Colossians 3:1,2

Outline of 3:1-4:6

E.

CHRISTThe basis of a new life; Colossians 3:1-25; Colossians 4:1-6

Duties of those raised with Christ:

1.

Be dedicated to things above; Colossians 3:1-4

a.

Seek them; Colossians 3:1

b.

Set your mind on them; Colossians 3:2

c.

Reasons for dedication to things above; Colossians 3:3-4

(1)

Ye died;

(2)

Your life is hid with Christ in God;

(3)

Ye shall be manifested with Christ in glory; Colossians 3:4

2.

Put to death your earthly members; Colossians 3:5-11

a.

What the members are: fornication, etc.; Colossians 3:5

b.

Why put the members to death: God's wrath; Colossians 3:6

c.

Our relationships to earthly members; Colossians 3:7-8 a

(1)

Once we walked and lived in them; Colossians 3:7

(2)

Now put them all away; Colossians 3:8 a

d.

More such sinful members: anger, etc.; Colossians 3:8 b

e.

Lie not to one another; Colossians 3:9-11

(1)

Seeing ye have put off the old man; Colossians 3:9

(2)

Seeing ye have put on the new man; Colossians 3:10-11

(a)

The new man is renewed; Colossians 3:10

[1]

Renewed unto knowledge

[2]

Renewed after the image of God

(b)

In the new man are no social distinctions; Colossians 3:11

3.

Put on good new things; Colossians 3:12-14

a.

Heart of compassion, etc.; Colossians 3:12

b.

Forbearance and forgiveness; Colossians 3:13

c.

Love; Colossians 3:14

d.

Peace of Christ; Colossians 3:15

e.

The word of Christ; Colossians 3:16

Express this by music

f.

Every act done in Christ's name; Colossians 3:17

4.

Instructions for special groups; Colossians 3:18-25; Colossians 4:1

a.

WivesBe in subjection; Colossians 3:18

b.

HusbandsLove your wives; Colossians 3:19

c.

ChildrenObey your parents; Colossians 3:20

d.

FathersProvoke not your children; Colossians 3:21

e.

SlavesObey your masters; Colossians 3:22-25

(1)

Not with eye-service; Colossians 3:22 a

(2)

In singleness of heart; Colossians 3:22 b

(3)

Work heartily; Colossians 3:23

(4)

Knowing ye shall receive the recompense; Colossians 3:24-25

f.

MastersGive what is just; Colossians 4:1

5.

Continue stedfastly in prayer; Colossians 4:2-4

a.

Watching therein; Colossians 4:2 a

b.

With thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2 b

c.

Praying for us; Colossians 4:3

(1)

That God may open a door; Colossians 4:3 b

(2)

That I may speak as I ought; Colossians 4:4

6.

Walk wisely toward outsiders; Colossians 4:5-6

a.

Redeem the time; Colossians 4:5

b.

Let your speech be gracious and salty; Colossians 4:6

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Colossians 3:1. If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

Translation and Paraphrase

Colossians 3:1. Therefore since you were raised with Christ (at the time of your baptism, from your state of spiritual death), be seeking the (holy and spiritual) things that are above, where Christ (now) is, seated at the right hand of God.

2. Set your mind on (the) things that are above; (be earnest about them); and (set) not (your minds) upon the things upon the earth (which are disappointing and perishing).

Notes

1.

Colossians chapter three begins a new section in the outline, dealing with our new life in Christ. It is a practical application of the preceding discussion of Christ's supremacy over false doctrine. In all of Paul's epistles to Gentile churches, he wrote a section of practical instructions in the closing parts of the epistles, following the doctrinal sections. See Romans 12:1 ff; Galatians 5:16 ff; Ephesians 4:1 ff; Philippians 3:17 ff; etc.

2.

Colossians 3:1-4 reminds us again that we are not made right with God by keeping ordinances, or abusing the body (Colossians 2:20-23), or any other such works. We are saved because we have been raised with Christ through faith in the working of God. Then, having been thus saved, we are called upon to seek heavenly things, and to do good works (Colossians 3:1; Colossians 3:12 ff). Our new life and good works follow our being raised together with Christ. The works are not the cause of our being raised with Christ; they follow it.

Through our deliberate decision to put off our sins, and through faith in God's working, and through baptism (Colossians 2:11-12), we are raised with Christ from the dead. Having thus been raised, we are made alive, and all our trespasses are forgiven. Then we can apply ourselves to the development of Godly character and to good works, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved.

Multitudes of people are not sure they are saved, because they feel that they are to be saved by works. They wonder, Do I attend church enough times each week? Do I pray long enough each day to satisfy God? Does God require that I wear black clothes, or long-sleeved garments? Have I given enough money to pay what is due?
To such people salvation hinges on what they DO, rather than upon accepting the promises of Christ. We can never do enough to merit the forgiveness of our sins. The Colossians had a mistaken idea about this. To them salvation was conditioned upon keeping the sabbath day, or not eating certain meats, or upon voluntary acts of humility, or on abusing and neglecting the body in various ways. Abuse of the body, seeing visions, and keeping regulationsthese are not the gospel method of obtaining, nor of holding onto salvation.

3.

Colossians 3:1-4 is a positive paragraph, which tells us to set our minds on things above, where Christ is. It is followed by a negative paragraph (Colossians 3:5-11), which lists sins to shun. This is the proper order to achieve victory in our lives. Unless we are given positive things to believe and do, we cannot succeed in keeping negative and unwholesome deeds out.

Some preachers make the mistake in their sermons of giving overly candid descriptions of sins, and then denouncing these. The denouncing may be good, but the descriptions may do little except to arouse sinful imaginations. It is better to major in the positive alternatives to sin, and minor in detailed descriptions and condemnations of sin.

4.

If then ye were raised together with Christ. This clause is a simple conditional expression, which assumes that what is stated is true. We are assuredly raised with Christ. Colossians 2:12-13 has already revealed to us that we died and rose in the act of baptism. Compare Romans 6:1-4.

It should be as great a surprise to see a Christian living in sin, as it would be to see a man who died walking about in the midst of living people.

5.

We are to seek (literally, Be seeking) the things above. The things above would include such things as the Holy Spirit, a Godlike character, and treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 6:33). All of these things we seek, not to discover them, but to obtain them for ourselves.

6.

Above does not refer to any particular upward spot in space, but to where Christ is. Anything that is away from the earth may be legitimately spoken of as above.

7.

Christ is seated at the right hand of God, the place of honor. (Psalms 110:1; Matthew 26:64; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1). The teaching of Christ's ascended glory is one of the great doctrines, truths, and comforts of the church. (Acts 1:6-11; Acts 2:33-36; Mark 16:19; 1 Timothy 3:16).

8.

The statement in Colossians 3:2 that we are to set our minds on things above, points out that we are not to seek the things above (Colossians 3:1) as a legalistic duty, which we must do or be damned; but that we seek them because we have truly set our hearts and minds upon them; we truly desire to obtain these things. We do not seek the Lord because we must do so, but because we love Him. We have our minds set upon Him.

To achieve this state of mind, we may at first have to deliberately discipline and direct our thinking. But soon the glory of the things above will possess us, and dominate every desire and meditation within us.

9.

We are not to set our minds upon things that are upon the earthits honors, offices, wealth, learning, material possessions, and comforts.

Yet in another sense we should set our minds upon the things on the earthupon its lost condition, the sorrows of people, its hunger, pain, war; its deluded state of mind. Only by thinking about these things will we be moved to try to do something about them.

We know many Christian brothers who have left houses, wives, brethren, parents, children, for the kingdom of God's sake (Luke 18:29). These have both set their minds upon the world, so as to help it; and at the same time have not set their minds upon the world, not seeking its comforts and honors.

Study and Review

1.

What is the topic of Colossians 3:1-25; Colossians 4:1-6 in the outline?

2.

When are we raised with Christ? (Colossians 3:1; Colossians 2:12)

3.

What should we do because we are raised with Christ?

4.

Where is Christ seated?

5.

What are we to set our minds (KJV, affections) on? (Colossians 3:2)

6.

What are we not to set our minds on?