Colossians
3:1-17
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. 4 When
Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 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. 9 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. 11 Here
there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,
slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 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. 14 And
above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. 15 And let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one
body. And be thankful. 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. 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.
God has called his people out of the darkness into his marvelous
light. Malachi speaks of a messenger who is preparing the Way for the Lord.
This messenger is calling people to turn from these deeds of darkness. You need
to put away the old self. It may be difficult but stop using the foul language.
Stop committing sexual immorality. Stop doing these evil things.
Many of us live in various sins. We have a life that is consumed
with one sin or another. I will not claim to know whether you are a thief,
adulterer, murder, or gossip. But St Paul makes it clear that this is what you
were. Don’t be that anymore. Christ has made you a son, co-heir. Fear God and
do what is right. Turn from these deeds.
Many us want to claim but it is too tough. I am not capable of
being anything more than I am. The answer is start small. Avoid locative
temptations. When you see yourself doing these deeds, repent and look at where,
what, and who you were with, then avoid those things in the future. The second
answer is: you can’t save yourself. Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of
your sin as well as the sin of your neighbor. He sent the Holy Spirit into your
heart to strengthen you, to fight with you in times of temptation.
We live in a dark world. We live in a world willing to accept
your blemishes, dirt, abominable acts, etc. God calls us to a higher standard.
He tells each us, “You need to clean.” Then he provides the mysterious
cleansing agent in the blood of Christ. He even is willing to reach down and
wash you with the blood of Christ (each day in daily repentance, as we daily
die and rise again to new life).
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