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TEXT: Colossians 3:5-11
SUBJECT: Colossians #8: What not to do
Today brings us to the eighth sermon in our study of Colossians. The book can be divided into two parts. Chapters one and two are doctrinal. They teach us something we all know, but are prone to forget. What is it? Christ is Enough. Chapters three and four are more practical. They apply this doctrine to everyday life. If Christ is enough...then live accordingly.
In vv.5-11, we learn what you don't do if Christ is enough. Or what you quit doing if Christ becomes your "all in all". The verses are entirely negative. Paul's not for one thing here, but against eleven things!
The things Paul is against, we should be against. Why? Because God is against them. And because they lead to destruction. Love doesn't sit by idly when God is defamed and men perish. No, love stirs us to action! It makes us speak out against these things. In ourselves, first of all. In our families and churches. And in the world. God help us to do so. For Christ's sake. Amen.
THE CONNECTIVE
The paragraph begins with the word "Therefore". Now, whenever you see a "therefore", you ought to ask yourself "What's it there for?" You needn't guess; it's there to connect vv.5ff. to what comes before them.
What's that? Verses 1-4, obviously. They teach three doctrines: (1) We are "risen with Christ"; (2) We "died with Christ"; and (3) Christ is coming again.
When you were saved, the person you once were "died". The person who lived for himself is no more. He has been replaced by "the new you", a person who lives for "things above". At the moment, you're longing for Christ, but one day, the wait will be over, for the Lord will come again and you'll be with Him forever!
These three doctrines serve as motives for what follows. They don't tell us "how to live godly lives", but something much better: "why". If we want revival, pastors have to quit preaching "how to" sermons and start preaching "why to" sermons!
That's what Paul does here. He grounds holy living on holy doctrine.
MORTIFY
Our first duty is to "mortify" or "put to death" some things. A more extreme word cannot be found. To "mortify" doesn't mean to "struggle with"; it doesn't mean to "limit"; it doesn't mean to "overcome now and then". It means to kill.
This implies being aggressive, being ruthless, and finishing the job. We don't rest till our enemies are dead.
What enemies must be "mortified"? Paul names five.
1."Fornication". This means sex outside of marriage. It includes things that make us shudder, like incest or child molesting. And things we're way too comfortable with, things like sleeping with your boyfriend or living with your fiancee'.
2."Uncleanness, passion, evil desire". These things are more inward than fornication. They stand for lust, fantasies, pornography, and so on. Notice: Paul doesn't separate the evil desires from the evil acts. It's not as though fornication is bad but just thinking about it is okay! Our Lord Jesus identified the two:
"You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery': But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
3."Covetousness". This is the love of money or the things money can buy. Some people are misers, hoarding money, sharing with no one and putting their trust in it. They are covetous. Other people are spendthrifts, buying way more than they need, having nothing for others, and finding their happiness in material possessions. They too are covetous.
What really bothers me about this item is that it's put right alongside fornication and other gross sins! Surely it's not that bad, is it?
Yes it is. And here's why: It is idolatry. It is living for money or what it can buy. Paul Tillich defined "god" as "the ultimate priority". Whatever you live for is...your god. If you live for money, you're worshiping an idol.
Paul Tillich was a heretic, of course, but our Lord Jesus isn't. He said the same thing: "You cannot serve God and Mammon". "Mammon" is the Aramaic word for money.
"Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness". With these five words, Paul has described the world he lived in. And our world too. Nearly everyone you know lives for one or the other or both.
Think of the celebrities. What are they famous for? Their sex appeal or their money or both. How many people are celebrated for their holiness? Or wisdom? Or courage? Or humility? Hardly anyone. I came up with Mother Teresa and...nobody. But if you ask: How many people are admired for their sex appeal or their money or both? I could go on all day.
Our Lord never spoke more truly,
"What is highly esteemed among men
is an abomination in the sight of God".
Our first duty is to "mortify" these things. This is not easy--especially in a world that celebrates them. To help us do so, Paul offers two motives.
1.The first is God's wrath, v.6: "For which things sake, the wrath of God is coming upon the children of disobedience". The wrath of God is a present reality. We often think fornication or covetousness will be punished. That's true, of course, they will be at the end. But this is not what Paul is getting at here! Sin is itself a punishment, see Romans 1. Even in this life it must result in bitterness and brokenness and pain all around. If you want to escape the Judgment--now and later--you must "mortify" your sins.
2.The second is your sad life without Christ, v.7: ""...in which you walked when you lived in them" Your life without Christ wasn't happy, but shameful, wasteful, and hurtful. You know this is true. If you'd think about it, you'd walk more worthy of your new life in Christ.
This is your first duty: "Mortify your fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness".
PUT OFF
Your second duty is to "put off" some things. The figure has changed. In vv.5-7 sin was seen as an enemy to be killed. In v.8, it's a shirt to be taken off because it's dirty or stinks.
I know a man who changes his underwear once a month! That's gross and disgusting. Yet your soul is more important than your body. Why do you change it so rarely?
What things stain your soul? Paul gives a list. They are "anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language". "Anger" is an attitude of resentment or contempt. "Wrath" is its outlet of screaming or storming or punching. "Malice" is the desire to see someone suffer. "Blasphemy" means to speak evil of God or man--to "slander" may be the idea. "Filthy language" stands for other talk that is unwholesome or abusive--words that stir others to sin.
These thing may not be as bad as fornication or covetousness. But they're still pretty bad. Paul takes them seriously.
And not just Paul. The whole Word of God demands both good attitudes and good words.
Rage and spite are everywhere condemned. "A furious man abounds in transgression" says the Proverb.
And words? They matter to God. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, [he] deceives himself and his religion is vain" (James 1:26).
Thus, by God's grace, "put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language".
QUIT
Your third duty is to "quit lying to one another", v.9. Why do people lie? Typically, we lie to make ourselves look good or others look bad. Lies, therefore, are the product of pride or contempt, both of which are hateful to God.
Why shouldn't you lie? Paul gives two reasons:
1.Because lying belongs to your old life. "Since you have put off the old man with his deeds". When you were saved, you "took off" your old character--the one that spoke and lived deceitfully. The image is taking off old and dirty clothes. If they don't look good, feel good or smell good, why would you put them on? You wouldn't. If you don't keep on wearing dirty clothes, why would you keep on living a dirty life?
2.Because you've got a new and clean life. In Christ Jesus, we become new persons. What kind of persons? Paul tells us. We are "renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him". In other words, believers are re-made in the image of Christ. Is our Lord Jesus a liar? No He isn't. If you bear His image, you'll "quit lying" also.
This "new life" is not shaped by your heredity or customs or social standing. For the Church is neither "Greek nor Jewish, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free". None of the above. Japan may have straightened your hair; hard labor may have bent your back; money may have clipped your accent, but your soul is not shaped by these things. Christ has done that.
This is what it means to be a Christian: It means not dreaming the American dream or living the English way or thinking like an Irishman. It means being a new creature in Christ Jesus. It means, in short: Christ is your "all in all".
If this is true of you, then the rest will follow: You'll "Mortify your uncleanness...Put off your anger...and quit your lying".
CLOSE
Christianity is not a self-help program. The Bible offers no advice on how to live a good or meaningful life without Christ. The Gospel does not offer help, but Christ.
And with Christ comes all the help you need to live a holy life and to die a happy death.
Parents, when it comes to your children, what are you doing to protect them from "fornication, uncleanness" and the like? Are you monitoring their use of the internet? Are you checking up on their friends? Are you telling them to come home early? If so, good! But don't leave it there! The Law can only do so much.
It is the Gospel that purifies the heart and gives them the power to mortify their lusts and to stand up under the world's bombardment. Thus, whatever you teach them about dating and courtship, and so on, make sure you preach the Gospel to them. And live consistently with it. Your kids need protection. But more than that, they need a new life in Christ. Plead with them, pray for them, discipline them, and love them into the Kingdom. And God be with you!
Brethren, what are you doing to "mortify, put off, and quit" your old ways? I know you're trying, but are you doing the right things? One person is praying more. Good! Another is avoiding the places that tempt him. Wonderful! These are good things. But you won't truly "put off the old man and put on the new", until you think--long and hard--about who you are and who you're not. You're not the person you once were--he is crucified with Christ! You're a new person--alive with Christ. It is only as you meditate on these things that you'll have any success over your sins.
For, when it comes to holiness, Christ is enough.
May God teach it to you. And me both. For Christ's sake. Amen.
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