When one studies the book of Colossians he is impressed with the idea of who a person is to be when he becomes a Christian. In chapter 2:12 the student will find that a person is “buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him” (2:12). Thus we are “in Christ” and are a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are now in pursuit of being a Christian; we are becoming the kind of person Christ wants us to become. Let us notice and think about what that involves from Colossians chapter 3.
First we must have a plan. The chapter begins by discussing our position. We are risen with Him. We have been buried and raised with Him and are now a new creature. We are seeking to do what would please Him with whom we have been risen. We now need a plan.
The second pursuant point is one of planning. Verse one tells us to “seek” and verse 2 lets us know we are “set our affection on things above.” If we are going to seek we must have a plan. If we are going to “set” something we must have a plan. What are your plans for seeking and setting? Most have no idea of where they are going spiritually. We need a plan. As we are about to begin a New Year let us contemplate our position and plan on continuing to live the Christian life. If we want to go to heaven we must make our plans; we must set ourselves on going there. We find as we study this chapter how to do that very thing.
We find that in the New King James Version of verse 5 that we are to “put to death” certain sins from our life. The sins listed are desires of the flesh. They are five in number listed here; fornication which is a broad term dealing with sexual desires that are not lawful. Uncleanness can deal with physical and moral impurity according to Vine’s Dictionary. This may have to deal with moral impurity in this case. Passion in mentioned next and has to deal with desires and in this case evil desires. The fourth thing mentioned that we are to put to death is of evil desires or evil concupiscence in the King James Version. It has to deal with evil lust. The last mentioned thing that one is to put to death is that of covetousness which is idolatry. Covetousness is the idea of wanting more and getting the thing desired through extortion. This is also according to Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words.
We also find not only things we are put to death but also some things which we are to “put off.” We begin finding these attitudes in verses eight and nine. They are anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and finally we not to lie to one another. Anger needs to be controlled. We find that when we are angry we are not to sin (Ephesians 4:26). Our anger needs to be controlled. Most of the time when we are angry we are out of control with our temper that is the time we might sin. Wrath seems to be more intense than anger, so here is a place as we pursue Christianity we must not go. We cannot then go to Malice which is in the same line as the above and has to deal with viciousness. Next we are to put off blasphemy which is speaking to cause injury to someone. And then we are not to allow filthy communication come out of our mouth. This is curse words and may include euphemisms. Of course one would think that a Christian would always tell the truth because all liars have a place in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8).
Next as one pursues Christianity we find that once he has taken off these things there are a number of things that he is to “put on.” Those things that we are to “put on” are: bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, we are to forbear with one another and forgive. We also are to put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Notice the difference between the things that we are to “put off” and what we are to “put on.” When discussing them there is a difference of the sound of these attributes; one is harsh the other is soothing. The things that we are to “put off” sounds harsh even in the reading of them but the things that a Christian is to “put on” is soothing. Let us work on these things that a Christian is to “put on” all the days of our life. This will make the person pursuing Christianity more Christ like.
Next we find in our pursuit of Christianity something for the psalms that we are to sing. Our worship needs to be as God dedicates. We cannot change the worship that God wants directed toward Him. It must be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). In the case here our singing must be done as God wants it. We must all sing! We must all sing from the heart! And we must sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in our worship. Anything else is unacceptable to God! Not all that people offer as worship is acceptable to Him. Cain, Nadab and Abhiu and King Saul are all examples of those who tried to offer worship as they wanted to and not what God wanted and it was unacceptable to God. We cannot do the same. God has told us what to do and we need to be worshipping Him as He desires.
The next pursuit of Christianity is that of parental duties. The wife has duties; the husband has duties and the children have duties. The wife cannot usurp the man’s duties. The husband cannot let the wife take over his duties. He needs to step up and do what God has commanded him to do. It is too easy for him to step aside and let her be the leader of the family. That is not God’s plan! The husband is to be the head of the family. That does not mean that he is to be a dictator and not take the wife’s advice. Ephesians 5 says he is to love her as he loves his own self. Each has a lane that he or she is to stay in and we are not to cross over these lines. Also the children have lane that they are to stay in. The young children are not to be the bosses of the family. This is God’s plan for the family and it will work if we will but follow His plan. Let us pursue Christianity in God’s appoint way this next year. Let us begin if we have not or if we have let us continue pursuing Christianity as God would have us to.
Love, Keith
