Colossians Chapter 3

  Colossians 3:1-17 (ESV) 

¹  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
²  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
³  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

⁴  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
⁵  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
⁶  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
⁷  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
⁸  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
⁹  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
¹⁰  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
¹¹  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
¹²  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
¹³  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
¹⁴  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
¹⁵  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
¹⁷  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1. What is a person’s character?

When Martin Luther King said he looked forward to the day when all Americans would be judged solely “by the content of their character,” he was talking about a person’s essential qualities. “the distinctive nature of a person or thing,” a meaning reflected in the word’s origins. In Greek, a kharaktēr was a stamping tool, used to give something a distinctive mark. What are the qualities that result from his basic beliefs and assumptions?

2. As a Christian how are we to deal with the old nature which continually attempts to control our actions?

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, ……. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:15-24

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:17 (KJV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20 (ESV)

Paul tells us to put to death that old nature. The Greek word I nekrosate First aorist active imperative of nekroō, to kill. This is a verb or action word. In verse 9 he also uses the term, put away, ἀποτίθημι apotithemi (ap-ot-eeth’-ay-mee) v.1. to put away cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off) , and then in verse 12 he says put on ἐνδύω enduo (en-doo’-o) v.1. to invest with clothing (in the sense of sinking into a garment) array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

Notice Paul uses three verbs or action words which would seem to indicate that we actually have to do something. We can’t just rest in the fact that I am a Christian and some supernatural power will take over and I will just automatically live righteously. 

3. In verse 14 Paul tells us to “put on love”, how do I put on a feeling?

ἀγάπη agape (ag-ah’-pay) benevolence: an other centered attitude for the benefit of others and not yourself. Even though agape is a noun, Paul is telling us to put this other centered attitude on. Again something we have to consciously make a decision to do.When that smelly, no teeth guy at grocery store asks you for money to buy food and you give him that gift certificate from Mc Donalds. Then he throws it back in your face and flips you off. That’s when you need to put on love.That’s when you need to remember who you are and renew your mind.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 (KJV)

The normal reaction would be to get mad and call him a worthless freeloader. The new creation in Christ picks up his gift certificate and goes on his way.

A Centered Home: Colossians 3:18-21

18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won’t become discouraged.

4. What does “submissive” mean?

ὑποτάσσω hupotasso (hoop-ot-as’-so) v. 1. to subordinate submit self unto The verb hupotassomai has a military air, common in the Koiné for such obedience. Obedience in government is essential as the same word . Wives have rights and privileges, but recognition of the husband’s leadership is essential to a well-ordered home, only the assumption is that the husband has a head and a wise one.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Eph 5:24 (ESV)

This has nothing to do with husbands being dictators or kings over there households. This is about structure and responsibility. Who is generally built and designed to function as the decision maker in certain situation? Men and women are different. There are some very subjective and intuitive gifts that my wife has that I do not. My wife thinks globally, taking into consideration all the connecting issues and effects of an action and doing this pretty much intuitively. I on the other hand am much more pragmatic and black and white. What do we have to do to fix the situation, now? So this has more to do with administration than subjugation. I had no problem submitting to my employers. We had an arrangement. They treated me with respect, they listened to my input, but in the final analysis they had the final responsibility and the final say.

5. What about the husband, what does he have to do?

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, Eph5:25

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Cor 11:3 (ESV)

For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 1 Tim 2:13-14 (ESV)

God holds the man responsible for his household. Eve was tricked but Adam was not, he knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to be like God, so he was the responsible party.

6. How can we discipline our children not exasperate them?

The King James uses the word provoke ἐρεθίζω erethizo (er-eth-id’-zo) v. 1. tostimulate (especially to anger). To provoke one to anger.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

Each child is an individual and different tactics must be used to motivate them without breaking their spirits.

  BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT) 
• ESV………….ESV Study Bible Notes 
• MSN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes 
• NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes. 
• JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
 • ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary 
• BN …..Barnes Notes 
• WBC…… Wycliffe Bible Commentary 
• CN …… Constables Notes 
• IC……….Ironside Commentary
• NET………Net Bible Study Notes. 
• JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
 • VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies 
• CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark • 

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