Rules for Holy Living
Can something rooted die? Of course, it can. All living things that are rooted need nourishment. Knowing full well that humans need this reminder, Paul set out to provide some rules for holy living to the church at Colossae and to you and me today.
Read Colossians 3:1-17
- According to verse one, where are we to direct our attention? When St. Paul says, “to choose things above versus earthly things, how should we position our thinking today as we live our daily lives?
- Verses 5-11 discuss those things of our human nature that we need to put to death. Notice that Paul says, “whatever” belongs to your earthly nature. Isn’t there something good on earth? If so, what is it?
- The list in verses 5-6 carries a warning along with it. List them
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
- What is the consequence of such continued practices?
- From the list above, what commandment (See Exodus 20: 1-17) of God is being fractured?
- Sexual immorality __________________
- Impurity _____________
- Lust ___________________
- Evil desire __________________
- Greed ___________________
- We must wake up each day and start all over again as we attempt to put the old self in subjection to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul uses the verb “rid” to describe how we must act. How would you define “rid?”
- Anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying are things that are dangerous. “Well,” you say. Jesus showed anger while on earth and He was perfect, so why can’t I be angry? How do you respond?
- If we “rid” or shed one thing, we “put on” something new. Verse eight says we have “put on the new self” when we belong to Christ. How does Paul describe this new clothing as it were?
- God does not show favorites regardless of you background, upbringing, previous beliefs, or whatever else! All of us are His chosen people. As such, what characteristics are we to cloth ourselves:
- _______________________
- _______________________
- _______________________
- _______________________
- _______________________
- _______________________
- And what is the cement or glue that hold everything together?
St. Paul continues to expand on this new self and how we should act. Verse 16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” This verse contains two major themes. First, we are told that we must let the word of Christ live in us abundantly. Second, we are told how we are to deal with one another as members of the Holy Christian Church.
- Let’s do a little scientific experiment. If we take a pint (or liter) bottle and fill it with some liquid; and then attempt to add to it what happens to the additional liquid? If we now take that same bottle that is less than full and add liquid what happens? How does this experiment help us understand the need for Christ’s word to “fill” our being?
- Previously, Paul specifically mentioned Scythians in particular, and barbarians in general. Evidently, Scythians were from southern Russia and were, by nature, barbaric. The second major theme of teaching and admonishing may be more difficult under these circumstances. Why is teaching and admonishing one another important today?
Colossians 3:12 reminds us that we are to put on our spiritual clothing (Gospel). Go back to Genesis 3:21. With what did God clothe Adam and Eve?
Heavenly father, as we approach yet another day, help us to understand that we need to be filled with your presence so that no evil may encroach our inner most being. As Christians, help us to lean on one another for reassurance that God loves each of us, and that we are to act as our Savior showed us in His life. Forgive our unbelief and provide us an extra measure of your Holy Spirit so that we might live as your chosen ones. In His precious name, Amen.