5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Interesting Words
raise up with
(συνεγείρω – Greek) – sunegeiró ► verb: from with (sun) and waken (egeiró), to rouse in company with (figuratively) to revivify (spirtually) in resemblance to, rise with – Eph 2:6; Col 2:12;
keep seeking
(ζητέω – Greek) – zéteó ► verb: to seek,
(specially, by Hebraism) to worship (God), desire, endeavour, present tense, continuous imparative – Matt 6:33; Luke 11:9-10; John 4:23; Phil 2:20-21;
set your mind
(φρονέω – Greek) – phroneó ► verb: to think, exercise the mind, have an opinion, interest oneself in – Mark 8:33; Rom 8:5, 12:3; Phil 2:2, 5-6;
hidden
(κρύπτω – Greek) – kruptó ► verb: (Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, completed action with lasting results) to hide, conceal (properly, by covering), keep secret – Matt 5:14, 11:25, 13:44;
consider as dead
laid aside
(ἀπεκδύομαι – Greek) – apekduomai ► verb – aorist particple middle (point in time), to disarm, despoil, put off, spoil, divest oneself completely – Col 2:15; used only twice in NT, here in Colossians.
put on
(ἐνδύω – Greek) – enduo ► verb: aorist particple middle (point in time), to put on, clothe, endue, array – Matt 6:25; Mark 1:6; Luke 12:22-23, 24:49;
renewed
(ἀνακαινόω – Greek) – anakainoó ► verb: to renovate, renew [from (ἀνά – each) and a derivative of (καινός – new)], present participle middle or passive – 2Cor 4:16; used only twice in NT, here and in Colossians.
Cross References
▪︎ Remember where you came from – Eph 2:12;
▪︎ Put on the armor of light – Rom 13:12-13;
▪︎ Put on the Lord Jesus Christ – Rom 13:14;
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1. How does this section build on Paul’s message from chapters 1 and 2? (Whats the therefore there for?)
▪︎ For the hope of the gospel promised, and the expected fruit that’s coming – Col 1:5-6, 13, 23;
▪︎ We are praying for you to walk worthy and for this expected revival – Col 1:9, 10, 2:6-7;
▪︎ Strengthened with all power and steadfastness – Col 1:11-12;
▪︎ Because of who Christ is… creator, sustainer, savior and head of the church – Col 1:16, 17-18, 2:2, 9-10, 19;
▪︎ It is this mystery hidden for ages, but now being revealed to us – Col 1:26;
▪︎ For this we labor according to His power working in us – Col 1:29;
▪︎ We were dead in sin – Col2:13-14;
▪︎ Christ having disarmed evil rulers – Col 2:15;
▪︎ Compared to legalistic attempts to control the flesh – Col 2:23;
2. What is the process that Christians go through as we grow in our walk with God?
▪︎ Christ has done it all, everything needed to live… death of self, buried, raised with Him, hidden with Him in God. We can rest in this (trust). – Col 3:1, 2-3;
▪︎ When the end finally comes, and Christ is revealed, we will be revealed with Him Col 3:4;
▪︎ Based on the above facts, we need to take action in accordance with them and mortify (kill based on calvary) our fleshly self, subdue the flesh by faith (Col 3:5, 9-10), not with man made rules and laws (Col 2:20-21, 23). Kill it; don’t cage it.
▪︎ Put on your new self, Spirit fueled, Christ controlled, new man – Col 3:10;
▪︎ Continually be renewed through the indwelling Holy Spirit, in the inner man
3. Compare Col 3:5 (consider) to Rom 6:11-12 (reckon, in KJV). How are these two processes similar and how are the different?
▪︎ The two are very close… Col = kill it; Rom = consider it to be dead.
▪︎ Col = mortify, put to death, consider it to be dead
▪︎ Rom = consider in your mind, as you speak to yourself in faith, relate the facts that you are dead to sin, and alive to God. Remember, you are “in Christ”, a new creature, living with the Spirit, speaking to each other in the middle voice.
▪︎ Moving from Romans to Colossians, think of yourself as dead to sin in your mind; then, if sin rears it’s ugly head, proceed to take more drastic action, (e.g. Matt 5:30; Mark 9:45, 47;)
4. What part of this growth is from God and what part is our responsibility?
▪︎ Some would say we are both responsible.
▪︎ Man is responsible to make right decision about salvation and if he fails at that point, he is lost and responsible his lost condition. Man in incapable of correctly choosing God.
▪︎ If Man does choose correctly, it has to be because God has intervened and drawn that person to Him (John 6:44); consequentially, God gets all the credit, praise, and glory.
▪︎ Similarly, Spiritual growth cannot be accomplished by man alone. It requires God’s complete involvement, the flesh can do nothing (John 15:4-5; Rom 7:19-20;)
▪︎ In any case, God will not override man’s will and force us to grow. We must desire a good relationship with Him.
▪︎ God is to receive all the glory for every good thing done in our bodies.
5. List evil activities described in Col 3:5-6, 7-9 by priority, based your own personal pattern of temptation.
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6. What alternative does Paul offer to this lifestyle?
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7. Why are these alternatives important to our well being?
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