This page generated some warnings.
If you're not the creator of this page, it's probably safe to ignore this.

Colossians 3:1-11

Theme: Christ has raised you to be a new creation, and is continually making you into the likeness of God and uniting together all peoples.

Aim: So live not according to the world but to Christ, no longer sinning but walking in him.

Study

  1. Recap Who is Christ and how does he fulfil all our needs?
  2. In verses 1-4, how does Paul change the Colossians’ way of thinking and why?
    • [Follow up question to be dispensed in the ripest moment] What does he also remind them of?
    • Paul encourages them by reminding them of what they have now, and what they will have in the future.
      • “raised with Christ” (3:1)
      • “Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (3:1)
      • “you life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:3)
      • “When Christ who is you life appears” (3:4)
      • “you also will appear with him in glory” (3:4)
      • [Will explore these in the following bullet points and with variousprompting questions]
    • “If then you have been raised with Christ” continues from the writings about baptism as a symbol of our death to sin and new life in Christ.
    • After writing that “with Christ you died”, Paul goes on to write that they are also resurrected with Christ, sharing in new life with him.
    • “Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”, Jesus is in full authority right now (see 1:17, 2:10) which speaks directly against the Jesus+ false teachings seen last week.
    • “your life is hidden with Christ in God”, their life is secure and their salvation cannot be taken away from them (see Romans 8:38)
    • “When Christ who is your life”, another powerful refute to false teaching and reminder that Christ is central. Jesus is their life, without him they are dead (2:13).
    • “you also will appear with him in glory”, an exhortation to seek eternal glory and imperishable treasures in heaven over earthly things. The Colossians are guaranteed glory and perfection by Christ’s work, so why focus on earthly things (thinking back to the false teaching we saw last week)
    • [Leads into application] “seek the things that are above”, “Set your minds on things that are above”, the Colossians should pursue a deeper knowledge of and relationship with Christ rather than earthly things.
      • This would look like walking in Christ (2:6), putting God above all else (Matthew 6:33), and “holding fast to the Head” (2:19)
      • Paul will go onto write about very practical ways in which the Colossians (and us) can live like Christ, which we will look at in the coming weeks (stay tuned!)
  3. In what ways can we, today, grow in our faith by setting our minds on things that are above?
    • Prioritise God above all else, i.e. go to Church, read your Bible, pray daily, talk about your faith with fellow Christians, and so on.
    • Remember the inheritance you have in heaven (1:12)
    • Don’t leave ‘Christian things’ to just a Sunday or Thursday night, make it your life, remind yourself of the gospel truths everyday.
    • Read and study the Bible one/two/n-on-one, through the week, we have brothers and sisters in Christ here to help and encourage us (2:28)
  4. [With a superb segue] Paul goes on to write very practically about how to live in a Christ-like manner. From verses 5 to 11, what are they?
    • In what ways can our attitude be changed by this?
    • How can we help each other in this?
    • Search and destroy all traces of sin in their lives.
    • Why is sin such a problem?
    • Paul gives a first list of sinful thoughts and desires, reminding them that “on account of these the wrath of God is coming”. Such things are “idolatry” and are not fitting for those united to Christ.
    • The second list is one of sinful actions, especially speech.
    • Paul writes that they have “put of the old self” (past tense) and so should not continue “with its practices”.
    • What is the ‘old self’? What was their relationship with sin before?
    • Paul reminds them that “In these you too once walked”, and urges them strongly to “put to death therefore what is earthly in you”. This is a hard challenge, because our hearts are fundamentally broken and we have a natural desire to stray from God. [Probably won’t bring this up, butthis is my understanding of original sin] The battle against sin is active and ongoing. Paul uses the strongest language for them to make the strongest effort.
  5. But by the grace of God we are not alone in this battle! What encouragements does Paul offer here?
    • “have put on the new self”, they are new creations now, raised with Christ (3:1) and freed from their record of debt (2:14).
    • “being renewed in knowledge”, God is working in them, renewing them and giving them increasing knowledge to help fight the battle against their sinful desires. He is the one giving them power and growth (2:20).
    • “after the image of its creator”, moreover God is continually making them more and more Christ-like, and so they are “filled in [Christ]” (2:10), more able to resist temptation and assured that the victory against sin has already been won on their behalf (2:13-15)
    • Paul then shows that the gospel breaks down all barriers between peoples, uniting all who are in Christ to himself. No matter who they are or where they come from, Christ is with them and working in them.
  6. How can this passage help and challenge us in our daily battle with sin?
    • We are like the Colossians in that our ‘old self’ is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are no longer like the world, consumed and caught up in earthly desires.
    • If we are in a battle with particular (perhaps recurring) sins at the moment, we can be reminded that Christ has ultimately defeated them and we are no longer bound to sin, darkness is not forever.
    • [Quick side note to encourage] Romans 8:28-29: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”, no sins we have ever done, are doing or will do are unforgivable, Jesus’ love and forgiveness goes far beyond them and we can know that we are secured in the love and saving power of Jesus.
    • But we’re not in heaven yet! Our battle with sin is very much ongoing, and requires daily motivation. We should look to God for our strength (2:19 and Psalm 46:1 (or just all of it)).
    • We can be spurred on by the complete sufficiency of Christ’s atoning death and subsequent resurrection, keeping ourselves and encouraging others.