New Life in Christ

​Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ​Colossians 3:1-2 

It is joyful to dive deep into God’s Word over a period of time! We are headed into Week 7 and I don’t know about you, but my curiosity concerning the church at Colossae continues to grow. I am reminded from these early believers that this walk with Jesus is not easy, but it’s awesome; and I pray that as you open the Word today that He will speak directly to your heart and mind. Much like Paul, I pray you will be captivated by the Love of God through Christ Jesus as we learn what follows our decision to make Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. If He is Lord, then there will be notable change

Paul takes all the things he’s been telling the church in Colossae in chapters 1 & 2 and sums it up in these four verses to begin chapter 3. IF this is true, THEN that should be happening. You’ll find in the NIV and NLT the word ‘if’ is translated ‘since.’ If you are reading from those translations, SINCE this is true, THEN that should be happening. Either way, there is an expectation that follows; the consequence of our decision to follow Christ should be evident.

One of the sections that grabs my attention in chapter 3:5-9 is "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices." 

In verse 5 the word for “put to death” in the Greek is “Nekroo”, and here is the definition: “to put to death, to make dead, to slay, to deprive of power, to destroy the strength of.”

He begins to list those things we should actively put to death; immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and with a special emphasis on greed. In most English versions it is unclear if the word “idolatry” refers to the whole list of things in Colossians 3:5, or just the last item, “greed.”

Thankfully however, the Greek text is clearer, and from it we can see that the word “idolatry” refers only to the last thing on the list, “greed.”

It is important to understand that this text teaches that greed is idolatry. By selfishly desiring to take and/or acquire more than we need, we are elevating ourselves in an unhealthy way. Greed makes us the center of our attention: we spend our money, time, and energy on ourselves, when our attention should be about seeking God and His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33).

The more you and I know Jesus Christ, the more we know Him through His Word, the more we know God by walking closely with Him, we are renewed in the knowledge of Him. Our new self gets to be constantly renewed by knowing Him. That is the power of the gospel. We are not our own! He does not just leave us to our own strength. He will reveal Himself to us continually, if we are seeking Him and setting our mind on things above where Jesus is seated at the Right hand of God – you and I will be renewed and know the new life that He offers!!!
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Pastor Billy