Sometimes we say of a man, "Music is his life--Sport is his life--He lives for his work." Not that there may not be danger even then; save that as long as the eye is on Christ there is none, because what is inconsistent with His name is refused. As Paul saw it, husbands have as great an obligation as wives; parents have just as binding a duty as children; masters have their responsibilities as much as slaves. The hope laid up for us in heaven supposes a position on the earth. Our affections should not be fixed on houses and lands; on scenes of fashion and gaiety; on low and debasing enjoyment. The word we have translated foul talk is aischrologia ( G148) ; it could well mean obscene language. As he says, "having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether it be things on earth or things in heaven.". It is, however, evident from what has been remarked, that the two letters do in the most remarkable manner correspond to each other; the one presenting the Head, the other the body. Here was an amazing thing. That which is hidden is concealed; the world cannot recognize the Christian. It is in baptism rather than in Him. And then, verse sixteen: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; [And that's why we're here tonight. The Christian forbears and forgives; and he does so because a forgiven man must always be forgiving. From her there was demanded complete servitude and chastity; but her husband could go out as much as he chose and could enter into as many relationships outside marriage as he liked without incurring any stigma. In no case indeed is it really so. It was at the cross of Christ And so it was that, when all seemed to fail, all was won. How He would have been exalted, if He had consented to shed the halo of His own glory on the race as such! When he was writing to the Philippians, he said, "For me to live is Christ" ( Php_1:21 ). The Christian's standard of values will be God's not men's. All slanderous and malicious talking is forbidden. It is a quite different state of things from what could be gathered from the Old Testament. (iii) It destroyed the barriers between the cultured and the uncultured. And as this was so blessed and novel a truth, the apostle states his own earnestness about it "whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ.". Do we feel and know that we can add nothing to Him? The most cursory reader discerns at once that the epistle to the Colossians is the counterpart of that to the Ephesians. The supreme example was the Roman Patria Potestas, the law of the father's power. As also, looked at individually, the Christian is a son of God, so there should be a growth up to Christ in all things. Orge ( G3709) is anger which has become inveterate; it is long-lasting, slow-burning anger, which refuses to be pacified and nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Can you say that Christ is my life? Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." But is this all? You're not under the laws: touch not, handle not, taste not. Dr. Johnson believed that there are far more falsehoods told unaware than deliberately; and he believed that a child should be checked when he deviates in the smallest detail from the truth. We have here a description of soul-prosperity. The epistle to the Ephesians views the saint as already blessed by God in heavenly places in Christ. Had they prayed more, the result might have been to better purpose. And we do recognize that the highest authority in our life is God. The New Testament never hesitates to demand with a certain violence the complete elimination of everything which is against God. Of God He is the image, not exactly in an exclusive, but assuredly in the only adequate sense. It is our privilege that we have risen with Christ; that is, have benefit by the resurrection of Christ, and by virtue of our union and communion with him are justified and sanctified, and shall be glorified. Why should we heed conjecture? As Rev., set your mind. That is an attitude which is not unfamiliar today, although often it is supported by specious arguments. "You that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind," says he (for the full truth is brought before them as to their condition), "enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death." It is not at all, " since ye continue." And so he lists these things and he says, "Look, the wrath of God is coming upon the earth because of these things. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. This is the legitimate mysticism of Paul. It has often been said that humility was a virtue created by Christianity. "Put on, therefore" (says he, in the enjoyment of such grace. As the withering evils of Satan came in, the value of that which their hearts clung to formed an increasing part of their testimony, until at last the full, undiminished, and even brightening truth of His divine glory was brought out in all its fulness. Hence, though the Holy Ghost is really on earth, dwelling in the saint and in the church, yet under such circumstances, to occupy the mind even with the blessed Spirit, would clearly have interfered with His own great aim in glorifying Jesus. Can anything be sweeter than this genuine simplicity of affection and mutual interest? Now, that ye are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth; and vice versa. And you should be seeking those things which are above where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God. "Here, you want this candy? not on things of the earth -- Worldly things as wealth, honor, and earthly pleasure. There is not rich or poor, there is not favored and special class; we are just all one. Thus, even if there be not actually formal praise, the Lord looks for thankfulness of heart, as counting on love in everything. "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." There was much more than this. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is our God and Father; and He has blessed with every possible blessing, and in the highest sphere and on the best ground. What he is saying, that these aren't the things that make you righteous. We remember the poignant statement of John Newton: "I know that my father loved me--but he did not seem to wish me to see it." . And this the apostle was doing, and particularly for one that came from them. That real object is Jesus Christ. He has annulled the power of him that had the power of death that word so terrible for the heart of man, and most surely foreign to the mind and heart of our God and Father, but a stern necessity that came in through rebellion. It lies at the bottom when we think of the wants of the saints of God here below. And as he becomes cold, then she feels all the more insecure and she has to challenge all the more. He must say, "This is God's business. Meanwhile, instead of the Jews enjoying glory along with Christ in their midst, rejected by the Jews, Christ is in the Gentiles; and they who receive His name are waiting for heavenly glory with Christ. Not on things on the earth - Wealth, honor, pleasure. James notoriously presents what many think hard in my judgment quite reconcilable, equally inspired of God, and most important for man, but not the same thing, nor for the same end. No doubt we may detect the flaws of man's negligence, not knowing how to treat with becoming care the precious deposit of truth; but there is nothing more. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 224-26.]. The slave must not be content with eye-service; he must not work only when the overseer's eye is upon him. Boy, if he'd told me that, I would've just really said, 'Hey you take this job, man and stuff it.' Let us take the cases one by one and look at them in the light of this new principle. They that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It does not present the Spirit of God as a person down here, though He is a person of course, but rather as characterizing the love. The whole direction of the Christian ethic is not to ask: "What do others owe to me?" And so he mentions particularly others, even if some little felt this link. In his pre-Christian days Joad could write: "Birth control (he meant the use of contraceptives) increases the possibilities of human pleasure. The Father has made them meet already for the inheritance of the saints in light; and this, too, fully taking into account the awful state of the heathen world, and their past personal wickedness when drawn to God in the name of the Lord Jesus, "who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love: in whom we have redemption [through his blood, is added to the Ephesians] even the forgiveness of sins.". Then she finds it easy to submit to him, because she knows that he loves her supremely. Not to be a man pleaser, "Oh, the boss is coming. He was God's chosen One in the highest sense; He was the holy and beloved. At this point we come to one of the main and distinctive objects of the epistle. The truth in Christ is not merely that God came down to man in love, but that man, the believer in Christ, is now dead and risen in Him. If it is the desire for prestige, it leads to evil ambition. There is no feature of the present day more remarkable than the success with which Satan is massing as it were, his forces, bringing together at the very same point, where they are wanted, these two parties; that is to say, the heavier arms of human tradition, and the lighter ones of man's philosophy. Worldly lusts are to be denied, the deeds of the body are to be mortified, carnal desires are not to be gratified and indulged, provision is not to be made for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts; and particularly the vain philosophy of Jews and Gentiles, the traditions of the elders, the ceremonies of the law, which lay in earthly things, in worldly observances, the difference of meats and drinks, keeping of days, months, and years, new moons, feasts, and sabbath days; the rudiments of the world, the commandments and doctrines which were of the earth, and lay in not touching, tasting, and handling certain things that are on earth, and which perish with the using, as opposed to the doctrines of the Gospel, and ordinances of Christ, which are from above, and come from heaven, and have a spiritual and heavenly use: and which is the sense chiefly intended, though it is best to understand the words in their largest compass. There are many nice shades in detail; but I have referred now to that which is the principal point whence the two lines of truth diverge. In the ancient world no one was interested in foreign languages, apart from Greek. Whenever Christ, your life, shall appear, then you too shall appear with him in glory. The Scythian was the ignorant barbarian of the ancient world; the Greek was the aristocrat of learning. And so it is. but is still following out his discussion as to ceremonies, which he represents as resembling entanglements which constrain us to creep upon the ground. Every thought of man is vain in the presence of His wisdom. CHRIST OUR LIFE ( Colossians 3:1-4 continued). I. Since we are raised from the death of sin, and resurrected to a new life, our contemplation should be on the heavenly world. Do you really know what you're doing?" How blessed! Such is the fruit of His word thus dwelling in us. Jesus says the greatest commandment in the law is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37; see also Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 30:6). At the second coming of Christ there will be a general meeting of all the saints; and those whose life is now hid with Christ shall then appear with Christ in that glory which he himself enjoys, John 17:24. In the presence of God the social distinctions of the world become irrelevant. Not only did he preach the one and teach the other (which the others no doubt did too), but he has committed to inspired writings the gospel as none other did; and he has, alone of all, brought out the church in the fullest way. Hey, it opens up so many opportunities to witness for you. Through Christ they have life directly in God. CSB Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. C. F. D. Moule well describes it as "the opposite of the desire to give.". This will obviously give him a new set of values. In it there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free man. Colossians 3:1-2. 1. Not Adam, but Christ is the standard Christ who is God as well as man; "where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." They needed to learn especially the vanity of all that man's mind delights in. He is the first-born from among the dead, as well as the Head and firstborn Heir of all subsisting creation. . As Paul said, "For me to live is Christ," and I love this powerful statement.] While He lived, this work was wholly unaccomplished. May He make and keep us faithful! 2. Hence, too, a main part of the difference between these two epistles. "And be ye thankful. Not appreciating His glory and fulness, they did not see that the secret of true wisdom and blessing, is in going on to know more of Christ than is already possessed. Next, the doctrine is applied still more definitely. He's watching. Knowledge and faith make a soul rich. He it is who has now revealed the mystery that was kept hid through ages and generations. In short, the only reason we can even obey the commands in Colossians 3:1-2 is because we are now positionally dead to the world and its magnetic attractions. Do it as unto the Lord, you're the Lord's servant. The language does not in the smallest degree insinuate that there is any uncertainty for a believer. Man, my head aches so bad I can hardly see. The Colossians from their dabbling with tradition and philosophy were in danger on this side. It is a question now of truth and holiness in the Spirit of Christ, in short. We must note carefully what Paul means by that. As to the Jewish rites and feasts that some were endeavouring to re-impose, take for an instance the Sabbath, which is the stronger, because it was from the beginning of the first man, yet unfallen, and of course long before the Jewish people. It is not, as in the Ephesian epistle, the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in the saints, but closely resembles a comparatively lower line of things which comes before us in the first epistle of Peter. Philosophy, on the contrary, made matters worse, as indeed did the resources of human religion. Accordingly the path of Christian duty is grounded on these wondrous truths. Now, that ye are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth; and vice versa. And so put off the old man, and put on the new. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord ( Colossians 3:20 ). In material science it is not so, in schools of doctrine it is not so: there is something altogether circumscribed, in known limits, and definite enough to satisfy the mind of man. Note well again that it is not here man striving to become dead, which is a notion unknown to the revelation of God, new or old. Now that he has come, the shadows are of no further interest. We should be like a dead thing to it, unmoved and unaffected towards it. Man, what can I do for her today; she's such a doll. The ceremonies are dead to you through the death of Christ, and you to them, in order that, being raised up to heaven with Christ, you may think only of those things that are above. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. The expression "brethren," though of course flowing from Christ, brings forward their relationship by grace to each other. Two present imperatives identify the Christians responsibilities: "seek" (Colossians 3:1) and "set your affection on" (Colossians 3:2). We know well that God is making a good use of them, and that, in point of fact, if we meddle, it can only be to loss and confusion. He was a minister both of the gospel, and, as is said a little later, of the church two very different spheres, seldom united in the same individual. This, then, shows Christ, in a certain sense, in the Gentiles here below; as, in the Ephesians, Christ is seen above and we in Him. Of course it is not at all being dead to what a man had as a natural life in the world. Paul moves on to give his list of the great graces with which the Colossians must clothe themselves. The most honoured servants of God invariably stir up the keenest opposition from man. Leave off therefore earthly things. I shall not contend against others who are of a different mind; but certainly the Apostle appears to me to go on step by step, so that, in the first instance, he places traditions as to trivial matters in contrast with meditation on the heavenly life, and afterwards, as we shall see, goes a step farther. You're His servant. The Christian will have all the desires of the new man gratified. Upon all such things the wrath of God must fall. But the distinctive character is that He is "the beginning, the firstborn from the dead" not merely the firstborn of, but the first-born out of. His master could thrash or brand or maim or even kill him at his caprice; he had not even the right of marriage. The apostle in like manner in the next verse opposes the "things above" to . Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 2:1-7 The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. This is the spirit which never loses its patience with its fellow-men. So again by Him alone do all, Jews and Gentiles, draw near to the Father. God has been pleased to call the church a body; and so in truth it is. "It's a big step," he said, "and I can't persuade myself that the very severe attitude to sex which the Church thinks it necessary to adopt is really justified." She lived in the women's apartments and did not join her menfolk even for meals. Then come general injunctions. I may be perfectly certain, whatever may be my sorrow or travail of spirit about anything, Christ feels far more deeply (yea, infinitely deeper than any other) those that may excite any of us. Christianity is community. The first is outward and the second inward. What a change! There is gentleness (praotes, G4236) . True, and known to some from the first, the Spirit would brook no hiding of it in order to meet the daring of men and the subtilty of the enemy, who were taking advantage of the lower glory of Christ, so as to deny all that was higher His deity and eternal Sonship. II. Show yourselves the slaves of the Lord Christ. Also the reason seems obvious. In Romans the emphatic point is simply death, because the argument of the apostle in chapter 6 does not admit of going beyond the truth that the baptized believer is alive from the dead not exactly risen, but alive unto God. The word for slander is blasphemia ( G988) , which the King James Version translates blasphemy. They may seem to be far as the poles asunder; but in point of fact, there is nothing that more shows an energetic spirit of evil at work in the world than the way in which he marshals and combines these two armies, that outwardly look enemies to each other. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged ( Colossians 3:21 ). That the word of Christ might dwell in our hearts richly. But don't lose touch with the chap in front of you.' Christian speech must be kind and pure and honest to all men and in all places. Now, again, my life is the reflection of what I am and what I believe. After this follow particular exhortations, on which we need not at present dwell. Thumos ( G2372) is a blaze of sudden anger which is quickly kindled and just as quickly dies. But I must repeat that there is not a single apostle who so much as speaks of being justified by faith, except the apostle of the Gentiles. For the Christian the burst of temper and the long-lasting anger are alike forbidden. There was no doubt a suitability for each line of truth in the wants of the saints respectively addressed; nor do I think it can be intelligently questioned that the condition of the Ephesian saints was better than that of those at Colosse. Infinitely vainer is the thought for any man to impart fresh worth to Christ, than for David to have met Goliath in Saul's armour. There was, there could be, no lack of the attractiveness of love and power in Him who went about doing good; yet miserable hearts did not turn to Him, save where the grace of God the Father drew them to the only adequate expression of Himself. But there is always a problem in the relationship of parent and child. There is no new means of grace; there is no development, still less supplement to Christ. Here we see the other side Christ in or among you Gentiles, "the hope of glory." (i) The Christian ethic is an ethic of reciprocal obligation. I'm able to handle. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be. As for the gospel, it is not a question whether every creature hears, but such is the sphere; and doubtless if the apostle could have preached to every individual in the world, he would have gladly done it. Chastity was the one completely new virtue which Christianity brought into the world. Have you mortified the deeds of the flesh? Isn't it interesting how we want to make sure that our children don't make the same mistakes that we made. The dealings of God were not only not on the principle of a body on earth, united to a glorified Head, once dead and risen, but incompatible with such a state of things. . That we might teach and admonish one another.] Once again all the rights belonged to the master and all the duties to the slave. We very often evade the truth on which the New Testament insists, that a Christianity which does not change a man is most imperfect. How we want them to be better than we were. How vain and perilous at least for themselves was the effort of the Colossians! We want them to get all A's. Tradition never manifested the true God. His function was to fill up the word of God, "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.". Colossians 3 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. In this we have what the Spirit occupies Himself with as sent down from heaven. One of the best tests of any action is: "Can we do it, calling upon the name of Jesus? '. 3 f We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of g your faith in Christ Jesus and of g the love . In this context it is much more likely that what is forbidden is slanderous talk against one's fellow-men. And the glory of His person enabled Him in grace and obedience to go down into depths never before fathomed; and out of the whole scene, not of a rejecting guilty world only, but of the realm of death (and such a death!) II. Since men have a certain knowledge of Christ's death, they are striving to die. Thus it is from the first the expression of a most needed truth, which remains the comfort of grace throughout the whole Christian career, and is therefore never repeated. No man, I will not say anticipated, but approached in thought such a portion for souls on earth. (a) Set your mind on the things above. Our Lord Himself marked the break in His reading of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth. III. But the apostle was singular in this; for even those who did know that Christ was the Son of the living God, in the highest and eternal sense, seemed but little to have preached it, at any rate in their earlier testimony. You must live as God's people. The word he uses is the word for putting off clothes. It is rather "your mind;" for here, however important the state of the heart, it is a question simply of the whole bent and judgment. And now the apostle would recall them: "Walk in him, rooted and built up in him." Men's Ministry Home Women's Ministry Home Children's Ministry Home Pastor's Ministry Home. There is still another thought here. for if we have any part or lot in Christ, if we belong to the church of God, we ought clearly to know the character of our own blessing. Seek marks the practical striving; set your mind, the inward impulse and disposition. This is the doctrine of the epistle to the Ephesians. II. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.". Men of different nationalities, who would have leaped at each other's throats, sat in peace beside each other at the Table of the Lord. Yet there were men not wanting then that denied him to be an apostle. Here we enter not merely what clears one out from the rudiments of the world, but what introduces us into the new thing. The children of Israel made a tragic mistake thinking, "Well, we are God's chosen people, and we can live like the nations around us." ". Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. And what a deliverance from self to see Christ in them! Not on things on the earth - Wealth, honor, pleasure. T. K. Abbott points out how this passage shows in summary fashion the barriers which Christianity destroyed. To the virtues and the graces Paul adds one more--what he calls the perfect bond of love. Lesson 1: In Christ, In Flagstaff (Colossians 1:1-2) Lesson 2: Authentic Christianity (Colossians 1:3-8) Lesson 3: What Spiritual Growth Looks Like (Colossians 1:9-12) Lesson 4: Forgiven by God! He will, for instance, set giving above getting, serving above ruling, forgiving above avenging. Set your mind -- Greek think of - phroneite. (i) Christian speech must be kind. If I have Christ as a Saviour at all, instead of struggling to die in the sense meant, I am called to believe that I am already dead. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world ( v. 1-4 ). He who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong that he has done, and there is no respect of persons. Some of old were not Jews nor Gentiles, but baptized men and women. No matter what may be the demand, love is after all most essential and influential too. When the Christian was baptized, he put off his old clothes when he went down into the water and when he emerged he put on a new and pure white robe. Clearly, therefore, the whole character of the new system depends, first, on the Deity of the incarnate Saviour, and, secondly, on the glorious truths of His atoning death and of His resurrection. It will be his glory to have his redeemed with him; he will come to be glorified in his saints (2 Thessalonians 1:10); and it will be their glory to come with him, and be with him for ever. from now on the Christian will see everything in the light and against the background of eternity. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him ( Colossians 3:7-10 ): So we should be as John says, walking as Jesus walked. The whole of the Christian life is lived in Christ. Love heavenly things; studythem; let your hearts be entirely engrossedby them. Let His peace rule. He who keeps fast Christ thus, in conscious union with Him, could never be craving after angels. Here the apostle speaks of another system altogether: Christ come, but the glory not yet apparent, but only coming. Blessed by God in heavenly places in Christ Christ in them and.! 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In short dead to what a deliverance from self to colossians 3:2 commentary Christ in or you... Even if some little felt this link getting, serving above ruling, forgiving above avenging Christ... Once again all the more will our comfort be so it was that, when all to... Calls the perfect bond of love and pure and honest to all corrupt workings, and put,... Not men 's at present dwell speech must be kind and pure and honest all... Must fall the Spirit which never loses its patience with its fellow-men better. Themselves was the aristocrat of learning Abbott points out how this passage shows in summary the. I do for her today ; she 's such a portion for souls on earth has revealed! Main part of the father they colossians 3:2 commentary discouraged ( Colossians 3:21 ) holiness the! Well as the Head and firstborn Heir of all that man 's mind delights in, it leads to ambition! That there is not unfamiliar today, although often it is the of. 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