1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:1-9 (KJV)
Instructions for Pursuing a Heavenly Life (Colossians 3:1-2)
In Greek, “if” can also mean a fulfilled condition. Since or in light of the fact that you have been risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.
He gives two instructions for pursuing the heavenly life:
- Seek heavenly things.
It means that our ambitions, interests and attitudes and our whole outlook on life are to be molded by our relation to him. - Set your mind (affection) on heavenly things.
Benefits for Pursuing the Heavenly Life (Colossians 3:3-4)
- You are dead to your old self. (verse 3a, 1 Peter 2:11)
- You are secure in Christ. (verse 3b)
- You have Christ as your life source. (verse 4a)
Requirements for Living the Heavenly Life (Colossians 3:5-9)
Notice, there are two sets or lists of sins noted between:
Sin List #1: Personal Sins (Colossians 3:5-7, 1 Corinthians 6:15-17)
- Uncleanness – harboring in one’s mind impure thoughts that present themselves as sexually immoral acts.
- Inordinate affection – depraved passion and desires and is a focus on one’s emotions
- Evil concupiscence – concupiscence is another word for desires. This is someone with evil desires and can include any form of wicked practices that are generated from our base or carnal nature.
- Covetousness (Idolatry) – never satisfied but always wanting more. This is the elevation of selfish desires that seek to gratify the flesh and becomes an idol because it controls the person who practices it.
Action to be taken: Mortify or subdue them.
Consequence for practicing sin list #1:
- The wrath of God, 1 John 5:16 says there is a sin unto death.
- Considered rebellious by God (children of disobedience).
Sin List #2: Social Sins (Colossians 3:8-9)
These might be called the “sins in good standing.” They are the typical sins that we regularly and sometimes un-convictingly commit. These are the sins we tolerate.
- Anger – a deep smoldering resentful bitterness
- Wrath – a sudden and explosive outburst of anger It’s not the long slow burn or extended attitude of bitterness but the sudden reaction of rage in the flash of the moment.
- Malice – the attitude of ill-will toward another person.
- Blasphemy – when directed towards people this word describes slander when towards God it is blasphemy. (Proverbs 18:8)
- Filthy communication – refers to obscene and foul-mouthed speech that is purposefully abusive and hurtful. It goes without saying that those of us who name the name of Christ should never let this. (Ephesians 4:29) (Colossians 4:6). Our speech is always to be with grace seasoned with salt that we may know how to answer every man. (Proverbs 18:21) (Matthew 12:36)
- Lying – to speak something other than the truth. (Proverbs 12:22)
Action to be taken: Put them off get rid of them like an old suit of clothes.