Chapters 13, 14, and 15 in Lucas
After spending time in the epistle establishing the sufficiency, supremacy, and perfection of Christ in our salvation we move to Chapter 3 and Paul begins to get specific about how these ideas impact our lives. We’ve had warnings that would keep our hearts from errors such as those found in Scientology and Kaballah. Now Paul will begin to show us how the truths he presented should impact the way we should live before the face of God (Coram Deo). The doctrines we have studied need to find expression in our lives if we have really heard and understood what God has said to us. The heart’s grasp of revealed truth will drive our actions and behavior in our lives.
Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (NIV)
In verse 1 we are reminded again that we have been raised from the dead. You who were spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins have been raised to new spiritual life. If our hearts receive that as truth then what is the logical thing to do? Paul points out that it is only logical then to set your heart on things above where your Savior is. Our minds are to be set on things above. In case you haven’t noticed the struggle in your life, please note that this is an active process. Your flesh is dead and so you should naturally set your mind on things above. But your flesh doesn’t go easily. God calls you to put on your armor each day, to seek His Grace, and purpose in your heart to run this race to live the way He has made you; alive to Christ and dead to this world.
I think this is another place in which we can see Paul’s order of hope linking from heaven to support our faith and love. Our hearts are set on things above like an anchor so we can live the lives of faith and express the agape love in work that God has ordained for us.
We are not so heavenly minded we are no earthly good. This setting of our minds on things above does not weaken our usefulness here on earth. On the contrary, we can be the best at the work God gives us to do moving forward with faith and God’s love because our foundation is in heaven.
Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. (NIV)
Your flesh will not die easy and unfortunately for many the struggle is approached without much passion. That is sort of like walking into an professional football game to play center without safety equipment and in your current physical condition. The result is predictable. However, if we pursue God then He enables us to do what we would otherwise not be able to do. You can’t do this in your own strength but God directs you to do it with Him. God raised you from the dead as a sovereign act of His Grace (salvation is monergistic or one worker) but He calls you to participate in your sanctification (sanctification is synergistic or a working together). If, by God’s Grace, we are thinking clearly then we will take this command to put our earthly nature to death seriously. We won’t feed on things or put ourselves in places that encourage sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, or greed.
One of the keys to this process is a realistic (i.e., scriptural) evaluation of your sinful nature. People like to think that we are “basically good people” because we are not as evil as we could be. The Bible teaches that our sin nature is treacherous, runs to our core, and is not to be underestimated. The recent hateful outbursts of high profile individuals like Mel Gibson and Michael Richards are viewed by many unsaved people as the exception rather than the rule. They like to think with pride that (no matter what their race is) that they are open minded, gracious, and loving without regard to race, color, or creed. Your heart is desperately wicked and only God truly knows your heart in this life. Forewarned is forearmed.
Scripture provides many more complete lists and descriptions of the effects of our earthly nature. This is a short list but I was really impacted by the list and the timing of the current Christmas sales. The recent news reports and my limited observations of much of preparations for a holiday celebrating the birth of Christ is that they, inappropriately, fit the five aspects of our earthly nature listed here. I suppose that in reality we should expect a secular culture to face Christmas with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. But when you see video of someone punching someone in the process of trying to purchase a present for Christmas it still seems odd. But we as Christians are not to live that way or to let those types of sinful attitudes rule our lives. We put these things to death in our lives. This is to be a conscious and active part of your life. God expects you to run this race with patience and to participate with Him in cleaning up your life.
Colossians 3:7-11
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (NIV)
The past activities of your earthly nature are to be history and stay history. Paul says, “You used to walk in these ways” with the past tense. Here is another command from our Lord that we should rid ourselves of “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language” and that we must not lie or be bigoted. These Scriptures are especially focused on life within the Church. In fact, even the phrase “filthy language” is contextually probably rough language directed at somebody. After being told to rid ourselves of these 5 things we are also told not to lie to each other and also to put aside all bigotry.
We need to know that our pursuit of the various means of Grace (prayer, devotions, Bible study, fellowship, worship, etc) is purposeful in that it is how we meet the challenge and move to obey this Scripture. The Means of Grace are not just good things but a process of obeying what God has told us to do in this “taking off” and “putting on”. These spiritual disciplines are how we are renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator. It certainly isn’t a passive process. In school I remember wishing there was a shortcut to learning. Sleep learning sounded pretty good. Sleeping on a book and learning by osmosis doesn’t work; been there tried that. God has called us to an active and challenging pursuit that Scripture compares to war and not to a garden party.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (NIV)
These scriptures give us the positive side of the command. These are the things we put on after we put off the character of our earthly nature. I have always liked the picture presented here of the binding power of love. This is agape love. Remember that this is not just a feeling. This is God’s love that makes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness possible in tough times. This kind of love put Jesus on the Cross for your soul. This isn’t a perfume and roses type of love. When you pray for this love you are praying for the ability to lay down your life in sacrifice.
Bearing with one another and forgiving grievances is not an easy thing or something that appeals to our earthly nature but obedience to these commands is part of our life in Christ. The cement that holds our virtues together is agape love. The importance of clothing ourselves with these virtues and cementing theme in place with agape love can’t be overestimated in creating the unity we need for ministry (Psalm 133).
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)
Instead of actions like “rid yourself of” and “cloth yourselves with” now we are told to let the peace of Christ rule and let the Word of Christ dwell. These “lets” require a picking of one thing and putting down of another. As we let the peace of Christ rule in our heart we must put down pride and selfishness. As we let the Word of Christ rule we put down the things the things our earthly nature and the world teach us like deceiving and provoking one another. Notice also that Christ’s claims extend to ALL things we do. If you can’t do it in the name of the Lord Jesus then don’t do it. Paul then continues with some specific commands for the family.
Colossians 3:18-21
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (NIV)
We’ve certainly discussed some of these family aspects in detail previously but remember that wives submit because men need, and are appointed to, a leadership role. This submission is gracious in the sense that they willingly allow us to occupy a position. It isn’t because the wife is lesser in honor or position before God. The word translated “submit” also had a military usage in the sense of following a commander. For example, if I follow a military leader or my boss at work it doesn’t mean that my leader is a better person or more valuable than I am. I follow leadership out of respect for the authority structure represented.
Husbands get a tougher command. We are told to show agape love toward our wives and not be harsh. You know you can show agape love and still be harsh. God says not to do that. These commands are hard in our day but these were radical concepts in the first century when women were treated as property.
Children are told to obey parents. This is a simple thing when we are kids but not something we are inclined to do. As we grow older it becomes more complicated to honor our parents as our other responsibilities increase. God will guide us as we seek to honor our Parents throughout our lives.
Fathers are further commanded not to provoke their children. This doesn’t mean you never make a decision that your children object to. I would hope you could recognize that would be impossible and not just unlikely. But the word indicates you should not make decisions or act in a certain way in order to provoke them. The Golden Rule would work here to guide our actions.
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