Sunday School Lesson, February 17th, 2013 Clothed in Christ, Colossians 3:5-17

In Paul's writing, theology is always followed by a call to live it out. For Paul, doctrine demands duty; creed determines conduct; facts demand acts. For example, in the book of Ephesians, the first three chapters are given to highest theology, only to be followed with this practical call in Ephesians 4:1—"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." This call introduces the remainder of the book.

Similarly, the magisterial theology of Romans 1-11 culminates in this great doxology: "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:36). This is followed by a most practical call: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1).

We have the same thing here in Colossians, where the sublimely esoteric theology of Chapters 1 and 2 spawns the challenge in 3:5—"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature." For Paul, doctrine demands duty; creed determines conduct; facts demand acts.

We turn now from the positive to the negative. There are some people who do not like the negative. "Give us positive doctrines!" they say. "Forget about negative warnings and admonitions!" But the negative warnings and commands grow out of the positive truths of Christian doctrine. This is why Paul wrote, "Mortify therefore."

No amount of positive talk about health will cure a ruptured appendix. The doctor will have to "get negative" and take out the appendix. No amount of lecturing on beauty will produce a garden. The gardener has to pull weeds! The positive and the negative go together, and one without the other leads to imbalance.

It appears that the greatest problem among the Christians at Colossae and the surrounding area was one of sexual sins. Most of the sins listed were things involving sex, except for greed.

The word "fornication" or immorality (porneia) includes sex between a man and women who are not married to each other, or two persons who are of the same sex. The Greek word used here is the word that produced our English word pornographic or pornography. Paul’s challenge to his readers is to put to death pornographic sexual relationships.

Paul also used the word "uncleanness" or "impurity" as something to be put to death. The word "uncleanness "or "impurity" (akatharsia) speaks of the impurity of lustful living.

The word "passion" or "inordinate affection" (pathos) means to suffer. It is an affection of the mind. This word speaks of uncontrolled desire. In the words "evil concupiscence" or "evil desires" (epithumia), Paul was dealing with a longing for what is forbidden.

In the word "greed" or "covetousness" (pleonexia), Paul was speaking of a desire to have more without any regards for the rights of others. It suggests that a person will go after what he or she wants and will not consider the pain and agony it will cost others.

Paul let his readers know that the sins of the flesh will incur the wrath of God. The word "wrath" (orge) means anger, temper, movement or agitation of the soul. It speaks of anger exhibited in punishment.

After warning us against the sensual sins-, Paul then pointed out the dangers of the social sins (Col. 3:8-9). Dr. G. Campbell Morgan called these "the sins in good standing." We are so accustomed to anger, critical attitudes, lying, and coarse humor among believers that we are no longer upset or convicted about these sins. We would be shocked to see a church member commit some sensual sin, but we will watch him lose his temper in a business meeting and call it' "righteous indignation."

The picture here is that of a person changing clothes: "Put off... put on" (Col. 3:9-10). This relates to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1); for when He arose from the dead, Jesus Christ left the graveclothes behind (John 20:1-10). He had entered into a glorious resurrection life and had no need for the graveclothes. Likewise, when Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus instructed the people to "loose him, and let him go" (John 11:44).

We've all heard the old adage, "You are what you eat." You might want to add another, "You are what you wear." There is actually a term today called "clothes cognition" which is used to describe the connection between clothing, psychology and conduct. As strange as that might sound to us "clothes cognition" is really about the clothes you wear and having them direct who you are and how you act in the world.

When we are putting on a particular piece of clothing, we are not only giving impressions to other people, but we are also giving an impression to ourselves. We feel the fabric on our arms; that allows us to take on the characteristics of those clothes. Whether or not "clothes cognition" means anything to you personally, there really is something to being "Clothed in Christ."

This covers the section of "PUTTING OFF" but you are not complete until you PUT ON! The emphasis in this section is on motives. Why should we put off the old deeds and put on the qualities of the new life? God willing, I will address that in the next blog.

Owens