Today’s Passage – Colossians 1 – 4; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click hereto view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read the 1213 Evening and Morning devotion from the late Charles Spurgeon.
“1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
The background information for Colossians and Philemon both involve the church at Colosse. Philemon was a member of the church there and even opened up his home as a meeting place for the church. The two letters are very different in their purpose. Colossians is written to a church and is both doctrinal as well as practical. Philemon is very personal, written primarily to encourage reconciliation between Onesimus, who was a runaway servant from Colosse who was gloriously saved in Rome, and Philemon. Both of these letters deal with the same geographical area and the same people.
It is apparent from the text (Colossians 1:4; 1:9; 2:1) that Paul had never been to the city of Colosse, which is strange because it is not too far from Ephesus (about 100 or so miles) where Paul spent 3 years. (Acts 20:31) Interestingly the name Colosse appears only once in the entire Bible. (Colossians 1:2) Even more interesting is that the nearby city of Laodicea is named five times in this letter.
Colosse was located in Asia Minor in an area known as Phrygia. It is about 100 or so miles east of Ephesus, and about 100 or so miles north of the Mediterranean Sea. It was 10 miles from Laodicea, and 13 miles from Hierapolis, which are both mentioned in the letter. Both of these cities were to receive this letter to the church at Colosse and also share a letter back to Colosse that was written to Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16)
At one time Colosse was an important city with a large population. It was located in an area that connected the markets of the Far East with the markets of Europe. It was known for a particular kind of purple wool called colossinus that was in demand around the world. As time went on, however, Laodicea became the prominent city and Colosse eventually faded off the scene. Only ruins are left today of both cities. It is probable that both cities were eventually destroyed by a series of earthquakes.
Thoughts from the Passage
First of all, we see that this is written to believers: “if ye then be risen with Christ.” Positionally, Christians are seen as crucified with Christ (“for ye are dead” – v. 3) and have also identified with Him in His resurrection:
Notice in the remaining verses that believers are to “mortify” (Νεκρώσατε from νεκρόω – nekroō, meaning to make dead or deprive of power) some things (vs. 5 – 7).
1 fornication
2 uncleanness – mortal impurity
3 inordinate affection – translated vile affection in Romans 1:26, homosexuality
4 evil concupiscence – lust
5 covetousness, which is idolatry:
They are also to “put off” (ἀπόθεσθε from ἀποτίθημι – apotithēmi, meaning to lay aside or cast off) some things (vs. 8 – 11). The things that we are to remove are things that are inconsistent with who we are in Christ and what we will be in Heaven. Paul is merely stating that if you will not see these characteristics and sinful actions in Heaven, you should strive to get rid of them now. You can do these things because when you were saved, “9b … you have put off the old man with his deeds. “10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:9b – 10)
1 anger
2 wrath
3 malice – depravity, maliciousness, wickedness
4 blasphemy
5 filthy communication – vile conversation
6 lying
We are not only supposed to get rid of some things, we are also to replace them with some heavenly things. Vs. 12 – 17 tell us that we are to “put on” (Ἐνδύσασθε from ἐνδύω – endyō, which has the idea of putting on clothing or wearing something) some things.
1 bowels of mercies – mercy, compassion
2 kindness
3 humbleness of mind
4 meekness
5. longsuffering
6. forbearing one another
7 forgiving one another
8 charity
9 let peace rule (v. 15)
10 let the Word dwell in you (v. 16)
11 sing the songs of God (v. 16)
12 do all in the name of Christ (v. 17)
Supporting Verses:
“17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Today’s Passage – Revelation 16 – 19 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click…
Today's Passages - Revelation 11 - 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click…
Today’s Passage – Revelation 4 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the…
Today’s Passage – Jude – Revelation 3 (Click on the references to listen to the…
If you missed the Christmas Eve Candlelight service from last night, you can click here…
Today’s Passage – 2 Peter 3 - 1 John 3; (Click on the references to listen…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
Amen Pastor. The closer we get to God the further we get from the world. like the post.
we need to be closer to god. god leads us in the direction of what needs to be done.
Amen Pastor. A lot of good practical learning applications that we can apply to our Christian life in our daily walk with the Lord to
Ward off the temptation of this world.like the post.
Great message!