10 Christ, Not Carnal Living – Part 2

Paul had previously been speaking to the young Colossian believers about the necessity to avoid carnal living, by listing various sins they needed to avoid. While he would continue that line of teaching, he would then begin using the imagery of that which we are to “put off” and “put on”.

1 Put off Worldly Things

Colossians 3:8-9

Paul was equating the removal of sinful elements of one’s life, in much the same way, one would remove old tattered grave clothes.

The phrase “put off” suggests a deliberate action.

Interestingly, the sins which Paul had previously discussed, were sinful “actions” that one might engage in. However, now he begins to discuss things which are more often than not, manifest verbally.

• The first thing Paul lists is “anger”. He used the Greek word “orge” which speaks of a slow, simmering emotion.
• Next, he listed “wrath” by using the Greek word “thumos” which is defined as “hot”
• Paul then spoke of the need to remove “malice” which is desiring an overall ill-will towards someone. However, malice may also include taking pleasure at the misfortune of another.
• Paul then listed “blasphemy” as needing to be removed. Blasphemy is to show contempt for God, and those things associated with Him.
• The next sinful thing which required removal, is “filthy language”. The description covers a wide range of communication, beyond just obscene language. It also includes such things as backbiting and defamation of others.

Filthy language, therefore, is both dishonoring of others, and to the Lord who created them.

In verse 9, Paul then concluded the list by stating the believer is to “put off” lying:

Colossians 3:9

While men will often categories lies, even defining some as “little white lies” Scripture presents a very different idea:

Leviticus 19:11

And:

Revelation 21:8

As with all sinful activity and words, lying emanates from man’s sinfully deceitful heart:

Jeremiah 17:9

Paul reiterated that each of these verbal sins are part of one’s old nature, and therefore must be discarded as one would discard old clothing.

2 Put on Spiritual Things

After having discussed those things which are part of the old nature, and which must be “put off” Paul then switched to how the child of God is to be clothed:

Colossians 3:10-11

Pail suggests that the believer is to be clothed in the “new man” which is a subject that he’d addressed earlier in the chapter:

Colossians 3:3

Since Christians have been raised to newness of life in Jesus, our lives are to be modeled after the Lord’s resurrected life. Therefore, the believer is to exchange “grave clothes” for something suitable for their new life.

It is in that sense, the believer is to clothe themselves in Christ, which is what Paul wrote to the Roman believers:

Romans 13:14

Paul continued his instructions to the Colossians, by advising them that they had been “renewed in knowledge…” That statement refers to how as believers we should have a growing desire for God’s Word. And it is by His Word, that God renews us:

Psalm 119:25

And then:

Psalm 119:28

The text in Colossians, shows that the Lord doesn’t simply strengthen and re-charge us, but renews us in His image, which harkens back to Genesis 1:27, where God created man in His image.

Since our old nature may be equated to the first Adam, who then fell into sin, our new nature may therefore be seen in the Second Adam (Jesus).

In verse 11, Paul speaks of how believers are not differentiated by race, ethnicity, nationality, class, or any other distinctives:

Colossians 3:11

The Colossian believers were surrounded by unbelievers, whether those from the Greek and Roman cultures, or the fairly large number of Hebrews who had migrated to the Lycus Valley (where Colossae was located). Therefore, this young church would have been no doubt been viewed unpopularly, and as disaffected minorities of their day.

Next, he spoke of how neither being circumcision nor uncircumcision meant anything in relation to one’s position in Christ.

Paul continued his point, by using two well-known and violent groups, the Sythians and Barbarians as extreme examples of those who might who themselves might come to know Christ.

He then concluded his listings, by mentioning the two classes into which all in the Roman Empire fell, “slaves” and “free”. Paul wanted the Colossians (and therefore all Christians) to understand, that regardless of societal classifications, that those “in Christ” belong to Him, and that all barriers have been broken down because of Him.