Welcome to Relentless Truth with John Warren, the
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of topics,
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how we relate to each other. Now, here's
John with this week's powerful and practical insights.
Welcome to Relentless Truth. I'm John Warren. It's
good to be with you again.
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Well, we are making our way through Paul's
epistle to the Colossians to the Colossian church,
and, we have reached chapter 3. This is
a beautiful epistle on the,
our completeness in Christ or
perhaps said more theologically correctly, Christ's completeness.
This is a a a chapter on Christology,
the study of Jesus Christ our lord.
And we've reached chapter 3,
and it is it is just full of
rich truth, and I'll I'll do the disclaimer
that it is
it is tempting to go on a rabbit
trail with just about every sentence in this
chapter. There's a podcast episode in every sentence.
There's a sermon
in every sentence in this in this chapter.
For example,
we start with verse 1. If then you
have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above where Christ
is seated at the right hand of God.
Now, just think about all the lessons we
learn
in that verse.
If you've been raised with Christ,
think about that.
He he's he's been talking about these warnings
and he just warned about asceticism.
He's he's setting this this church straight
on some problems,
legalism, angel worship, and asceticism
in the in the previous chapter, the the
second half of the previous chapter.
And
and he's saying that these things that you're
doing, there are no value
in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
So
he's referencing he's going back to verses 14
and 15.
He's going back beyond that, but I'm just
gonna read those. I'm starting the middle of
the sentence, which I shouldn't do, but
by canceling the record of debt that stood
against us with its legal demands, this he
set aside nailing it
to the cross.
The previous part is God made
alive together with him having forgiven us all
our trespasses.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put
them to open shame by triumphing
over them
in him.
He was not overcome, in other words, by
by Rome, by the soldiers,
by anyone in the process,
Jew or Gentile.
He gave himself.
He surrendered himself,
and that that's an important distinction. Well,
by faith,
Paul knows, Paul has been teaching
that
our sins are our record of debt is
canceled,
and and he's used this word ginosko and
epiginosko,
the word for knowledge or knowing,
and and he's and and that's an intimate
knowledge and understanding. We've talked about this many
times.
And so,
he's he's saying if you're incorporated with him
the way Paul describes it in in Romans
6. Just just go back and read Romans
6,
and and you'll see that that he's talking
about being incorporated. He's the word baptism.
He's talking about being incorporated
in Christ. Christ in us, us in him.
And and this this just
is so beautiful. If you've been raised with
Christ,
resurrected to new life
with Christ.
Seek the things
that are
above.
This is a present imperative. This is a
do this now and forever.
Seek the things
that are above
in heaven, he's saying.
The the the cure
for the sins of the flesh, he's just
told us, is submission
to the Holy Spirit.
But now he says,
if then you were raised with Christ. That's
that's the idea.
If then you have been raised with Christ.
If if you were raised with Christ,
and you have
been, then seek the things that are above
where Christ is seated at the right hand
of God. We could go on and on
about his
being making intercession
for
for us.
He he
sits at the right hand of the father,
interceding on our behalf.
Then in verse 2, he says, set your
minds
this is an imperative.
Set your minds on things that are above.
He just said, seek the things that are
above, and now he's reinforcing it.
Set your minds
on things that are above,
not on things that are on the earth.
Just keep in mind, constantly to tell yourself
as we read this, as you study the
book of Colossians,
keep the audience in mind.
They worship the things that were on the
earth.
Themselves, in the case of the gnostics,
doing and being self sufficient, in the case
of legalists,
and in the case of ascetics, giving things
up.
So
just important to keep that in mind.
For you have died, verse 3, and your
life is hidden
with Christ
in God.
Hidden to the lost that is. Hidden to
the world.
It it it shouldn't
cause us concern when people in the world
wonder, scratch their heads and say, wow, why
do you do that?
What what do you mean you're in Christ
and Christ is in you?
If you start talking theology,
the depths of theology,
as Paul explains them in these books we've
been studying,
with a person who's not a Christian,
they're gonna look at you like you're crazy.
And there's a reason for that.
The identification
of the believer
with Christ.
So
that that he would be in the believer
and the believer would be in him is
what Paul is talking about.
So
verse 4, when whenever would be a better
word to use here, but, anyway,
whenever Christ, who is your life,
appears,
then you also will appear with him in
glory.
When Christ who is
your life, Christ is the very life of
the believer.
Spit the spiritual bread
of of the believer.
When Christ who is
your life, that's that's the the source and
the and the pattern is the idea if
you look up those words in the Greek.
When Christ who is
the source and pattern of your life
appears, then you also will appear with him
in glory. He's talking about our future glory,
and then he starts off with a therefore
put to death therefore.
So because of this,
because you'll appear with him in glory,
put off what is earthly in you.
And this put to death, he says, put
to death therefore.
Mortify it.
Kill it.
Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and covetousness, which is idolatry.
I I'm convinced that all of our sin
is a certain type of idolatry that is
placing something
ahead of God if you think about it.
All of our sin is idolatry,
but some worse than others, and this list
is pretty bad.
Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil, desires, and covetousness.
Wanting what isn't ours is is kind of
the theme through all of those.
Verse 6, on account of these, the wrath
of God is coming.
In these, you too once walked, when you
were living in them.
But now you must put them all away,
and he's gonna name some more.
Anger, wrath, malice,
slander,
and obscene talk
from your mouth.
He's talking about putting aside negative behaviors, bad
behaviors.
This isn't a suggestion, these are imperatives. Verse
9, listen to this imperative.
Do not lie to one another.
In my classes, I ask my students once
we've established some trust, very loving, caring, smart,
kind students.
I I asked them, how many of you
have never lied?
In 10 years of teaching, about a 100
students a year, no one's ever raised their
hand.
Do not lie to one another,
seeing that you have put off the old
self
with its practices,
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge after the
image of its creator.
That's a mouthful.
So he's using a clothing metaphor, having put
off the new self,
and he contrasts it with,
having put on the new self. I'm sorry.
Having put off the old self and put
on the new self. It's it's a contrasting
with old and new clothing,
which is and Tim Challis does a good
job of this in his book, virtual theology
visual theology. I'm sorry. If you've never read
that book, it's it's an easy read, and
I would commend it to you. Tim Chalis
is the author.
He has a chapter on putting off and
putting on 2 separate chapters.
This word knowledge, being renewed in knowledge, doesn't
that remind you of renewing your mind in
in Romans 12? Well, it should, Romans 12:2.
But look at this, that's that word epigynosis.
That's that strong form of knowing with understanding
intimacy, becoming 1,
becoming united in him, which is
having put on the new self, which is
being renewed in knowledge
after the image
of its creator.
Wow.
That that doesn't that shake you?
Thrill you?
It just it just it should
suspend us in this state of
of awe and marveling.
The new self, which is being renewed in
knowledge.
This process God goes through, this renewing your
mind,
intimately renewing your mind, Christ in you
and me,
the hope of glory,
which is being renewed in knowledge after the
image of its creator.
Verse 11, last verse in this paragraph.
Here, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised
and uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian,
slave, free,
but Christ is all
and in all.
This this says all spiritual
richness
is in Christ.
Christ is all
and in all.
I I'm teaching in the fall, coming up,
a Bible class that I hope is well
attended
that
Is on the attributes of God again like
I I did I did several podcast episodes
on this a while back about 6 months
ago. I think it was
maybe a little longer
and It's just amazing to think about God
being of one substance one essence one one
nature,
and not having these individual attributes that we
talk about him as if and, you know,
even in the title, I I call the
study the attributes of God.
I should say this simple
simple substance of God
Because it's it's one substance. It's it's simply
one all the attributes are one side. They
didn't come from other places.
But but listen to this, Christ is all
and in all. We talked about the unity
of the Father and the Son,
the God in 3 persons,
and now we see Christ is all and
in all.
Christ is everything to us
He says there's not Jew and Greek the
people aren't divided circumcised and uncircumcised
He's saying that stuff doesn't matter.
If study the the the laws value
in the New Testament. What is the New
Testament summary of the law
to glorify God
and love your neighbor as yourself?
And and look at
how
Christ fulfilled the law.
He did. Some people don't like that. They
wanna hang on. I'm not saying he abolished
the law. He did not.
It still shows us the character of God.
It reveals who God is.
But this this notion of Christ being all
and in all
it is is just a
a beautiful concept this new covenant
made possible by his blood confirmed by his
blood
and Paul talks about this in Romans 3
if you want to go back and look
I think it's verse 20 and following
where he talks about
him being our propitiation that is the
Mercy seat the blood that was sprinkled on
the
the Mercy seat on the day of atonement
Christ is the spotless lamb who was slain.
He is all and in all he's creator.
He's we could go on and on
he is all and in all
then in verse 12 we start a new
paragraph put on then so he's going to
tell us this clothing metaphor
He's gonna tell us what to put on.
As God's chosen ones,
holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts,
kindness,
humility,
meekness,
and patience
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.
This this is a section, these two verses,
verses 12 and 13
in Colossians
3,
that I would love to get everyone I
know, including myself,
to to fully comply with, to implement,
to deploy
this this bearing with one another. And if
one has a complaint against another,
forgive each other.
He he already said in Romans 12, he
says, outdo each other and showing each other
kindness.
Forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven
you, so you also must forgive. You know
think about this just I know this is
it these are simple lessons today
and We're not talking about the meaning of
a lot of the greek words because I
think we've done that pretty well here so
far
but but think about this for a second
as the Lord has forgiven you when you
think about those words
your relationship with other people is not like
God's relationship, Jesus Christ our Lord's relationship with
us.
Our sin is an affront to his holiness,
to his righteousness.
Our our sin is is more offensive to
him, to his nature,
to his character than we can imagine. He
is holy, set apart, and pure, transcendent,
apart from us.
He he is
he is pure. He is love. He is
purity.
He is sinlessness.
And and so
he has forgiven
us
through his son
so as the Lord has forgiven if we
if that if that occurs to us when
that occurs to us
it changes our lives, the significance
of God forgiving us.
And it's not just you, it's me,
and it's your neighbor, and it's other it's
it's it's
you're not the only dirty rotten sinner.
We're all in good company,
and it it is because he first loved
us. He first forgave us as the Lord
has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive. If you want
a basis for forgiveness,
it's that, because you were forgiven by our
Lord Jesus Christ,
by the shedding of his blood.
Think about that. You were justified by faith.
The simple beautiful gospel
is incredibly logical is true
That prompts us then to be able to
forgive
It don't look at the other person and
say, well, what redeeming qualities they have? What
are they? Do they deserve my forgiveness? If
they have that here's what we do. Have
they complied with all my expectations?
Are they humble?
Have they asked for forgiveness? Do they even
know what they did?
Are are are they are are are they
even worth forgiving?
Is in essence
what we say sometimes.
As the Lord has forgiven you, so you
also must forgive.
That is an imperative. That is a thumping
you right between the eyes, thumping us right
between the eyes imperative.
And above all these,
he goes on, put on love,
which binds everything together
in perfect harmony.
You know,
we mock this expression. Love is the answer.
Love is everything.
But love, if properly understood,
is everything.
And Let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts
to which indeed you were called in one
body
Just think about that.
This beautiful perspective.
This this piece to which indeed you were
called
in one body that the peace of Christ
rule
in your hearts
that word rule is to act as an
umpire
Let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts to which you were indeed you were
called
in 1 body
But when we say peace and love
this is what we're actually talking about these
words
are actually weighty
To love it is is to
extend grace without reciprocity. To to care about
the needs of the of the of the
loved loved
person
without regard for merit or reciprocity.
That's what Agape is.
Above all these, put on love.
This is another imperative this is what we're
to do
Which binds everything together
in perfect harmony
We all need to strive to be more
loving
and let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts to which indeed you were called
in 1 body And then he closes with
this
and be thankful.
Don't underestimate
the power of a thankful heart.
He doesn't say, hope God gives you the
ability to blank.
No. He says, be thankful.
Be thankful.
Stop, pause,
stop fretting,
and be thankful. Well, I don't I don't
know how to be thank Yes, you do.
Be grateful. You are loved by God Almighty.
Be thankful.
You're not so low
that God's grace doesn't reach you.
You're not so accomplished
that you don't require His grace.
Be thankful.
Be grateful.
Look at look at how he's built his
argument here.
You must forgive
put on love
forgive each other put on love
let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts
and be thankful
Paul there's no secret to life
James Taylor wrote a song that says secret
of life is enjoying the passage of time
it no no
no Paul gives us the secret of to
life right here
Just just read the end of chapter 3,
the last paragraph in chapter 3.
Just beautiful.
I guess it's the not quite the last
paragraph.
Then he says, and whatever
you do in word or deed,
so this is inclusive here,
do everything in the name
of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.
Do everything in the name of it with
his authority and approval. All that he is
and has done
is in his name. I am that I
am.
Do do everything in the name. In the
beginning was the word, and the word was
with God, and the word was God. Do
everything
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks
to God the father through him I love
the way Paul gives us the imperative
and then he goes off to the side
and says here's another angle on that same
imperative.
It's just beautiful the way if you if
you watch his pattern, he gives you the
imperative and then a sentence later. He'll he'll
reinforce it
and Then he goes on there is another
paragraph
Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting
in the Lord this is this is a
functional command not not
a not an inferiority thing
And I I know that's hard for people
to understand, but but it it's biblical.
You know, it's it doesn't say husbands, therefore,
lord, your authority over your wife or or
you're not equal or No. It's a functioning
issue. Families function better when it goes this
way. This is in God's word.
This isn't replaced by some cultural norm today.
It it it doesn't
the husbands are to love our wives and
and do not be harsh with them. Verse
19
says, elsewhere,
we're to love them as Christ loved the
church.
Christ gave his life for the church, so
That's another conversation for another day. Wives, submit
to your husbands as is fitting
in the Lord.
In other words, Adam and Eve were were
structured this way. It was fitting to God
to design us this way functionally.
Husbands, love your wives,
and do not
be harsh with them. It has the idea
of bitterness there.
Don't be bitter with them.
Children,
obey your parents in everything.
This is talking about
dependent children.
Obey your parents in everything, for this pleases
the Lord.
Fathers,
do not provoke or exasperate
your children,
lest they become discouraged.
That's talking about losing heart.
We've all done that at various stages. Don't
do that.
Bondservants,
slaves that is
obey in everything those who are your earthly
masters, not by way of eye service,
not just not just people pleasing.
And he he says, not just way of
eye service as people pleasers,
but with sin sincerity,
sincerity of heart
That has the idea of without a fold,
purely,
without fault,
but with sincerity of heart fearing the lord.
So many of our problems are solved by
understanding
god's love for us and our relationship with
him. It informs
all of our human relationships. That's the point
Paul is making here. Whatever you do, work
heartily,
heartily
as for the Lord and not for men.
Knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the inheritance as your
reward.
You're not doing that accounting, that legal work,
that
electrical work, that plumbing, that carpenter work, carpenter
work,
that consulting work, that pastoral work, whatever it
is,
you're not you're not doing it for the
compensation.
You're doing it for the Lord.
Knowing that from the Lord,
you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ.
Boom.
For the wrongdoer will be paid back that
is judged for the wrong he has done,
and there is no partiality.
We don't judge
anything without some partiality.
You look at conflicts of interest, nuance,
and partiality, and playing favorites, and
all of that in our country, in the
United States, my goodness,
probably in the entire western world.
Well, that that is chapter 3, for the
for the wrongdoer will be paid back for
the wrong he has done, and there is
no partiality.
God is on the throne. You see you
see what's happening here? The
the entire focus
of of this chapter
is on
really, very richly,
who
who God is.
Who God is, and how
he he operates.
And that informs us
in our in our earthly
relationships.
If you know what's happened to you, he
says at the beginning, if you've been raised
to if you if then you have been
raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. If if our minds are
are are on
Christ
for walking in him, he's in us, we're
in him.
That that that close relational
tie that is implicit in that word, epignosis,
that knowledge word,
knowledge of him. It's not an academic word.
It's a it's a it's a word used
in the Septuagint to describe intimacy between a
man and a woman. This is closeness,
knowledge, intimate knowledge.
Intimate closeness.
So that that's what Paul is getting across
here.
Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on the Earth.
These are these are imperatives. These are
instructions for us.
God is both transcendent and imminent. Isn't that
beautiful? With us, loving in relationship
with us.
And then Paul goes on to say,
this is the reason Christ in you is
the reason you can put off therefore
what is earthly in you, and he names
several categories of sin, sexual immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry,
And then he goes on and warns warns
about anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk
from your mouth, and then he goes into
lying. Don't lie
to to each other. You put off the
old self with its practices, and it put
on the new self.
It is because but but and he and
he ends the paragraph with but Christ is
all and and all.
Recognize that. Meditate on that. I'm reading in
the Psalms right now. What
it's just beautiful to read
the the beauty of
who the godhead is
in in the Psalms,
particularly those written by David
are just beautiful. And then he goes he
goes on in this chapter to talk about
what to put on. Because of what Christ
has done, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
father through him,
being thankful.
Having a thankful heart sort of sums it
all up, doesn't it?
And he's already talked about
bearing with each other, forgiving. So be forgiving,
be loving,
let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts. Be peaceful.
Be thankful. He says,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with
thankfulness
in your hearts
to God.
Praise God, he's saying.
Paul is saying
with thanksgiving.
Really, a lot of this has to do,
doesn't it, with getting our eyes off of
ourselves.
It is just so easy. We are so
self consumed.
I was just talking to someone about,
he was talking about how a disillusioned he
is with people who
sit on their phones all day and
and sit at a restaurant and just look
at their phones. I I don't I don't
know what we've become. I know I sound
old when I say that. I know those
phones are wonderful
in in a lot of ways, but sitting
and looking at them while we're together is
kinda stupid.
Can't we compartmentalize that? Do you ever you
ever look on your iPhone at your screen
time?
Goodness. Not something I wanna see.
So anyway, this is wonderful,
wonderful section of scripture.
Paul is
giving us
imperatives left and right. Colossians 3, just read
it for yourselves. It'll be a blessing to
you. And and what it's basically saying is
get your eyes off yourself and on he
is everything. He
He's everything.
He he is everything.
He he the the
the mystery has been
unfolded for us to see to some extent,
and we can rest in him. He is
in us, and we are in him. What
wonderful promises.
Well, I've been repeating myself for a couple
of minutes, so we're gonna wrap this discussion
up. That was Colossians 3.
The beauty just overwhelms me, and I kinda
look at the text and stammer and stutter
as I as I think about the best
way to wrap this up. I I believe
Paul did a pretty good job here on
his own. So we'll we'll take on, chapter
4 next week. This has this series has
been a blessing. Thank you for listening. Please
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This is wrapping up our 3rd year now,
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