Colossians 3 Notes

 Obedience Confirms Our Resurrection/ Colossians 3:1-4/ Pt 1.

• (Realities): We died, rose with Christ, and are alive in God, therefore (command) seek the things that are above and (promise) you will appear with Him. 
• Our reality is set by God and we live in accord with that reality/truth. 
• We are raised and life is a forgiven, resurrected life therefore the promise is ours.

Christian, You Are Dead! /Pt 2.

• How we died in Col. 2:11-12. Through faith in Christ in our baptism. 
• Our "old self"/flesh died Rom. 6:6.  Our hostility to God died. 
• We are now alive in Christ Gal. 2:20.
• The old dead self must die for us to come alive in Christ. 
• We are no longer under the control/power of the flesh. 

Seated at the Right Hand of God /Pt 4.

• "is" Christ, the God-man who died in His human nature/flesh, is alive.
• Who now has a glorious, heavenly body Phil. 3:20-21.
• "Right hand" is a place of great honor. 
• "seated" Ps 110:1 and Matt. 22:43-44 and Heb. 10:12. He reigns with God over His enemies for His once sacrifice.  

Christ Is Your Life/ Pt 5.

• We have our life because Christ is alive. 
• This is so because of: 1) His substitution for us, 2) we have union with Him, 3) He sustains us, 4) We live by faith in Him; He lives through us, 5) He is forming us to be like Him, 6) He is our purpose (1:6). 

Your Life is Hidden With Christ In God/ Pt 6.

• We don't look/live like the resurrection. 
• Romans 8:19. Creation waits on the revealing/saving of the children of God. 
• What we will be has not yet appeared, but when He appears we will then be like Him. 

Christ is Coming In Glory/ Pt 7. 

• Coming in glory and grace. 
• We will rise or resurrect to meet Him in the air. 
• We will be instantly changed to be like Him. 

Relentlessly Seek Reality Above/ Pt 8.

• Seek...above (3:1), set mind...above (3:2).
• Seek: desire, want, pursue in the heart. 
• Set: let your thinking, attitudes be shaped by the things that are above. 
• Things that are above: the reality, or purpose, that is above ( "things", ways, purposes, mindset, thoughts, will of God Romans 8:5). 
• Contrast with "things of the earth" 3:2, 5. Earthly things aren't bad, or sinful but they can be if they take priority in our heart/mind over God. 
• The reality above is Christ who is sitting at the right hand; do not be overtaken in idolatry. 

Kill What's Killed, Renew What's New/ Colossians 3:5-10/ Pt 1.

• We have died in Christ through faith, therefore put to death your earthly/fleshly members. 
• We are renewed therefore be renewed. Become what you are. 
• Romans 6:11 "consider" = "put to death". Believe in God's word about yourself.

Where Is the Spirit in Colossians?/ Pt 2.

• Believe, use, the word of God about your new self for yourself. 
• We put sin to death by the Spirit. 
• Spirit fosters love in us for God Col. 1 8.

What Is Sexual Immorality?/ Pt 3.

• 1 Cor. 5:1, 7:2.
• Sex before marriage and other prohibited sexual acts. 
• Impurity: homosexuality Romans 1:24-27. And other impurities. 
• Passion: begins lists of internal things. Intense wayward desire. 
• Evil desire: lustful. 
• Covetousness: desire to have more than which we ought to. 
• All of the above are idolatry; we are to seek Christ not these things. 

How to Put Sexual Immorality to Death/ Pt 4. 

• Have faith in the word of God that promises better things than sexual immorality/sin. 
• Believe, love, and treasure the word of God about your unbreakable, eternal union with Christ.
• Read, believe, then trust the Spirit to help you/enable you to obey in that moment.

Why Warn Saints About Wrath?/ Pt 5.

• Paul does not refer to disciples against Christians in using "wrath" for we have no condemnation.
• Wrath is used to warn us to stay on the path; a 'wrong way' sign for us or face the natural consequences. A fence post for motive to stay in the grace of God. 
• You can be scared away from Hell but not scared into Heaven. Love heaven and the grace that gets you there. 

The Cravings Behind Our Anger /Pt 6. 

• Put away all sins and all different kinds of sins. 
• Verse 8 list is the result of not getting the sins in verse 5. Obscene talk as the opposite of thankfulness. 

Develop a Radical Love for Truth /Pt 7. 

• Do not lie; for it is a part of your old self/ways. Be governed by the truth. 
• Know your creator. Love His truth. 

The End of Ethnic Strife in the Church/ Colossians 3:11/ Pt 1.

• The old self was a selfish self. The new self is selfless/Christ-focused. And thus, church-focused as well. 
• All peoples must become new. Christ is in all Christians and He is more valuable than anything; including our race, and nation for He rules over both. 
• It makes no dishonoring, device different within the Chruch. 

Christian, You Are Chosen, Holy, Loved/ Colossians 3:12-14/ Pt 1. 

• "put on" also in 3:10.
• We put on as God's chosen. Obedience/joy rooted in identity in God.  
• Chosen: before creation, unconditionally so that we praise the glory of His grace. 
• Chosen for holiness and love/joyful obedience in Him.
• Loved with "great love" and thus chosen for Christ's sake. 

Put On the Bowels of Mercy /Pt 2.

• We are not merciful naturally. We put off and put on our old and new nature/self.
• "bowels" = heart. 
• Not an act. But an inner affection that is outwardly expressed. 
• Hear and resolve to obey by grace. 
• Look hard at "chosen, holy, loved" and believe/embrace/treasure it. 
• Pray for the proper effect of that truth. 
• And act according to the truth.

The Perplexities of Forgiving and Forbearing /Pt 3. 

• Bear AND forgive. Both go hand-in-hand.
• Forgive as much as possible without repentance; bear with them. Absolutely forgive with repentance so that all parties can be reconciled.
• Forgiveness is hard so look to the Lord's forgiveness towards you. And be amazed at His forgiveness towards you.

How Does Love Bind Everything Together? /Pt 4.

• Put on those 7 things but all of those are summed up in "love".
• "bond" 2:19.
• The law is filled up by love. 
• Love matures, or completes the Christian. It is driven by the love we have received from God. 

Is Christian Peace in My Heart or In the Church? Colossians 3:15-17/ Pt 1.

• "Let" a 3rd person command. 
• Effects of peace: untroubled, unafraid heart John 14:27.
• Eph. 2:14 He is our peace. 
• Within us and then expressed outwardly in the Church. 

How Does the Peace of Christ Rule? /Pt 2. 

• "rule" not reign. Judge, umpire, or prize. 1 Cor. 9:24, Phil. 3:14, Col. 2:18, 
• Peace was brought by the Prince's body, blood. 
• The word informs us of the peace of Christ; therefore let it dwell in you richly. 

Songs Rich with the Word of Christ/ Pt 3.

• "dwell in you" in yourself and the church. 
• "word" is the rich reality of our union with Christ now and forever. 
• Have a lot of the word in your life for it is a treasure to your soul so much so that you sing to each other.

Do Everything In the Name of King Jesus/ Pt 4. 

• All is under His sovereignty therefore always be thankful. 
• And by Him, we work and speak through Him. 
• Jesus is the final and fullest authority in your life. 
• 
  

Citizens of Heaven Still Have Earthly Families/ Colossians 3:18-21/ Pt 1. 

• Being saved is radical, but still a present reality. So we must will as both heavenly and earthly beings. 
• Be who you are in Heaven according to God on the Earth.

A Wife's Submission is Fitting /Pt 2.

• Parallel passages in Eph 5: 22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7.
• Be suitable to the Lord in your life. 
• Live in accord with the word in wisdom.

The Design of Creation for Man and Woman / Pt 3.

• Man is representative of God on Earth Genesis 1:26. 
• Man was first in creation then the woman Genesis 2:7-18; 1 Tim. 2:13.
• Man was given the moral teaching/law for the Garden and was expected to pass that along (teach) it to his wife Genesis 2:15-17.
• Woman was created as a helper from him and for him Genesis 2:20-23.
• The Serpent reverses God's order making the woman lead out Genesis 3:1-6, 17.
• God calls man to account first after the fall Genesis 3:7-9.
• God named man and woman as 'man' in Genesis 5:1-3.

What Is Submission 'in the Lord'? / Pt 4. 

• A willing to love her husband and follow his lead under the Lord.
• She is under the Lord then her husband. 

Husbands, Love Your Wives! /Pt 5.

• Love, lead her towards God.
• "bitterness" Eph. 4:31. Its' cure: hope Col. 1:3-5; and your union with Christ and death to sin Col 3:1-4. For you are chosen, holy, and loved by God Col. 3:12-14.

Children, Love Your Parents!/ Pt 6.

• Children must obey their parents. 
• Parents should require obedience from their children.
• Obey because there is a Lord over their parents. 
• Help the children deal with displeasing parents and God (the gospel). 

How Not to Break Your Child's Spirit/ Pt 7.

• "fathers" Eph. 6:4. Children obey parents; fathers are not to provoke them; for he is head of both of them in the family. 
• Representative and responsbly of the father. 
• Fathers can command obedience from their children, but cannot do so in a discouraging way. IE nagging, or only demanding, only anger commands, only with spanking, embarrassing/disrespectful/belittling, impossible demands, and no Gospel (explain to them how they can enjoy the joy/forgiveness of God). 
• Do not knock the spirit of life (discouragement/disspirited) out of your child. Stir up life within them. Do not break them, but grow/encourage/give them hope in God that He can use them.

How Paul Gutted Slavery: Colossians 3:22-4:1/ Pt 1.

• 1 Tim. 1:9-10, Gal. 3:26-28, Col. 3:9-11, 4:8-9. Eph. 4:25. 6:9, 1 Cor. 7:21-23, Philemon 15-16. 
• The master/slave label went on in the NT even though its reality was completely changed by the Gospel. 

God and Limited Authories in Christ / Pt 2. 

• We have a Lord and we have lords.
• We serve The Lord by serving the lords in our lives. 
• Obey the Lord in everything and above the lords. 

Is People Pleasing Ever Right? /Pt 3. 

• The Lord will reward (3:24) and punish (3:25).
• Be without wax in your obedient fear to the Lord. 
• Please Christ first and then, in so far as you are able, you can please man (1 Cor. 10:21-33).

Should Fear of God Motivate Us? / Pt 4.

• Yes, as a child fears dishonoring/disrespecting his loving father. 
• 2 Cor. 5:10-11 fear of an evil judgment. 
• Romans 11:20 fear falling away from God/from faith.

Slaves to Christ and Not Man / Pt 5. 

• Obey, work under your master from your soul/with sincerity to God; not for the master. 
• Christ is your Lord; not any man. 
• This Lord gives us an inheritance. 
• Freedom in slavery to the Lord/Master. 

When Masters Are Also Slaves / Pt 6. 

• Masters teach slaves to serve the Lord then obedience to him. 
• They treat them rightly and fairly/justly/non-favorably. 

Faithful, Watchful, Thankful in Prayer/ Colossians 4:2-4/ Pt 1.

• Seek God's help in living a godly life.
• Continue in prayer Luke 18:1.
• Be alert in prayer. 
• Remember past prayers/answers for gratitude. 
• Example: Epaphras 4:12 "always".

Your Prayers Help the World Run / Pt 2.

• Prayer: cause and effect. Romans 15:30; serving together for God in prayer. 
• Ask of your God to act for you. 

Grace and Salt for Each Outsider / Colossians 4:5-6.

• Make the most of all seasons of your life. 
• wise, gracious, and good speech. 

How Could Bad News Encourage Anyone? / Colossians 4:7-9.

• Loved brother, faithful minister, fellow slave. 
• Paul in prison but Gospel is flourishing. 

Cultivating Christians Connectedness / Colossians 4:10-14/ Pt 1.

• Greeting: acknowledge your existence, a measure of gladness, and a measure of desire for that person. Paul is fostering the connectedness in the church. 

Agonizing in Prayer to the Point of Pain/ Pt 2. 

• "struggling" wrestling. 
  
• "much pain" or hard work. 
• Slave of Christ; owned by the loving Master. 
• Stand, don't fall down. Grow/be mature and not a child to walk well in the faith. 

My Signature. My Chains. My Blessings. / Colossians 3:15-18.

• Paul's letters were shared. The letter to Laodicea letter is probably Ephesians. 
• Paul's signature; is a sign of geniusness of the letter. 
• Remember to pray for Paul in prison; either for him to come out or for the gospel to succeed in prison. Remember that God, His gospel. is not imprisoned/in chains. 
• Gracious of his letter; grace through His word to us.

Summary of Colossians 1-4.

• Christ's preeminence as God the ground and goal of all things. 
• Christ's historical saving work. 
• Christ's personal saving work. 
• Christ's command: believe rightly, continuously and well. Do everything in your life towards the Lord Christ.