A. Text: Col. 3:1-4.
B. Lucille Ryle, of Kansas City, Missouri, became a
Christian at age 79. At 80, she delighted to say that she was
1 year old!
C. Too few Christians understand, as did this lady, that
becoming a Christian is the beginning of a new life.
D. When Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, he had much
to say about the "new man" and his conduct.
E. In this lesson, we will be asking the question: what is the new man, and why is he to live a new life?
A. New goals -
3:1.
1. The Christian is to "seek those things which are
above."
2. Before, his highest ambitions were earthly — now, they
are heavenly - Mt. 6:33; Rom. 2:7.
B. New thoughts
- 3:2.
1. "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the
earth."
2. The Christian’s thoughts are to dwell on spiritual
concerns - Mt. 6:19-21; 16:23; 2 Cor. 4:17,18; Phil.
4:8.
C. New habits -
3:5-16.
1. The Christian is to
get rid of certain things: "Therefore put to death your members
which are on the
earth" (3:5).
a. 3:5 - fornication
(immorality, sexual sin).
b. 3:5 - uncleanness
(impurity, dirty-mindedness).
c. 3:5 - passion
(inordinate affection, lust).
d. 3:5 - evil desire
(evil concupiscence, foul cravings).
e. 3:5 -
covetousness/idolatry (greed).
f. 3:8 - anger
(long-nourished anger).
g. 3:8 - wrath
(rage, the blaze of temper).
h. 3:8 - malice
(ill-will, spitefulness).
i. 3:8 - blasphemy
(slander, insults).
j. 3:8 - filthy
language (abusive speech, foul-mouthed abuse).
k. 3:9 - lying.
2. The Christian is to
obtain certain other things.
a. 3:12 - tender
mercies (tenderness of heart, tender affections of compassion).
2
b. 3:12 - kindness
(graciousness, generosity).
c. 3:12 - humbleness
of mind (lowliness, modesty).
d. 3:12 - meekness
(gentleness, considerateness).
e. 3:12 -
longsuffering (patience, endurance).
3. The Christian is to conduct himself properly toward
fellow Christians.
a. 3:13 -
forbearance and forgiveness.
b. 3:14 - love.
This is the characteristic that binds all the others together in harmony.
c. 3:15 - peace.
Christ is to be our "arbiter."
d. 3:16 - mutual
teaching and admonition in song. Christ is to richly dwell within us.
D. New authority to
be respected - 3:17.
1. All is to be done "in the name of the Lord Jesus."
2. Before, he served his own self-will — now, the
Christian serves the Lord alone. Cf. 1 Pt. 3:15.
A. The Christian is to live a new life because he
possesses a new hope - 3:3,4.
1. The Christian has "died" with Christ and has been
raised with Him to new life - v.3. Cf. Col. 2:12.
2. His new life is "hidden with Christ in God" (v.3).
3. He has a new hope: "When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory"(v.4). Cf. 1 Pt. 5:4.
B. The hope of eternal life affects our life here and now
for several reasons. Cf. 1 Pt. 1:3.
1. Hope causes a person to love the Lord - 1 Pt. 1:8. Cf.
1 Jn. 2:28.
2. Hope causes a person to want to be like God - 1 Pt.
1:13-15. Cf. 1 Jn. 3:2,3.
3. Hope causes a person to be careful not to lose his hope
- 1 Pt. 1:17; 2 Pt. 1:10,11. Cf. Col. 3:5,6.
4. Hope causes a person to be thankful for the sacrifice
that made it possible - 1 Pt. 1:18,19. Cf. Phil.3:18-21.
