"Actions of Colossians 3"

Larry R. Ping II

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     Paul, in writing to the church at Colosse, made it abundantly clear the life of a child of God is an active one. This is especially true in the first part of the third chapter. Are you active in doing the following things?

 

     1) “Seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:1). God’s children are those who pursue spiritual things. They are not overly concerned with physical difficulties of this life. The Lord said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto thee” (Matt. 6:33).

 

     2) “Set your affection on things above” (Col. 3:2). Our affection is what we are most devoted to, what we love the most. John warned “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (I Jn. 2:15). Jesus commanded “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:20-21).

 

     3) “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Col. 3:5). The idea here is to “put to death” these actions, never to let them raise back up! This list includes “fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).

 

     4) “Put off all these” (Col. 3:8). When one becomes a child of God, he is expected to rid himself of sinful activities. Paul’s list included “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Col. 3:8). 5) “Lie not one to anther” (Col. 3:9). This was how the old man behaved. A child of God is honest and trustworthy. Recall, “all liars” shall “have their part in the lake which burneth with fire” (Rev. 21:8).

 

     5) “Put on the new man” (Col. 3:10). It is not enough to just rid one’s self of sinful behavior. Something good must take its place. The Apostle commands to put on “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another” (Col. 3:12-13).

 

     6) “Put on charity” (Col. 3:14). Paul writes this is the “bond of perfectness.” Charity, or love, does many things. It is defined in I Cor. 13:4-8. We are told to “follow after charity” (I Cor. 14:1) and that it “shall cover the multitude of sins” (I Pet. 4:8). We are told to “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44) and to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:39).

 

     Are you involved in these activities? Are you seeking and setting your affection on things above? Are you mortifying sinful deeds? Have you put off evil, and put on the new man? Have you put on love?