Colossians 3, a study of living a true Christian life.

Here is the chapter, from the ESV. I read it also in the KJV but many of the words used we do not use today. My own research has shown me that the ESV makes the chapter understandable with out taking away the impact of the words.

Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Col 3:6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Col 3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Col 3:11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Col 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Col 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Col 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Col 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Col 3:22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Col 3:25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

This entire chapter packs a punch of what a Christian is to live like. It is not easy to be human and a Christian. Looking at the intro, Paul says that Christ IS our life. Think about what that means. We know we are told to die to self, but here putting on Christ becomes real. We are to become Christ to the world. Not just Christ like, this says Christ is our life. That is more than just trying to be an imitator of Christ. Yes the phrase what would Jesus do has become common place, and easy to ignore. This however brings it to the front. What ever we do, needs to be something Christ would do.

Once Paul stresses this point, he begins on the what we are to leave behind list. We see this list also in Galatians 5 where Paul again tells us not to have these things in our lives.

Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I know for my self I am prone to anger. Not fighting over nothing anger. Usually it is about something serious. God's word being abused, hurts done to others and such. What many would call righteous indignation I suppose. However Paul says to leave it behind. Christ tells us to be angry and sin not so it is possible to have “good” anger. The problem comes in I think when we act on it. Do we work to fix the issue with caring or rail at the cause? Christ got angry and when He did He did something about it. He got angry at the money lenders and turned over their tables in God's house. To me this illustrates how God's buildings should be used. Not as places of business, but solely for the times of worship. That is just me and I will not go into a church with a coffee shop or books shop and begin tearing things up. I just avoid churches that have those things. They are not forbidden, it just seems to me the example of them is not biblical. Again let me stress, that is just ME and MY opinion.

I find it interesting that Paul says specifically that we are not to lie to one another. I just can not fathom the idea of Christians lying to one another. I detest lying in all its forms. I admit curiosity in wondering what they lied to each other about...

Next he reminds us that there is no other label we are to have other than Christian. There is no Jew, or Greek or what ever. Just Christians. I find this interesting. As a Christian it does not matter if I am German or Italian. It does not matter what religious name I adopt. The only label that matters to God is the one of my Faith. Christian. This again speaks to me that Christianity is not a religion. (Eph 4) Webster says Faith and religion are interchangeable.

The next session Paul tells us about the attitude we should have. We are to be humble, loving, compassionate. I have noticed this is stressed in many places. This is important. Why? Well you see there is a quote that fits here, it is not from the Bible but it fits in here.

“The self-righteous messenger spoils the message. “ Let that soak in for a second. Have you ever had a Christian come up and demand you give attention? Ever seen the crazy folks yelling the end is coming and getting in the faces of passersby? Where is the quiet, humble spirit Paul says we are to have? The same goes for those who are so convinced they are right they will not seriously study to see if they are. They may know verses to back up their position, but memorization is not study. I do not believe there are hidden messages in the Bible. God wants us to know His will. He would not make it difficult. Therefore I believe God put down what He meant and meant what He allowed to be put down.

In 3:17 we have the pivotal point. The crux of the matter.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wow. Poke. Did you say that bad word when you broke your favorite mug? More id you think that word? Did you pass on that juicy tidbit about whoever? Are these things Christ would want His name on?

1 Cor 10:31 makes the point even more clear.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Poke. Did you clean the commode today? Did you grumble over the task or did you do it with a joyful heart? Notice how we are often told to rejoice, we are never told to be sad or grumbly.

This last section Paul tell us how we should act in our personal relationships.

My favorite part of this last section is this verse. Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

If we really took this to heart and did this can you imagine the difference in the world today?

I will leave you dear reader with this thought. In your daily life, I challenge you to stop and think as you do your normal stuff. What can I do to make this glorify God? At the grocery, can I brighten some one's day? At home can I give thanks for the mess that I have to clean up every day?

I almost split this post into 2 different ones but I could not fine a good break point.

Hugs dear readers