Colossians Chapter 3

Colossians chapter one presents Christ as the Head of the church---the body of Christ. Chapter two explains a saint’s position in Christ as a result of believing the Gospel of Christ. Chapter three is going to explain how the position you have in Christ affects your life here on earth. The problem at Colossea was the believers there were involved too much with earthly pursuits. The world was defining their lifestyle---a religious lifestyle (food, drink, pleasure, special days and happiness was the only thing on their mind). Paul is telling them, “if ye be risen with Christ” you should be thinking about more substantive things than day to day activities of earthly life. The hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found “over there” where Christ sits on His throne. You have access to the hidden things of God---the revelation of the mystery.

Compare this with what Jesus commanded the Jews in the dispensation of the Kingdom---Mathew 6:33… “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The nation of Israel was instructed to seek the principles of the kingdom. They had a physical, literal kingdom that they were to be thinking about and living in conformity with. Grace believers are instructed to maintain a different mindset/orientation. We are instructed to comprehend a spiritual program that is wrapped in the Lord Jesus Christ. This mindset is our responsibility; it is different from Israel’s orientation rooted in ceremonial religion (performance). Our passions/affections should be set on things above where our Head is seated. It ought to be evident in our words and deeds that we are “heavenly minded” because we have a “heavenly position”. Paul described this in Acts 26:19 by calling the dispensation of the grace of God the “heavenly vision”. This will require us to be on the alert for what religious system we are attracted to or participate in. The pursuits of your life should evidence that “you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God”. How we manifest our life purpose, our spiritual mindset and our beliefs are important to God. We are free (as saints) from the earthly systems and religious organizations to pursue Christ in heaven.

Paul is explaining in chapter 3 the resurrected life of the Christian. (Col. 1:27) The world (secular and religious) has a common goal; it is centered in physical, earthly blessings, goals, and pursuits. “Your life is hid with Christ in God”---the word “hid” means to conceal. It is not about you; “I am crucified with Christ”.

Generally speaking, unsaved people get introduced to Christianity by a particular denomination or system of theology. They get indoctrinated first about the “system” or worldview of that particular group and that has a powerful influence on the new convert’s understanding of salvation and the Christian life. The net result is that Christians are kept in the dark about the dispensation of the grace of God and how to rightly divide the word of truth.

Vs. 1… If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

“If”…Paul is not trying to get the Colossians to doubt their salvation. He is saying, “Given the fact that you are risen with Christ”. Think about the position you have been given in Christ. A Christian does not have to start at the bottom of the ladder and climb up to heaven based on a good performance. We have been placed at the top of the ladder as a free gift of God’s grace. God has chosen to start us at the top. He is not evaluating our performance in order to gain His acceptance. You and I are complete in Christ. That is the position we have. The gift of God (salvation) is not of works. Based on the doctrine in chapters 1 & 2, we are now instructed to walk in the reality of what has happened to us “judicially”/and “positionally”. Our job is to “reckon” the old man dead. Our "old man" and our "flesh nature" are two different things. The moment we believe the gospel of Christ, the Holy Spirit crucifies our "old man" with Christ. That means He takes us out of our position in Adam and places us in our new identification with Christ (II Cor. 5:17). In that sense, our old man dies. However, our flesh nature is not eradicated neither does it get progressively more holy. In our flesh dwells nothing good (Rom. 7: 18). We must learn to think and make decisions consistent with who God has made us to be in our new position in Christ. We “perfect” the new man by the operation of truth; we are not to operate by the precepts and principles of the old man (law, ceremonies, tradition, and philosophy). We (the church, the body of Christ) haven’t learned Christ according to the law; we haven’t learned Christ according to the flesh. We are to learn Christ according to the new spiritual relationship we have with Him. We are to put off the former conversation (That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Eph. 4:22). That means we are not living our Christian lives by the law; we are not living our lives by the flesh (impressions and feelings that the Holy Spirit gives us). We learn to operate according to Ephesians 4:24… And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. This is something we must choose to do; it will not happen automatically once we are saved.

My flesh nature can be dealt with only by sound doctrine and the knowledge of my new position I have in Christ. Once I know who I am, this empowers and frees me to become stable and productive in my Christian walk. Once we are "in Christ" (saved), Colossians 2:20 tells us that we no longer have a relationship to ordinances and rudiments of the world---we have been crucified with Christ. It is a wonderful thing to know that my old man has been dealt with judicially by Calvary’s Cross. He is dealt with by me in the details of my life when I operate according to the doctrine that I have learned from my Bible about Calvary’s Cross. Victory is not an emotional response; victory is not a hope and a prayer; victory is attainable when I acknowledge where God has placed me---in Christ and His victory at Calvary. It is no longer about me; I am crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). To ignore this fact is to “frustrate the grace of God” (vs. 21).

Going back to law to live the Christian life was a scary thing to Paul… I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Gal. 4:11) Many of our Christian brothers and sisters will immediately reprimand us if we teach and believe our position in Christ. Being free in Christ is much too scary for them. They don’t know what to do with liberty; therefore, they go back under the law. This is the whole reason the book of Galatians was written. (Gal. 5:1)

Here in verse 1 Paul is telling us that we are “dead men” in Christ. We have experienced a “death baptism” (I Cor. 12:13 & Rom. 6:4). Jesus talked about baptizing people with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) and with fire (hell) (Matt. 3:11). Christians have historically put a great deal of importance on water baptism. Can you tell me one person Jesus ever water baptized? Why would Jesus, as a Jewish Rabbi, ignore something so important to Christians? John water baptized Jesus but Jesus baptized no one (John 4:2). According to Scripture, Jesus experienced two baptisms---one in water and one into death (Luke 12:50). His “death baptism” on Calvary’s Cross is the one we are baptized into by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:13). We are not under the law system (Rom. 6:14), but neither are we law breakers. Think about it. The law does not have an affect on a dead man! A dead man is not a trouble maker. The folks in a cemetery do not create crime for a city. They don’t even complain to the city commission when the grass is not cut around their grave in the summer. As God’s Word works effectually in you (as a believer) you are changed from the inside out. This “reckoning” of death is essential for growth/maturity to take place. The only other option we have is to return to the law system and Christians take this option in record numbers.

Romans 7:1… Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? The good news of the gospel of the Grace of Christ is that you are no longer living. You have been crucified with Christ and freed from the law program God gave to Israel. This will require some serious thinking on your part to sort out. In Colossians 3:1 we are risen with Christ; in verse 3 we are dead. Now which way is it? Are we dead or alive? Well, your spirit and soul are made alive in Christ, but your old man (position in Adam) has been crucified with Christ. In one sense a grace believer is schizophrenic; he is a walking, dead man. 

Vs. 2… Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. We are on our way to heaven; so why not set you affections on where we are headed. Are you sure of your soul’s salvation? Ephesians 1:13 sets the record straight… In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Christians are inclined to try to fix up this world in Jesus name. We are into disaster cleanup; feeding the homeless; cancer awareness; etc. Paul instructs us to lift our eyes to things above. Even if we wipe out hunger, natural disasters and cancer and people die and go to hell; what have we profited them? The key issue about the judgment seat of Christ (I Cor. 3) is “did you build your life upon the doctrines of the wise master builder”. It will not be about your WWJD bracelet. Trying to build your life on the “foot steps of Jesus” will not get it at the judgment seat of Christ. The “things above” involve the spiritual blessings we have in Christ (grace doctrine). (Eph. 1:3)

The “things above” are better than a new car, a favorite sport, a new home or even earthly relationships. These things are not necessarily sin; however our affections are to be reserved for the things above. Does your daily life reflect affection for things above? Our old man is oriented to stuff of earth.

Vs. 3… For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. If you are dead why are you so easily offended, so touchy, so head strong?

Every human being ever born has three parts to his person: spirit, soul and body. A Christian has a quickened spirit; a saved soul and you are to reckon the "old man" dead. An unsaved person has a dead spirit, a carnal soul attached to his carnal flesh and position in Adam. For the Christian, the old man is dead; for the unsaved, the spirit is dead. The only way we can communicate to unsaved people is on a “soulish” level. That is why unsaved people can affect our (Christian) manners. (I Cor. 15:33… Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.)

Vs. 4… When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. In the dispensation of grace, a believer is not a spiritual Jew. As a believer, I am headed for heaven with Christ. This grace doctrine is called “glorification”…There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Cor. 15:40-44)

Vs. 5-6… Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: [6] For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. Based on your position in Christ, “mortify” (to be left alone, to have nothing to do with thus weakening, to drain the life out of) your members (your flesh). The second law of thermodynamics says that… the quality of matter/energy deteriorates gradually over time. Therefore, as believers, Paul encourages us to “mortify” our members upon the earth; we can be assured that if we do not service our earthly members, they will be subject to mortification. 

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Rom. 7:24-25) Here Paul explains that there is a war between the law in his members (flesh) and the law of his mind. He goes on to say that the victory is through Jesus Christ our Lord; not our promise to act right and do right as believers. Paul is not saying here that since Christ has saved me I no longer have to struggle with my flesh because it is no longer there. He tells us to “walk in the Spirit” and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) We are not told to “fight with the flesh and maybe you will win through Jesus Christ”. My position has changed; therefore I am now to be seeking “heavenly things”. Paul had the right mind-set. The life of a believer is not about “waging a war on your fleshly lusts” (changing your sinful habits). “if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Your flesh is weakened by this process of “renewing your mind”. (Rom. 12:1-2) So we have a choice as a believer on how we understand or comprehend life---live under the law or be led of the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:2 tells us that “we are not walking according to the course of this world”. Paul does not tell them, “Here is the requirement; stop your fornication, uncleanness, etc.” He tells them to “put off” and “put on” some things. We have to learn to “get ourselves dressed” just like we teach our children to do as they grow up. Paul presents “doctrine” as the remedy for fleshly living. Children think only about playing and having fun. As they get older, they don’t have as much time for those things. They are busy with responsibilities and more important things than spending time at the playground. Similarly, believers are to consider their position and values and they will be able to put off those sinful things.

So therefore, the warfare we are engaged in is a doctrinal one; it is a battle of ideas… “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (II Cor. 10:3-6) It is a battle in the mind; it is our thought life that needs to change. The war has moved from the flesh to the mind for a believer. Romans 8:11-13…But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Vs. 8-10… “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 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:” The outward manifestation of the “new man” is dependent on the believer “setting his affections on things above”. It is not a negative work of putting off these sins by our own efforts; it is the positive result of our mindset, our affections, and our orientation. This is what stops you from doing wrong. It is your inward man now. That is the issue.

Teenagers are difficult to work with because they live in an adult body but they act like children. Anger, wrath, malice, etc. are common traits of children. Teenagers have this wrong focus as evidenced by the questions they ask their parents---What is wrong with my friends? What is wrong with my music? My dress isn’t too short! Paul addresses this immature focus with the Colossians. They should have been focusing on the “new man” the “new course” and the “new creature”; they (like teenagers) were focusing on “sins”. To focus on these new things (II Cor. 5:18) results in sin being put off in our Christian lives. You do not become a new man because you work on subduing the flesh. You are part of the new man by believing the gospel. This can only occur when we set our affections on things above. We are to walk in the position in which we are standing. If you are standing in the old man, sin will be your undoing. When sins are committed by a believer, they are to respond by thanking the Lord that He has forgiven them all their trespasses and “press on”. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)

Ephesians 4:23-24…“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” These verses tell us that holiness is not something we seek after in our flesh,; it is something we recognize in the spirit of our mind---we have a new position in Christ and He is complete. Christians like to use Rom. 12:1-2 to talk about a transformed life. They fail to realize that Romans 1-5 talks about justification; Romans 6-8 talks about sanctification; Romans 9-11 announces to Israel that the dispensation of the kingdom is being set aside. Romans 12 is not telling Christians if they don’t present their bodies as living sacrifices they will not be living a transformed life. He is saying, now that you know the essential grace doctrines, present yourself in Christ---that is your reasonable service. The key is to “renew your mind”. We are convinced as believers that the reformation of the flesh is our duty and focus. Paul says it is the renewing of the mind. Reckoning our new position and purpose is central to being transformed. “To reckon” means to have faith in what God has said. How can we present our bodies to God as holy? Paul answers that in Colossians 1:11-13… “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; [10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Paul does not command us to not produce any sinful activity in our flesh. The victory is to begin in our inner man; the doctrine must be resident in you. It starts with knowledge; then continues with spiritual understanding; and results in a worthy walk. Our flesh could never attain this.

Our position in Christ provides these “spiritual blessings”. (Eph. 1:3) This new power will make you “thankful” to God (Col. 1:12). Whenever Paul talks about the way a believer operates in Christ, he is always focusing on understanding and doctrine. If you fail to do this, you will fall captive to the thoughts of the flesh and the course of this world. You will never attain in your flesh to the position you already have in Christ. He gives it to you as a free gift. According to Ephesians 3:18, the Spirit will strengthen your inner man… That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

The best example I know of a “flesh based” approach to the Christian life is what can be seen among the Charismatics. They want to experience God through their emotions without understanding the doctrine. They want to feel the power of God by the “baptism of the Holy Ghost”. You can not bypass doctrine and still experience a worthy walk. It is no coincidence that fornication and adultery are rampant among the Charismatic leaders. According to vs. 19 we must “know” the love of Christ even though it “passeth knowledge”.

 

Vs. 12-14…Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [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. [14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Paul is dealing with the risen life of the Christian here in chapter three. Our affection is to be focused on our positional truth in Christ and our heavenly destination. Paul tells us that this old man has been put off already by Christ at the Cross. The “old man” is dead according to Rom. 6:6,11; we need to “reckon” these things to be so. We need to realize it is already true. So, according to Colossians 3:9… “seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” we need to put off lying because it is not a part of our new man. The “old man” “new man” is not something we are struggling to do; it is a present reality that we need to reckon to be true. It has already happened to us.

“as the elect of God”… you (individually) are not elect of God; “the elect” is the church---body of Christ; you are a new man; a new creature (II Cor. 5:17). God chose this body as the agency in which you can be blessed.

“And above all these things put on charity”… It is crucial that we let the Bible define what charity is. There is a difference between love and charity. Only the translators of the AV 1611 make this distinction between the two. All modern translations have removed the word “charity” (except the NASV in the Gospels only) and simply go with the word love.

• Rom. 14:15… But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. This is the first mention of the word charity in the Bible. Charity is love that does good to the benefit of others; it is love that builds up; it is love that does something. The charitable Christian is concerned about his actions causing a weaker brother to stumble. Love is anything that pleases you; to have affection for or see beauty in. The unsaved can love. Rom. 15:1-2… We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. You can love without having charity, but you can not have charity without loving. Charity is a higher degree of loving; charity is loving what is important to God. Charity pulls fellow believers in a direction they do not naturally want to go.
• The KJV translators were brilliant linguists. They used the word charity rather than love in I Corinthians 13.There are several important reasons why they did this. In John 3:16-19 we read that God so loved the world but two verses later God says if you do not believe on Jesus you are condemned already. How does love contain condemnation? Well verse 19 tells us that men love darkness rather than light and this brought condemnation. In other words, love can be selfish or expressed in an evil manner. This is one of the reasons why Paul uses the word “charity” rather than love in I Cor. 13. Charity is a unique kind of love.
• I Cor. 8: 1-3… Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. [2] And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.[3] But if any man love God, the same is known of him. The Corinthians were proud; they were knowledgeable; but they did not have charity. Charity is a step further than love. Charity says I am going to take this knowledge I have and help a brother to understand it. Just having knowledge and trying to win an argument is not charity. Also notice here that we have the word love and charity in the same passage; so we know that they have to be something different. Paul is saying that if the Corinthians loved God (had an affection toward Him) they would realize they do not know everything yet. They were not teachable because knowledge tends to puff a person up. For the Christian, knowledge is not the objective; charity is. Just having the knowledge that “things offered to idols” is not sufficient. Even if you have the right doctrine, that is not enough. They needed to be concerned about the spiritual growth of the weaker brothers.
• I Cor. 13:13…Faith is the process of installing the doctrines of grace in your inner man ; hope is you looking for those things and setting your affection on them; and what is produced by that is your work toward the other members of the body of Christ which is charity.
• I Cor. 12: 31… But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Charity is a more excellent way than using your spiritual gifts.
• I Cor. 13:1-3… Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Paul tells us of the necessity of charity. Your spiritual gifts are nothing but entertainment if charity is missing. We hear Christians say things like, “I’m just going to use my gifts and God-given talents for the Lord.” That is just another way of saying “I’m going to do what I love to do and so God will just have to accept it.” “I am good at something and therefore it will glorify the Lord.” Pastors counsel their members to figure out what they enjoy doing and they will be in God’s will. They say things like, “You have a talent and you should not waste it.” This is ridiculous. God has a purpose and will for each Christian that is higher and more important than doing the things you and I love to do. Paul told the Corinthians that unless their “spiritual gift” expressed charity, it was mere entertainment or amusement for others to enjoy. Expressing charity is the purpose and will of God for your Christian life. Charity is the way God nourishes the body of Christ---not just attaining knowledge, understanding mysteries and possessing faith. Without charity the body of Christ can not grow. It is not about you; even though you may give your body to be burned for the other guy (vs. 6). Doing that may be loving but it not necessarily charitable. Charity is about the other members of the body of Christ that need to be edified…Phil. 1: 22-23… For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: [24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. The body of Christ can’t grow without charity. Love may motivate you to give your body to be burned for another person or cause; but only charity motivates us to focus on the right reason to build up the other members of the body of Christ. Charity is the “bond of perfectness”.
• I Cor. 13: 6… Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; When you just love people you will be reluctant to correct them. Charity doesn’t mind doing the “dirty work”. Charity works for the edification of the body of Christ. You can’t express charity unless you know the truth (grace doctrine/revelation of the mystery) and rejoice in it. Love just tries to please people; charity tries to please another to his edification. Any old two year old can love someone or something. Charity is the mark of a mature Christian. Galatians 6:2…Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. In contest, Paul is talking about restoring an erring brother. This is an example of charity in action.

“which is the bond of perfectness”… charity is that which holds us together as Christians. You can not express charity to lost people. You can give them the gospel but only those who are alive to Christ can really appreciate charity according to Romans 15:2…pleasing others to their edification.

· 1 Timothy 1:5…Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

· 1 Timothy 2:15…Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

· 1 Timothy 4:12…Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

· 2 Timothy 2:22…Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

· 2 Timothy 3:10…But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

· Titus 2:2…That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Vs. 15-17… And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [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. [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. Notice first that Paul doesn’t say “have the peace”; he says to let the peace (that which you already have) rule in your hearts. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Now how can a Christian let the peace of God rule in his heart? Paul answers this question in Ephesians 2:15-17… “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” This is not “world peace” (the absence of military war). There are two aspects of this “peace of God”: 1. Peace between Jews and Gentiles; the distinctions that divided Jew and Gentile have been done away with in Christ. 2. Peace with God. Paul announced to the world that reconciliation with God is now available to anyone who will believe the gospel of Christ. Paul also explains this matter of peace in Eph. 4:3… Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This “bond of peace” is what unites us. Sticking together on these grace doctrines is called the “unity of the Spirit”. Paul refers to this in other passages as “walking in the Spirit” (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16). These seven grace doctrines were given to keep us from arguing with one another and breaking up into man-made denominations.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”…Knowledge can be defined as learning facts; and in context Paul is encouraging the Colossians to learn the facts of Colossians chapters 1 & 2. Then he exhorts the Colossians to let it dwell in them richly in all wisdom. So what is wisdom?

1. Wisdom is defined in Eph. 5:17 as knowing the will of God… Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. The will of the Lord today is not what God was doing with Israel 2,000 years ago. Wisdom is recognizing this distinction. God worked with Israel in one way (law) and the church the body of Christ in another way (grace). This is what it means to “redeem the time”. Reading the whole Bible without recognizing the dispensational changes that occur is “unwise”. Reading the Bible “rightly divided” is “wise”. This is the will of God and you can know the will of God according to Ephesians 1:9; 17-19… “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power”.   

2. Wisdom is “rightly dividing the word of truth”. (II Cor. 5:16) In John 5:39 Jesus said… “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Psalm 2 and 22 are “searchable” scriptures which reveal Christ. Contrast that verse with what Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:5… “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men.” Paul states that the revelation of the mystery that Christ would die for the sins of the world and abide in believers by grace through faith is “unsearchable” until Jesus revealed it unto him. Gal. 1:12 states that Paul revealed a “new thing” to the world. I Timothy 6:3 assures us that the words that Paul wrote are the “words of the Lord Jesus Christ”. We are to consent to these words; if we don’t, he says that we are proud, knowing nothing. According to I Cor. 15:8, Paul was the last Apostle to see the Lord Jesus---not the 12 Jewish Apostles. Since Paul saw Him last, I believe he knows what the Lord would have us know and do. In addition, I Corinthians 14:36-37 tells us that the writings of Paul are “the commandments of the Lord”. And last, I Corinthians 11:1 assures us that Paul was following Jesus---not himself. 

3. Wisdom is “speaking to yourselves” (Eph. 5:19… Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”) and “singing”. This is a very important part of wisdom and one that is miserably misunderstood. Our songs today in the church are a major source of doctrinal confusion. We like songs that “sound good”; regardless if the words are true to Scripture or not. Paul reprimands that thinking by telling us that Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are to be performed with wisdom. In other words, Paul is admonishing them that the doctrine in your inner man will come out of you through speaking, singing, and praying. Christians are responsible to put good grace doctrine in so it will come out of you. I Timothy 3:15… But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The church (individual Christians--- “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:22-23) The church, the body of Christ (individual believers) are to be the ground and pillar of the truth.

What is “the truth” for this dispensation? Is it evangelism? No! Is it “the social gospel” (showing compassion to the world)? No! Is it “praise and worship”? No! It is learning and proclaiming the gospel of Christ and rightly divided Scripture!!! We are to keep the world “grounded” and as “pillars” we are to hold up the truth of grace.

Here are some additional considerations of what it means to worship:

• Romans 1:25 explains that worship is honoring with love, submission, and esteem.
• Revelation 13:3-4 states that worship is saying words---not singing.
• Revelation 14:9 worship is “taking the mark of the beast”. They wee giving authority to the devil over them.
• Matthew 4:9 records that Satan promised to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world if He would “fall down and worship him”. So worship is getting under proper authority. Christ is the Head of the church the body of Christ; not your pastor!
• Mark 5:2-7 is an interesting story that helps us comprehend worship. A devil possessed man comes running to Jesus and fell down and worshipped Him (vs. 6). How can that be? I thought devils all rebelled against Jesus years ago. Well the truth is they did rebel and that is clearly stated in verse 7. However, even Jesus’ enemies knew His position and authority. These devils acknowledged His authority. That is what worship is---we realize our subservience to Jesus. The church today sings songs about Jesus all the while rebelling against Him. True worship will never do this. When the Bible says these devils were worshipping Jesus, it does not tell us that they were singing praises to Him. They were worshipping Him in that they recognized His true authority. They were not saying “I praise You” “I praise You” and “I will follow You”. And just what did Jesus do about this “worship”? He cast them out into hogs and the hogs ran violently into the sea and committed “suuui---cide”.
• Matthew 7:21-23… Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Jesus said to the Jews living in the dispensation of the Kingdom ministry that even though they prophesied in His name and cast out devils, and did many wonderful works---“I never knew you”. Why would He do such a bad thing to such dedicated people? Because they did their own works of righteousness---not God’s. Jesus told His Twelve Disciples to “prophesy, cast out devils, and do wonderful works” ; however this command was limited to the Twelve Disciples---not the common Jewish convert. The converts wee to get water baptized, attend the Temple on the Sabbath Day, bring tithes, etc. Apparently they got caught up in the “miracle, signs and wonders ministry” like so many in the church today. In other words, they were not following the command that Jesus gave to them to follow.
• In John 4:19-22 Jesus encounters a Gentile woman. She says that she worships in the mountain of Samaria according to “her fathers”. Jesus corrects her theology (and her family tradition) by reminding her that “salvation is of the Jews” (by God’s decree in Gen. 12:1-3; Rom. 3:1-3); not the Samaritans. Gentiles could only come to God id they were willing to embrace the true and living God (Jehovah). Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “Ye know not what ye worship”. She did not know her “identity” as a Gentile and what was required of her to obtain a relationship acceptable to God in the dispensation in which she lived. Obviously, the “religion” she had acquired from her “fathers” had not prepared her for marital harmony in that she had been married five times and had decided to just “shack up” the sixth time. Either this woman was hard to get along with or she was terrible at judging the character of the men whom she dated. It is also very striking to me that this woman did not know where to “worship”. That malady afflicts the church, the body of Christ even to this day. The Samaritan woman was ignorant of rightly divided truth. The Jews had salvation and she was going to have to come through them to get to God. Carefully note the words of Jesus…”we know what we worship” (vs. 22); worship is not singing and praising God---it is knowledge, rightly divided. Worship is not swaying your body back and forth with your hands raised toward heaven and tears running down your face! It is not, “I felt the Lord’s presence in church today”. Jesus is talking to this woman about her unscriptural knowledge!!! Worship involves knowledge. Our churches are filled today with women swaying, crying and their hands raised toward heaven, but they don’t know one thing about grace truth. They call what they are doing “worshipping God in spirit and truth”. Not so! The Samaritan woman goes on to say, “I know that Messiah cometh”. She assures the Lord that she does know something.

“teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”… This verse has to do with the content of our songs; it has nothing to do with the style of music. A Psalm, hymn or spiritual song is different from the world’s music by its lyrics. We are to be “teaching and admonishing” ourselves and fellow-believers with sound doctrine. Paul encourages us to use music (singing) to seriously impact our inner man with truth.

1. Grace singing is not for entertainment; it is for teaching and admonishing. Most of the songs in our day are purely entertainment value.

2. Grace singing is not to create an “atmosphere”. That is precisely what singing is used for in the church. We want people to “feel the spirit” and get their heart ready for the “preaching of the Word”.

3. Grace singing is not to create an emotion in people. Our orientation to grace truth is what is to create an emotion of thanksgiving in our inner man. Emotions are not sinful in and of themselves; emotions are God-given and should follow our thinking on truth.

4. Grace singing is not worship. Churches today boast of their “praise and worship” service which is purely singing for 30 minutes or more. Worship is service; not singing. While singing can be an act of service to God, it is not worship as practiced in the church today. How does singing over and over again “I love you” “Oh I love you” “Yes I love you” teach and admonish one another? Only those who know grace truth can truly teach and admonish one another with singing.

The Old Testament Psalms teach us how to sing to the Lord. The words are given in Psalms but not the musical notes. For example Psalm 47:7… For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Israel was to sing with “understanding”. That is what God desires for Christians to do as well.

Again in Psalm 119:47 we are told that the statutes of the Lord were to be the subject of their singing.… “Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” The “statutes of the Lord” contain some pretty strong instructions (Lev. 18:26). Yet Israel was to sing about these subjects. Similarly, we are instructed to sing grace truths. This will help us to get it in our inner man. Singing today is primarily for the church when it assembles on Sundays. It is called “praise and worship” time. However, singing, according to Paul, is for us to teach and admonish one another.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”… In context this verse is describing what worship is---it is what “we do” (our service to God). This verse also transitions us into the remaining verses of chapter 3 which identifies the “whatsoever ye do”. God does not leave us to our own devices in determining “what we are going to do with our lives”. Paul is correcting the thinking that says, “I want to be a Christian doctor, lawyer, painter, plumber or “whatever” for the Lord”. The decision is not left to us just so we add the words…in Jesus name. That kind of sugar coated talk sounds pious but it misses the point of what Paul is saying to the Colossians. Doing something in the name of the Lord Jesus means YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! As grace believers we do not have the authority to do just anything for the Lord, as long as we are comfortable with it. Paul is going to set forth in verses 18-25 just what a grace ambassador is authorized to do.

Vs. 17…“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”… In context this verse is describing what worship is---it is what “we do” (our service to God). This verse also transitions us into the remaining verses of chapter 3 which identifies the “whatsoever ye do”. God does not leave us to our own devices in determining “what we are going to do with our lives”. Paul is correcting the thinking that says, “I want to be a Christian doctor, lawyer, painter, plumber or “whatever” for the Lord”. The Lord is not our “sponsor” for what we are choosing to do in life (ex. NASCAR driver has a sponsor).The decision is not left to us just so we add the words…in Jesus name. That kind of sugar coated talk sounds pious but it misses the point of what Paul is saying to the Colossians. Doing something in the name of the Lord Jesus has to do with “authority”; it means YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! Remember that in Col. 2:18 they were not “holding to their Head”. They were going about the Christian life in their own power and strength. As a Christian you are not your own, you are bought with a price (I Cor. 6:19-20). We do not have the authority to do just anything for the Lord, as long as we are comfortable with it. Paul is going to set forth in verses 18-25 just what a grace ambassador is authorized to do.

Vs. 18… “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord” These verses have a tendency to rub people the wrong way. I will resist the temptation to run to the Greek and twist the Scriptures to be politically correct or to mean something that you and I are comfortable with. Our culture today hates to hear a Bible verse like this. It should not be so among beleivers. These verses are going to be discussing family, authority and headship. Paul is not going to be talking about a list of regulations. He is not going to be saying “you people do this” and “you people do that”. In context, he is talking about a Christian’s position in the Lord (vs. 1) and that because of that position you can obey the Lord. Please note that none of the people Paul lists (wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, etc.) are told to submit because it benefits other people (even though it does ultimately). The motivation in this passage of Scripture is not about the “other person”; it is about your position in Christ and therefore the resulting authority because Jesus told you to do it. A police officer performs traffic stops “in the name of the law”. He is authorized to do that. Likewise, Christians are authorized to perform their responsibilities as a wife, husband, child, employer, employee by submitting to the Headship of Jesus Christ and bringing his “rule” in our homes and vocational lives. Living the Christian life is not something we do on Sunday morning at church; it is introducing the rule of Christ (grace doctrine) into our daily lives.

Now Paul is not going to teach us something new here; he is going to take the relationships and roles we already know about (family) and operate in daily to help us understand our position in Christ. Where people do not follow the order that is described here, there will be less understanding of the mystery of Christ. Good order in the home is essential to understanding the mystery of Christ. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. (Prov. 30:11). We are living in that generation today. Christians measure their lives today by success in their careers, accumulating possessions and work in the church rather than understanding how important family order is to God and how essential it is in understanding the revelation of the mystery. People are oblivious to the revelation of the mystery because they think that they get more of God’s blessings if they obey laws, customs and traditions. They use a different measurement than God has prescribed.

Ephesians 5:28-30…So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. [29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: [30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. The relationship you have with Christ was a mystery in time past---it was kept secret. Therefore, the family relationships we have help us to now understand the relationship we have in Christ. Paul is going from the known to the unknown. Your marriage and family is an illustration of your most important relationship with Christ.

We are one body in Christ. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Rom. 12:4-5) Please note that we are “members of one body”, but we do not have the same “office”. That is going to be very helpful in our understanding of husband/wife relationships. Paul does not just jump into these grace truths as commandments to follow and tell us to just do it. He is laying a foundation for our understanding about earthly relationships. God desires peaceable order in society but there is a way to arrive at it.

We come into the world as sons of Adam and therefore we are rebellious---we are not submitted to God. The core issue of life is SUBMISSION---submitting to God’s truth. Now, when God deals with humanity He introduces the subject of submission. Not everyone can be “the master” or “the father”. Every time God discusses submission He addresses the wife not the children. Probably because God has established the husband as the head of the home and the wife is positioned next in line in the family; therefore it naturally follows that she would have the first opportunity to either submit or rebel against her headship. You can be sure that if the wife rebels against her husband’s headship, the children will be quick to follow. Now let’s not lose sight of the husband’s responsibility to submit to his Head---Jesus Christ. When the husband is exercising proper headship in the home, it makes it much easier for the wife and children to submit to it. Let me hasten to add that a husband’s submission to Christ is no guarantee that everyone else in the home will do likewise. Paul is admonishing the whole team---husbands, wives and children to learn and practice submission. Rebellion at any level in the home makes family life miserable for all. Now lest someone is thinking I am suggesting that the goal of family life is for all of us to get along, you are wrong. While I certainly prefer peace over conflict any day; however, the goal of family life is to bring God’s rule in our family and the culture. A husband/father is submitting to his Head when he leads his family to operate according to what God is doing in this dispensation of grace. If a father/husband fails in this responsibility, he is rebelling against God and laying a foundation for the destruction of his family and chaos in the culture. No amount of success outside the home by a man will ever compensate for failure inside the home. The Word of God is where we get our authority to say the way life should operate---not from the culture. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:15) The dispensation of the grace of God is the most important medicine we should give to others who have broken relationships and disorder in their family.

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Eph. 5:21-23) Everyone wants to skirt around this issue and try to water it down but God instructs a wife to “submit” to her own husband in the same way a child does to a parent or an employee does to a boss. To submit is to have humility or a voluntary yielding to the will of the one in a position of authority over you. A wife or child can obey their authority without being submissive. Wives are told to submit to their husbands and children are told to obey their parents. Submission is an attitude; it is a willing taking of a position of obedience in doing what you are told. Children are told to obey (vs. 20) but wives are told to submit. What is the difference? Obedience is following the command. Children may not have the best attitude about doing what they are told but they must learn to do what they are told. Children routinely will disagree with what you are telling them as a parent. It doesn’t matter. Submission includes obedience but it is more than that. It is the intentional decision to submit my will to the will of my authority because God has said that is what brings about good order in the home and society.

God is the author of the ordering in the home and nation. In I Timothy 2:13 Paul tells Timothy that Adam was first formed and then Eve. Adam held the position of first rank or authority. Genesis 2:18 tells us that God made Eve “meet” for Adam. That means He made Adam a helper that was perfectly suited for him…And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. A woman is a helper to a man and she is “meet” (proper, appropriate). She can help him set the rules of the house. Helping her husband speaks to the woman’s submission to man. It does not mean that she is not entitled to an opinion, or that she can not make a decision or that she can’t be involved in responsibilities outside the home. The father sets the rules of the house and his wife is to see that they are carried out.

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:5) The responsibility of “keeping the home” does not mean that a wife does all of the housework; it means that she sees that her husband’s “rulership” is maintained in the home. This can only be achieved if the wife maintains an attitude of submission in the home; otherwise there is going to be problems.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands”…I believe this speaks to the tendency of wives to compare their husband with the “ideal husband”. No doubt this comes from the proliferation of seminars, conferences, books and sermons on marriage today. Women hear what an “ideal” husband should be like and it makes it harder for them to submit to “your own husbands” (not the one you wished you had). This is one of those “unintended consequences” that can spring from good intentions.

Now, a man should submit to the headship of setting the rules of the house. Too many men in our day have abandoned this God-given duty and shifted it to his wife. He must learn how to set the rules from an understanding of God’s truth. Men are not allowed by God to rule the house in an arbitrary or dictatorial manner; like the mystery of Christ and His church, it is a union of husband and wife. In the same way today in the church, the body of Christ, we are to be keeping the rulership our Head (Jesus Christ) has ordained. Men are to be keeping the home and the church, the body of Christ in line with what the Head has decreed and desires it to be. Men “run the church” in any way they see fit. They submit “it” to their own whims and likes. We need to learn God’s truth about what “the church” should be doing. Like a godly husband/wife we are to be “keeping that rule”. Ask the next pastor you meet if he knows what the “revelation of the mystery” is or the “dispensation of the grace of God”. He will look at you like you are from another planet. No amount of evidence is going to convince him that he is a “worker of iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23… Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. A worker of iniquity is someone who does good things in Jesus name without the authority or direction of Jesus to do that thing or things.

Vs. 19… Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. There is a dangerous teaching in "the church" today called “mutual submission”. It says that there are appropriate occasions for the husband to submit to his wife thus resulting in wives being more willing to submit to their husbands. This is heresy! Paul is teaching no such thing in this passage. Paul is not giving husbands a tip on how to get along with your wives and make her feel special. The thought in verse 19 is that a husband is not to get caught up in the responsibility of just giving out orders and setting rules for the home. In the process of exercising headship, a husband must also see the value of his wife in helping him perform that responsibility. Do not reject the help, deny the help or disrespect the help of the wife. For a man to “love his wife” (in context) has nothing to do with taking her on romantic dates or showering her with surprise gifts. So how are husbands to love their wives? Ephesians 5:25-29… Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. [29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Look at her for the treasure that she is… For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (I Cor. 11:7). Men always seek women---they are treasures. God has regularly had to admonish men about “multiplying wives”. (Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Deut. 17:17) The command to love your wife is not given because a wife has earned it or for how it make her feel; you are to love her because that is what Jesus said to do and it is what Christ’s example with the church shows us to do. On the other hand, a wife is not told to submit to her husband because he is worthy of it; she is to do it because Jesus told her to--- “as it is fit in the Lord”.

According to Ephesians 5 if a husband properly loves his wife he will “cherish” her; he sees her as valuable. Cherish also means to provide for her “all spiritual blessings” like Christ did for the church (Eph. 1:3) The church did not have to earn these spiritual gifts. If a husband loves his wife he will “nourish” her---with Scripture (vs. 26). Once again, we are to picture in our marriages what Christ is doing for the church today. Women spend a great deal of money to remove “spots and wrinkles”. Paul says that a husband can accomplish the same thing spiritually for his wife by “rightly dividing the word of truth” in his home.

Vs. 20-21… Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. What is the definition of the word children? Deut. 21:18…Obviously this not a young child; it is a son that is operating contrary to good character and he is old enough to do “adult things”. It is anyone who is not an adult. However, being considered an adult is not merely a matter of your age. It is your understanding and your ability to take care of yourself. Parents are to set limits and to teach their children so that when they reach adulthood the child will have done so honoring the Lord. Gal. 4:1-2… Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; [2] But is under tutors (teacher) and governors (restrainer) until the time appointed of the father. A father is ultimately responsible for the rearing of his children. He is the head of his home. With authority comes responsibility. Also in Ephesians 6:4 fathers are warned not to “provoke his children to wrath”. Fathers are more prone to do this than mothers. How does a father rule well his own house? “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, [12] That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” (I Thess. 2:11-12) He exhorts them (teaches them what is right), comforts them (when they fail) and charges them (encourages them). These are specific instructions as to how children might grow to ultimately walk worthy of God and glorify Him. Fathers are responsible to see that this happens. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? I Tim. 3:4-5