AM Sept 25th Col 3

September 25^th Colossians 3 C. Practical The Christians Goal

1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8: But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9: Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14: And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Having established the truth that believers are in Christ, raised up to live a new life. therefore Paul says seek those things that are heavenly. Seek the things that are where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your thinking on those things which are above and not on the things of this earth. Because you died (in Christ) and you life is no longer to be lived in the sphere of this earth and the sensual things, but your life is to be centred in the resurrection life of Christ. When Christ reveals himself, you will also appear with him in glory. So put to death your bodily members which you have here on earth which are used in the service of sin. These are seen in fornication, unclean actions, desires that are unlawful, evil lusts, the desire for forbidden things which is spiritual idolatry. It is all these things that are the cause of Gods wrath and Gods wrath will come soon on those who are the unsaved. And Paul says, You did all this stuff when you lived in them but now put off all these things - anger, wrath, malice, blaspheme, foul mouthed abuse. Do not lie to each other because you have put off the Old Man with his deeds. And you have put on the New Man who is being renewed in the knowledge of Christ’s image. In Christ there is no national barrier or religious barrier or social barriers. Christ is everything in everyone. Put on therefore as the chosen servants of God hospitality, kindness, humility of mind, meekness, and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving each other. And if you have any quarrel against anyone you are to forgive in the same way that Christ forgave you. And over all that, put on ‘the overcoat of love’. This overcoat ties all other virtues together. And let the peace which comes from God be the umpire of your minds. You were called, says Paul, to this into one body and be thankful to God. And let the words of Christ fill your whole soul in worship, teaching and encouraging each other in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual poetry. We are to make music in our hearts to the Lord and whatever else we do, we are to do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father by Christ.