By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
The Gospel Lived
Colossians 3:1–17
A New Life (1–4)
When Paul says the Colossians had died, he meant Christians have died to sin (see Romans 6); therefore, we are now able to live for Christ, being able to overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. This has great ramifications for us.
Because we live for Christ, we are able to live lives that focus on eternity because we know this world is not our home
It has been said Christians can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. This is not possible.
If Christians truly have their minds on things above, then they will be of supreme earthly good. When Christians do not focus on heavenly things, they lose their value.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told Christians to be salt and light. In fact, if Christians do not act as salt and light, they are worthless (see Matthew 5).
Put Off (5–11)
One way we live heavenly minded is to emulate Christ and strive to die to ourselves and fleshly desires and put on the new self by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For example, we glorify God by living out our faith which results in things such as caring for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the sick, etc., and this is what Christians have done throughout the centuries.
Even when the world turns against us, we are to continue to love those who persecute us, continuing to perform acts of love to those around us.
Paul emphasizes the equality of all people before God. This section is not saying no distinction exists between people — when Paul wrote this, there were still Jews and Gentiles, slaves and freemen in the church together.
Paul is stating that before God, all are equal. Christianity is a religion that does not discriminate based on position in society, race or national identity. Christianity moves across all lines that divide.
Because the salvation from Christ is equally available to all, Christians have no basis for discrimination.
The only difference between people today is between those who belong to Christ and are saved and those who do not belong to Christ and are unsaved.
Since salvation is available to all people, one way we bring glory to God is by witnessing to others.
We do this verbally, but it is helped by our actions. One who claims to be a Christian but does not show love to his neighbor represents Christ poorly.
Put On (12–17)
So instead of living with envy, anger, malice, etc., Christians are to be humble, gentle and patient. Think about how different this is in today’s culture.
Many people in our culture have been so influenced by social media that the purpose of life is to get recognition on Facebook or Twitter.
People today speak ill of one another just to get people to like their posts. Christians need to find their security in Christ, not in the culture around them.
When the rest of the culture tells us to believe something or act a certain way that is unchristian, we need to stand our ground, and if it means we get ridiculed or lose our job, so be it.
The final verse in this section is one with massive worldview implications. As Christians, we are not to complain, but work cheerfully for the Lord. Since we are to live for Christ, we need to act and work in a way that pleases Him.
This means when we are cursed, we bless. When others slack at work, we work to the best of our ability because how we work represents Jesus.
We need to take a stand with Christ against the world, showing the world what it means to be a disciple of Christ and represent Him well so others can see what a Jesus follower looks like.
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