Colossians 3:1-17

The actions of believers do not always match that which we profess to believe. Paul addresses the disconnect between belief and action in his epistle to the Colossians.

“If ye then be risen with Christ . . .” (v. 1). There is no “if” in believing. Believers are risen in Christ. Realizing and accepting the fact that Christ suffered physical death for us links us to His resurrection. His death and resurrection cannot be separated. When one accepts His sacrificial death, one dies with Christ and one is made alive because He is risen. We are risen with Him because the Father sees the righteousness of the Son — a righteousness sufficient for all who believe and all who shall ever believe.

The Son sits at the right hand of the Father (Ps. 110:1). Because the Son is above, we should seek those things which are above — things supplied by God the Father. There is a disconnect between belief and action when believers do not seek things which are above.

While Paul penned this epistle with the needs of the church at Colossae in mind, he addresses believers in every era and in every setting because believers fail to seek that which God supplies — supplies in abundance. We set our affections upon earthly things and not upon things above.

In verse 5, Paul instructs believers to put body parts which are home to sins of the flesh to death. This is not an instruction to harm one’s flesh; it is an instruction to put sin to death. Because we are dead with Christ, we are to exercise control over our bodies and desires. If we allow fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and idolatry to be manifested in our lives, we do not show that we are joined to Him in death. We show that we are joined with Him by putting off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications and lies (v. 8).

We are to set our affections upon things above—things which have standing with God. Things above do not tarnish or diminish with time. Things above have an eternal quality which things of this world lack. We are to put off the old man (v. 9) and put on the new man (v. 10). Putting off and putting on involves a change of appearance. We change appearance when we change clothes. The clothes of the old man are to be totally discarded. The clothes of the new man sparkle because they reveal things above. They are clothes which reveal Christ. There is one covering for all (v. 11). There is no division in Christ.

In verse 12, Paul describes the clothes of the elect and urges us to appear as the elect are. We are to clothe ourselves in bowels of mercies (Christlike inward affections), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and long-suffering. We are to forebear and forgive one another. We are to exhibit Christ one to another (v. 13). Above and beyond these things we are to exhibit charity (the active love of God). Again, we are to put on the new man. The new man reveals the things which God has done.

In being risen with Christ, we are made new by belief which God counts as righteousness. The disconnect between belief and action disappears when we put on the new man.

The new man is everything that God intended man to be. The Apostle lists divisions of men, but there is no division in Christ. Everyone is the same and all can experience the relationship with God that He intends. All is made possible by Christ because we are joined to Christ in a new life.

Being what God intends us to be means letting the peace of God rule our hearts. God’s ruling peace is to characterize the church (one body to which all are called). Verse 15 ends with “be ye thankful.” Thanklessness is manifest in taking things for granted. We are not to take God’s blessings for granted. We should thank God for all things, big and small. We should thank Him for correction. The new man is a thankful man.

In verse 16, Paul admonishes us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom. We show that we are joined to Christ by letting His word dwell in us. When His word dwells in us, we have cause for rejoicing — cause for singing and praising God. We are, singularly and collectively, containers too small to hold the word of Christ. We are to spill His word upon others and each other. His word is to flow from us in teaching, in psalms and hymns and in spiritual songs. Letting His word dwell in us is to be both internal and external. When His peace rules, we show that we are joined with Him by doing all things in His name and by giving thanks to God the Father by Him.

Let us realize the fullness of what Christ has done. Reaching out to others as Christ has reached out to us is proof of that realization. Let us both walk and talk. Let there be no disconnect.