Colossians 3:1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Today, we have risen with Jesus in a spiritual sense.
Without Christ, we are spiritually dead, with Him we are spiritually alive. That’s what we’re talking about here. Therefore, we are supposed to set our sights on Heavenly things, not on the pleasures and desires of the earth which come and go.
Sometimes that’s not always easy to do, but remember, this life is only temporary, while the life to come will be Eternal for those who love God.
Lastly, where is Christ seated?
At the right hand of God in Heaven.
Colossians 3:2-3
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When we accept Jesus, we become dead to sin.
What exactly does that mean?
It means, Christ’s sacrifice washed away our sins, His sacrifice erased them.
Look, this doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again. You will, you’re human and we’re all going to fall short at times. However, perpetual sin will no longer dwell within you as you are a new man or woman of God.
This is how Romans puts it,
Romans 8:5-6
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Scripture said it better than I did.
- If our mind is focused on the world, we will perish.
- If our mind is focused on God, we will obtain eternal life.
It’s truly that simple, and through Christ, you can overcome the world.
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
This is a promise from God that you want to claim.
While we may perish due to old age, we will be resurrected and live forever with God in paradise, (Ecclesiastes 12:7, 2 Corinthians 5:8).
Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
“Mortify” means to “subdue” your body which seeks after the ways of the world.
Notice, all these desires of the flesh are considered to be “idolatry” which is “image worship.”
Why?
Idolatry is anything that gets in between you and God. If you cannot contain your flesh, it will remove you from the Heavenly presence of God and lead you to spiritual ruin.
Colossians 3:6
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Due to the wickedness we read of in verse 5, God’s wrath is going to come down on the “children of disobedience.”
Who are they?
Those who disobey God.
Just look at the world today, it’s filled with disobedient children. We’re not talking about literal children, but grown adults who are the children of God.
Colossians 3:7
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Hey now, don’t go pointing your finger at those sinners.
Do you know why?
You’ll have three pointing right back at you.
After all, we were not born saved. Instead, we once lived as the world as well. Yet, we got our act together and we accepted Jesus Christ, changing our ways in the process. So instead of pointing the finger, offer a helping hand.
Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Paul’s telling the Colossians, and even us, put off all the vile aspects of the flesh. Throw it out, you’re a new man in Jesus Christ!
Colossians 3:9-10
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
We’re being reminded of the sins and spiritual incompleteness we left behind. We’re being reminded not to backtrack. Don’t lie to each other. After all, that’s one of the seven things God hates.
Instead, remember you disbanded the spiritually dead man you were, and you embraced life through Jesus Christ.
There Is Neither Greek Nor Jew
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Paul was telling the Colossians, it doesn’t matter if you are a Gentile or Israelite, Christ opened the door of salvation to all people. Unfortunately, and to this very day, we have a massive portion of Christianity that still believes the “Jews” are God’s chosen people.
However, that completely contradicts the Bible and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Today, there are no “God’s chosen people” after the flesh. Remember, “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Galatians 3:29).
Once you accept Jesus Christ, then you become a spiritual Jew, better said, a child of Abraham.
Let me dial the point in for you.
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly … But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly … in the spirit.”
Romans 2:28-29
There you have it.
When we accept Jesus, we become a spiritual Israelite, we become a part of God’s family, and genealogy has absolutely nothing to do with it. That was Paul’s point to the Colossians. Moreover, that was Christ’s point to the Jews in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9.
The Elect Of God
Slowly read this next verse.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
That is the very definition of the elect of God.
Notice, it didn’t say anything about privileged knowledge. Instead, it concerns spiritual completeness. It concerns a soul who has truly had a change of heart, left the world, embraced God, and treats their fellow man as themselves.
Hey, Paul was providing the Colossians with a description of God’s elect Saints, so they would understand and live up to the expectation. Today, you as a Christian have this same obligation, and we should seek to fulfill it in every aspect possible.
Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Paul wasn’t saying these things for the fun of it. He was no doubt speaking concerning troubles and issues that arose in Colosee. The same troubles and quarrels we have today. Yet, those are aspects of the flesh, and we are to put on a spiritual new man modeled on the elect.
For the record, how many times are you supposed to forgive someone?
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Jesus said, “seventy times seven” which is 490 times, (Matthew 18:21-22).
Now that’s not a literal number, it simply means we should continually forgive.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to set yourself up for failure either. If someone continually brings trouble your way, but they ask for forgiveness. Then you should forgive them, but you may wish to part company so you’re not continually taken advantage of and harmed.
Love, The Bond Of Perfectness
Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
“Charity” is displaying “love” and “affection” for your fellow man. In fact, love is the principal thing when it comes to spiritual completeness. We just learned that from the description of the elect of God.
To further the point, Jesus was once asked,
“Which is the first commandment of all?”
Mark 12:28-31
This is how Jesus responded,
- “The first … love the Lord thy God with all thy heart”
- “The second … love thy neighbour as thyself”
- “There is none other commandment greater than these.”
That is why love is the “bond of perfectness,” love is the principal element of spiritual completeness. When you love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself, you are placing others before yourself. If we all did that more often, the world would be a better place.
Don’t lose sight of the fact, that’s exactly what Jesus did for you.
He laid down His life so you could live, (John 15:13).
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
When you love others and lead a Christian life, it brings you peace and harmony. You become blessed by God as you live according to the Book. By following all the positive examples we have in Scripture. That was Paul’s message to the Colossians, a message that rings true to this very day.
Colossians 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.
As Christians, that’s exactly what we’re supposed to do.
Let the Word of God direct our paths and seek those spiritual things above.
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Whatever you do in life, always ensure it’s Godly. Always ensure you are placing Christ at the forefront of your mind in all of your decision-making. That’s the mark of a good Christian, one who is making God proud that you are His child.
Rules For Christian Households
Paul will now advise us on how to run our households.
This is very important.
Colossians 3:18
See: Do Wives Have To Submit To Their Husbands?
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
In our modern society, this has become a point of contention.
Why do you think that is?
The world is keen on destroying Christianity, along with our Biblically rooted family values. So the world makes us feel like this is a bad thing. In reality, this is God’s design for the family.
- God
- Christ
- Man
- Woman
- Children
There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s the natural order and how God wanted it, (1 Corinthians 11:3). Per God’s design, a man is supposed to lead the household. That’s what we’re talking about here. No man should ever use Colossians 3:18 to exert lordship over his family.
You’ll see why in the next verse.
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Do you see?
If a husband truly loves his wife, he will always place her best interests at heart. He will always consider and lead the family in order to love and protect them.
Let’s dial this in a bit more.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Think about that.
Jesus Christ came to earth to perish for your sins. That’s the example a man is to follow. That’s the love a man is supposed to have for his wife. A man is even supposed to “love his wife even as himself,” (Ephesians 5:33).
If a man is doing all that, then Colossians 3:18 absolutely stands. It’s God’s natural order. However, if a husband is not doing that, then his wife has no obligation to follow Colossians 3:18.
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
We now have the entire family structure laid out and how the family should be handled. Yet, once again we find men should lead a respectful household using Christ as our example for leadership.
Colossians 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Children absolutely should obey their parents.
Yet, fathers should not provoke their children to anger. Discipline is fantastic, but there is a line to be drawn here. Do not demean your children, do not put them down. Tell them when they fall short, provide steps for improvement, and always lift up their spirits.
Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Hey, we even have servants being addressed here.
We can even apply this to ourselves. We’re all servants of someone. We either work for someone or we own a business. So always treat your associates with respect. You always want to apply the Christian values we have learned about to everyone, not just other Christians.
Remember what Jesus said, loving God and your neighbor are our top priorities. Love is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
This is a big one right here.
Whatever you do in life, I don’t care what it is, put all of your “heart, mind and soul” into it. In fact, that’s exactly what “heartily” means. Never do something to please other men. Don’t be a man-pleaser, instead do your very best for everyone.
That’s the mark of a fantastic man or woman of God. It will distinguish you from the world and reap spiritual rewards in your corner!
Colossians 3:24
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
This is why we do things for God and not man.
You don’t need to be recognized by men. You want to be recognized by God. More often than not, righteous acts will not get you recognized by men, so don’t even try or worry about it.
You’ve read this Book, do what is pleasing to God and He will bless you immensely. Some in this life, but certainly in the world to come, a world that will last forever.
Colossians 3:25
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
However, if you start slipping up and trying to please men that means you’re going with the world. You cannot do that if you’ve truly become a new man or woman of God. So don’t slip up, and if you find yourself in that situation, stop, pray, and ask God to help you get back on track.
Lastly, there is “no respect of persons” with God, (Romans 2:11). That means, he doesn’t care how mighty or powerful you are on earth. The only thing He looks at are your spiritual works. He looks to see if you’re loving Him, your family, and your neighbors.