Rev. John Rollyson
Colossians 3:12-17
15 February 2009
Morning Service
The Believer’s Character
Introduction:
(Puzzle Story)
Salvation is not a matter of improvement or perfection of what has previously existed. It is total transformation. The New Testament speaks of believers having a new mind, a new will, a new heart, a new inheritance, a new relationship, new power, new knowledge, new wisdom, new perception, new understanding, new righteousness, new love, new desire, new citizenship, and many other new things—all of which are summed up in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
According to 2 Cor 5:17, at the new birth a person becomes “new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come”. - It is not simply that he receives something new but that he becomes someone new. In Gal. 2:20, Paul says…
I. God’s Love is the Bond of perfection Vs.14
“Above” could also be translated as upon. Paul is talking about all of the qualities that are mentioned in verses 12 and 13 and is encouraging the believers to put on, over all of these things: love. Love will be the one thing that will hold all of these others together. The picture that Paul is using here is one of clothing: we would put on a coat, and it would cover all of our other clothes, in the same way, if we have Christ, then we have His love and it will cover us and will fuse with all of these other qualities and will hold them all together. Love is the most important moral quality in a believer’s life, and it is the very glue that produces unity in the church. As believers we will never bear with one another, or forgive one another, if we do not love one another. (KJV/ Charity/agape)
This love/charity, is described as the “bond of perfection”, it perfectly holds kindness, humility, patience together. Greek scholar Wuest notes “that in which all of the virtues are so bound together that perfection is the result, and not one of them is wanting to that perfection.” Our English word for perfection is from a Greek word which means complete, or, in good working order. These verses are a description of the Christian whose life is in good working order as a result of the fullness of the Spirit.
The Great philosopher Plato: “Two things cannot be held together without a third; they must have some bond of union. And the fairest bond is that which most completely fuses and is fused into the things which are bound.” (God’s love is the perfect bond that makes these others usable)
Paul said in Romans 13:10 that “love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.” To try to practice the virtues of 3:12–13 apart from love is legalism. They must flow from love, which in turn is a fruit of the Spirit-filled life (Gal. 5:22). Nothing is acceptable to God if not motivated by love (1 Cor. 13:1–3), including knowledge (Phil. 1:9), faith (Gal. 5:6), and obedience (John 14:15). (Can you preach?)
II. God’s Peace Should Rule our Hearts Vs.15
1. As a church as well as individually
The Greek word for peace includes both the concept of an agreement, and that of an attitude of rest or security. Both aspects are in view here. Objectively, believers are at peace with God: Romans 5:1,“Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” . The conflict between the believer and God is over, and the treaty was paid for by the blood of Christ. Because of that, believers are at rest, and secure. Paul told the Philippians in chapter 4, verse 7, that the “peace of God… shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Here he calls it the peace of Christ because it is the peace He brings:
John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. “
The Greek word for Rule was used to describe the activity of an umpire in deciding the outcome of an athletic contest. This tells us that the peace of Christ guides believers in making decisions. Lightfoot says, “Wherever there is a conflict of motives or impulses or reasons, the peace of Christ must step in, and decide which is to prevail.” First Corinthians 6:17–18 provides an excellent example of this: “The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality.” It is our union with the Lord that compels us to purity. Sin offends Christ, with whom believers are at peace, and thereby destroys the rest and security in our hearts.
Peace is not only objective and subjective, but also relational. Believers were called to live in peace in one body. Individuals who have peace with Christ and in their own hearts will live in unity and harmony with each other. Disunion in the body is incompatible with the peace of the individual members. (We should be thankful for God’s peace)
2. We should constantly be thankful
To maintain a peaceful heart one has to be thankful. Thankfulness is a constant theme in Colossians (all 4 chapters). Appreciation comes naturally to believers in response to all God has done (1 Thess. 5:18, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”) On the other hand, ingratitude marks unbelievers. A spirit of humble gratitude toward God will inevitably affect our relations with others. Peace and gratitude are thus closely linked.
III. God’s Word Should be at Home in Our Hearts Vs. 16
1. With Wisdom
The word of Christ is the word spoken by Christ, the revelation that He brought into the world, which we have in our Bibles. The virtues that we have already learned about: peace and thankfulness, as well as unity and love, surge from a mind that is has a knowledge of scripture. “Knowledge has a powerful influence on faith.” Dwell is from a word that translated means literally, “to be at home”. Paul is calling upon believers to let the Word take up residence and be at home in their lives.
Richly could also be translated “abundantly or extravagantly rich.” The truths of Scripture should so permeate every aspect of the believer’s life that it will govern every thought, word, and deed. To do those things, the Christian must read, study, and live the Word. To let the word of Christ richly dwell is identical to being filled with the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18). The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the Spirit turns the will. It is clear that these two concepts are identical because the passages that follow each are so similar.
To have the Word dwelling richly is to be controlled by His Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the author and the power of the Word, the expressions are interchangeable.
Paul then mentions two specific results of the Word of Christ dwelling in the believer, one positive and the other negative: with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another. Teaching is the sharing of positive truth. Admonishing is the negative side of teaching. It means to warn people of the consequences of their behavior. Both are the result of a life overflowing with the Word of Christ. (Knowing God’s word will help us know how to serve Him/ John)
Having the Word of Christ richly dwell in us produces not only information, but also emotion. It generates psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Psalms were taken from the Old Testament psalter, the book of Psalms. They sang psalms put to music, much as we do today. Hymns were expressions of praise to God. It is thought that some portions of the New Testament (Such as Col. 1:15–20 and Phil. 2:6–11) were originally hymns sung in the early church. Spiritual songs emphasized testimony (cf. Rev. 5:9–10). They express in song what God has done for us.
Scholars are divided on whether chariti (thankfulness) should be translated “thankfulness” (As in the NIV and NASB) or “grace” (As in the KJV). Perhaps its use here encompasses both ideas: believers sing out of thankfulness for God’s grace. When Paul tells believers to sing in your hearts he does not mean not to sing with the voice. His concern is that the heart agree with the mouth. We are to praise Him to let Him know how much we love Him and how thankful we are for His grace – His saving grace, that comes as a result of His great love for us! (the Bible means “I love you.”)
