Scripture:
Colossians 3:1-17 NKJV
[1] If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. [5] Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, [7] in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. [8] But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, [10] and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, [11] where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. [12] Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. [14] But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be 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 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Observation:
The letter to the church in Colossians is a short letter written by Paul to instruct the church as to how to conduct themselves in the new life they had received through faith in Christ. It’s only 4 chapters long, and even a slow reader like myself can power through it in under 15 minutes. However, even though the letter is not very long, it doesn’t take away from the powerful and insightful information that GOD gave us through the hand of Paul. As Paul begins to draw his letter to a close here in chapter 3, we get one of his (in my opinion) famous contrasting lists. You see, Paul’s goal seemed to be helping those who had begun a new life walk in that newness of life in a manner worthy of what had taken place. He knew that Jesus Christ had been crucified for our sins. It had to happen that way. Sin requires death. It’s all through the bible. But more importantly, Paul also knew that Christ had risen from the dead. He knew that not only because of the passion and fire inside of him that didn’t exist before but also the encounter that he had on the road to Damascus. You know the one that changed his life from Saul the Pharisee to Paul the apostle. It was a transformation that could only take place if one person died and another one had risen in his place. A transformation that Paul explains in the contrasting lists we read in his letters still today. Letters that continue to shape and mold churches all around the world if they are willing to adhere to sound biblical doctrine. Again, I would love to be able to sit and break down every verse in what we have had the privilege of reading this morning… and maybe one day that will be my job, but at this point, I still have to prepare for a work day, so I’m going to have to give a brief overview. Looking at verse 6, we can see the reason for the list that begins in verse 5 and continues in verses 8 and 9, and the explanation of what Christ did by rising from the dead, in verses 3 and 4. I love the way verse 7 puts it. It talks of a transformation that takes place when we give our lives to Christ and become bondservants to HIS will. The second half of verse 9 and continuing through verse 10 explains a little deeper what took place in the death burial and resurrection and the picture of what that looks like in a new life. We put off who we were laying down the old life of sin and picking up a new life lived with Jesus Christ as LORD. If you have been reading these SOAPS for any length of time, you know that the word LORD means shot caller. The one who makes the decisions for us. When we put our old self in the grave and rise to new life in Christ, we become empowered… a part of the family of GOD. This is where we come into the second half of Paul’s list in verse 12. I think the word meekness gets misunderstood to mean weakness, and that just is not the truth. As the years have gone by, I have had the privilege of diving deeper and deeper into the bible. Looking up definitions for words so that I can better understand exactly what it is that the LORD is telling me. The word “meekness” is actually very powerful. The word means power that is contained or under control. It does not mean a lack of power. But indicates that the meek person actually has all the power. They are just careful about when they use it. Which brings us to love. All throughout the bible, we read about this one characteristic. If it were not important. It would not be in the bible. It’s the characteristic that defines a follower of Christ. A peaceful, loving spirit. One who is willing to give it all. Just like Jesus Christ did as HE hung on the cross, knowing that many would reject HIM. Dying to HIMSELF and showing us how it’s done by rising to new life. Allowing GOD’S word to be seen as nothing but the truth. Dwelling in HIM richly. Teaching us what it looks like to live for the Father. Giving us an example of what a selfless life lived for GOD looks like.
Application:
It’s truly time to let go of who we were. It would really be nice to be able to stay here and write about GOD’S living word. Although it’s strange to say that. Because school and writing were never something I saw myself doing. Once, I truly gave my life to Christ. HE changed me. I went from living for myself to living so that others could experience the same transformation that took place in my life. I dropped out of school in the 9th grade. Sin and addiction had control of my life. You might say I had a bad case of self-will run riot and no desire to change it. Until I had an encounter with Christ, a true encounter. Where I saw exactly who I was in the light of who HE is. At that point, I knew that the way I was living was not working. Something had to be done about me. Several years ago that something was revealed to me. I needed to die, and a new man needed to take my place. But I couldn’t do that myself. If I died, it was over. There was no way to do what needed to be done. I knew the way I was living wasn’t working. I remember walking down the road shaking my fist at GOD blaming all the problems that I created on HIM (just like Adam did in the garden) begging HIM to take my life…. totally unaware that HE would do just that. HE took my life in a manner that I never saw coming. HE put that old man to death and raised me to a new life, a life that has decided to lay the old ways down. I just don’t need the things I thought I did. All I honestly need is HIM. Jesus Christ met me where I was at…. but HE did NOT leave me there. HE brought me out of my sin. Now I’m going to let you in on a little secret. It has not been an overnight process. It has taken time and constant reminders. I place my flesh in the tomb daily and decide to live for Christ. Paying attention to the lists that Paul has written and checking my life against them. It’s not an easy task, and there are still times of struggle. It’s a daily renewal. A daily effort to make each one better than the last. I am no longer a slave to sin. But a bondservant of Christ. I don’t say any of this to convince anyone. I lion does not have to tell you he is a lion. You just know. What I do have to say is that my old life is written on my skin. My new life is written on my heart and in these SOAPS. I write them to give others hope. It’s truly possible to live a life that brings glory and honor to GOD. Let HIM sanctify you through a daily renewal of HIS spirit. Let HIM shape you through the death burial and resurrection that HIS one and only son took in your place. Put off your old life, live for yourself, and pick up the life HE gave you the day HE walked out of the tomb. You are not trapped in your sin. HE have you a way out. it’s through the door of the tomb but that means you have to die to who you used to be and be reborn to who HE died to make you. The question is are you willing to put down the old identity of sin and pick up the new life in Christ.
Prayer:
Father, you have made a way. You have done what we never could. Every time I think about what you have done it takes my breath away. You have taken our old life placed it in the tomb, and raised us to a new one. Let us embrace the opportunity to live the life you have always desired for us to. We do not want our flesh to call the shots. Jesus Christ is our LORD. HE is our shot caller. Let that be evident in the way we live out the remaining days you give us here on earth. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.