The Christian Walk

Increasing in the Knowledge of Christian Behavior

Book of Colossians 3:1-11

Behavior simply is our manner of behaving. How are we to behave as Christians?

In our hearts, most of us know how we are supposed to behave but the truth is, only when we are right with God will we know how to behave!

When we see the word "if" then there is a condition that must be met. This is another word that teaches us how to study the Scriptures.

We need to watch out for the "therefores" and the "wherefores" and the "ifs" and the "buts" and other words where the Bible itself will teach us how to study it.

The word "if" also sometimes ask the question "whether or not".

One of the questions we should always ask is, who is the speaker and who is the speaker, speaking to.

So, let’s begin:

*****Col 3:1 "If" ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

We would be rude here and we would ask; are you saved? To be risen with Christ is to be saved!

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This means we are not to walk like we use to walk before me met Jesus Christ!

If we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, then our old flesh is dead, just as Jesus Christ was raised by the Holy Spirit, we are also raised by the Holy Spirit to new life, and we should walk in newness of life!

When the Lord Jesus Christ was raised in that glorified body, after 40 days He ascended back into Heaven, where He is sitting on the right hand of God, because He is the right hand of God.

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

So, to answer the question, "IF" we are now Christians we need to seek those things from above and not seek any of the things of this world!

In a "new life" in Jesus Christ we are to be dead to this world and it should show in our behavior.

We should remember Paul is dealing with some false teaching that has entered into this church at Colossae.

The answer always for the Christian can be found in Jesus Christ, who is always just rejected or set aside as a prophet or an angel or some other lower class and not the Creator who is God, by those who know no better!

To walk in newness of life is to follow in the ways of Jesus Christ!

So, everyone who can say they are a believer should ask themselves, "am I risen with Jesus Christ"?

If so then we are to look toward Heaven with our prayers and help with our Bible study.

*****Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, "not" on things on the earth.

Paul reminds us all the commandment of the Lord.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord Jesus Christ said you could throw away all the 613 laws to the Jews and all the laws of mankind, if we would only obey these two laws.

We see these two laws are not hard to understand.

Our affection should be that of love and not just any love, but the love that Jesus Christ has shown to us.

We should also know that all the things that remain in Heaven are perfect!

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

In other words, we must think like Christ thinks.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We sometimes just forget the marvelous miracle of our salvation and it is a miracle!

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

How can we ever think that the things of this world can compare to Heavenly things?

*****Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We may ask, how can this be?

First, we must realize the wages of our sin:

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is "eternal life" through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next, since the Lord Jesus Christ has already paid these wages with His own life then we are alive forever but still dead to sin according to this Scripture.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, then we are joined to Him in such a way that we are separated from our former self and dead to the world!

In one way it is dead to the world and in another way, it is a resurrection to a new life (born again) that cannot die!

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

It was the death of Christ that paid the debt of our own sin!

It was the resurrection of Christ that raises all believers up to new life!

It was by the ascension of Christ that we received the gift of the Holy Spirit!

**The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us the power to live victorious lives.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

**The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees our own resurrection.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

**The resurrection of Christ, gives us the assurance that God will judge this world by His Son, Jesus Christ.

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

**The resurrection of Christ gives us a "living hope", the hope of glory.

*****Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Since we are dead to this world and no longer condemned to the wages of sin, then we are to look up and seek the things of Christ and of Heaven.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Since we are hid in Christ, then God can only see the life of His Son when He looks upon us!

Without these things we can never know the Living God!

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

There can be no doubt that God and the Lord and the Savior are all one and the same person!

Since the Lord is already in the presence of God, and when God looks upon us He sees that we are hid in Christ, "then God has already accepted the fact that we will one day be in His presence!

All these things are true so, when we are still left upon this earth it is to tell the world "How Great Is Our God"!

We know that God takes many of us home whenever He decides it is more important for them to be in Heaven, but when God takes the Church home as a group it will happen very quickly!

1Co_15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This change takes place if we go by the rapture or if God takes us home one at a time!

What does the Lord Jesus Christ promise to us all that believe upon Him?

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

But notice again that word "If", which is a conditional word. "If" we keep the sayings of Jesus Christ.

We this does not just mean the red letters in our New Testament.

But this kind of blows all religions out of the water who reject Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible!

As believers, God says just wrap your mind around these things and live like you believe it to be true, because it is!

Those that go to Heaven one at a time will simply return with the Lord when He returns to get His Church!

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, "even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him".

To sleep in Jesus only means that old body of flesh that went to the grave when the soul returned to the Heaven!

All other graves are full of old men's bones that will not rise until the "white throne judgment".

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This day will be so sad because each and every one of these had made a personal choice to reject the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible!

So, what does God tell us to do until He returns?

*****Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Notice that word mortify, this word is the thought behind the word "Mortuary". A mortuary is a place to make plans for your own funeral and view those dead bodies of flesh.

God says to go ahead and treat that body of flesh like it is dead to this world and dead to sin.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to fornication. Fornication is all sort of sexual intercourse outside the bonds of marriage.

This term can also be used symbolically in forsaking God and following after idols.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to uncleanness. Uncleanness can be said to be anything that defiles us in the eyes of God.

This would include all manner of immorality!

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to inordinate affection. Inordinate affection could be an inordinate affection for the things of this world. An inordinate passion, or a zealous attachment to this world.

It can also be a desire for fame, but it can also mean vile affections for others.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to evil concupiscence. This is to covet after, lust after, desire the things of this world, but it can also include an irregular desire for sexual pleasure.

Coveting carnal things rather than moral things. That word evil makes these things even worse.

A person who already has bad qualities has also become concupiscent.

These are those who have specifically chosen to live a life of evilness!

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to covetousness which is "idolatry" and an extreme desire to obtain something that belongs to someone else and placing these things above the Word of God, which says do not covet!

God is very specific about these things and all we see today is a world dominated by these things!

We can see that God has high demands for the Christian.

God has already told us what this world consists of: 1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

God has now told us that these are those who are disobedient! Ignoring the Word of God and rejecting the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

The Church will not see the wrath of God, so these are those who will be left on this earth after the Rapture of the Church!

What a world to live in. Satan, the coward, will finally come out into the open as the Antichrist to rule these who are left behind!

He did not want these people to see him flee for the steadfast Christian!

Then the Lord says look back at what you once were and how you have grown to distance yourself from all these things!

To be a Christian does not make us any better than anyone else, but by the "Grace" of God!

*****Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We certainly should be able to describe a sinner because each of us are still sinners but now saved by the "Grace" of God.

As Christians we must never see sin as pleasure but only as deadly poison because this is a better description and yes this means your own little pet sin, no matter what it is!

This includes sins of the heart!

Some of us do not see anger as a sin but it can be if you allow it to simmer.

Eph_4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

When anger becomes wrath or malice, it is certainly sin.

When we are angry, our wisdom is lost.

When we angry, we just do not think right.

When we are angry, we will quench the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.

There are also all sorts of sins of the mouth.

Evil speaking such as slander is also sin.

Blasphemy is any words we say that can cause injury to someone else.

Certainly, filthy communications and lying are sin

Perfect love will cast away all these things! The love as Jesus Christ loves, and the love like the love of God for this evil world.

The Bible says: for God "so loved" this world He sent His Son

*****Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We tend to always go back to the Ten Commandments which is great, but we also seem to forget how the Lord has simplified all the commandments in the Word of God and all man-made laws.

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord has taken great pains to ensure that we have the truth and it is a slap to His face, when we tell lies to anyone, but especially our brothers and sisters.

We must never forget these words of Jesus as He describes His enemies.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Having put off the old man of sin and having put on the new man, why would we still lie and do the things we have vowed to Jesus that we would not do?

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts, we are to accept His character, His ways and His words!

Remember, The Lord Jesus Christ is the "express image" of His Father in Heaven and as Christians, we are "Born Again", renewed in knowledge after the image of him, that created him!

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We cannot yet be perfect, but we can be in a mode of continuous renewal.

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

That old outward man that we went to the mortuary to make plans for his burial should not now interfere with what we do daily. he should have no influence on our new life!

We must remember what God said when He made man.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

When we experience the new birth just like the Lord Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit then we are "Born Again" by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

The Son of God has given life to all believers!

Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

So, then the Holy Spirit regenerates God's people!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We should understand that all the prophecies of the Messiah had a purpose in our own renewal.

We must understand that every step that the Lord Jesus took when He was upon this earth had a profound purpose in restoring us to be in harmony with God.

Therefore, the truest statement to the unbeliever is still these words:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It is all these things that being "Born Again" is all about. Christians returning to the original plan of God!

Before the tower of Babel there was only one people. When they rejected the Lord, God caused them to be many separate people in order for them to learn from the mistakes they had made.

As Christians we again all become one people!

*****Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

As Christians it matters not what we used to be!

It matters not what we are external!

Circumcision matters not, uncircumcision matters not, because the Laws of Moses have been fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

The circumcised were the Jews.

The uncircumcised were the Gentiles.

The Greeks were the Greeks. (philosophers) 1Co_1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom

The Barbarians were those Gentiles, who were not Greeks.

The Scythian were the most barbarous of all Gentile barbarians.

Those in bondage were slaves to anyone.

You see the ground is level at the cross because Jesus Christ is all we need and because when Jesus Christ comes into our hearts we are all one people in God!

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

When we have come to this point in our new lives, it is then that we can be of the most use to God!

Amen