Context:
The theme of Paul’s letter
Paul’s
letter to the church at Colossae was written from prison to address heresies,
after being informed by Epaphras, who started the church. Among the heresies
Paul addressed was an inferior view of Christ, philosophies not built on
Christ, legalistic observation of traditions, considering the body evil, and
false teachers claiming to have special insight above Scripture. Chapters
1 & 2 deal with the theological issues mentioned and 3 and 4 with practical
exhortations of living out God’s truth. [CSB Study Bible Commentary] The
focus of this study will center on 3:1-17, how believers are to reflect
Christlike character in their daily lives. {This study was inspired by Mike
Harland's message at the SBC Church Music Conference, in 2024. I am so
grateful for his insights and example he continues to live.}
I. A
New Life [Colossians 3:1-4]
1 So
if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in
glory.
Highlights:
“So
if” = “Since” ➔ “raised
with Christ,” our position now is “in Christ”; however our person is still in the
process of becoming like Him. We are saved but are becoming like Him.
“Seek”
= a choice, an act of the will; then he explains what we
should seek.
“Set
your minds,” emphasis is on “how,” The focus is changing how
we think which leads to a change of actions.
Remember Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,
in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing,
and perfect will. Our true and proper worship that pleases God consists of
our offering our lives to God, based on God’s mercy and grace. As this occurs,
we are transformed as we renew our minds and thoughts in Christ as we worship.
“For
you died” = “why,” we are no longer what we were, but now have
eternal life with Christ and will be with Him in glory.
II.
Therefore: Put Off [Colossians 3:5-11]
5
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these,
God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these
things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following:
anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not
lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10
and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to
the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but
Christ is all and in all.
Highlights:
“Therefore:”
because of your new life in Christ.
“Put
to death” = a choice, an act of the will. Sexual sins, evil desires, &
greed which are idolatry. How are these things “idolatry?” [If we
build our lives on pleasing ourselves we are worshiping ourselves, our focus in
on us.]
“Put
away” = a choice; “Anger” inward feeling, “wrath” external expression,
“slander” truth with the intent of hurt; “do not lie” All of these were evident in their lives
before knowing Christ, now their lives must be different.
“You
are being renewed” The change is a process, as we grow in the knowledge of
Christ and apply it to our lives “In
Christ there is not...”: Old prejudices and natures are not now how we identify
who we are, but our relationship in Christ.
Though
we are “new creatures” in Christ, the old nature, and the previous sinful
desires still exist and are constantly at war with our new nature. Part of
“being renewed” is the continued choice of following Christ and not choosing
the follow the old ways before we knew Christ. The process is ongoing
throughout our lives and culminates in heaven with Christ. Paul’s focus here is
what to “put off;” what follows is what needs to be “put on.”
III.
Therefore: Put On [Colossians 3:12-17]
12
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and
forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the
Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love,
which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which
you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the
word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing
one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with
gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Highlights:
“Therefore
put on” = active act of the will.
Must accompany the “put off;” simply trying to stop something will not
work, we must put something in its place. Where the previous list was of
things that were self-centered, how is this list different? [The
focus is not on pleasing self, but on the needs of others.]
“Bearing
one another” Paul knew that there
would be conflicts, etc., but that the unity of the body was key to
growth.
forgiving
one another” Forgiveness is releasing to God the desired vengeance we want
on those who offend us. Christ forgave us by taking on our sins on the cross;
in forgiveness, we realize that no one could ever do to us a sin greater than
we had done against the sinless Son of God, and then release those offenses to
Him. Forgiveness does not mean, “forgive and forget, that there are no
consequences or acceptance of sinful behavior. Forgiveness is not a feeling we
have, but an act of releasing the deserved punishment of the offender to God
for Him to handle. It is an act of will; feelings will catch up. We are not to
live by feelings, but by faith. How can
we? Look at Paul's words: Forgive as the Lord forgave you. God forgave us completely, even though we did
not deserve it. He restored fellowship. He chose to do so, He was not driven by
feelings; that’s how we are to forgive. Notice that Paul anticipated that there
would be conflicts among the brethren that would require “bearing one another”
and “forgiving one another.
“Put
on love” unity in the body is impossible without love, which will result in
“peace” and thankfulness. Love is not a feeling but a commitment. It is a
choice, an act of the will. We act in obedience, “in Christ’s love” and most of
the time our feelings will catch up. It is no coincidence that the command to
“put on love” follows “bearing one another and forgiving one another.” Choosing
to do so is an act of love. This will result in “the peace of Christ.”
“And
be thankful” Thanksgiving is a thread that ties all these things together.
Expressing our thanksgiving can help us respond as we have been called to
respond, and bear one another as we are supposed to. Our gratitude to God for
His forgiveness towards us can help us forgive others. Surely, no one has done
to us anything as great as we have done against God: it was for our sin that
Christ suffered and died. Like love, thanksgiving is a choice, one that
literally can help restructure how we think. Worship cannot exist without
gratitude
“Let
the word of Christ dwell” Paul does not change the subject here, but is
outlining a way in which we can accomplish what he has commanded and the
practical aspects of living and working with other believers. God’s Word must
become an integral part of all we are, not just casual readings for
encouragement. Visitors only stay a while, however, if we invite them to come to
live with us, sleep in our house, and eat with our family for an extended
period, then they are “dwelling” with us; they are becoming part of the family.
Paul is commanding us to make the Word an intimate part of our lives. As we
fill our minds with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will use it to renew our
thoughts and minds.
How
do we do that? “in all wisdom” Not a random throwing of things
together, but by teaching and admonishing one another. Wisdom
requires that we know the Word, teach it to others, and do so in a way that
encourages them along the way. Not in a way that is to impress them with how
much we know, but in a way that they find joy in growing more like Jesus and
following His commands.
How
can we do that? Paul gives an unexpected answer: through psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts
Don’t get lost in trying to make fine-line distinctions between these three. Psalms
seem obvious, and we think we understand what “hymns” are, but we need
biblical context to clarify. The word for “hymns” here is the same one used
in Matthew 26:30 when after the Last Supper, they sang a “hymn” and went to the
Mount of Olives. Because this was a Passover meal, they would have followed
what was traditionally done, part of which was to sing out of the Psalms. Many
scholars believe that they would have been singing from Psalm 118, which begins
with “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures
forever.” If you follow the Psalm to verse 24, you find Jesus singing “This is
the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Contemplate those
words as Jesus was facing the torture and the cross. All this is to say, “hymn”
in this context is not a song out of a book, but was just another way of
referring to a “psalm.” Spiritual songs were songs that were ones that
would just spring out of the heart from the Holy Spirit in praise to God. The
point of the three listed in Col. 3:16 is meant to be inclusive: All that we
sing, regardless of the type must be instrumental in putting God’s Word in our
hearts, minds, and lives.
Notice
the direction to who the songs are directed: singing to God with
gratitude in your hearts. All we sing must fulfill the purpose of
building God’s Word in our lives and is done to praise and honor God in a
spirit of gratitude. Paul underscores
this in verse 17: And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Thanksgiving can help bring about unity as we focus on God’s goodness and
greatness, more than our selfish desires.
We can express our thankfulness by singing the Word of God, the message
of the Gospel through the songs we sing. And just in case we might have
forgotten something, Paul concludes with “and whatever you do...” do it
as if Christ, Himself were doing it and give thanks. Paul & Silas give the
example when in chains in jail at Phillipi: they were singing and praising God,
so powerful was their singing that after the earthquake, the other prisoners
did not leave and the prison guard gave his life to Christ. This is the power
of singing God’s Word in praise and thanksgiving.
So
what? This is good information, but what do I do now?
1. The
focus of our growth in Christ is choosing to refocus the way we think to
conform to Christ’s nature & character.
2.
Choosing God’s way is an act of the will that not just rejects an older
lifestyle that was contrary to Christ’s nature, but instead replaces it with
responses that reflect His compassion, bearing one another, and forgiveness.
3. As we
change our responses from selfish ones to loving ones, the body of Christ finds
unity and peace.
4. Our
worship must center itself around our gratitude for who Christ is and what He
has done, not our desires.
5. The
songs we sing must deepen our knowledge of God’s Word, singing with a grateful
heart.
6.
Examine how you relate to others; does it exemplify what Paul lists in verse
12: “put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another” ?
How
can worship leadership do this?
1.
Review the songs to be sung, asking the question, “How does this song
glorify God and put God’s Word in our hearts?
2. Check
songs for theological or questionable theology. We must know what God’s Word
teaches to do this.
3. Ask
ourselves the reason why are we singing this song. “Is our choice driven more
by the fact we like the music or its teaching?”
4.
Review what is being taught through the music during the year. Organize the
list according to topics. “Are there areas of teaching that are missing?”
5. Plan
how songs are rotated, how new songs are introduced, and how often repeated. It
generally takes several times before a “new” song can be sung by the
congregation easily. Singing new songs every week will keep them from singing.
Worship Teams practice the songs so much that it is easy for them to forget
that the congregation does not know them that well.
6. Are
the songs congregationally friendly, that is, are they easy for the
congregation to sing; not too high or low?
7.
Schedule a time when you evaluate what is sung.
8.
Involve younger players and singers as a means of training in leading and the
process of reviewing songs for worship.
9.
Leadership must regularly do a self-evaluation to review their motives, how
they are leading, and their general emotional health.
10. Each
leader should have a personal spiritual health check every year, checking on
emotional health as well as personal spiritual growth.
Resources:
Cherry,
Constance. The Worship Architect, Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2010.
Kauflin,
Bob. Worship Matters. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008.
Putman,
Rhyme. The Method of Christian Theology: A Basic Introduction. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2021.
Putman,
Rhyme. When Doctrine Divides the People of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2020.
Scazzero,
Pete. The Emotionally Healthy Leader. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015.
Scazzero,
Pete. Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,
2021.
Sharp,
Michael, and Argile Smith. Holy Gathering: A Leader’s Guide for Engaging the
Congregation in Corporate Worship. Denver, CO: Outskirts Press, Inc., 2009.
Steele,
Ed. Worship HeartCries: Personal Preparation for Corporate Worship. 2nd
ed. North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2016.
