MR. D'S NOTES ON COLOSSIANS
COPYRIGHT 2002
Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.
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CHAPTER FIVE
5. CHRIST OUR LIFE
Christ our Life is our purpose in service (vs. 4-17)
Col. 3.1-17
Remember the television show "THIS IS YOUR LIFE?”
Ralph Edwards the master of ceremony would come on stage holding a large book. He would
introduce the show while the camera panned over the audience. As the camera would begin to
focus on the surprise guest the MC would say "This is your life ___________ ."
Then after the guest is revived the guest is seated on the stage in a nice comfortable couch. They
would then introduce different people from the guests past to make up a brief life history of the guest.
As these guests of the 1950s were surprised so shall we be one day when God says "this is your
life" and begins to examine our life's works.
If we follow the admonition of our text, we will have no embarrassing people showing up in our
"this is your life" program.
Let me just list some of those items briefly.
First a couple of do's
KEEP SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE
SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE
And of course some don'ts put in do packages.
PUT TO DEATH IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, PASSION, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED
PUT ASIDE ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, SLANDER, AND ABUSIVE SPEECH
The whole section is summed up in the phrase from verse four "Christ Who is our life" There is
another section of things that we are to put on (do's).
Let's read through the first portion of the passage.
Vs. 1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God."
Vs. 2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
Vs. 3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Vs. 4 "When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
Vs. 5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
This text has many implications for the local assembly as well as for the individual, however I
want to concentrate on the individuals relationship with Christ. You can do a study for yourself
relating to the persons’ relationship to the church.
If you have been raised with Christ, if you are born again, if you have accepted Christ, if you are
truly a believer, then SEEK things above and SET your mind on things above.
Why should we concentrate on these two items? BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE CHRIST IS
AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR "CHRIST WHO IS YOUR LIFE"
- you have died and have been raised with him. We are to treat ourselves as though we are there
even if our old body is holding us here on earth for a time.
Seek, set, put to death, put aside, and put on are not words of insignificance. There are some
today that would teach us that when we accept Christ we are zapped into holy purity. No! You
have to do it. You don't eat your sugar flavored zappies one morning and get your zap of holy.
You must consciously do these things.
The term "seek" is a general term for looking for or going after something with great seriousness.
It would seem to be the thought of committing yourself to this seeking with a purpose of
completion in mind.
The phrase "Christ Who is our life" really ought to grab and keep our attention. It is a bold
statement of the Christian life. Just sit and contemplate the phrase this week.
Paul states this as a fact to the folks he was writing to. This included the mature and the
immature - all should understand that this fact should be present in their lives.
The meaning of the phrase might fall along the following lines.
1. Without Him we would have no eternal life. We would all be bound for hell and torment.
2. Without Him we would have no physical life. He sustains all creation.
3. Without Him we would have no meaning in life. Without Christ to serve what goals can we
have? None except material goals for this life. It is no wonder people in America are bored,
depressed, self centered, self serving, despondent and suicidal - they have no goals or aims in life
save material possessions.
4. Without Him we would not have peace of life. I often wonder how lost people face the trials of
life - the loss of loved ones - war - loss of job/retirement etc.
Is this phrase a truth in your life today? Is He really your life? Our lives must merge with His to
be truly effective for Him and His plan for our lives.
Now, that we understand this phrase better do Paul's words to the Philippians make more sense to
you? "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
"Christ’s who is our life" - "to live is Christ"
With this concept in mind Paul walked across geography and history preaching Christ to
everyone he could. With this concept he endured persecution, with this concept he endured
beatings, with this concept he endured jail, and with this concept he faced everything the Devil
could throw at him.
With this concept surely we can face those particular little problems facing us from time to time.
Christ who is our life. Decide on it. Allow it. Live it. Continue in it.
Forenoon and afternoon and night, --
And day is gone, --
So short a span of time thee is
'twixt dawn and evensong.
Youth, - middle life, - old age, -
And life is past, --
So live each day that God shall say,
"Well done!" at last.
Edward Rowland Sill
So love your life, that when Ralph Edwards says "This is your life" - all they have to do is present
a portrait of Jesus Christ your Savior.
Christ is our life.
Vs. 1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God."
If ye is a first class condition - if and assumed so. Why in the world do we seek the world and
what if offers, when we can seek and have all that Christ offers in heaven?
Vs. 2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
It is said that a woman told Ralph Waldo Emerson that the world was coming to an end - he
replied that he could get along quite well without it. That is the concept we need to have -
nothing here we can't get along without.
Vs. 3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
YOU AIN'T HERE - can you get it? We are and all we are is in Christ in God, in heaven. What
in the world is the draw of the world? Why do we allow the world to pull us away from all that
God is and all that He has for us?
Vs. 4 "When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
Vs. 5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Think about “mortify your members.” What does that mean - count them dead? That is the
thought of the word - treat them as dead - not that we are to walk around with our limbs like
spaghetti, but possibly, when we are tempted we are to treat them as if they are in a heap on the
floor - that way we won't get into trouble. You can't do any of these things because you are a
heap on the floor unable to get up.
In relation to "and covetousness, which is idolatry" you might consider Matt. 6.24 which states
that you can't serve God AND mammon - simple - serving mammon is idolatry.
Vs. 6 "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
Vs. 7 "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."
The Colossians were living in a society where these things were probably more prevalent than we
encounter, but most of us would have to admit that in our unsaved days we too were involved in
some of these problems mentioned in the text.
Vs. 8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication
out of your mouth."
Note that anger is listed with "filthy communication" - guess that might be a reminder to contain
our anger. Put them off - seems they are kind of natural for us even as believers, but we are to put
them off - stop allowing them to have residence in our lives.
Vs. 9 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"
Hummm. A believer that lies to another believer - not a pleasant item to contemplate, though it
happens all to often in the church today.
Vs. 10 "And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him:"
Vs. 11 "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all."
It would seem Paul is trying to say, and does so quite effectively, that there is no class within the
church - all have value to God and we are all His children - that should be the standard of
treatment within the church.
This has been the basis of many unpopular decisions in churches. We had a friend in Nebraska
that was approached by a mixed marriage couple seeking membership. It caused great upset to
many I his church. He and the board settled on this passage and accepted the couple into the
church membership. Some, sadly did not accept the pastor's and board's position.
As my friend was telling me this it crossed my mind - what would have happened had Faith and I
presented ourselves for membership - a Swede and an Englishman. How dare we allow such
things into the Lord's church.
Vs. 12 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
Vs. 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."
It is interesting that Paul contrasts quarrels between people to Christ's forgiveness of us or in
short our quarrel with God - that is what sin is - an argument with God.
Back to the thought of church unity. Paul tells us how.
Kindness
Humbleness of mind
Meekness
Longsuffering
Forbearing one another
Forgiving one another
If all in a church considered these before raising a ruckus we would have a lot less church problems.
Vs. 14 "And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Charity - love and in the next verse "let the peace of God rule in your hearts" - these items are a
must when hard times come in a church. Love and peace are to be a part of our lives - of our
church lives.
1. Realize it is a possibility in hard times - we can have peace.
2. Realize it won't be a surprise when you tell God about your problem.
3. Realize that the key is to give it to God.
I Pet. 5.7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Any crisis in our life is within God's plan and this also can be of great encouragement to us.
Vs. 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."
Vs. 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."
Vs. 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."
Another long list of items to assist us in bringing unity to the assembly.
Let peace of God rule
Be thankful (even for those that differ with you)
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you
Wisdom
Teaching and admonishing one another
Grace in your hearts
Do all in the name of Christ
Can you be too holy of mind? Someone is going to say something like this - you call for so much
holiness you won't remember to witness. You can't go over board on being holy. You have to do
all of it. You have to witness even if you aren't too holy. Don't put all your time and thought into
heavenly things bring your mind down to witness etc.
My answer: Holiness never interfered with Christ's ministry to others. He lived this life perfectly
- without sin, yet He was a wonderful witness to all that He met. Can you be too holy to be of use
in this life - never.
Be preoccupied with Christ.
1. Realize this text is in the Bible and aimed at us. It is our duty to use it - to obey it.
2. Set heavenly goals and set aside earthly goals. Our daily walk will reveal where our goals are
set. Earthly ambition and desire to produce in the worldly realm reveals worldly goals. A desire
to do God's work and walk with Him will reveal heavenly goals.
3. Begin the day with a promise from God to be considered all day as you find a spare moment. I
can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ. Phil. 4.13 God will supply all that I
need. Phil. 4.19 Jesus gives me peace of mind and heart. Jo. 14.27
4. One author has suggested that Christians play a game. GINBSE That's "Guess I'll never be
spiritual enough" - YOU ARE AS SPIRITUAL AS YOU WILL LET GOD MAKE YOU. There
is nothing from without that will keep us from being spiritual giants. Only our saying no to God's
working in our lives.
5. Pray without ceasing. Fritz Ridenour in his book "HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN AN
UNCHRISTIAN WORLD" gave this phrase a new perspective in my mind. He was not
commenting on that phrase when he made the comments but was trying to get the point across
that we should pray in spite of everything. He says we should "pray for it, because of it, about it,
through it, around it or in spite of it."
For it - request
Because of it - trials and hard times
About it - asking about all facets of it and finding God's answer
Though it - continuing till it is complete not just till you tire of it
Around it - every aspect - don't leave an avenue of request untrod
In spite of it - don't let the prayer get you down if it remains unanswered for a time
This gives "pray without ceasing" a new angle of view. DON'T STOP UNTIL THE JOB IS COMPLETED.
6. Be careful what kind of programming you give your brain. Computers are programmed and
our brains tend to be programmed as well. Beware what goes into your mind from day to day. If
all that goes in is trash then all God is going to get out of you is GARBAGE.
7. Set your sights on your goal that you've set and do not waver from it. If you do waver from it
then get back on track and continue. The torpedoes of the second world War had a feedback
mechanism which constantly reset the course of the torpedo. We do have things which sidetrack
us but we need to use God's Word to get us back on track.
8. Reading and studying as often as you can will help you fill your mind with heavenly thoughts
and information.
9. Pray as often as you can.
10. Be involved in church activities - all of them.
11. Fellowship with other believers.
12. Include Christ in all you do.
The text wants us to think of Christ sitting on the throne beside the Father. Picture that scene if
you can for a moment. The glorious throne of God, and Jesus seated beside Him.
Now place yourself in that scene.
Now realize that is where you are positionaly in the spiritual realm.
Now realize that is where we can be anytime we decide to pray.
Consider: What was the worst thing you did last week? God watched you every moment. Apply
that to the next time you want to step over the line of right and wrong.
Where are your goals? Are they bound in heaven or are they bound in things of this life?
If we realize what Christ wants of us, our natural response is to serve Him in anyway that we
possibly can to the very best that we can.
Christ who is our life.
Now I don't want to get into do's and don'ts, but would "Christ who is our life" allow for the following?
Swearing
Drinking
Adultery
Theft
Speeding
Lying
Half truths
Backbiting
Gossip
Sleeping in on Sunday
Most of what is on television
Off color books/magazines
Materialism
Covetousness
Would "seek those things which are above" allow for the following?
Swearing
Drinking
Adultery
Theft
Speeding
Lying
Half truths
Backbiting
Gossip
Sleeping in on Sunday
Most of what is on television
Off color books/magazines
Materialism
Covetousness