Having spoken against wrong forms of Christianity, Paul now goes on to bring guidance for right Christian living. It starts with having a RIGHT UNDERSTANDING. We have to first understand who we are and WHERE we are in spiritual terms.

First of all, we are those who have been raised with Christ (v.1a). We first died (v.3a) to our old life and then we were given a new life and raised up to newness of life. The New Testament tells us again and again that we are “in Christ”.

So, because we are in Christ we also need to know where Christ is. He is seated at the Father's right hand, ruling. So, in spiritual terms, that is where we are (see this also in Eph 2:6).

So, once we have seen this, we need to adjust our lives to realise that we are ‘above' the worldly affairs of life and, because God calls us to partnership and we have responsibility to play our part (see Phil 2:12c), we are to set our hearts and our minds on Christ, on the reality of him reigning (with us) in the heavenly realms. This is our role today, and we need to see it as preparation for when Christ comes again and takes us to be with him to reign for ever.

D. Application:

1. Christ is in heaven and we are linked to him.

2. Therefore we are to think & feel with him.

Chapter: Colossians 3

Passage: Col 3:5-8

A. Find Out:

1. What are we to do to what? v.5a

2. How many things are listed under that? v.5b

3. What is coming because of these? v.6

4. What did we used to do? v.7

5. But now what are we to do? v.8a

6. How many things are then listed? v.8b

B. Think:

1. How would you describe all the things listed here?

2. What are we to do with them?

3. Why?

C. Comment:

Paul has just spoken about our life in Christ and now, by contrast, he speaks about the things of our old life. These, he says, have no place in your new life. Put them to death, i.e. it is down to you to do something about them. It's your responsibility to get rid of them, YOU put them to death, i.e. you stop them in your life!

He says these things are part of our old earthly (natural) nature, the sinful nature we were born with. Now we have Christ's nature with the Holy Spirit living within. These things incur the wrath of God. Most of us (who are Christians) would hope that nothing in the first list could be attributed to us, but how about the things in the second list?

Anger? Is that a part of your life? Is that something you find blowing up within you, or do you even use it as a defence tactic allowing it to turn into rage with almost violent aspects? Malice? That's having strong ill-feeling towards others. Do you ever allow that? Slander? That's speaking derogatorily against others. Filthy language? Would we be happy for ANYONE to hear every word we speak? If there is any reservation in our answer we need to look again at the words that come out of our mouths. No, all these things belong to your past life, they have no place in your new life. Make sure it is so.

D. Application:

1. Being in-Christ should affect my attitudes. Check it out.

2. Being in-Christ should affect my language. Check it out.

Chapter: Colossians 3

Passage: Col 3:9-11

A. Find Out:

1. What are we not to do? v.9a

2. Why? v.9b

3. What have we also done? v.10a

4. What is happening to that? v.10b

5. What division are there NOT now? v.10a

6. But what IS the situation now? v.10b

B. Think:

1. What HAS happened to us according to these verses?

2. What practical effect should that have on our lives?

3. How have divisions been done away with?

C. Comment:

Paul continues his list of things we ought not to be doing now we are Christians. He finishes with lying, speaking untruth, another way we can use wrong words. Now he gives us another reason why this should be so.

First it's because we have PUT OFF our old life with all its self-centred wrong practices. We have died to our old sinful nature is what Paul teaches elsewhere (Rom 6:2,6,11).

Second, we have been given a new life, alive to God, we have PUT ON a new life. Now that just wasn't a one-off event when we were converted, it is an ongoing process that will continue throughout our lives. We are being changed (v.10) to become like our maker, changed to become like Jesus (2 Cor 3:18 ). There are now no divisions when you become a Christian, no Jew or Gentile classification, no grouping according to Jewish customs, no upper class or lower class, we're now all one in Christ. What HAS happened to us means that there should be very real practical consequences for our lives. No wrong but only good from us, only unity, no division among us.

D. Application:

1. When you came to Christ you died to your old life and were given a new

one. Praise him for that.

2. The new life you've been given leaves no room for self-centred, godless,

unrighteous behaviour. Make sure it is so.

Chapter: Colossians 3

Passage: Col 3:12-14

A. Find Out:

1. How does Paul describe his readers here? v.12a

2. What does he encourage them to do? v.12b

3. What two things does he then ask them to do? v.13a,b

4. How are they to do that latter thing? v.13c

5. What also are they to ‘put on'? v.14a

6. What will that do? v.14b

B. Think:

1. How will the virtues of v.12 help you in daily living?

2. Why should unforgiveness have no place in a Christian's life?

3. How do you think love is related to the v.12 virtues?

C. Comment:

From v.5 on Paul had being telling his readers to get rid of a whole range of unChrist-like attitudes and behaviours that only belonged to their old life. But Christianity is not just a list of “you must not” things; it is very positive. So now he comes to the positive. Because (v.10) you've put on a new self made in the image of God, put on the characteristics of His life.

Before we look at the list, note what he says: ‘clothe yourselves'. In other words YOU clothe yourself with these things, YOU put these things into your life. This is your responsibility to do, this is the part YOU play in the forming your new life. It may seem artificial to start off with TRYING to be like this, but as you try, God enables the real thing to form in you. It's like when you make Formwork for creating concrete beams or columns. You put the shape there and someone else fills it. So you put the form of these things in your life and God will make them real in you.

The v.12 virtues, the forgiveness of v.13 and the love of v.14 are all expressions of Jesus, and they are all things to do with relating one to another. When these things are worked into your life you find you have a completely different life. People become a blessing to you!

D. Application:

1. Harshness, intolerance, unforgiveness have no place in our lives.

2. The goodness of Jesus is to be seen in us. Work for it.

Chapter: Colossians 3

Passage: Col 3:15-17

A. Find Out:

1. What does Paul say we should let happen? v.15a

2. Why? v.15b

3. What does he also say we are to be? v.15c

4. What are we also to let happen? v.16a

5. What are we to do, and how? v.16b

6. How are we to do everything? v.17

B. Think:

1. How is our “position” to affect our state?

2. What things are we to do according to this passage?

3. How are we to do those things.

C. Comment:

Paul is in the process of giving us a list of positive things we're to see ourselves as and therefore subsequently to do. Now, he says, because you have been brought into unity with others in this body we call the church, let the peace that should be there, pervade your life and rule over your life. Not only that, be thankful for it.

As you interact with one anther, let the word that has come from God through Christ be there in you richly so that you can teach, admonish, stir up and encourage one another, knowing that you are doing it conveying God's will.

Do you notice there is much about thankfulness in these verses? It's like it's to be a stream running through the orchard of your life. Be thankful that you're in this body seems to be what should be inferred from v.15, and then sing as an expression of your gratitude for what God has done for you in v.16, and then, finally, just do everything you do as from Jesus but constantly giving thanks in it all to God the Father. A grateful thankful heart is one that appreciates the wonder of all that God has done. When you do understand it, you can't do anything else except give thanks. This isn't a formal solemn religion, this is a thankful relationship - and thanks are often noisy!

D. Application:

1. What a joy it is to know the wonder of God's love. Rejoice in it.

2. Let that joy flow from you to others. Bless others with it.

Chapter: Colossians 3

Passage: Col 3:18-21

A. Find Out:

1. How are wives to relate to their husbands? v.18

2. How are husbands to live with their wives? v.19

3. What are children to do? v.20

4. What are fathers not to do? v.21a

5. Why? v.21b

B. Think:

1. What tendency may men have according to these verses?

2. What are the grounds for wives and children to play their part?

3. How do you think these things go against ‘natural' tendencies

C. Comment:

Paul now moves on to very practical family matters. There is no area of life that is not affected when you are a Christian. When we look at these verses we need to remember that when Paul gives instructions he always has in mind needs that need addressing.

When we look at modern life we see that modern people have, by and large, thrown off the restraints of godly instruction and are living how they think they should - selfishly! When we observe the state of our society we see all of the problems that Paul is addressing here, wives who compete with their husbands, husbands being brutal with their wives, children rebelling against their parents, and fathers abusing their children. These are the expressions of unrestrained self, people who put themselves first.

Paul speaks directly to these natural tendencies. Wives, God has put men in the place of authority in the way He has established the world (see the whole of the Bible) so acknowledge that role and enjoy it. Husbands, because you are usually the physically stronger, love your wives, be gentle and caring, cherish them, don't be harsh in any way. Children parents are God's authority over you, so obey them and you will please God. Fathers be careful how you deal with your children who don't always comply perfectly with your wishes. Peace everyone!

D. Application:

1. God has ordered human relationships. Do we follow His order?

2. I'm to consider my role, not my partner's.

Chapter: Colossians 3/4

Passage: Col 3:22-4:1

A. Find Out:

1. How are slaves (servants) to work? v.22

2. What is to be their aim? v.23

3. Why? v.24

4. What warning is given? v.25

5. How are masters to respond? v.1a

6. Why? v.1b

B. Think:

1. If Christian workers follow this, what sort of workers would they be?

2. What is the ultimate guideline for Christian workers?

3. What is the ultimate guideline for Christian employers?

C. Comment:

Paul now moves on to the subject of slaves and masters. Although we do not have slaves, as such, today, we can apply this as to employees and employers who are Christians.

When Paul says obey in everything, he means as our Law says, obey every reasonable, lawful demand. We are not to obey and break the Law. Yet the aim of what Paul is saying is be a dutiful employee, not just when you're being watched but at all times. Consider that you are working for the Lord, because in fact in your witness to being the best employee around, means that you will be testifying to the Lord. We're not to see our jobs as “ours”, but we're to see them as part of our entire lives, serving God. There's not to be a part of our lives that is excluded from this. We all of us have to answer to God and therefore if we do wrong at work, understand it is a sin and we'll have to answer to the Lord.

Similarly those who are employers are to understand that they too are answerable to the Lord, and that includes their whole lives, which includes the way they treat their employees. So employers are to ensure that they treat their employees rightly and fairly. Work is not an area excluded from the Lord's sight!

D. Application:

1. Employees, be the best around!

2. Employers, be the best around!

Chapter: Colossians 4

Passage: Col 4:2-4

A. Find Out:

1. What were they to do? v.2a

2. How were they to do it? v.2b

3. Who did Paul ask them to pray for? v.3a

4. What did he want God to do? v.3b

5. With what aim in mind? v.3c

6. What did he want them to ask for him? v.4

B. Think:

1. Why do you think we need to be watchful and thankful in prayer?

2. What did Paul see that only God could do?

3. What did he need help in doing?

C. Comment:

We have in these three verses a simple straight teaching on prayer.

First of all Paul says “Devote yourselves to prayer” or “persevere in prayer”. Prayer is to be part of our lives as Christians. It is something we need to fix and establish in our lives.

Second he tells us to be watchful in prayer. Watchful means being alert to what is happening around you, taking not of the dangers and the needs of the saints (yourself included).

Third he says be thankful in prayer. It is easy to fall into the trap of using prayer like a shopping list, but in prayer we are to remember all the good things God has done for us and give thanks to Him for them. Thankfulness brings life to prayer.

Fourth, he goes on to detail what he wants them to ask in prayer. He wants prayer for his own ministry but he first asks that God will be able to do what only God can do. When we come to the Lord we need to come in an attitude of faith that asks for the humanly impossible. Having done that we may then ask for the part that we can do, asking that God will help us in it. So, we have three ingredients we need to note here: faith to expect the impossible, obedience to look to do what we can do, and thankfulness to honour God.

D. Application:

1. Does my praying have these three dimensions?

2. Do I see prayer as a doorway for God's blessing to me?

RECAP: "Rules for Christian Living" Colossians 3:1 - 4:4

SUMMARY :

In this fourth group of 8 studies we have seen Paul :

- Giving us reasons for following certain rules

  - because we're seated with Christ

  - because we've put on a new self

- Giving guidance as to what to put off and put on

  - to put to death things of our old nature

  - to put on the things that are of Christ

- Giving specific guidance to

  - husbands and wives

  - parents and children

  -employers and employees

- Encouraging us to be prayerfully alert

COMMENT :

Having given us things that don't draw us to God and salvation, Paul now gives us guidelines how to work out that salvation once we've received it. The Christian life is very practical, it reaches into all areas of life. As always Paul gives us reasons WHY to do these things and then lays out the general principles and then specific guidelines to cover specific relationships.

LESSONS?

1. We keep rules because of who we have become.

2. Those rules involve putting off the old ungodly self.

3. They also involve putting on the nature of Christ.

4. They involve church life and relationships with other people.

5. They should be the expression of our daily relationship with God

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for WHO He has made you to be, and WHERE you are in spiritual reality.

PART 5 : "Final Greetings"

In this final Part seek to catch a sense of the fellowship of the apostolic band with which Paul worked as he explains who is coming with this letter and who sends greetings.