05/20/2022
Title: Not Carnality, but Christlikeness
Scripture for this week's lesson: Colossians 3:1-11
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Set here means to strive for earnestly. Work hard to remain focused on the things above. Concentrate your concerns on the eternal not the temporal. Fix your eyes on what is not seen for the things that are seen are temporary and what is unseen is eternal.
Believers, in Jesus, are Christians. Christians are identified with Christ. We are Christ, followers. We have died and been raised from the dead in Christ. We have been baptized, in the name of Jesus. down with the old man, dead and buried is he/she, and up with the new man, raised up in Christ. We need not continue to revert to the same fleshly meditations of the heart, old behaviors, and have the same mindset, as if we have not accepted Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Paul, in verses 5 and 8, identify the characteristics of humans before
Jesus is accepted in their lives as Lord and Savior. In these verses humans hearts and eyes are not set on Him. Paul name the behaviors of humans before they become children of light. And if we are not careful, walking in carnality will cause these behaviors to resurface in Christians.
Vs. 5: Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to s*xual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
First, believers are to abstain from s*xual immorality. This can include premarital s*x, adultery, homos*xuality, or deviant s*xuality such as be******ty.
Second, Impurity, or spiritual uncleanness. This general sin can refer to many things, such as evil thoughts or actions.
Third, Passion, also translated as "lust, or inordinate affection." These are inappropriate cravings which distract us from the things above, and lead us to commit the sins of immorality and impurity.
Fourth, Evil desire, likely includes wanting things which are wrong, whether s*xual desires or material things.
Fifth, Covetousness, which is idolatry." Jealousy over what others have as a form of idol worship.
Vs.8: But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
First, Anger. Outbursts of uncontrolled anger are not meant to be found in the life of a Christian. Anger in and of itself is not always wrong, but it can lead to much sin. Human anger tends to pop up over issues which are not worth that emotion.
Second, Wrath. Anger is an emotion, wrath is an action. In this context, wrath suggests the idea of revenge, and is sometimes translated as "rage." Paul taught that believers ought to leave wrath to God and not seek revenge on our own terms.
Third, Malice. Desiring to harm another person. "Malice" is a broader term, referring to a general desire to see another person suffer or be harmed. We should not hope for harm to befall others.
Fourth, Slander. Slander is putting down other people or speaking evil against others. This can include insults, lies, harsh speech, or even gossip.
Fifth, Obscene talk. Speech which is or intended to be offensive, is not to be associated with the life of a believer.
Galatians 5: 16-17
I say then; walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Let us model Christlikeness. Deny the dead man. Force the dead man to stay buried; allowing the new man to live in Christ