"LIVE TO PLEASE GOD"

I ask you this: "Why is it important to seek those things which are above' and to set your affections on things above'?"

To "seek" and "set your affection on" heavenly things are two separate, but similar, commands. In obeying these commands, both our emotions and our intellect are involved. If we are to live above the desires of the world, we cannot continue to dwell on them with our minds. If we do, we will be drawn back into the world's system. As believers, we must make the things of God our goal and our desire.

Spiritual things need to dominate our thinking. When our minds and our emotions are set on the things of God. But we cannot allow these messages to become a part of our thinking. We can only live a victorious life by maintaining a thought life that is consistent with God's Word.

B. Revealed With Christ

Col. 3:3,4 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (KJV)

Because of our new life in Christ, we are dead to our old way of living. Everything that is contrary to Christ's nature is to be destroyed and stamped out from our lives. Paul describes our position in Christ as being hidden "with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). We are living our Christian lives in the spiritual realm, not the earthly realm.

The true nature of our lives is not obvious to everyone. The things of God are still secret --- invisible --- to those in the world. But when Christ appears, we will appear with Him in glory of our spiritual life.

Moral Purity

A. Be Sexually Pure

Col. 3:5-9 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" (KJV)

Our new life in Christ demands that we live a godly lifestyle. Because we are dead to our way of living, we are obligated to make sure certain aspects of our life are put to death. In Colossians 3:5 and 8, Paul listed several of these aspects.

I ask you this: "If we are already ‘dead to sin' (Rom. 6:2), why do we need to put to death these aspects of our old life?"

Sanctification has a twofold aspect. We stand sanctified (made completely holy) before God at salvation, yet there is a process of sanctification (being separated from evil) that is a daily part of Christian living. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we ensure that sin does not reign in our lives any longer (verse 12). If our old life is really dead, then we must cooperate with God in putting to death the sins of that old life.

In Colossians 3:5, the word "mortify" is a strong word. It does not mean that we are to simply suppress or control evil actions or attitudes; we are to completely wipe them out. The decision to destroy sins is to be decisive and accomplished with a sense of urgency. Sin is nothing to be taken lightly. It has to be dealt with harshly.

Four of the five sins listed in verse 5 are sexual sins. But even covetousness (greed) can be sexual. These sins describe the cultivating and indulging of physical passions with no regard to ethics or spirituality. Sexual intimacy can be used as a tool for selfish gratification or a weapon to hurt others.

Allowing our passions to control us puts passion on the throne of our lives. When we do this, we are committing idolatry --- we are worshiping something other than God. It is because of these sins that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient to God (verse 6). Believers who lived this way in the past are not to live this way any longer ( verse 7).

B. Renew Your Inner Being

Col.3:10,11 "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." (KJV)

In Colossians 3:10, Paul continued his metaphor of the Christian life in relationship to clothing. Just as we were to "put off" the old sinful nature, we are to "put on" the new nature which is being formed in the image of God.

I ask you this: "How can we be renewed after the image of God?"

The more we know God, the more we take on the characteristics of godly life. The knowledge of God comes from a daily study of God's Word and spending time in His presence in prayer. God's Word will help us know His character, and in prayer, God can speak to us concerning appropriate Christian behavior. As we cooperate with God's re-creating work in our lives, He cleanses us from the moral impurity of our earthly nature. We then become like Him.

Paul also declared that in Christ, all are equal (verse 11). There are no distinctions on the basis of color, former religious background, national origin, or social or economic class. We relate to all Christians as we relate to Christ in them. Discrimination based on race or class is as much a form of moral impurity as lust, greed, or malice.

Social Responsibilities

A. Display Christian Graces

Col. 3:12-14 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God. Holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of min, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." (KJV)

Moral purity is only part of living a God-pleasing life. Godly people genuinely care for others. They put the best interests of others first. All the virtues of the godly life Paul listed in Colossians 3:12 and 13 have one common characteristic. They all require us to give up selfish insistence on our own rights. We are to resolve the grievances we have with each other by making the simple but difficult choice to forgive.

I ask you this: "How can Paul's teaching in these verses help us in our relationship with other believers in our church?"

Paul concluded his list of Christian qualities by emphasizing love as the "bond of perfectness" (verse 14). Love is like a belt that holds the garment together. Without love, none of these Christian qualities will be effective. But with love, these qualities will strengthen the fellowship and unity in any church. When we begin to adhere to Paul's admonition to these believers, we will promote the love and unity that is needed in our church.

B. Demonstrate Christlike Actions

Col.3:15-4:1 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 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. 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. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as ye serve the Lord Christ. MASTERS, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven." (KJV)

One of the results of being a new person in Christ is peace. Some take Colossians 3:15 as an addition to verse 14. This makes peace a quality that is exhibited in the church because of the love for others. Others believe verse 15 begins a new thought and is referring to peace as an inner quality because of one's relationship with Christ. Either way, peace is to have the rule in our lives.

Believers are not only to work on relationships with each other, they are also called to minister to one another. In Colossians 3:16,17 Paul exhorted believers to be an encouragement to others through spiritual ministry. And whatever we do, it should be to bring glory to God (verse 18).

The love that Paul proclaimed in verse 14 is also to be demonstrated in our daily activities outside of the church (3:18 through 4:1). Love is to be the motivating factor in our relationships at home and at work.

Apppropriate Behavior

A. Be Devoted To Prayer

Col. 4:2-4 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (KJV)

Following his practical application of the principles of responsible behavior, Paul returned to his description of the appropriate behavior of a holy community. The community is to be "devoted" to prayer --- making prayer a constant part of their life together. Prayer is to be continual, active, thankful (Colossians 4:2). Our consciousness of all we have to be thankful for stimulates us to more earnest prayer.

I ask you this: "Why is it important that we ask God to open opportunities to proclaim the gospel?"

In his instruction concerning prayer, Paul took this opportunity to ask them to pray for him as he spread the gospel. Paul realized that not everyone had heard the gospel. And he wanted to be effective in his proclamation of it's message, even from prison.

There are many today who have never heard a clean presentation of the gospel. Some countries are even closed to the preaching of the gospel. We can pray that God would open the doors for the message to be proclaimed in an effective manner to those who need to hear its message.

B. Be Effective Witnesses

Col. 4:5,6 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (KJV)

Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him as he spread the gospel to the world. In this way, he made the transition from his discussion of appropriate behavior in front of other Christians to a brief discussion of the appropriate behavior in front of those who were not believers. The Colossian church was Christ's witness in their community. They could not allow their testimony to become tarnished by wrong behavior by any of their members.

I ask you this: "How can we be effective witnesses in our community?"

Paul commanded these believers to "walk in wisdom" toward the unsaved in their community (Colossians 4:5). To be effective witnesses, we need to be alert to the impact of our behavior on the unbelievers around us. Many unbelievers have wrong ideas about Christians and their behavior. Perhaps they have seen believers who have not lived in a way that honors Christ. But our lives are to be lived in such a way that these ideas are proved to be wrong.

When we redeem the time, we will take every opportunity to witness to those around us. Our lives and testimonies are effective tools in witnessing. And many who are lost will respond to our godly living.

Our speech is to also portray God's grace in our lives. Our witness is not to be harsh, but attractive to those around us. We are not to dilute our witness to where it is not effective. Our speech is to be "seasoned with salt," being gracious to all who hear us.

Our witness will also declare our allegiance to the truth of the gospel in every situation. In this way, our words, like our behavior, can have the maximum impact for Christ. And we will be able to answer anyone who ask about our faith in Christ.

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