Colossians 3;12

Colossians 3:12 says, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Paul began to list some of the characteristics of Christians, who are referred to as the elect of God.  They were not the elect of God because of who they were intrinsically, but because they had put their faith in Jesus Christ.  They were holy for the same reason.  As such, they were to be merciful, kind, humble, meek, and long suffering.  As followers of Christ today, we are the elect of God and are to be holy, guided by the Holy Spirit.  Once we are, we should display these same characteristics.  Verse thirteen adds, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  Paul continued by saying that they were to forbear, or be tolerant of one another and forgiving of one another if they had a quarrel against one another.  Of course we cannot control how the other person will react, but we are to forgive them no matter if they forgive us or not.  We are to forgive as Jesus Christ forgives us.  He forgives us freely and completely, even though we have nothing to forgive Him for.  His forgiveness is not a tradeoff, and neither should ours be.  Also, when Jesus Christ forgives us, He forgets what He has forgiven us for.  We may not be able to completely remove the memory of what we forgive someone of from our mind, but we should never bring it up again or let it influence how we see the person we have forgiven.  Just imagine how it would be if Jesus still saw us as the sinner that we were before we accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord, and every time we failed again, He brought up all our past sins that we have already been forgiven of.  Yet, this is how we often react to others, even when we say we have forgiven them.  Verse fourteen continues, And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  Paul said above all these other characteristics, we are to put on charity, or love, for others.  If we love them with a Christ like love, then all these other things will be a natural outcome.  It all begins with being filled with this Christ like love.  Verse fifteen states, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Paul said that they were to let the peace of God rule their heart.  We cannot truly be ruled by the peace of God if we continue to be at war with our fellow man, especially other Christians.  As Christians, Paul said that we are called to be one body and that we are to be thankful to God for that calling. Verse sixteen adds, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  Paul said they were to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom.  For this to happen, we must study God's word, which is the only way to gain wisdom, since wisdom comes from God.  Paul also said that they were to do this with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with the grace that is in our hearts to the Lord.  If we sing with the grace of God in our heart, we should sing joyously.  Verse seventeen adds, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Paul told the believers at Colosse that they were to do everything, from what they spoke to what they actually did, in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks God the Father through Jesus Christ.  This still applies to us today.  If we do all for the glory of God because we have accepted salvation by our faith in Jesus Christ, then we will have no room for looking down on others nor for not forgiving them if they have harmed us in some way.  

Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 says, Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  Paul called on the people at Colosse to be mortified by sinful actions, such as fornication,  uncleanness,  inordinate affection, concupiscence, which is strong sexual desire, and covetousness, which were idolatry.  These things were putting earthly desires ahead of God's will, and therefore became idols to a person.  We need to not only avoid these things today, but to be mortified at even the thought of doing them.  Verse six adds, For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  Paul said these things brought on the wrath of God, because those who did them were disobedient children.  We cannot downplay how much God hates these things today and attempt to excuse or justify them.  Verse seven continues, In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  Paul then told the Christians at Colosse that they had at one time also walked and lived in these things themselves, but that they no longer were to do so.  We cannot change our past actions, but we can certainly change our current and future ones by the power of the Holy Spirit if we are followers of Christ.  Verse eight states, But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Paul then called on the believers at Colosse to put off, or to quit doing several things, including being angry and wanting wrath or malice to come on others, being guilty of blasphemy, which is attributing what God does to someone or something else, and filthy communication coming out of their mouth.  We can easily allow these things back into our life if we aren't careful.  Too often if someone does harm to us, we start to wish that God would punish them or if something good happens, we give credit to our own abilities or to good fortune instead of to God.  Verse nine adds, Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  Paul told them that they were not to lie to one another, since they had put off the old man, or their sinful nature.  As followers of Christ today, we are to be truthful in all that we say and do.  We are no longer to be guided by our old sinful nature.  Verse ten adds, And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  Paul said that the Christians at Colosse had put on the new man.  They had been born again and were now to live in a renewed knowledge of what it meant to be created in God's image.  As believers today, we are born again, and once more are to live knowing that we are created in God's image and are to live by His guidance.  Verse eleven concludes, Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Paul told them that there was no longer any separation of people by race for those who believed in Jesus Christ.  All were the same by their faith in Jesus Christ.  We are still guilty too often as Christians of making distinctions about people based on race todsy I believe. 

Colossians 3:1

Colossians 3:1 says, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Paul told the believers in Colosse that if they were risen with Christ, or had put their faith in Him for salvation, that they were to seek those things above, the things of God.  Paul said that this was where the risen  Christ sits on the right hand of God the Father.  As Christians, we should still have our focus on things above, the things of God.  Verse two adds, Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  As Paul told them, we are to set our affection, or love, on the things above, not on the things of this earth.  We are not called to seek earthly riches, but to seek heavenly rewards.  Verse three continues, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  Paul told them that they were dead to the things of this world and that their life was hidden in Christ.  I believe that too often we as Christians seek the things of this world as proof of Jesus Christ's love for us instead of seeking the things of God as proof of our love for Him.  If we still put a greater value on material things than we do on faithfulness to God no matter what, then we cannot faithfully follow Christ.  We are to be dead to the things of this world because one day, either when we die or when Jesus Christ returns, they will all be left behind.  Verse four concludes, When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  We are to set our sight on things above because when Christ returns, we will appear with Him in glory.  As Christians, Jesus Christ is the One Who gives us everlasting life with God, and we are called on to live by faith in Him, because we have been redeemed by Him.  We are to be dead to the desires of the flesh and alive to spiritual things. 

Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8 says, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Paul gave them a warning to not be led astray by the teachings of man nor by philosophy or vain deceit based on the teachings of the world and not on the teachings of Christ.  We can sometimes let traditions become more important than what the Bible says if we are not careful.  Verse nine adds, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  Paul said that they were to put their faith in Jesus Christ because He was the fulness of the Godhead in human form.  Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human.  When we say that we are only human as an excuse for failing to do something, I don't believe this is really true.  At that point, we fail to be what a human being is supposed to be.  Jesus Christ is the example of what a human being is supposed to be.  Verse ten continues, And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  Paul said that the people at Colosse were complete in Jesus Christ if they put their faith in Him, because He has power over everything.  Jesus did for us what we are unable to do for ourself, and that is to live without sin.  Verse eleven states, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  Paul said that we are circumcised, the sign of being a part of the Israelites, not physically but by the circumcision of Christ, or declaring our faith in Him.  Verse twelve adds, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  Paul said that in baptism we are symbolically buried to sin in our life and raised to everlasting life by professing our faith in Jesus Christ.  Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is expected for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ to be baptized to show the world that they have accepted His sacrifice for their sins.  Verse eighteen continues, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  Paul said that before they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord that they were dead in their sins and uncircumcision, but through faith in Him they were made spiritually alive by the forgiveness of all their trespasses.  Verse fourteen declares, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  Paul said that Jesus took the law, which was against us because we ailed to live up to it at all times, and nailed it to the cross.   He did not do away with God's law, but by faithfully keeping it at all times He made it possible for us to have everlasting life by accepting what He did for us on the cross.  He died for our sins so that we might have everlasting life.  Verse fifteen adds, And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  Paul said that Jesus Christ spoiled, or defeated, all the power of the principalities and powers of the world, openingly triumphing over them.  He did this not by military might or worldly power but by willingly dying on the cross to defeat them.  We need to look to God for victory over the world today, and not to governments or military might.  We achieve this by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and living by the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

Colossians 2:16

Colossians 2:16 says, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  Paul told the people at Colosse to not allow people to judge them by their observance of religious rituals.  For the Jewish people, what they ate or drank and observing Holy days was was very important to their being seen as being part of God's people.  There are still some Christians today who judge others by how faithfully they follow religious customs.  Verse seventeen adds, Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  Paul said these religious customs or laws were but a shadow of the things to come.  They were given by God to point people to the coming Messiah and showed them their own inability to save themselves.  Paul then said the body of believers, the church, was of Christ.  We can never be a part of the body of believers if we do not put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eighteen eighteen continues, Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,  Paul warned them not to be enticed by anyone to start worshipping angels and believe that they must go through them to speak to God.  Paul said that those who did so were puffed up in their fleshly mind.  We cannot allow anything, even the angels, to come between God and us.  Verse nineteen concludes, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.  Paul said that if they did start to worship angels that they were no longer directed by Jesus Christ, the Head of the body of believers.  There is a lot of emphasis on angels today, but we must never put them between God and us.  Verse twenty states, Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  Paul asked them if they were dead in Christ,  why did they live as though they were subject to ordinances in order to be a part of God's people.  I don't believe that Paul was saying that we shouldn't obey God's ordinances, or laws, but that we cannot look to them as a way to salvation.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.  Verse twenty-one adds, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  Verse twenty-two continues, Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Paul said that those who claimed that people had to observe all the law as well as have faith in Jesus Christ were wrong, and asked why Christians would think they had to do this.   When we accept Jesus Christ we are saved by grace and dead to salvation by anything other than faith in Him.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.  Paul said the observance of these things as being necessary for having a personal relationship with God were all for show, and did not honor Jesus Christ Who satisfied the law for all time.  Though we are to follow God's laws as Christians, we can never attempt to make the keeping of the law of God a requirement for salvation, and we should never follow any who makes this a requirement. 

Colossians 2:1

Colossians 2:1 says, For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;  Paul said that he was in conflict over the believers in Colosse and those at Laodicea.  He had heard of their faith, but he had not yet visited them.  Paul was just as concerned for them as he was for churches that he had started, and he was concerned that they were truly founded on the gospel of Christ.  We need to be concerned and in prayer for churches today, even if we have no personal contact with them.  Verse two adds, That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  Paul said that it was his desire that their hearts be comforted by being knit together in love for God and each other, by their knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  We still do not totally understand the relationship of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but know that They are One God.  Verse three continues, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Paul said that wisdom and knowledge were hidden in God.  We may know a lot about the world today from a worldly point of view, but until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will never have true knowledge and understanding.  Truth can only be found in God's word.  Verse four states, And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.  Paul said that they needed to be grounded in the knowledge of God so that they would not be beguiled by enticing words.  We can hear many things today that sound tempting, but if they are in conflict with God's word, we need to not give in to the temptation to believe them.  In order for this to happen, we must know what God's word says, and in order to do this, we must study His word.  I believe we should do this daily as individuals and together with other Christians frequently.  Verse five adds, For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.  Paul said that even though he wasn't able to be with them physically that he was with them in the spirit.  We will never be able to be physically present in all the churches around the world today, but we need to be joined with them in the Spirit.  We should do this with prayer and concern that they are founded on faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul said he had heard of their stedfastness in their faith in Christ, and this should be what we want people to hear about churches today.  We don't really need to be concerned about their denomination, but only about their faithfulness to Jesus Christ.  It also does not matter how large or small they may be.  Verse six continues, As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Paul said that since they had received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord that they were to walk by faith in Him.  I believe we too often look at the problems in our life instead of looking to God in faith.  This causes us to worry and doubt God too often.  We must walk by faith in Jesus Christ, as Paul said those many years ago.  Verse seven concludes, Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Paul said that the Christians at Colosse needed to be rooted in and building on their faith in Christ, and so should we today.  He said that they should be established in faith.  Everything that we as followers of Christ do today should be done because our life is established by faith in Christ.  This is what we should teach in the church today, just as Paul told the Christians at Colosse then, and if we do, we should abound in thanksgiving to God.   We as Christians, when we are established in our faith in Jesus Christ should always be giving praise and thanksgiving to God.

Colossians 1:21

Colossians 1:21 says, And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.  Paul said that by their wicked works, or sin, that the people of Colosse, who were Gentiles, had been alienated from God, but now through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for their sins on the cross, and by putting their faith in Him, they could be reconciled to God.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are alienated from God by our wicked ways, but once we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God.  Verse twenty-two adds, In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  Paul said that through His life here on earth, including His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead that Jesus Christ made it possible for anyone to be presented to the heavenly Father as unblameable and unreproveable if they put their faith in Him.  This is still the only way to be reconciled to God, and Jesus Christ has already made the sacrifice for everyone so all anyone has to do to be reconciled is put their faith in Him.  Verse twenty-three continues, If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;  Paul told them that they could have this reconciliation to God if they put their faith in Jesus Christ and were unmoveable in that faith.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should be unmoveable in our faith, but if we do falter at times, we are forever a part of the family of God.  God Himself seals us as His and nothing can ever take us away from Him.  Paul said he was a minister of the gospel,  which came by his calling from God.  As followers of Christ, we are all called to proclaim the gospel to those around us, even if we are not called to preach.  Verse twenty-four states, Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:  Paul said that he rejoiced in his sufferings for the sake of the gospel for the glory of Jesus Christ and the benefit of the church.  We as Christians should have the same attitude today, but too often we are ready to give up on witnessing for God at the least little inconvenience in life.  Verse twenty-five adds, Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Paul again said that he was made a minister of the gospel by the dispensation, or calling, of God.  If someone is truly a minister today, it has to be by the calling of God and then they must allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them.  Verse twenty-six continues, Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  Paul said that the mystery of the gospel had been hidden for ages, but now had been made known to the saints, those who accepted Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation.  For too many people today, the truth of the gospel of Christ is still hidden, because they are still ruled by the things of this world.  Verse twenty-seven declares, To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  Paul said it was God Who made known the gospel of Christ and the riches of glory that this mystery made known to the Gentiles.  Paul did not just decide on his own to go and share the gospel with the Gentiles, but he was sent by God.  We as followers of Christ are commissioned by God to go into all the world and share the gospel, even to those who we may not like.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  Paul said that he preached the gospel of Christ so that everyone who accepted it could be presented perfect before God by their faith in Jesus Christ.  This should still be our desire today.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.  Paul said that he continued to strive to present the gospel to everyone he met because this desire worked mightily in him.  We need to have this same desire today if we are to be effective in reaching the world for Jesus Christ.