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May 16, 2010 |
| Desiring Things Above | ||
In the preceding chapter and previous lesson, Paul described baptism as the symbolism of our death and resurrection with Christ. Now he describes the focus and behavior that should be characteristic of baptized persons.
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
The word "hearts" used here means "desires" or "goals" - the things that motivate us. Instead of saying "set your hearts on things above" as the NIV does above, the NASB says "keep seeking the things above". The word "seeking" in that translation shows action more than the word "desire". Similarly, the word "minds" should be understood as thoughts. But not just thinking, Paul’s meaning here is more that of bringing something into the mind - like desiring food leads to eating food. So Paul’s point is that we, the baptized, should be:
The reference to Christ being at the right hand of God is an image of power and judgment. So the message is not just about having our desires focused on the good things of God but on the judgment that results from failing to do so.
3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Paul is saying that our baptism results in a life that is not yet revealed, but will be when Christ appears. Others of Paul’s epistles make clearer the time of that revelation - when the final trumpet sounds and Christ appears and the dead in Christ are resurrected and the living are transformed to new bodies to meet him in the air.
Having spoken of that future glory, Paul returns to the idea of baptism as the death of the old self and how that motivates our behavior.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
In saying "for you died" and linking to "put to death" Paul shows that some behaviors must also die. He lists thoughts and actions that should no longer be a part of the baptized person. Quite a few of these seem to relate to the Ten Commandments, but it is unclear if that is Paul’s intent.
7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, …
Paul says that the items listed in verse 5 were once the desires and thoughts of our life. Having killed those, we must now rid ourselves of other attitudes and habits, which he lists above.
Notice a few things here. There are two lists. The first may be related to the Ten Commandments, the second is not, at least not directly. Also the actions for each are different. For the first list the action is "Put to death", for the second it is "rid yourselves". For the first list, Paul says they bring the wrath of God, but that is not said of the second list. What do you think about these differences?
If we use filthy language are we cut off from God? Do we shame Christianity?
9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Other translations make it clearer that the second part of verse 9 and all of verses 10 and 11 apply to all the practices listed in verse 8 and the first part of verse 9. Therefore Paul is saying that all of these, not just lying, are practices, or habits, of the old self. But having taken off the old self and put on the new self, we are being renewed. The Aramaic NT says it better.1
10And put on the new, who is made new by knowledge in the image of his creator,
Here we see that the new man is made into the image of his creator by knowledge. This is a reference back to "2Set your minds on things above" in verse 2, which we saw was the eating of heavenly things that builds the new body. Where we saw the items of Paul’s first list were to be killed off, showing an immediate, one-time action, we now see ridding ourselves of these practices as a growth process.
Paul goes on to say that, in their worldly ways it may have been acceptable for a Greek to slander and lie to a Jew, but now these distinctions are gone because we are one in Christ. Also, Christ is in each of us, guiding us, and what nasty thing would Christ say to Christ.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Having put off the old self with its sinful ways and vices and having put on a new self, Paul encourages us to clothe that new body in holiness, as one dearly loved by God. But this clothing is made of virtues and the list he provides is only a partial list. Name some other virtues.
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Paul spends a little extra time with the virtue of forgiveness and shows the basis for that virtue, the Lord. In doing this he also shows us the model for all the clothing for our new bodies, which is the Lord. If the clothing would fit him, it should fit us. Finally Paul tells us that the garment is stitched together perfectly by love. Metaphor, can be taken too far, grow into garment
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So far Paul has been talking about the new self or new body, now he reminds us that our new body is part of a greater body, that of Christ. And as with our earthly bodies, if the parts of this greater body do not work together in peace and harmony the body does not flourish.
Clearly we are told to let the word of Christ dwell richly in us. The metaphor here is one we’ve seen before, of the word falling on rich soil and producing much fruit. We are also called to teach and admonish each other, with wisdom and while wearing that garment stitched together by love.
We are also called to do everything we do in the name of the Lord Jesus. The phrase "in the name of Jesus" has caused some confusion. This does not mean calling out "I do this in the name of Jesus" whenever we do something. "In the name" does not mean "use my name". The word "name" is used here in a way that we don’t use much anymore. The meaning here is more like that of "reputation". Microsoft Word’s dictionary (Encarta) gives the example "She's made quite a name for herself in the music world". Therefore Paul is saying, in everything you do, do it so that it builds the reputation of Jesus. Another way of saying this is "to glorify his name".
What are some qualities or behaviors that are promoted in our culture but are judged as vices in Scripture?2
How do we keep the church pure of these qualities and behaviors? (See verse 16)
What are some practical ways to get rid of vices and bad habits?
If we use a Christian fireman as an example, what can he do that would bring glory to the name of Jesus? Doing what is right, showing wisdom, working as a team
Paul’s message here is tailored to the church of Colossae. We see this in statements like "Do not lie to each other" where he is speaking of the relationship between church members. Does this mean we can lie to people who are not part of the church?
Paul has taken us through a mental journey about our new body in Christ. He has shown us our hearts and minds were on worldly things; but with our death and resurrection in Jesus our new focus must be on heavenly things. The things that we lived for in our worldly lives must be destroyed. And he has shown us the old habits and practices that we will get rid of as our new body grows in knowledge and understanding.
Then we were shown the new habits and practices that we will take on with growth. And we’ve seen how these new characteristics over-ride the old distinctions of race, status, and wealth and make it possible for Christians to work together as a whole.
We can apply Paul’s message to our own lives of course. But we can also apply it, in reverse, to churches that are having internal problems as appears to be the case at Colossae. We know that problems between members are the result of individuals who are not fully clothed with the virtues listed by Paul. This in turn shows the members are not fully grown and either have not put off characteristics they should have or have not put on characteristics they should have.
In the end it comes down to individual desires and knowledge not being where they should be.
1 Even the NIV commentary (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Col/Communitys-Conversion-Vice ) has problems with the NIV translation of these verses. Twice it says "The NIV obscures"
2 NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, Teachings on Community, Unit 3, Lesson 11