Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20070722.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Colossians: Maturing Over False Beliefs By Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency
Part IX: Applying Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency To Godly Living
B. Using Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency For Godly Daily Living
(Colossians 3:5-15)
  1. Introduction
    1. If we are called of God to live above man's vain philosophies (Col. 2:8-10), legalism (Col. 2:11-17), mysticism (Col. 2:18-19) and asceticism (Col. 2:20-21), we may wonder what kind of life that entails.
    2. Paul described it in Colossians 3:5-15 as follows:
  2. Using Christ's Supreme All-Sufficiency For Godly Daily Living, Colossians 3:5-15.
    1. In setting our affection on things above, we must abandon the sin nature's acts, Colossians 3:2-4, 5-11:
      1. If we set our affection on our supreme, all-sufficient Savior in heaven, and our hope of sharing in His glory one day by God's grace (Colossians 3:2-4), we must abandon the sin nature's acts, Col. 3:5a.
      2. In doing so, a list of evil deeds and orientations will be abandoned as follows (Colossians 3:5b-9):
        1. We will abandon "sexual immorality" (NIV, ESV), Colossians 3:5b.
        2. We will abandon "impurity" (NIV, ESV), or all perverted kinds of sins (akatharsia, U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966 ed., p. 699; Theological Dictionary of the N. T. , vol. III, p. 429; Col. 3:5c.
        3. We will abandon "lust" (NIV) or "passion" (ESV), Colossians 3:5d.
        4. We will abandon "evil desire(s)," Colossians 3:5e NIV, ESV.
        5. We will abandon "greed" (NIV) or "covetousness" (ESV, KJV) which is idolatry, Colossians 3:5f.
        6. We will abandon unjust, premeditated anger (orgay, Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T.; Ibid., T. D. N. T., vol. V, p. 419; Colossians 3:8a.
        7. We will abandon outbursts of anger (thumos), Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T.; Ibid., T. D. N. T.; 3:8b.
        8. We will abandon "malice," Colossians 3:8c NIV, ESV, KJV.
        9. We will abandon "blasphemy" (KJV) or "slander" (NIV, ESV), Colossians 3:8d.
        10. We will abandon "filthy" (KJV, NIV) or "obscene" (ESV) talk, Colossians 3:8e.
        11. We will abandon lying to one another, Colossians 3:9a NIV, ESV, KJV.
        12. These vices are all those for which God's wrath will come on the world (Col. 3:6), they are from the believer's pre-salvation days (Col. 3:7), so they have no part in the believer's new life in Christ.
    2. In setting our affection on things above, we must cleave to the Holy Spirit's actions, Col. 3:3-4, 10-15:
      1. If we set our affection on our supreme, all-sufficient Savior, and our hope of sharing in His glory by God's grace (Col. 3:2-4), we must put on the new man, relying on the Spirit, Col. 3:10 with Gal. 5:16.
      2. In doing so, a list of godly deeds and orientations will typify our actions, Colossians 3:10-15:
        1. We will put on "bowels of mercies" (KJV), an idiom for "compassion" (ESV, NIV), Col. 3:10-12a.
        2. We will put on "kindness" (KJV, NIV, ESV), Colossians 3:12b.
        3. We will put on "humility" (NIV, ESV), Colossians 3:12c.
        4. We will put on "mild and gentle friendliness" (prautays, Ibid., U. B. S. Greek N. T., p. 700; Ibid., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. VI, p. 646; Colossians 3:12d.
        5. We will put on the capacity to hold out patiently under trial (makrothumia, Ibid., U. B. S. Greek New Testament; Robert C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, p. 196.
        6. We will bear with one another and forgive one another as God has forgiven us, Col. 3:13. [This forgiveness should come only following a true repentance by the wrongdoer, cf. Matthew 3:6-9.]
        7. We will put on love that makes everything harmonious in the Church body, Colossians 3:14 ESV.
        8. We will let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts as a body, Colossians 3:15a.
        9. We will be thankful to the Lord, Colossians 3:15b.
Lesson: A godly life lived above the false spiritualities of vain human philosophies, legalism, mysticism and asceticism will abandon our pre-salvation lifestyle to adhere to the godly lifestyle of the Holy Spirit.

Application: May we live by means of the Spirit to live apart from sin and adhere to the love, gentleness, kindness, longsuffering, harmoniousness, peacefulness and thankfulness so characteristic of godliness.