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Study: The Colossians EpistlePutting on the New Man; Part 2Colossians 3:14-17
IntroductionLet's begin with the big picture in mind. First, what was major theme of chapter two? Authentic believers are absolutely complete in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ! Then, here in chapter three, Paul has been applying that doctrinal truth to our practical daily living (i.e., application). Regarding this application, what instruction has Paul given thus far? In essence, as authentic believers complete in Jesus Christ (i.e., your position), be likewise in your daily living (i.e., your practice). More specifically, Paul has instructed us, as believers, to: 1) Seek Those Things Which are Above- How? By setting our minds on things above; not on things on the earth. Be Heavenly minded; yearning for our Lord Jesus Christ! 2) Put off the Old Man- Put to death all remnants of sin in your life (i.e., slaughter your sin)! Put off the sins of the old man such as: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech and lying. Why? Because of God's wrath and your former walk in such sinfulness. 3) Put On the New Man- In taking off the filthy rags of the old man, put on the clean garments of the new man; such as: tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering; all of which will result in a spirit of forbearance and forgiveness! Why put on the new man? Because as authentic believers, we are all equal in our position in Jesus Christ, we are the elect of God, holy and beloved! All these virtues being the basis for an authentic unity within the body of Jesus Christ! This morning, we continue our study of "Putting On the New Man" by studying verses 14-17. Specifically, we will see four ways in which we not only strengthen, deepen and intensify our Christian walk individually; but also our corporate unity. All of which will please and exalt our Glorious Lord, Jesus Christ! 1. Put On Love
Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering. As important as these virtues are, Paul says what here in verse 14? "But above all these things" So, what we are about to see here is Paul elevate something over and beyond these virtues he just listed. You might say that Paul is about to identify "The" supreme virtue! What would that be? "Put on love!" Love! It could be translated this way, "Don't just put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering; but most of all, keep putting on love over and over and over again." Love (Agape)- That Christ-like, self-sacrificing, love of action which goes over and beyond mere feeling or emotion. It is knowing, and meeting, the true needs of others according to their best interest, and not your own, from God's perspective. It is the willingness to sacrifice self to benefit others! Here, the context is within the Christian community. What does this love look like???
Bruce calls love, "The grace that binds all these other graces together." Hendriksen says, "Love is the lubricant that enables all the other virtues to function smoothly." MacArthur (Paraphrased in part)- "Love is the most important virtue in the believer's life, for believers will never enjoy mutual fellowship, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance or forgiveness unless they love one another. To try to practice these virtues apart from love is legalism." Why put on love? Because as Paul puts it, love is, "The bond of perfection." A better rendering is "perfect bond of unity." Unity! As we have all seen at one time or another, no trivial matter; is it? No easy task; is it? MacArthur- "Supernatural love poured into the hearts of believers is the adhesive of the church; the very glue that produces unity in the Church." It is so important, Paul devotes an entire chapter to the matter (viz., 1 Corinthians 13). 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV): Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (Note- Regardless of man's human applause, no matter how virtuous something might look to others, if it is not solely motivated by love, in God's eyes it is absolutely nothing!) In fact, did not Christ Himself summarize the entire law by referring to love? Matthew 22:35-40 (NKJV): Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Really want authentic unity within the body of Christ? Philippians 2:1-5: Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 2. Put On Peace
Peace of God- The earlier manuscripts read, "The peace of Christ." But what kind of peace are we talking about? The objective peace we have with God, through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ? Or, the subjective peace which results from our objective peace? Well, as one might suspect, the answer is both!
Hendriksen- "This peace is the condition of rest and contentment in the hearts of those who know that their Redeemer lives. It is the conviction that the sins of past have been forgiven, that the present is being overruled for good, and that the future cannot bring about separation between Christ and His own." Rule in Your Hearts- Bruce says the word "Rule" carries the idea of "arbitrate." In extra-Biblical sources, it referred to the function of deciding what is right in a contest (i.e., to umpire). As such, it can be translated, "Let the peace of Christ be umpire in your heart amidst the conflicts of life. Let it decide what is right. Let it be your counselor." Hughes- "How much misery we would avoid if we permitted "the peace of Christ" to umpire in our hearts. How many words we would hold back if He were the arbitrator in our lives. How many sleepness night we would forego if we did that." This peace also has a social aspect to it; for Paul says, "To which also you were called in one body;" In other words, when believers let their objective peace with God, and its resulting subjective peace, umpire in their hearts, it results in a spiritual oneness within the body of Christ! True peace! True unity! True harmony! Application- When one truly grasps the Gospel of Jesus Christ (i.e., how man is spared from God's holy, righteous and furious wrath by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone), how can that peace (i.e., both objective and subjective) not result in peace with one another? 3. Put On WorshipColossians 3:16 (NKJV): 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. Here we see three forms of authentic worship unto our gracious Lord (not three separate, distinct, forms, or types, of worship; but instead three forms which overlap each other). First, in His Word. Second, in ministry. Third, in song. Worship- 1) Attributing worth with 2) a submissive heart. Word of Christ- Simply refers to the revelation He brought into the world (viz., Scripture). Love, peace, unity, and all the other virtues flow from a mind controlled by Scripture. Dwell- Means "To live in" or "To be at home." As such, Paul is calling believers to let God's holy, sufficient, inerrant and infallible Word take up residence (i.e., be at home) in their hearts. How should God's Word dwell within His believers? "Richly in all wisdom." It means "abundantly." Put differently, Scripture should so permeate every aspect of the believer's life that it governs his every thought, word and deed. How is this done? By reading, studying, meditating on and living Scripture. MacArthur: "The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the spirit turns the will." Second, we see our worship in ministering to one another: "With all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another." Teaching- "Impartation of positive truth." Admonishing- "The negative side of teaching; to warn people of the consequences of their behavior." Third, having the Word of Christ richly dwell in us and ministering to each other also entails worship in song. Paul refers to, "Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." How do we worship in song? Is it a mere emotionally driven spiritual high? No! True worship in song is the result of Scriptural truths being connected with our emotions! It must be based on God-centered absolute divine truths! Here, Paul refers to mixture of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as a true manifestation of grace within one's heart for His pleasure and glory! Psalms- Songs simply based on Old Testament Psalms.
Application- How can we truly worship our Lord Jesus Christ in Scripture, in ministry to one another and in song and not be a loving, unified, community of believers? 4. Put On Thankfulness
Here we see the most simple, basic and foundational guideline in being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ! What is it? Doing everything, absolutely everything, for the glory and exaltation of our precious Lord Jesus Christ! How do we do that? By true thoughts, words and deeds which are consistent with the character and desires of our Master Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 10:31 says "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." But how, and why, is it to be done? With a reluctant heart out of legalistic duty? Absolutely not! Instead, our life ought to be consumed with the glory and exaltation of our Beautiful Savior Jesus Christ because of, and with, a thankful heart (i.e., a heart of gratitude cultivated from a steadfast focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ and His infinite grace)! We have already seen it several times in our text this morning! Verse 15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Verse 16: singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Lastly, here in verse 17: whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Hendriksen- "When a person is overpowered by the feeling of warm and deep appreciation for benefits received from God, he will hardly be able to grudge someone for his wealth or superior talents. Gratitude promotes peace. In contrast, ingratitude marks paganism (Romans 1:21)." MacArthur- "Gratitude comes naturally to believers in response to all God has done. A spirit of humble gratitude toward God will inevitably affect our relations with others. Peace and gratitude are thus closely linked." Application- How can we be sincerely thankful to God for His infinite grace and His sovereign love, as manifested on the Cross of Jesus Christ, and not have loving, peaceful, hearts of unity? ConclusionSproul- "In its practice of love, forgiveness and graciousness, the Christian community is to be a showcase of the reconciliation and peace Christ has brought between Heaven and earth, and within a fractured humanity." How is your love, peace, worship and thankfulness? Not just within the church walls, but within your home? What truly resides deep down within your heart? A heart saturated with love, peace, worship and thankfulness? Or, the mere sewage of sinful strife, divisiveness, discontent, pride or even worse, pure hatred? If the former, praise and thank God for His sovereign grace and infinite love as manifested to you! If the latter, repent of your sin and cling to the Cross of Jesus Christ! Dear friends, it all begins, and ends, with the Cross of Jesus Christ! Teacher: Darin Lawson |