are to be separate from what is unclean. Ephesians 5:3-4

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Impurity Immorality and impurity are often linked since impure actions precede sexual immorality Our hope is that God has washed, sanctified and justified us from our previous impurity (1 Cor. 6:11)

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Passion Passion - pavqo" / pathos - a broad category out of which impure actions and immorality flow Romans 1:26 - the second step down in God’s wrath upon the unregenerate - degrading passions

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Passion 1 Thessalonians 4:5 - passion included with the impurity and immorality of the Gentiles Passion - in the sense of being overwhelmed and controlled by emotions

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Evil Desire Evil desire - ejpiqumivn kakhvn / epithumin kakān - strong desire / lust of an evil nature Matthew 5:28 - Jesus ties lust and sexual immorality together Evil desire is killed by repentance and setting your mind and will on what is good - Phil. 4:8; Ps. 73:25

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Greed Greed - pleonexiva / pleonexia - covetousness. A sin of the mind which gives rise to all sins of action It is tied with idolatry because at its core, coveting is selfishness making yourself the object of worship

The Deeds & Desires of the Flesh Greed If greed is put to death, so is evil desire, passion, impurity and immorality Greed is put to death by surrendering your will to do God’s will instead of your own

The Reason for God’s Wrath Colossians 3:6 This is not talking about a believer’s future - we are not destined for wrath - 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9 The wrath of God is upon the ungodly (Rom. 1:18) who also store it up for future judgment (Rom. 2:5) The sinful actions that bring God’s wrath are illogical and inconsistent with a believer’s new nature

A Past Life Colossians 3:7 Every Christian used to be a “child of wrath” indulging the desires of the flesh & mind (Eph. 3:1-3) We are saved by the actions of God’s mercy and grace in the redemption that comes by faith in Jesus

A Past Life Colossians 3:7 Christians are new creations because we have been bought by Jesus’ blood and now belong to Him Galatians 5:24 - our position in Christ enables us to live for God and put to death our sinful selfishness

Conclusions Put to death the sin that dwells in the members of your earthly body & mind You are raised up with Christ Set your will to seek what is above Set your mind on heavenly things, not earthly things Fulfill the purpose of your existence – do God’s will

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ