Colossians 3

1 – 2

Since you have been risen with Christ, keep on looking for things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Put your mind on heavenly things, not on the passing things of earth.

You are not part of the “touch not, taste not” world, you live in a different world.

You should not be living as if you were in a house where you are only allowed to sit in a chair, and not move or speak or touch anything. What kind of a relationship with God. would that be?

The world's religions have many rules but they say very little about keeping your personal life clean. As long as a person brings sacrifices, and says certain prayers, and follows all the rules of these religions, then nobody will say anything if they were faking it.

Sometimes a submarine needs repairs and the only way it can see where it is going is to use the periscope to see what is above.

As you look for things that are above, He will pull you upward (see Revelation 4:1).

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

3. Because, as far as this world is concerned -you are already dead and your real life is hidden with God in Christ.

How can we live as if we are dead? The best way to describe this kind of life is to say, “Relax, you are loved!"

For example, what if you try to live this way but before you know it you have done something stupid and offended somebody or lost your temper? Here is what you can do:

A. Ask forgiveness, make restitution, and bless the person whom you have offended, then leave the results to God (Romans 8:1).

B. If you feel condemnation then ask the Lord to answer the accusations by giving you Scriptures which apply to this situation.

C. If there is still more condemnation then this is a spiritual attack. Live it down. This too shall pass. Keep going back to the Scriptures He gave you -and stay dead to this!

Even if you remain in the vine (John 15:5), the vine can be trimmed. It is like correcting a small child. We tell them not to do something and we may have to tell them again until they make the decision to stop doing this thing.

We need to see ourselves as dead to the world and keep on making the decision to allow Christ to live in us.

4. One day you will share in that glorious revelation. When Christ, who is your life, will show Himself openly,

We are not only with Jesus in death but in resurrection! It is hard for us to imagine but God wants us to walk, talk and respond in the same way that Jesus did when He was on earth. Immediately someone will see that this is impossible but with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

W hoever says he remains in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.
1 John 2:6

5 – 6

Think of the members of your body as dead to immorality, uncleanness, lust, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these very things the judgment of God comes upon those who are against Him.

We should not need to tell Christians to put off these things. If you feel like something is not dead then put it to death now by telling God that you have made a decision to be dead when this thing comes back to you.

Do not live the way you used to live. People need to be told that they cannot keep the things of the world and Christ in their lives at the same time.

Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32

If a man says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar. 1 John 4:20

See also Ephesians 5:6.

7 – 8

At one time you also wandered while do ing these kinds of things when you lived your old life. But now you need to put away all these things: a bad temper and anger, hatred insults and arguing,

Before we knew Christ we were all wandering, trying to understand how life should be lived. We have to watch carefully to keep from letting these things back in our lives.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:1

See also Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 4:22-31.

9. Do not lie to each other about anything because you have put away put off the old man and all the things that he used to do.

The Christian life is not “fake it until you make it.” See also Ephesians 4.

10. You have put on the new man who is always being renewed (by a more complete knowledge of God) in the likeness of Jesus, the One who created your new man.

What if you tried to put on a new suit over an old suit? It would not fit -would it?
Christianity is not just putting off, but putting on.

We outgrow baby toys because they are not interesting to us anymore. As we read the Word Jesus shows us so many new things that can be done for Him that there is no room for the old things to stay in our lives.

[Your mercies] are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

See also 2 Corinthians 5:17.

11. In this new man there is no difference between Greek or circumcised, or not circumcised, stranger or tribal person, or slave or free man, because Christ is all that matters.

There are no walls between different types of people in Christ. Jesus is all or nothing.

“He who is not with Me is against Me.” Matthew 12:30

See also Ephesians 6:8.

12. Since you have been picked by God, to be set apart in love, put on the kind of man who is forgiving, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

Being filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by his Word.

We should not become so interested In the good life that we have in Christ that we forget about other people. We should want them to have what we have. So we do not just put off things but we put on things that we can use to help others. See also Ephesians 4:2.

13 – 14

Wait for each other to grow up. Be ready to forgive if there is a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you. And after all this, have genuine love, because love brings all these things together and completes them.

“If you do not forgive someone who has offended you, then there will be two bad men.” Augustine

See also Ephesians 4:32.

15. Let the peace of Christ be the guide in all your decisions because you were called to live as one body, so be thankful!

The original wording used here would be something like a referee at a football game. The referee decides what is best so that the game can continue in peace.

God is not a God of confusion -but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33

See also Ephesians 4:3.

16. Let the Word of Christ feel at home inside of you. Teach and encourage each other with wisdom and psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and sing God's praise with thankful hearts.

If we do these things it will show us whether we are living in wisdom or not.

When you make up your mind to live this way, you will see changes happening in your life. Maybe something different each day: mercy, kindness, throwing away your pride, patience and more things you never thought you could do before!

See also Ephesians 5:19-20, 1 John 2:14.

17. Whatever kind of work you have to do, either by words or by action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through Him.

People will immediately say, "Nobody can live like that -only Jesus can do this!" That is correct, so allow Him to do it in you.

See also Ephesians 5:20.

18. Wives adapt yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord

God has called a woman to come alongside of her husband. When God created Eve. He said, “It is not good for a man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) A man needs someone to balance him.

A woman should follow her husband in the Lord. If a man asks a woman to do something that is not of the Lord, she should let him know that her conscience will not allow her to do this. If he will not listen, then she should ask the church leaders for help.

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the Word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives. 1 Peter 3:1

19. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter against them.

If a woman knows that she is loved above all others, then she will trust her husband and give him the benefit of the doubt.

See also Ephesians 5:31-33.

20. Children, obey your parents in everything for this is the right thing to do in the sight of the Lord.

Children who rebel against their parents will not be able to see clearly to make good decisions in life.

The eye that mocks his father, and hates to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. Proverbs 30:17

See also Ephesians 6:1-2.

21. Fathers, do not overcorrect your children or they will lose heart.

Can you picture Jesus beating you down with His words? Can you picture Him embarrassing you in front of other people? Can you picture Him calling you some kind of name to mock you? If Jesus does not do this to His children then do not do it to yours.

22. Servants, your job is to obey your boss and not only when he is watching to get his approval but knowing that God is watching.

A pure heart is the result when both the worker and the boss have the same goal -to honor Jesus

23 - 25

Whatever you are doing, put your whole heart into it to receive the Lord's approval. Knowing that your real reward come from Him. You are actually servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! But a person who is not honest will be paid back for what he has done and will not be excused.

When you work on the job this way, people are going to ask you to show them how they can get the power to do this. Now you have an open door to share the Gospel. See also Ephesians 6:7- 9