Colossians 3 and 4

A quick review.

The first thing to keep in mind is to whom this book is written.

Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to show you how the NIV translates this verse and show you that the NIV is correct from the interlinear.

Colossians 2:2 To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

As you can see from the interlinear the NIV has it correct. Colossians is addressed to faithful brothers and sisters.  That is us. 

We also learned Christ is the head of the body in fact he was placed ahead of everything else.

In chapter 2 we learn our hearts are to be knit together in love

We then learned not to become the headless Christian.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

We also learned not to be beguiled out of our reward.

Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let's look at the end of Colossians 2 to get some context before we start 3

Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Someone asked the other night what rudiments meant. It is the Greek word stoicheiōn, It is a noun which means principles The NAS translates it to the elementary principles.

We are not to be subject to the rules of men, angels, or anything we are to walk in the spirit including what was said in the epistles in places like Romans 12, Ephesians 4, as well as the rest of the epistles. So with all this in mind let's go to Colossians 3, and 4

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

The word seek means, Strong's No. 2212 zētéō – properly, to seek by inquiring; to investigate to reach a binding (terminal) resolution; to search, "getting to the bottom of a matter."

We are to look for those things which are above and it is explained why in the next verse.

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.

This is our old nature. This is the nature Romans 12:1, 2 starts to correct.  We have a new scheme we follow a new course now. We are no longer set to the course of this world. We are now set on the course we are given in Ephesians 1-3. We are God's masterpiece. He made us acceptable Ephesians 1:6 We have redemption in his blood.1:7 and it goes on and on. Most Christians live so far below par they are still wondering if they will be saved or thinking they are superior to everyone else because they are justified by their actions which Colossians 2 calls deluded thinking. We have been saved by grace and not works they don't want to be saved by grace because they cannot boast then about how they saved themselves, more deluded thinking. We need to think the thoughts of the word no matter how much we don't wish to at times.

8 But now ye also put off all  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;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythians, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

We are right back into Ephesians 4 with these verses. We will always be drawn back to Ephesians when we are reading Colossians it's whole purpose is to take us back to there because these Christians had gone off onto their paths or were beguiled to do that. 

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Again right back into Ephesians.

This next section is very similar to that in Ephesians 6:1-9. Again a part of the correctional drawing you back into the doctrinal epistle.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

No matter what we are doing at work at home here we are to do things to the very best of our ability. It is our job to give it our best shot.

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goes

I was working as a waiter and a person told me treat each customer as if they were Jesus Christ. That was 40 years ago I have tried ever since to maintain that level. I have not always done that but I have always tried do that. It is part of the doing your best for God because he gave his best for you.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Now someone stuck a big 4 here which if you keep reading does not belong here. The thoughts in the beginning of four are a continuation of what ended in three.

Chapter 4

1Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

It is unfortunate but many companies do not operate this way. They want you to kill yourself for slave wages. Many companies also do pay a day's wages for a days work. Either way if you are being paid to do something and you agreed to it then give it your best effort or find someplace else to work.

Click here to see interlinear for 4:1

The words "that which is just" are the word  dikaion it means correct, righteous, by impl. innocent. Equal is isotēta. we get the word Isosceles an Isosceles triangle has two equal sides 

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 

There we have prayer again and thanksgiving. 

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 

 glory of the Lord!

If you want something to pray for maybe you should pray for doors of utterance to open for all believers. That we can find those that want to find God.

The above is not what we should teach but Romans - Thessalonians. With us we look in a mirror and behold the glory of the lord!!

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Again going back to Ephesians:

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We need to realize our time is limited. Christ is going to have the Archangel call and blow that trumpet and we will meet the Lord in the air we will no longer be able to get anymore rewards. We have a golden chance here to do things, and give it our all so when the day comes you will hear "well done my child".

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

God will even give you the words you need in any situation.

Then he ends it with the salutation from the believers.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 

12 Epaphras, who is oneof you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his 

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. {Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

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