[Linux4christians] Colossians‭ 3‬:1-17 (Thursday)

[Pastor David]

*Colossians‭ 3‬:1-17 (Thursday)*

*‭Commentary*

Paul reminds the Colossians to seek heavenly things because 
they are of-Christ and not of-the-world, and that when 
Christ returns the glory that He has He will share with us 
and we will stand together with Him.

Based on our eternally-intimate standing with Christ Paul 
then concludes that our response must be to "... put to 
death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth":

sexual immorality
impurity
shameful passion
evil desire
greed (which is idolatry)

Paul notes that those who indulge in these things are among 
the "sons of disobedience" (unsaved) who will experience the 
post-tribulation, post-rapture, "wrath of God.

He goes on to instruct us to put off such things as:

anger (unrighteous anger)
rage (mindless anger)
malice
slander
abusive language from our mouths
lying to one-another

Paul reiterated the abolition of every worldly distinction 
among men and women, leaving only the eternal distinction 
between those who are saved and those who are unsaved.

He again uses the term "elect" as one label for Christians 
as "... holy and dearly loved", to "clothe yourselves with
a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and 
patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another 
if someone happens to have a complaint against someone else."

[Note:  As described in a prior Study "elect" does not refer 
to a fatalistic pagan notion of predestination but is a 
label for one who meets God's requirements for salvation and 
who has his/her name written in the "Lamb's Book of Life". 
Also, the matter of a "complaint against someone else" is 
addressed only to believers, it does not limit a believer in 
the pursuit of legitimate action against an unbeliever. 
Paul leveraged his Roman citizenship in a legal context.]

He reminds us to add love to the list of virtues (things we 
are to avoid and their corollary to be sought) as love is 
"the perfect bond" - we were called through love into a 
perfect bond of peace.

He exhorts us to "Let the word of Christ dwell ... richly"

[Note:  This likely refers to the fruits of the indwelling 
Holy Spirit as well as a the loving nature of Christ.]

Paul writes "teaching and exhorting one another with all
wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with 
grace in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do in word or 
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 
to God the Father through Him.

[Note:  Some insist that the NT does not describe musical 
instruments during a time of corporate worship but beyond 
the freedom of grace one may observe that Paul's intended 
audience would be aware of the use of the harp, horn, and 
tambourine accompanying the singing of Psalms and he made
no effort to dissuade them from following that pattern.
The use or non-use of musical instruments in corporate 
worship is merely a matter of local preference rather
than a Biblical mandate.]

*Interaction*

*Consider* that ‭our response to what Christ has done for us 
must be to "... put to death whatever in your nature belongs 
to the earth".

*Discuss* the ways that members of your fellowship may be 
intentionally ‭"teaching and exhorting one another with all 
wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with 
grace in your hearts to God." - doing so without spawning 
human rituals and traditions which exclude or mandate 
specifics which then overwhelm the intent of this teaching.

*Reflect* upon the two checklists of sin Paul provided - how 
are you doing?

*Share* an example of a fellowship (a corporate believer-
community "Church", or a sub-group) where you experienced 
‭"... clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, 
humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another 
and forgiving one another if someone happens to have a 
complaint against someone else."  What was that like?

*Truth in Action*

‭Today I am choosing to review Paul's two checklists for the 
items where I am still struggling.  I agree to partner with 
the Holy Spirit, and with the encouragement of someone who 
will pray in agreement, as I intentionally act to remove the 
identified sin from my life.

*Be Specific*  ________________________________________


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Friday's text will be: Colossians‭ 3‬:18-4:1
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Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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