Everything was GREAT ... then I Read This

Recently I preached and taught through the book of Colossians in my church. The Letter to the Colossians was written by Paul to refute the Colossian heresy (read more about it here). To accomplish this goal, he exalts Christ as the very image of God (1:15), the Creator (1:16), the preexistent sustainer of all things (1:17), the head of the church (1:18), the first to be resurrected (1:18), the fullness of deity in bodily form (1:19; 2:9) and the reconciler (1:20–22). Thus Christ is completely adequate. We “have been given fullness in Christ” (2:10). On the other hand, the Colossian heresy was altogether inadequate. It was a hollow and deceptive philosophy (2:8), lacking any ability to restrain the old sinful nature (2:23).

Paul was basically saying that Jesus Christ is the pre-eminence of everything holy. Further Paul was noting that Jesus was sufficient in everything related to true Christian faith. We need nothing more. 

I have read this letter countless times. Every time I do the Holy Spirit shows me something I have not seen before OR reminds me of something I have seen but haven't fully understood. 

The following words have significance for all of us who claim Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

The word "If" in the opening verse can be translated "since." So, since we are raised with Christ in newness of life we want to live a life of surrendered response to His gracious act at Calvary. 

These verses tell us to set our minds on heavenly things and put off earthly things. This is not always easy to do because of the constant battle between the flesh and the spirit. 

It is so very important for us to understand that these are not rules to follow. They are standards to uphold. People don't like rules very much, but most of us (I may be guilty of some wishful thinking) want to rise to a standard. Rising to the standards of the Lord is an honorable task. It is something truly born-again believers aspire to do "since you were raised with Christ."

So, what are these standards? 

The Heavenly Pursuit

...seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

The imperative? Set your mind on an eternal hope where one day we will all gather to worship the Lord. Our minds are consumed with countless thoughts throughout every day. Some experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That's an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour.  Its hard to imagine or conceive of such a number. 

But Paul encourages us to "set" our minds on heavenly things. The word "set" implies something immovable. We may have said to someone, "My thoughts on this matter are set in stone." We mean they are immovable and inalterable. 

So the idea of setting our minds on things above can be likened to a foundation that is set in concrete or stone. Jesus taught us that a wise man's house "did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25

All other thoughts should be based upon that foundation of spiritual stone. How different our lives, relationships, and service would be should we aspire each day to set our minds on things above. 

The Worldly Rejection

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 

Paul teaches us to "look up" (seek those things above) and "put off" the things of the old man. We are new men and women. Therefore we put off (lay aside) all that is reminiscent of our former selves (2 Corinthians 5:17). Not easy to do at all because, again, of the battle between the flesh and the spirit.

Notice the things Paul tells us to put to death and put off:

• fornication: physical impurity
• uncleanness: immoral thoughts
• passion: lust of the flesh
• evil desire: lust of the mind
• covetousness: selfishly desiring what others have
• anger: deep, smoldering bitterness
• wrath: sudden outburst of anger
• malice: evil speech designed to hurt others
• blasphemy: slander against others
• filthy language: words that do not honor the Lord
• lying to one another: deception and deceit 

Notice a common theme among the above list? Each can do damage to our relationship with others. Remember the two priority commandments from the Lord?:

30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31

The first commandment is directly related to seeking the things above and the second is related to the list of things we are to put off. I never tire of seeing how God's Word compliments and never contradicts itself. 

The list Paul provides is a bit frightful. We know that we have not mastered putting off and putting to death the things of this world. Again, these are not rules we try not to break. They are standards we strive uphold. 

None of us can point a finger at another brother or sister and say, "You are guilty" of one or more of the things on the list. Doing so would make us hypocrites indeed. 

We each need to remember the words of Paul in Galatians 6 in which he said:

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

The principle is simple. Be gracious to those who don't always live up to the standard because you yourself can easily fail in your efforts to uphold them. Nothing on the list is more egregious than another. They each cause damage to others, yourself, and your relationship with the Lord. 

I pray that I will always live by standards that are set in stone in my spirit. But I am thankful that the Lord is gracious when I am more flesh than spirit.

God bless you.

Tony Guthrie

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