The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. Paul wrote more about Christ in this letter than in any other of his letters.
Paul wanted the Christians to understand more about Christ. This would guard them against the false teachers. In Session 4 Paul tells the Colossian Christians that Christ, who was perfect, suffered and died for them so that they could have new life in Him. A life that did not depend on their ability to obey the law, which they couldn't do, in order to have a relationship with God. Christ was all the needed, and because he was all they needed they could now live a new life no matter who they were. He then begins to tell them how to live that new life in Christ.
To hear the audio of the session click on the YouTube
Paul wanted the Christians to understand more about Christ. This would guard them against the false teachers. In Session 4 Paul tells the Colossian Christians that Christ, who was perfect, suffered and died for them so that they could have new life in Him. A life that did not depend on their ability to obey the law, which they couldn't do, in order to have a relationship with God. Christ was all the needed, and because he was all they needed they could now live a new life no matter who they were. He then begins to tell them how to live that new life in Christ.
To hear the audio of the session click on the YouTube
Colossians 2:14-15 CEV God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.
In those days, the Romans punished criminals. Then they usually killed the criminals on a cross. To make the cross, the Romans stood a tall wooden pole in the ground. They attached another pole across the top of this pole. They made the criminal put his arms out each side on the cross. Then they hit nails through his hands and into the cross. They did the same with his feet. This was very painful as he hung on the cross. The Romans also wrote a record of the criminal’s sins. They put this on the cross with a nail. Then they left him on the cross until he died.
God made the laws which are in the Old Testament. God is holy. God can only accept holy people. But nobody was able to obey all God’s laws. The punishment for sin is to die
Romans 6:23 CEV Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
God sent Christ into this world to live as a man. Christ was perfect. He obeyed all the laws. God could not accuse Christ as he had never sinned. Instead, God put the record of our sins onto Christ’s cross. God accused Christ of all our sins. God removed from us the record of our sins. Then God gave Christ’s perfect record to us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 CEV Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God.
This was a spiritual act, not a physical act.
Verse 15 ‘,Evil powers and authorities’ refers to Satan and all his wicked angels.
The picture is of the Roman army overwhelmingly conquering and vanquishing the enemy, which, at that time, they were very good at. Then, they took the prisoners and displayed them in a victory parade that was of a great shame for the conquered. Jesus totally took Satan's power away. He has no advantage over you. Jesus won the battle not almost or barely, but it was an overwhelming victory definitely a match worth mentioning.
Since Jesus wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses then
Colossians 2:16-19 CEV Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real! Don't be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They brag about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires. They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God.
Under the Mosaic Law there were laws about what things people could eat, and he made laws about what they could not eat. They were also to have special holy days. Read the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In addition the *Pharisees added hundreds of extra laws to God’s laws. The false teachers were like judges. They told the Christians to obey these laws too. They said that this would make them into better Christians.
But Paul said that the false teachers were wrong. In fact Jesus said that the laws about food had ended. Christians may eat any food.
Mark 7:18-19 CEV He answered, “Don't you know what I am talking about by now? You surely know that the food you put into your mouth cannot make you unclean. It doesn't go into your heart, but into your stomach, and then out of your body.” By saying this, Jesus meant that all foods were fit to eat.
These laws reminded the Jews that God is holy. The law showed them how to live in the right way. But these laws did not give the Jews the power to live a holy life. However, we because of Christ can live a holy life, because of the Holy Spirit in us. This is The laws were good. But Christ is superior to the laws. The laws only showed people how to live in God’s way. But Christ actually lived in God’s way. And Christ gives his power to everyone who trusts him. Christians do not need the laws; they only need Christ and with Him we are able to obey the law which Jesus boiled down to
Matthew 22:34-37, 39-40 CEV After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.
The first two laws in the 10 Commandments say that people should not worship anyone or anything except God.
Exodus 20:2-5 CEV I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. Do not worship any god except me. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.
But some people in Colossae worshipped angels. They also said that they had special spiritual experiences. They thought that they were better than other people.
Colossians 2:18 CEV Don't be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They brag about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires.
The false teachers and other people said that Christians were not good enough. They ought to add extra things to be real Christians. But Paul said that the false teachers were not true Christians.
Colossians 2:19 CEV They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God.
Paul referred to Christ as the head of the body. The false teachers and other people said that Christians were not good enough. They ought to add extra things to be real Christians (back to 16-18). But Paul said that the false teachers were not true Christians. A Christian has everything that he needs in Christ.
Colossians 3:10 CEV Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Christ gives true life to his church (the Christians). The false teachers separated themselves from Christ. Therefore, they could not be part of Christ’s body, which is the church.
Colossians 2:20-23 CEV You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, “Don't handle this. Don't taste that. Don't touch this.”? After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don't really have any power over our desires.
Paul did not mean that all rules are bad. He referred to the rules that the false teachers made. These rules may control what people do. But rules cannot control a person’s feelings or thoughts. Rules deal with outer behaviour. Christ makes people free because he strips off their old nature
Colossians 3:11 CEV It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Paul shows that avoiding physical pleasure which is called asceticism in other words severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons, is not how to become godly. Godliness is not achieved through asceticism but through our identification with Christ. Remember what the Gnostics taught that matter is evil, but spirit is good. Thus we must treat our bodies harshly. But the Bible teaches that as Christians, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus we need to take care of our bodies and to glorify God with them.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CEV You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.
To do this, we need to exercise control over what we eat and drink, over harmful substances such as tobacco and drugs, over sexual impulses, etc. But there is a basic difference in outlook toward the body between asceticism and biblical self-discipline.
The false teachers in Colossae had a system of rules which they imposed on their followers. They said, “If you keep these rules, you will have victory over fleshly desires.” They took some of the Old Testament regulations concerning ceremonial cleanliness and diet and added to them, much as the Pharisees had done.
Paul admits that these rules had “the appearance of wisdom,” but, he adds, they “are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
So Paul is asking the rhetorical question, “If you truly died with Christ and were raised up with Him, why are you going back, not just to the Old Testament law, but even worse, to manmade rules added to that law?”
But his main point is that these sorts of rules cannot deal with the problem that we all wrestle against, namely, sinful desires in our hearts. You can keep all the rules, but your heart is still far from God.
How To Live Your New Life In Christ
Colossians 3:1-4 CEV You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God's right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory.
In 2:9-15, which we discussed last week, Paul explained what had happened to the Christians at Colossae at their baptism.
Colossians 2:9-15 CEV God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.
As Christ lived, died, and was raised from the dead, we are also symbolically buried and we rise to have new life and freedom imparted to us. We are in Him, to be raised in Him because we have faith and action of that real faith by our trust in Him. Real faith turns into action, if we do not, we are dead in our sins, empty and purposeless, and our sinful nature will have control over us. We are alive in Christ; God has forgiven our trespasses and sins, removed our damming evidence that was against us and then canceled our debt, and we are now released from our legal demands of the Law by our reconciliation in Him.
Now here in Chapter 3 he explained how they should live this new life. We should be concerned with spiritual things and not overly concerned with the things on earth like money, clothes and houses. Often people want power or honour. They want these things to please themselves. But Christians have died to their old life. We should not chase after these things anymore.
We should desire Christ more than they desire anything or anyone else on earth. This is not to say that Christians can’t enjoy physical things. Remember that God created all physical things. So, God wants Christians to enjoy all that he made.
Genesis 1:27-31 CEV So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes, including animals, both wild and tame, and birds. And so it was. God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came, then morning—that was the sixth day.
1 Timothy 4:4-5 CEV Everything God created is good. And if you give thanks, you may eat anything. What God has said and your prayer will make it fit to eat.
In fact Christ came so that everyone could have a full life.
John 10:10 CEV A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.
In those days, the Romans punished criminals. Then they usually killed the criminals on a cross. To make the cross, the Romans stood a tall wooden pole in the ground. They attached another pole across the top of this pole. They made the criminal put his arms out each side on the cross. Then they hit nails through his hands and into the cross. They did the same with his feet. This was very painful as he hung on the cross. The Romans also wrote a record of the criminal’s sins. They put this on the cross with a nail. Then they left him on the cross until he died.
God made the laws which are in the Old Testament. God is holy. God can only accept holy people. But nobody was able to obey all God’s laws. The punishment for sin is to die
Romans 6:23 CEV Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
God sent Christ into this world to live as a man. Christ was perfect. He obeyed all the laws. God could not accuse Christ as he had never sinned. Instead, God put the record of our sins onto Christ’s cross. God accused Christ of all our sins. God removed from us the record of our sins. Then God gave Christ’s perfect record to us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 CEV Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God.
This was a spiritual act, not a physical act.
Verse 15 ‘,Evil powers and authorities’ refers to Satan and all his wicked angels.
The picture is of the Roman army overwhelmingly conquering and vanquishing the enemy, which, at that time, they were very good at. Then, they took the prisoners and displayed them in a victory parade that was of a great shame for the conquered. Jesus totally took Satan's power away. He has no advantage over you. Jesus won the battle not almost or barely, but it was an overwhelming victory definitely a match worth mentioning.
Since Jesus wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses then
Colossians 2:16-19 CEV Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real! Don't be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They brag about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires. They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God.
Under the Mosaic Law there were laws about what things people could eat, and he made laws about what they could not eat. They were also to have special holy days. Read the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In addition the *Pharisees added hundreds of extra laws to God’s laws. The false teachers were like judges. They told the Christians to obey these laws too. They said that this would make them into better Christians.
But Paul said that the false teachers were wrong. In fact Jesus said that the laws about food had ended. Christians may eat any food.
Mark 7:18-19 CEV He answered, “Don't you know what I am talking about by now? You surely know that the food you put into your mouth cannot make you unclean. It doesn't go into your heart, but into your stomach, and then out of your body.” By saying this, Jesus meant that all foods were fit to eat.
These laws reminded the Jews that God is holy. The law showed them how to live in the right way. But these laws did not give the Jews the power to live a holy life. However, we because of Christ can live a holy life, because of the Holy Spirit in us. This is The laws were good. But Christ is superior to the laws. The laws only showed people how to live in God’s way. But Christ actually lived in God’s way. And Christ gives his power to everyone who trusts him. Christians do not need the laws; they only need Christ and with Him we are able to obey the law which Jesus boiled down to
Matthew 22:34-37, 39-40 CEV After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.
The first two laws in the 10 Commandments say that people should not worship anyone or anything except God.
Exodus 20:2-5 CEV I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. Do not worship any god except me. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.
But some people in Colossae worshipped angels. They also said that they had special spiritual experiences. They thought that they were better than other people.
Colossians 2:18 CEV Don't be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They brag about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires.
The false teachers and other people said that Christians were not good enough. They ought to add extra things to be real Christians. But Paul said that the false teachers were not true Christians.
Colossians 2:19 CEV They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God.
Paul referred to Christ as the head of the body. The false teachers and other people said that Christians were not good enough. They ought to add extra things to be real Christians (back to 16-18). But Paul said that the false teachers were not true Christians. A Christian has everything that he needs in Christ.
Colossians 3:10 CEV Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Christ gives true life to his church (the Christians). The false teachers separated themselves from Christ. Therefore, they could not be part of Christ’s body, which is the church.
Colossians 2:20-23 CEV You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, “Don't handle this. Don't taste that. Don't touch this.”? After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don't really have any power over our desires.
Paul did not mean that all rules are bad. He referred to the rules that the false teachers made. These rules may control what people do. But rules cannot control a person’s feelings or thoughts. Rules deal with outer behaviour. Christ makes people free because he strips off their old nature
Colossians 3:11 CEV It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Paul shows that avoiding physical pleasure which is called asceticism in other words severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons, is not how to become godly. Godliness is not achieved through asceticism but through our identification with Christ. Remember what the Gnostics taught that matter is evil, but spirit is good. Thus we must treat our bodies harshly. But the Bible teaches that as Christians, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus we need to take care of our bodies and to glorify God with them.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CEV You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.
To do this, we need to exercise control over what we eat and drink, over harmful substances such as tobacco and drugs, over sexual impulses, etc. But there is a basic difference in outlook toward the body between asceticism and biblical self-discipline.
The false teachers in Colossae had a system of rules which they imposed on their followers. They said, “If you keep these rules, you will have victory over fleshly desires.” They took some of the Old Testament regulations concerning ceremonial cleanliness and diet and added to them, much as the Pharisees had done.
Paul admits that these rules had “the appearance of wisdom,” but, he adds, they “are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
So Paul is asking the rhetorical question, “If you truly died with Christ and were raised up with Him, why are you going back, not just to the Old Testament law, but even worse, to manmade rules added to that law?”
But his main point is that these sorts of rules cannot deal with the problem that we all wrestle against, namely, sinful desires in our hearts. You can keep all the rules, but your heart is still far from God.
How To Live Your New Life In Christ
Colossians 3:1-4 CEV You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God's right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory.
In 2:9-15, which we discussed last week, Paul explained what had happened to the Christians at Colossae at their baptism.
Colossians 2:9-15 CEV God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.
As Christ lived, died, and was raised from the dead, we are also symbolically buried and we rise to have new life and freedom imparted to us. We are in Him, to be raised in Him because we have faith and action of that real faith by our trust in Him. Real faith turns into action, if we do not, we are dead in our sins, empty and purposeless, and our sinful nature will have control over us. We are alive in Christ; God has forgiven our trespasses and sins, removed our damming evidence that was against us and then canceled our debt, and we are now released from our legal demands of the Law by our reconciliation in Him.
Now here in Chapter 3 he explained how they should live this new life. We should be concerned with spiritual things and not overly concerned with the things on earth like money, clothes and houses. Often people want power or honour. They want these things to please themselves. But Christians have died to their old life. We should not chase after these things anymore.
We should desire Christ more than they desire anything or anyone else on earth. This is not to say that Christians can’t enjoy physical things. Remember that God created all physical things. So, God wants Christians to enjoy all that he made.
Genesis 1:27-31 CEV So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes, including animals, both wild and tame, and birds. And so it was. God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came, then morning—that was the sixth day.
1 Timothy 4:4-5 CEV Everything God created is good. And if you give thanks, you may eat anything. What God has said and your prayer will make it fit to eat.
In fact Christ came so that everyone could have a full life.
John 10:10 CEV A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.
However, Christians should concentrate on Christ. They should not concentrate on this world.
Matthew 6:31-34 CEV Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
This world and our physical lives are temporary. They will end when Christ returns. Christ and ‘the things that are above’ are real and permanent. When a person receives new life from Christ, nobody can see this new life. Nobody can explain it. It is not a physical thing. It belongs to God. However, when Christ returns, Christians will be able to see their spiritual life. And every Christian will receive glory from Christ. So, Christians should now pursue the things that are above.
Colossians 3:5-11 CEV
Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And this is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Colossians 3:5 CEV Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols.
As Christians concentrate on Christ, they learn to live a holy life. Christians do not become perfect immediately. Christians have a new nature but they still have old habits. Their old nature died with Christ. But evil desires still tempt them.
James 1:13-15 CEV Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.
However, Christians can now refuse to obey those evil desires.
Romans 6:1-4, 20-23 CEV What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's gift of undeserved grace will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Chgloryrist Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
God created sex for a man and his own wife. All other sex is wrong sex. Lust is the desire for wrong sex.
Greedy people want to satisfy their own desires. People can be greedy for food, or sex. They can be greedy for money or even for honour. They pursue their own pleasure rather than pursue Christ. These things can become idols which is sometehing that we love more than we love Christ. Christians must control their evil desires. Then those desires will not control them. And Christ will even help to change their desires
Colossians 3:6-7 CEV God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And this is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way.
Sin destroys people’s lives. Sin separates people from God. Christ had to die on the cross because of sin.
Paul reminded the Colossians about the things that belonged to their past life, back in verse 5.
Colossians 3:5 CEV Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols.
Colossians 3:8-10 CEV But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Christians are responsible for the way that they behave towards other people. Christians must not behave how they used to behave. Paul referred to many bad things in these verses. These bad things ruin friendships and families. People are afraid of a person who gets very angry. Angry people shout and say bad things. Angry people may hit other people and hurt them. People cannot trust someone who lies. Sometimes a person lies to other people and says bad things in a quiet way. This can hurt a person’s spirit. Jesus said, ‘I am the truth’ (John 14:6). So, Christians should always speak the truth.
Earlier Paul had said
Colossians 2:12-13 CEV And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.
So now we have a new person. This picture describes how someone takes off his old, dirty clothes. Then he puts on new, clean clothes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.
Ephesians 4:22-32 CEV You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need. Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Colossians 3:11 CEV It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Paul named two particular societies. The Greek people considered that both these societies were far less good than their own society. Slaves and free people represent different groups in society. None of these differences matters to God. In this world, some people think that they are more important than other people are. But everyone is equal as a Christian. Christ died to save each person. And each Christian has Christ in him or her. So, Christians must behave in the right way with other Christians.
Colossians 3:12-17 CEV God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.
Verse 12 Colossians 3:12 (NLT2)12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Paul now reminded the Christians at Colossae about what God had done for them. They belonged to God because of Christ. And this is the reason why they should behave in the right way. Christ has all these qualities. So, Christians should become more like Christ.
Christians should feel pity when other people are sad. Then Christians should be kind to them. Christians should want to help them. Humble people do not think that they are better than someone else. Humble people know that every person is of equal value to God. Humble people want other people to be successful. Patient people know how to control their temper. They stay calm when someone annoys them.
Verse 13 Colossians 3:13 (NLT2)13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Sometimes Christians do not like the way that other Christians behave. They may quarrel and fight. If Christians do not forgive, they start to hate each other.
Then they behave as verse 8 describes.
Colossians 3:8 (NLT2)8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
But this is wrong. Instead, Christians should be patient with other people’s faults. They should learn to be friends and not be enemies. Christ is the Christian’s model. People did many wrong things to Christ. They even killed him. But Christ forgave everyone.
Verse 14 Colossians 3:14 (NLT2)14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Paul described a Christian’s new *nature. It is like clothes that he or she puts on. When people love, it is like a coat. It goes on top of all the other qualities. Every quality in verses 12-13 comes as people love other people. When they love other people, this unites them.
Jesus said that the most important law is to love God. The second most important law is to love other people.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT2)36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 6:31-34 CEV Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
This world and our physical lives are temporary. They will end when Christ returns. Christ and ‘the things that are above’ are real and permanent. When a person receives new life from Christ, nobody can see this new life. Nobody can explain it. It is not a physical thing. It belongs to God. However, when Christ returns, Christians will be able to see their spiritual life. And every Christian will receive glory from Christ. So, Christians should now pursue the things that are above.
Colossians 3:5-11 CEV
Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And this is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Colossians 3:5 CEV Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols.
As Christians concentrate on Christ, they learn to live a holy life. Christians do not become perfect immediately. Christians have a new nature but they still have old habits. Their old nature died with Christ. But evil desires still tempt them.
James 1:13-15 CEV Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.
However, Christians can now refuse to obey those evil desires.
Romans 6:1-4, 20-23 CEV What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's gift of undeserved grace will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Chgloryrist Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
God created sex for a man and his own wife. All other sex is wrong sex. Lust is the desire for wrong sex.
Greedy people want to satisfy their own desires. People can be greedy for food, or sex. They can be greedy for money or even for honour. They pursue their own pleasure rather than pursue Christ. These things can become idols which is sometehing that we love more than we love Christ. Christians must control their evil desires. Then those desires will not control them. And Christ will even help to change their desires
Colossians 3:6-7 CEV God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And this is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way.
Sin destroys people’s lives. Sin separates people from God. Christ had to die on the cross because of sin.
Paul reminded the Colossians about the things that belonged to their past life, back in verse 5.
Colossians 3:5 CEV Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols.
Colossians 3:8-10 CEV But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Christians are responsible for the way that they behave towards other people. Christians must not behave how they used to behave. Paul referred to many bad things in these verses. These bad things ruin friendships and families. People are afraid of a person who gets very angry. Angry people shout and say bad things. Angry people may hit other people and hurt them. People cannot trust someone who lies. Sometimes a person lies to other people and says bad things in a quiet way. This can hurt a person’s spirit. Jesus said, ‘I am the truth’ (John 14:6). So, Christians should always speak the truth.
Earlier Paul had said
Colossians 2:12-13 CEV And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.
So now we have a new person. This picture describes how someone takes off his old, dirty clothes. Then he puts on new, clean clothes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.
Ephesians 4:22-32 CEV You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need. Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Colossians 3:11 CEV It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Paul named two particular societies. The Greek people considered that both these societies were far less good than their own society. Slaves and free people represent different groups in society. None of these differences matters to God. In this world, some people think that they are more important than other people are. But everyone is equal as a Christian. Christ died to save each person. And each Christian has Christ in him or her. So, Christians must behave in the right way with other Christians.
Colossians 3:12-17 CEV God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.
Verse 12 Colossians 3:12 (NLT2)12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Paul now reminded the Christians at Colossae about what God had done for them. They belonged to God because of Christ. And this is the reason why they should behave in the right way. Christ has all these qualities. So, Christians should become more like Christ.
Christians should feel pity when other people are sad. Then Christians should be kind to them. Christians should want to help them. Humble people do not think that they are better than someone else. Humble people know that every person is of equal value to God. Humble people want other people to be successful. Patient people know how to control their temper. They stay calm when someone annoys them.
Verse 13 Colossians 3:13 (NLT2)13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Sometimes Christians do not like the way that other Christians behave. They may quarrel and fight. If Christians do not forgive, they start to hate each other.
Then they behave as verse 8 describes.
Colossians 3:8 (NLT2)8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
But this is wrong. Instead, Christians should be patient with other people’s faults. They should learn to be friends and not be enemies. Christ is the Christian’s model. People did many wrong things to Christ. They even killed him. But Christ forgave everyone.
Verse 14 Colossians 3:14 (NLT2)14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Paul described a Christian’s new *nature. It is like clothes that he or she puts on. When people love, it is like a coat. It goes on top of all the other qualities. Every quality in verses 12-13 comes as people love other people. When they love other people, this unites them.
Jesus said that the most important law is to love God. The second most important law is to love other people.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT2)36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
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