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Last week we studied in Colossians 3:1-4, the apostle Paul’s admonition that having been raised into newness of life in Christ Jesus, we are to seek the things that come from Him above, where He is sitting at the right hand of God on the throne of heaven. We’ve mentioned before that God is invisible and that the right hand of God is a metaphor for the place of honor and power. It pleased the Father that all of the Deity of the godhead should dwell in the physical body of Jesus. We are dead to sin and our life is hid with Christ in God. Christ who is our life will return for us and we will be partakers of His glory. Text: Colossians 3:5 ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Therefore, or because of our exalted position in Christ, we are to mortify or kill the deeds of our flesh that are unpleasing to God. Note the phrase, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” In contrast to being seated with Him in heavenly places, our bodies are still on this earth and are subject to all of the temptation that Satan can throw at us. Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection and evil concupiscence (desire) describe actual acts as well as sexual lust. In God’s eyes, to covet that which belongs to another is idolatry. Likewise, if we are consumed with obtaining the wealth of this world, we are apt to neglect the things of God and this becomes idolatry. Jesus said that we can’t serve God and money (Lu. 16:13). To desire something so badly that it consumes all of our physical strength to obtain it, is to make that thing the object of our worship, thus becoming our god. Our God is jealous and will not tolerate the worship of anything or anybody, other than Himself (Ex. 34:14; De. 4:4). He also said that He would not give His glory to graven images (Isa. 42:8). 1Timothy 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Text: Colossians 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: The early gentile churches were not immune from sexual sin and covetousness and neither is the modern day church. Nevertheless verse 6 is quite clear, to partake of these is to invite the wrath of God. Text: Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. We used to do these things, however, now we are washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God (1Co 6:11). We now are a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new (2Co 5:17). Text: Colossians 3:8 ¶ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. As the TV ads say, “Wait there’s more.” Up to this point Paul has dwelled on sexual sins and covetousness but we need to go further and address some other sins that are generated from our spirit. First on the list is anger. An angry spirit obviously lacks the peace that Jesus offers (Jn. 14:27). Our anger reflects in wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy or course speech that is not becoming to a Christian and which grieves the Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30). Text: Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; When we came to Jesus, we put off our old man and all of His deeds, which includes lying. Sometimes that old man is like a bug that you think you killed, but suddenly shows new life. When the old man pops up his head, we have to be like Paul who said that he died daily (1Cor. 15:31; Ro. 8:13) Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Text: Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: When Jesus took up residence in our hearts, we became a new creation in Him. We don’t think, act or react like we used to. Every thought is filtered through Him. As 2Corinthians 10:5 states, we bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. That’s how our new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of Jesus our Creator. While on earth, He knew no sin and guile was never found in His mouth (1Pet. 2:22). By His indwelling Spirit, He equips us to follow after His example. Do you remember this old chorus? Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me All His wondrous compassion and purity O Thou, Spirit divine, All my being refine Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me Text: Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. When we walk in the perfection of Jesus, religious, racial, economic and sectarian barriers are eliminated and Jesus is magnified. I believe that this is the heart’s desire of all of us. Next Week we’ll look at the things that we are to put on that will replace the things that we have put off. If any occupation or association is found to hinder our communion with God or our enjoyment of spiritual things, then it must be abandoned. Anything in my habits or ways which mars happy fellowship with the brethren or robs me of power in service, is to be unsparingly judged and made an end of-- 'burned.' Whatever I cannot do for God's glory must be avoided. - A.W. Pink Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com |