Blog Detail

We’ll start by reading Colossians 3:1-17 where we find Paul asking us to correct our thoughts and actions…

— The Apostle Paul went from persecuting Christ’s followers, to become one of the primary forces of the promotion of Christianity worldwide. Obviously, Paul had to examine his own passions and direction when he corrected his teaching.

So, let’s let Paul show us how we can evaluate and perhaps correct our own thinking:

Choose the answer(s) you believe to be correct.

Colossians 3:1-3…  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  (3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

– Q1. Looking at Vs.1, how are we raised with Christ?

O – By accepting His death and resurrection as payment for our sin debt.     O – By attending church regularly.

 

– Q2. From Vs.2, how do we, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”?

O – Think about aliens, stars, and planets.     O – Spend more time thinking about God than about earthly stuff.

O – Spend our time chasing birds and butterflies.

 

– Q3. From Vs.3, “For you have died”, how have we died, when we are still alive?

O – When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we must give up living only for ourselves, and are called to serve others.
O – We give ourselves up to be taken over by aliens.

 

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

– Read what Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17… (1) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  (14)  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  (15)  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  (17)  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

– Q4. Is this the appearing with Christ in glory that Paul is refers to in Colossians 3:4? (See also 1st Cor. 15:50-55)

O – Yes, I think it is about the same happening.     O – No, because this is about sleeping people not dead people.

 

Colossians 3:5-8…  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  (6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  (7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  (8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

— Now Paul gets to correcting faults we may find in ourselves…

– Q5. Why does God insist we get rid of these thoughts and actions in our life?

O – Because God doesn’t want us to have any fun.     O – Because these things damage and destroy lives.

O – Because God is pure and holy, and we cannot live with Him if we have these living in us.

 

– Q6. Why does Paul say that, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming”?

O – God made mankind pure and innocent, our sin spoils that purity and separates us from His companionship.

O – Because God created us to be with Him, He loves us, and he hates being separated from us.

O – Because God wants us to live a boring life, and not to have any fun.

For discussion: Check out more closely this list of sins…

Colossians 3:9-10… Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices  (10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.  

– Q7. Does a ‘mature’ Christian need to continue to work on ‘the old self’?

O – They don’t, because they are already perfect!     O – No they don’t, because you cannot change who you are.
O – Yes, because we need to grow to be more like Christ Jesus who is Emmanuel, God-with-us (Matthew 1:23).

 

– Q9. For discussion: Does a Christian really need to be more like Jesus? – If so, WHY?

– SEE: Romans 8:29 (ERV) God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.

 

Colossians 3:11… (ESV) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

– Q10. We are told here that with Christians there should be no discrimination due to race; culture; language; skin colour; occupation; education; IQ; politics; gender; circumcision; or church denomination.   O – True   Or   O – False?

 

Colossians 3:12-13… Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  (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.  

– Q11. For discussion: How do the qualities of Vs.12 help us to accomplish the actions of Vs.13? (See the underlined.)

 

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

– Q12. For discussion: How does LOVE keep harmony in your life’s experience?

 

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

– Q13. For discussion: How does the “peace of Christ ruling in our hearts” help the unity of Christians?

 

Colossians 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.  

– Q14. For discussion: When we get together, are we accomplishing these tasks?

 

Colossians 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.

– Q15. What power do we have as we walk about and live our lives in this world?

We have the power of…   O – our Holiness.     O – our organization and unity.     O – the name of our Lord Jesus.

 

– Q16. A final question (or two): What repeated thought does the Apostle Paul insert in the final 3 verses (15-17) of this scripture paragraph, and how does it help us follow Christ Jesus?  (A hint… It’s in italics.)

 

A little added scripture of confirmation in closing… KK

Galatians 5:22-26 (ERV) But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  (23)  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.  (24)  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.  (25)  We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.  (26)  We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves. We must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other.