Col. 3:18-4:1; Gen. 3:14-19, Colossians Bible Study (16)

24)          In Col. 3:18-4:1, Paul’s application turns to our family and work.  Is there still a connection between this and the false teaching Paul has been addressing?

You will notice that both letters we have from Paul, that were likely sent by the same courier, the one to the Ephesian Church as well as the Colossian Church (and a third which we don’t have to the Laodicea Church, Col. 4:16), have almost matching “application” passages, including ones dealing with family and work (Eph. 5:22-6:9).  So you might just wonder if it was something he threw in for free, so to speak.

But actually, that’s not true.  There is a reason for this passage.  At the time of the creation of Adam the Creator established these two parts of life: He gave Adam a job (caring for the Garden of Eden) and He placed Adam in a family setting.  These are not the result of sin, which comes in Gen. 3.  They are part of a normal life.  It’s interesting that in the Pilgrim Psalms (Ps. 120-134), which show us the typical journey of a person seeking God, that in the midst of it are two Psalms (127-128) that address the part of our pilgrimage that includes the home and the work place.

Thus, the teaching of our fullness in Christ and the call to set our minds on things above helps us in the daily part of our work.  We do not live in a monastery, where all we think about is whatever you think about in a monastery.  We live in a world where jobs and families are part of everyone’s existence.  And “Christ in you” is not only the hope of glory; it is the way we live in this life.

25)          In Col. 1:19-20 we learned that through the blood of the cross Christ brought reconciliation to all things, where things in heaven or on earth.  How does the teaching of Col. 3:18-4:1 bring this reconciliation to the family and the workplace?

a)    Husbands and wives have been under a curse of contention since sin entered the world (Gen. 3:16).  Love and submission are God’s antidotes to this rivalry.

b)    The sin nature clearly was passed on to the children (Gen. 4:1-15).  Through godly discipline and instruction parents give their children the opportunity to learn to know Christ and to be filled with His fullness.

c)    The workplace has also been under a curse of hardship and futility (Gen. 3:17-19).  Through submission and kind leadership the workplace can be orderly and productive.

d)    The “doing” of all this can only happen if the strength of sin’s passions have been weakened (spiritual circumcision) and we are alive in Christ (spiritual baptism).

Col. 1:1-2; Acts 9:10-16, Colossians Bible Study (15)

Here is a diagram with explanation below. Borrowed from a Bible College professor, this thought process I have found helpful.  Eventually, as we mature in Christ, our senses become exercised to discern good and evil (Hb. 5:12-14).

  

 

  

 

 God provides an opportunity (test, trial, temptation).  Satan and his world system prompt our sinful nature to make a wrong choice..  The Spirit and the Word help the new nature to be righteous.  We fail when we choose the wrong response but the remedy comes through confession and repentance.  Passing the test and growing happens with we submit ourselves to God.  We grow when we learn to use the preventative techniques that are part of our submission to Christ. 

In our blog we have included various studies of God’s Word that you might find helpful in this part of Colossians.  The blog is found at … https://ronandcindy.blogspot.com/.  These studies can be found on these dates.

2023 Mar. 4-May 16: Character Traits #1-12

2023 July 3-Aug 26: Character Traits #13-32

2021 March 14 – May 4: Fruit of the Spirit

2023 Oct. 2-6: Fruit of the Spirit: Love

2018 8/21-9/14 Love from 1 Cor. 13:4-7

2015, Sep. 16-28: Colossians

Col. 3:5-14, Colossians Bible Study (14)

There are three “levels” or “phases” of teaching from Paul in Colossians.  First, in 1:12-2:5, Paul lays out the doctrine of the fullness of Christ and His work on the cross.  Then, in 2:6-3:4, he applies this doctrine to the false teaching.  This is the “renewing of the mind” we see in Rom. 12:2. Lastly, in 3:5-4:6, Paul applies the doctrine to our attitudes and actions. 

This application revolves around two issues.  First, as humans we were born with a sinful nature and exerted influence on us through various “passions” or “lusts.”  These inner motivations must be eradicated and the new “desires” of our new, born again life in Christ must be unleashed in their place.  Then, we must “put off” the old, habitual actions that resulted from these passions, and in their place we must put a new lifestyle, new words and actions.

I recommend the use of “word studies” in these lists.  A study of a particular term will often give us encouragement in how to repent and live a righteous life. 

18)          What internal passions does Paul identify in Col. 3:5-7 that are in our “members” (the parts of our bodies)?  What must be done to these?

·       How do you kill anything?  You deprive it of needed sustenance.  Through the word of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit our Lord will help us.  The key is seeking the Lord’s help in saying “no” to an urge that we have been used following.  We may excuse ourselves by saying “bad habits are hard to change.”  But we have been born again, and Christ lives in us.

19)          What external actions does Paul identify in Col. 3:8-11?  What must be done to these?

20)          What external actions does Paul identify in Col. 3:12-14?  What must be done with these matters?

21)          In Col. 3:14-17, what internal encouragements has the Lord provided for us through the new birth?

·       Love (v14) is both an action to put on and the chief inner desire of the believer.  Being at peace with God (v15) means we have no doubts or hesitations about a course of action or an attitude of the heart.  The “word of Christ” (v16) involves the Bible.  It is an “inner” encouragement because we are being called to fill ourselves with God’s word, memorizing and meditating on it day by day.  And yes, hymns and songs that are doctrinally sound are a huge aid in changing our hearts.  The heart of “thanksgiving” (v17) takes us back to Col. 1:12 when we begin working through the doctrine of the fullness of Christ.

I want to add a chart to show how Col. 3:5-17 fits together.  Our next post will have more helps in working through these “lists.” 

OLD NATURE		NEW NATURE (Christ in me)
v5-7 Put to death earthly things	My passions, What drives me	v14-17 Heavenly things
v8-11 Put off, as in a change of clothes	My words, actions What characterizes me	v12-14 Put on, as in a change of clothes

Col. 3:1-4; Jn. 17:20-26, Colossians Bible Study (13)

We have seen that “religion,” seeking to live the Christian life by the “things” that accompany religion (rules, holy days, and so forth) only serves to take our focus off Christ who has already provided all we need for life and godliness.  I am reminded of the people of Israel who carried the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines, thinking that would bring them victory.  Of course, they were defeated.  In the New Testament Paul used himself as an illustration of trying to please God by religious works; he considered it all to be a waste of time (Phil. 3:1-6).

In the Body of Christ, God has given us two “physical” reminders: water baptism and the Lord’s Table.  The “doing” of those things does not give us grace but they remind us of Christ.  Water baptism reminds us of our “spiritual baptism.” We are united with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.  The Lord’s Table was given “in remembrance of” Christ (1 Cor. 11:24-25) and the New Covenant by His blood.  Grace comes from God through our faith-relationship with Christ, and never from our works.  The next question makes perfectly good sense.

18)         In order not to be deprived of what Christ has provided for us, what should we do according to Col. 3:1-4?

·       The persuasive words of the false teachers came from the traditions of men and the basic principles of the world.  People just naturally assume that God is pleased with their discipline to a “holy” diet or their faithful participation in holy festivals or “holy-days.” 

·       But our attention is to be on “heavenly” things.  Things “above” because that is where Christ is.  And our life is there because our life is “in Christ.”  When He returns for us our life will reach it’s goal of Christlikeness.  We will be like Him because we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).  We will no longer see through a dimly lit mirror (1 Cor. 13:11-12). 

·       May I suggest that you first meditate on Col. 3:1-4.  Then meditate on these passages, and ask yourself what it means to “seek those things which are above?”  Romans 8:5-6; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:12-16; 13:11-12; 2 Cor. 3:15-18; 4:16-18; Eph. 1:3; Phil. 3:7-14; Heb. 12:1-4; 13:8-14; 2 Peter 1:2-4.  These passages not only tell us to fix our attention on Christ; they tell us what to expect from Him as we do this. 

·       Here is one more additional study.  Peter said that we have “precious promises” from Christ that help us as we walk the walk of faith.  Peter knew this because he was with Christ in the Upper Room when Jesus gave those promises.  What promises do you find in John 14:1-4,6,12,13-14,16-18,19,20,21,24,26,27? Then read the part of Jesus’ prayer He prayed for us (Jn. 17:20-26).  What promises do you find in that prayer?

Psalm 119:145-160

 

Psalm 119:145-152 Qoph:  Let your cry be heard by God.

The stanzas on soul-obedience and affirming God’s righteousness do not mean the Psalmist’s affliction is past.  They only indicate significant growth steps.  When we experience these steps we may think that God will now take away our problem.  But part of those steps is coming to terms with God’s sovereignty in the matter of how long the trial may last, knowing that He will be faithful (Heb. 10:13).

Therefore we see in this stanza that the trial is still intense.  Three times he cries out to the Lord (145-147).  Pay close attention to 3 ideas that are related to his cries to the Lord.

First is the timing.  On the one hand he is up before dawn, crying out (147). On the other hand, during the night he is meditating on God’s word (148).  Does this not fit experience?  We wake up early thinking about our loved ones who are in trouble or our problems at work or the latest national crisis.  Then it hits us: now is the time to get out of bed, bow before the Lord, and give Him our cares.  Again, when we go to bed in the evening we may find sleep eludes us.  We are again full of anxiety, until it occurs to us to submit the issues to the word of God.  We meditate on His word, considering specific passages and applying them to the various anxieties. 

Second, note the marvelous prayer that forms the substance of his cry to the Lord (149).  Initially he prays that God would be gracious and merciful in hearing him.  Yet he also prays that God would restore or revive him according to justice.  Only through the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ can God’s grace and justice operate together.  God’s reviving work is just only because by grace Christ has borne our sins in His body on the tree.

Finally note the matter of distance.  Imagine yourself standing, with your enemies on your left and God on your right.  Your enemies are near to you but far from God’s law (150).  God is near to you through His word of truth (151).  The trial is intense so the man of God cries out to the Lord.  He is confident because God’s word is so real to him.  The nearer you are to God the farther you are from the enemy. 

The word that you have trusted since childhood is forever (152).  So cry out to the Lord.  Pour out your heart to Him.  He will draw near to you through His word.

 

 

 

 

Psalm 119:153-160 Resh:  Pray for revival according to God’s word.

Again, in this stanza we find a wonderful way to approach God in our time of affliction. 

For example, the Hebrew word for “consider” appears 3 times (153, 158,159).  His prayer is that God would consider his affliction (153).  He maintains his commitment to God’s word throughout and prays that God would also consider this (159).  At the same time the Psalmist considers those around him who reject God’s word and he is disgusted (158).  We cannot help but see the wickedness around us but let us be sure we have a right attitude toward it.  Let us not enjoy or laugh at the jokes of those who do not seek God’s statutes (155).  Disgust is proper for that which dishonors God and His commands.

Again, as we come to the Lord, let us maintain a proper perspective.  Remember that His tender mercies are great (156).  That must not be forgotten, even as we remember the greatness of our difficulties (157).  To forget the former is to invite discouragement.  To forget the latter is to deny our need. 

Note that three times the Psalmist prays to be revived.  This has been a constant request through the entire Psalm but here it prevails.  His prayer is not necessarily for physical life but for the ability to live without succumbing to his circumstances.  So he prays to be revived according to God’s word (154), God’s judgments (156), and God’s lovingkindness (159).  Again, as in the previous stanza, do we not see the demand for our atoning Savior, the One who came that we might have life (John 10:10)?  We have been quickened by the One who came according to the word, and Who satisfied all justice by the grace of God!

For the third stanza in a row the final verse stands on the eternal nature of scripture (144,152,160).  What we are reminded of here is that God’s word is inerrant (it is all true) and infallible (it is true forever).  The longer the trial continues the more we must be assured that God’s promises and commands and warnings have not failed. 

Oh Lord God Almighty, consider our affliction.  It is great, though no more so than your tender mercies.  Revive us we pray through the work of Your Son.  May our trust in Your inherent and infallible word be unwavering today.  For Your glory and by Your grace. In Jesus Name.  Amen!

Col. 2:16-23; Heb. 10:1-4, Colossians Bible Study (12)

18)          In Col. 2:16-23, how does “religion” keep us from living the Christian life?

Before we answer this question, let’s lay a foundation.  First, we have come to see that “in Christ,” through the “spiritual circumcision and baptism,” we have all we need for “life and godliness” (as Peter put it, 2 Pt. 1:3-4).  Christ has taken away that which arouses sin in our lives (the law) and we have been raised in “resurrection power” to live the new life.

What do we mean by “religion”?  We are talking about religious systems or approaches to “godliness” that add obligations that are not given to us in Scripture.  In other words, systems that tell us we need more than what Christ Himself is to us.  This is the issue being addressed in this passage.

·       Briefly, the answer to the question is that it “cheats us” (2:8, as we said, it means to take us as spoil, to make us slaves to someone or something other than Christ), it “judges us” (2:16, judges us by something not prescribed by Christ), “cheats us” (2:18, a different word than 2:8, referring to an umpire that calls “balls and strikes” but not according to Christ), and religion is of  “no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (2:23).

·       Now, let’s consider the danger of “religion” in more detail.  The basic question is, “how does religion deny us of Christ and what He has provided for us?”

i)      In Col. 2:16-17: This “religion” might sound like the Jewish religion, since Heb. 8:5; 10:1 refer to the Old Testament system as a “shadow of things to come.”  But we also know that every religion has dietary rules, special festivals and holy days and so forth.  Since Christ has come and finished His work our focus needs to be on Him (Col. 3:1: “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.”

ii)   In Col. 2:18-19: This might refer to some Greek religions.  But again, every religion takes great delight in solemn and “holy” rituals that bring special blessings on the participants.  But what this does is satisfy my pride, that I am doing something worthy of God’s blessing.  I faithfully do these things rather than “holding fast to the Head” through Whom comes spiritual growth.

iii)     In Col. 2:20-22: Because religion is a system that emphasizes worldly principles (remember Col. 2:8, “according to the traditions of men … the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”), it calls me to things that have no lasting value.  Every religion has these “don’t do this, don’t do that” rules that work against our death with Christ (spiritual baptism).

iv) In Col. 2:23: Religion is all about appearance, about externals.  Thus it is useless in dealing with our issues which are fundamentally spiritual, not physical.

Thus, religion not only adds things that we don’t need and that do not help; it also takes away our focus on Christ.  Look ahead to 3:1-4 and see what we mean!

1 Tim. 1:8-11; Rom. 8:1-4, Colossians Bible Study (11)

Before we move on in Colossians I want to add some discussion to the matter of “nailing the law to the cross.”  Some object to this idea.  They claim that the law is still valid as a guide for Christians, the Church, the Body of Christ.  One writer noted Matt. 5:17-18, that Jesus said, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  He also referenced the new covenant description in Jer. 31:33, I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts.  Some refer to translations such as the NASV, NIV and ESV that refer to the “certificate of debt” being nailed to the cross, claiming it was not all the law but a particular law having to do with debt. 

There is another argument, that comes from our Reformed brethren, that there is a distinction between the ceremonial and moral law.  This is one of those arguments that springs from the need to justify someone’s doctrinal positions.  Nowhere in the OT was this distinction made, and it is not made in the NT either.  Search these out, if you wish.  But I would like to suggest some Scriptures for you to consider. 

·       Mark 7:19: Jesus (or Mark told us what Jesus meant) declared all foods clean.

·       Rom. 14:5-6: Paul said the “day of worship” was a personal decision.

·       Rom. 13:8-10: Paul did not command us to keep the Law but said if we keep Christ’s law of love we will be keeping the law.

·       1 Tim. 1:8-11: Paul said “the law is good if one uses it lawfully.”  He explains, saying the law “is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless.”  Instead, he said, we (Christians, the Church) live “according to the glorious gospel.”

·       Rom. 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

·       Rom. 7:1-6: The married woman who is free to marry another if her husband dies is critical here.  In the “parable” the woman represents someone who is beholden to the law.  Read carefully: you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 

·       Rom. 8:3-4: Again, read carefully!  Christ, the righteous Son of God, has kept the law.  Now, in the New Covenant, He lives in us and the life we now live we live by the faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).  Thus, the righteous requirement of the law has been fulfilled in us who walk in the Spirit.  

So, yes, under the New Covenant the law is in our hearts and we are obedient to it.  But only because under the New Covenant we walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh.  To walk in the flesh is to try to keep the law by my own best effort.  As Romans 7 illustrates, this cannot be done.  What the “spiritual circumcision” has done is removed this fleshly approach and given us life in Christ, the One who has fulfilled the Law.  We will come to this in Col. 3:1-4: our life is hidden with Christ in God!