(Col 2:1-3 NKJV)  For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in
Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, {2}that their hearts may be
encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, {3}in
whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 2:3:  
Paul indicates that he has a great conflict concerning them. He indicates that it comes in part
because he has not seen them face to face, but he is therefore all the more concerned for
their welfare in Christ. And his conflict resides in whether or not they are following the true
Gospel of Christ. It is one thing to hear that a person is doing well, quite another to be there
and experience it for yourself. This was Paul's situation as he received word from Epaphras
concerning both their growth in grace, and the threat of false teaching which had arisen.

Paul indicates here what it is that he prays they are doing. 1. That their hearts may be
encouraged. He is not trying to discourage them or reprimand them. Rather, he hopes to be
an encouragement to them to continue in the faith that has been delivered to them.

2. To be joined together in love. The word translated "knit" literally means to force two things
to be joined together. Paul is praying that they would be joined, knit, united together. However,
we must also identify what it is that unites us. Is it doctrine? Is it denomination? Is it what we
know? Paul identifies the uniting element as love, agape love. The perfect love of God
dwelling in us and working through us is what binds us to His body and to each other. In
reality there is not a more mystical union. This was in stark contrast to the union which this
special knowledge was to give according to these false teachers.

3. To be assured in our understanding of this mystery and our acceptance of it. How are we
to do that? Paul says it is because it is in Christ that all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge are hidden. Thus, when we find Christ, we find truth, knowledge, and wisdom.
Jesus Himself said, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6 NKJV) The point is that when we seek Christ,
we find all the knowledge and wisdom we need, while in seeking knowledge and wisdom, it
will not necessarily lead us to Christ. Since it is in Christ that we find our salvation, and not in
knowledge, this distinction is critical to understanding the Faith.

(Col 2:4-7 NKJV)  Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
{5}For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good
order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. {6}As you have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, {7}rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as
you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Col 2:7:  
Paul indicates that he is emphasizing these things for the purpose of helping them to not be
persuaded by right sounding arguments to end up modifying and thus rejecting the faith
which was first delivered to them. There are always those who have new ideas and fine
sounding arguments as to why this could not be so. People always want to add their own
items onto the faith, making it more than it is. It is to some of these which Paul will be
referring to in the next few verses.

Rather, Paul is encouraging them to walk according the Gospel as they first received it. It is
"back to the basics" which Paul is encouraging them to seek after rather than new
philosophies and theories. The faith which is delivered to them, Paul says that they should be
rooted and built up in that. You don't go around changing the ground or soil that has been
growing a plant well. You water it, maybe fertilize it, but you do not dig it out and put some
sand or some other type of soil in it. If you do that, you risk killing off the plant. The inference
is that these teachings are changing the soil which was first given and in which they have
been growing well.

Paul also notes an attitude by which they will be helped to grow in the faith they were initially
given: Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving indicates a contentment in what has been given, so that
additional insights and practices to add to it are not sought after. This does not close the door
on further insight as directed by the Holy Spirit, but we do not seek to replace the Gospel with
something other than what the Bible says it is. It is the "steadfastness in the faith" which is
promoted by an attitude of thanksgiving.

It always starts at the roots. Then what is built from there will be supported and sustained by
it. If the roots are in the wrong thing, so will the plant. It is critical that we get rooted and
grounded in the Gospel of Christ rather than some other man made gospel. We must always
be on guard against false teachings which might lead us from our one true foundation.

(Col 2:8-10 NKJV)  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not
according to Christ. {9}For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; {10}and you
are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Col 2:10:  
Paul warns them of being cheated through philosophy and empty deceit. Is Paul saying that
philosophy is wrong, that we should stay away from it? Actually, there is no way we can not
have a philosophy. Each of us operate under a particular way of looking at reality. Philosophy,
as a science, is the study of how we view and understand that reality. Greece was of course
famous for its philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Many others were around
during this time spanning all sorts of ideas about life and our world. All one needs is a brief
history of the many philosophies of the world to see that ideas abound on this and that
agreement has yet to be reached.

It is no wonder that man has come up with the idea that truth is relevant, for in several
thousand years of philosophy, we are still debating what truth is. Our finite minds will
probably never come to the end of this discussion on this side of eternity. The truth is, if you
want to find someone who will support what you want to believe, you can find them. Truth
seems very relative from our perspective.

It is for that reason that we do not base our salvation on what we can know, a proposition or
truth of some kind, but upon the person of Jesus Christ, the complete representation of God
in bodily form, which has all the truth wrapped up in Him. For if God is all knowing as we
believe, then He knows what the absolute truth of anything is. Our problem is that we cannot
figure it out, because we can never know if we have all the information, and even then if we
are interpreting it correctly. God, on the other hand, has all knowledge and wisdom and
knows absolutely what the truth is. Consequently, by believing and trusting in His Son, Jesus
Christ, who is God in bodily form, we then come to trust in the only place we can find
absolute truth and wisdom. Not in our own minds and reasoning ability, but in God's.

Therefore, there is no information or knowledge or wisdom that can add to what we already
have in Christ. In Him we are complete, not lacking anything. We may not know it all, but He
does. He has all authority and all power. He is the head and we are joined to His body.
Therefore, we only need do and say what our Head tells us to. No more and no less. Any
other additions only detract us from focusing and doing what our Head tells us to do.

One of the greatest challenges you will face is your own doubts. Someone will say something
or come up with a good sounding argument as to why Christianity is wrong or needs to be
modified. At that point, we must make a decision to either trust our own reason and
understanding, or that of Christ's. Are we going to follow His word, or our word? If you haven't
been tested in that way yet, you most likely will someday. It is at that point you must ask,
"What decision will I make and commit myself to now?" Our wisdom is the wisdom and
relativeness of man and our world. We know what that is like and what it accomplishes. Or
you can be complete in Him, who is the full truth and has all wisdom. In Him are hidden the
riches of all wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, put your faith in Him, not your own brain.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your
ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your
bones."    (Prov 3:5-8 NKJV)

(Col 2:11-12 NKJV)  In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
{12}buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the
working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Col 2:12:  
Paul is making some critical distinctions here for us in what the relationship of ritual to heart
and law to salvation are. This was important for the Colossians who were looking at these
laws, circumcision, and rituals of worship as means to add to the grace which Christ had
already gave. Paul has just said that we are complete in Jesus Christ, indicating that there is
nothing else that can add to the grace we have already received. Now Paul wants to define for
them where they are missing it in considering these things as valid ways to enrich and
support their lives.

The first distinction shows up in verses 11 & 12. We have two rituals, one decidedly Jewish
and the other used as a ritual to induct people into the faith. And in both cases, we also have
two spiritual meanings which are communicated by these rituals. Let's explore the
relationships between them.

The ritual of circumcision was the sign of being a true Jew. All Jewish males had to be
circumcised eight days after they were born. This was a ritual which God initiated with
Abraham as a sign of the covenant which He made with Abraham to bless him and his
descendants and be their God. (Gen 17:1-14) Those males who did not get circumcised had
broken the covenant with God and were cut off from His people. Thus in a very literal sense,
if one did not go through with the ritual, one was not part of God's people.

Now we must remember that Paul is talking to Gentiles predominately. Most of them had
never been circumcised. No doubt, even at this late stage of Paul's life, there were still
Jewish Christians trying to convince Gentile Christians that if they wanted all of God, they
would have to be circumcised and submit themselves to the Law of God.

In verse 11, Paul makes it clear that they have been circumcised, not in the literal flesh, but in
the heart. A circumcision made without hands of the flesh. This is not a strange theme, for in
reality the fleshly circumcision was suppose to coincide with a circumcision of the heart, and
that call rings forth from Moses to the Prophets. You can find references to it in Deut 10:16;
30:6, Jer 4:4. Ezekiel and Jeremiah speak of turning the heart of stone into a heart of flesh
and thus establishing a new covenant with His people that would include the Gentiles. (Ezek
11:19-20; 36:25-27; Jer 31:31-33)

Paul makes a clearer case for this in Romans 2:28-29. No longer is a "Jew" or those who are
God's people defined by the outward sign of circumcision, but rather by the inward sign of
circumcision of the heart. This is accomplished not by cutting off the flesh, but by cutting off
the "body of sin" attached to our heart. That body of sin is what is covering us, keeping us
from the perfect holy love of God, and it was the death of Christ on the cross that has
circumcised our hearts and opened us up to God's Spirit.

Verse 12 now makes reference to another ritual, that of induction into the Church of God. We
have generally termed it and other sacraments as "an outward sign of an inward grace".
However, it is really more than that. Rather it is the vehicle of grace which Christ chose to
use. Matt 28:19-20, the Great Commission, emphasize this point. Jesus commands us to go
and make disciples. How? By baptizing them and teaching them. And all through Acts,
whenever anyone was saved or wished to be, they were baptized. The ritual of baptism
symbolizes what is happening in our lives, dying to sin and being raised to new life in Christ.
However, the reason that it is a channel of God's saving grace is not because of the ritual
itself, but because God has ordained that it is.

Now many do not see baptism as conveying any grace, but simply as a testimony to the grace
already present in a person. That is true, to an extent, in that for the person who has
accepted the grace of God offered, He is in God's hands and mercy. Yet the ritual of baptism
makes that grace "official" in our lives, thus it completes the grace given at conversion.
Historically we have shied away from saying that it conveys grace, because we feared that
people would focus on the ritual itself to the exclusion of faith and think that just because a
person was baptized that they were saved. Plus, we feel that a person who has accepted
Jesus as Lord and Savior but has not had a chance to be baptized will also be saved and part
of God's kingdom as the thief on the cross was. But we must realize that these are the
exceptions in the New Testament, and not the norm. Rather, if is much the same relationship
that faith and works have. The works do not save us, yet they are a necessary testimony to
the saving faith in us that if not done, testify to our lack of saving faith. The ritual of baptism,
apart from a faith in God cannot save anyone, yet the ritual of baptism is a completing or
fulfilling of that saving faith. Why? Because that is the ritual which Jesus chose to make the
induction ritual to officially declare someone as part of His kingdom.

It is best understood if you consider the "groom and bride" analogy often used to describe
Christ and His Church, but on a more personal level. If a couple decide to get married, they
then become engaged and usually demonstrate that by a ritual known as placing a ring on the
woman's finger. Now, if a man and woman were to decide not to go through with the
ceremony of marriage, would they be considered married? Do we consider them officially
married before the marriage ceremony? No, rather it is not until the minister or whoever is
officiating says "I now pronounce you husband and wife" do we consider them truly married.

Another analogy is that of a club. Usually a club will invite you to become a member of it.
Then you accept. Now although you have been invited and accepted that invitation, it is not
until the induction ceremony has been preformed that they consider you an official member of
the club and the you have the privileges thereof. In the same way, being baptized is the ritual
which Christ chose to "induct" people into His Kingdom and therefore it becomes the vehicle
of God's grace, completing what has been started.

But what if someone dies before receiving it? Well, don't clubs sometimes decide to make
someone a member of their club in honor of that person who may have physically passed
away in the process of going to join? We must remember that although God chose to use
baptism as an outward sign and ritual of being part of His kingdom and Church, it is for that
reason that He and He alone may circumvent that normal channel of grace, as He did with
the thief on the cross, to bring in those who may not have had the chance to be baptized
through either lack of opportunity or lack of knowing about it.

Does this mean that anyone who is baptized is saved? No, for it is not the doing of the ritual
itself which saves a person, but it is in the ritual completing the presence of saving faith in a
person. Plus, just as we believe that a person who converts and confesses Jesus Christ as
Lord may decide to eventually reject that grace, baptism itself is also no guarantee that the
person will stick with the faith.

We need to get away from fearing the ritual and realize and teach that it is both a saving faith
and the baptism of the Church which makes one part of the Kingdom realizing that there will
be exceptions to the ritual as God decides there needs to be. But in the end, that will be for
God to decide, not us. We have no right to change Jesus' emphasis from "make disciples by
baptizing and teaching" to "coming to the alter and teaching" just because of our fear of
ritualization. Confessing Jesus as Lord with our mouth, with our humility, by submitting
ourselves to baptism, and with our life are all necessary for a continuing and sustaining faith
as part of God's kingdom and life. It is time some churches stopped saying that it is alright to
have "common law marriages" between Christians and Christ. Let's preform the wedding
ceremony and make it official.

It is with that thought that Paul tells them that when they were baptized, they were in effect
having the ritual of circumcision done to their heart by burying the body of sin and thus raising
to new life in Christ. It is this relationship between our faith, God's grace, and the ritual
whereby we appropriate this grace and make it real in our life. It was not just symbolic, but
real spiritual reworking of their heart, we are real new creations through the process of dying
and being raised to new life in God's grace.

(Col 2:13-23 NKJV)  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, {14}having
wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And
He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. {15}Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
{16}So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
sabbaths, {17}which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. {18}Let
no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels,
intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
{19}and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by
joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. {20}Therefore, if you died with
Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you
subject yourselves to regulations; {21}"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," {22}which
all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and
doctrines of men? {23}These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed
religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of
the flesh.

Col 2:23:  
Because they have been made one of God's people through being circumcised by their
hearts by the blood of Christ and raised to new life, Paul declares that they have "wiped out
the handwriting of requirements that was against them." What does he mean by this?

First, we must remember that we have "died to the body of sin". The "body of sin" was
basically our fleshly attempts to fulfill the Law. There was one problem with that. The greatest
commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our mind, soul, strength, and spirit.
Since the flesh is primarily focused on itself, there is no way for us in our own flesh to ever
fulfill the Law of God. The result? We had a list of requirements to which we must live up to
that were against us, keeping us from ever reaching God because no one in their own flesh
has ever perfectly fulfilled the greatest commandment, nor can anyone ever.

By dying to that body of sin, the requirements were wiped out, erased, and they no longer
could hold sway over us. We became dead to them. Thus, we became alive to God instead.
And in becoming alive to God, we are now hooked up with the one power who can cause us
to fulfill the greatest commandment as it was meant to be.

Now Paul has said all of this because of what he is about to say in regards to rules and
regulations. He is indicating that it was from that very thing which Christ came to save us
from, ie. a legalistic focused which caused us to look at our own performance as gaining
God's favor and approval. And in freeing us from those things, we have been freed from their
condemnation. Consequently, why would we now want to re-submit ourselves to them again?

We must make it clear that Christian piety is valuable and desirous. We should strive to draw
closer to Him, to run the race with all we have, to press on. At the same time, we must always
keep in mind that though we can use different tools to help us grow in grace, we are never to
assume that the use of those tools is what saves us. Is it the hammer or the carpenter that
builds the house? The hammer surely will not get up and hammer in nails all by itself, but a
carpenter might be able to improvise without a hammer to get the nails in place. It is just that
a good hammer makes building the house easier. In other words, we use the tools of grace to
enrich and build our spiritual house, but the tools do not contain the grace themselves, that
comes from God alone and His grace can be used more easily and effectively in some cases
by different disciplines. Yet we are never subjected to the disciplines themselves, but to
God's grace and mercy.

The difference comes in whether we are seeking to be better Christians through our own
efforts or through God's grace. One is through our efforts, and the other is through God's.
One is through self-seeking and the other through God-seeking. One is through our self-love,
the other through God's perfect love.

It is for this reason that Paul warns them that no one "cheat them of their reward". (vs. 18).
Our head must always remain Christ and not our own fleshly desire to make ourselves good.
A concentration on the worship of other objects or people through the observance of holidays
and commandments that come from man's religion to which we died is to ignore Christ as
head, tell Him we are going to eat the fruit of our own knowledge anyway rather than rely upon
His mercy and grace, and make ourselves better Christians. If we are saved by faith in the
grace of God, then we will also grow by faith in the grace of God, not by our own efforts in the
flesh. The result is that the tools of spiritual growth are used by the grace of God rather than
making them the foundation of our faith in an effort to save ourselves by them.

Paul says that these things have an appearance of wisdom, but...to put it in modern terms...it
has the same affect as giving Congress the right to regulate its own salary. To say that our
flesh can regulate and hold back the "indulgence" of itself is wishful thinking. Christ must
remain our head. That which we died to must remain dead, and we must stay connected to
the vine of grace, Jesus Christ: our only true salvation.



(Col 3:1-4 NKJV)  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. {2}Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth. {3}For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. {4}When
Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Col 3:4:  
Paul now begins the "practical" section of his epistle, beginning to focus on applying what he
has just been talking about to their lives. In looking at those things which they are not to get
wrapped up in (earthly based worship, rules and regulations, and self-sacrifice), Paul now
tells them what they are to do.

Paul's emphasis is now that we who are of the heavenly Kingdom of God, should have that
Kingdom as our focus, not this worldly kingdom. We must be careful here to not create a
spiritual vs. physical dualism. That was not Paul's attempt. Rather, it was to mirror the
statement of Christ in John 17:11-19, that although we are no longer of the world, yet we are
still in the world. Thus it became an issue of allegiance and focus, not that the physical
aspects of our lives are evil and wrong, but that they were meant to be governed by God and
not become the governing force themselves. Our focus is in seeking those things which are
above, not these down here. As Jesus said in Mat 6:33, if you seek first His kingdom, all the
earthly needs and desires will fall into place.

Paul uses once again the analogy of dying to our old life, our old man, and being raised to a
new life in Jesus Christ. Thus we find our life not in the things of the world but in Christ,
which if we are hidden in Him, we will also appear with Him in the last days. It is for this
reason that we seek the things above where our heart should be, and not worldly things. Not
that we do not enjoy those pleasures which God has created for us to enjoy, nor should we
not take advantage of self-discipline and physical helps to aid our faith when necessary.
However, these should not be things we focus on and seek instead of His Kingdom and will.
We are dead to them and no longer in bondage to their demands, but through Christ we have
become in bondage to God in love. (Rom 6) 

(Col 3:5-7 NKJV)  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. {6}Because of these
things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, {7}in which you yourselves
once walked when you lived in them.

Col 3:7:  
Paul thus commands us to put to death those members on earth. How? By seeking the grace
of God and His Kingdom rather than obeying the will of our desires. For when our desires rule
our lives, they are like an engine that is running at full throttle. They just want more and more
until the engine is burned out. Now when the gas pedal is linked and someone is at the
controls, then the power in the engine is used for good and serves its purpose. In the same
way, when God's Holy Spirit is not at the controls the desires are left at full throttle and end
up destroying us as well as our relationships with each other and God.

Therefore, to put to death those members on earth is to subject our physical desires under
the Lordship of Christ and His Kingdom. It is for that reason that we no longer seek physical
solutions for physical problems, rather we seek to put God back at the wheel, controlling the
gas pedal of our desires so that they can be used for good and not evil.

This is evident in the types of desires which Paul list for us. Let's take a look at them and see
what Paul is trying to say specifically that we are to put to death.

First, Paul list "fornication." The Greek word here specifically denoted the practice of
prostitution, and was often referring to temple prostitutes which were used in the worship of
various gods in that day and age. Some have tried to imply that because of this, that this word
does not speak to subjects such as pre- or extra-marital relationships, that Paul and others
were specifically condemning temple prostitutes due to its relationship of worshiping another
god, not because the act itself was wrong. However, it was the principle behind prostitution
itself which is the intended target, which is the trivialization of the intimate relationship
between a man and woman who are committed to one another emotionally, spiritually, and
legally. To use it purely for the purpose of seeking pleasure, which is what prostitution is, was
to destroy the intimacy that it was designed to create and sustain. The more people involved,
the less intimate anything becomes. Whenever we seek the pleasure of fulfilling our desires
over the purposes of God, it becomes sin and that is what fornication is.

Next, Paul list "uncleanness." In the Greek, it basically means an impurity. Whenever we
seek first our own desire's fulfillment, we become impure because our focus and purpose is
compromised and polluted by a seeking and focusing on the worldly values. Thus when
God's purposes for us are mixed with the purposes of our own desires, competing for
supremacy, then you have an impure relationship with God and impure purposes and impure
motives. It is the same thing as the seed planted in the thorny soil. For it to grow, the other
plants have to be uprooted and room made for God's seed to grow. This gets down to our
heart motive. Impure motives produce impure actions. Whenever we seek the pleasure of
fulfilling our desires over the purposes of God, it becomes sin and that is what uncleanness
is.

Paul then mentions "passion." Actually it is translated more appropriately in the KJV as
"inordinate affection." Passion in and of itself is not wrong, and is something that should be
present in a marital relationship, not to mention in our relationship with Christ. We must be
passionate about the things of God. But once again, when passion is left to govern itself, it
becomes "inordinate" in focus and purpose and will burn our spiritual engines out if not
controlled by the Holy Spirit. Passion is something that must be controlled and used for good.
If it is not, it pulls our focus and seeking away from the things above and toward the things of
earth. Whenever we seek the pleasure of fulfilling our desires over the purposes of God, it
becomes sin and that is what inordinate passion is.

Now Paul mentions "evil desire." One might think that this is similar to the last, and in some
ways it is. However, the difference is that one is desire run amuck, but this is desire
specifically used for evil purposes. For instance, a person who in a moment of weakness sins
because of temptation and an inordinate desire in them is one sin, but one who knows
something is sinful and wrong but desires it anyway because they desire it is one who has
"evil desire." It is more an attitude of "I know this goes against God's purposes, but I'm going
to do it anyway because I want to!" Whenever we seek the pleasure of fulfilling our desires
over the purposes of God, it becomes sin and that is what evil desire is.

Lastly, Paul brings up "covetousness." This is exactly what you would think, a desire to have
something, but to a degree that it becomes one's focus and goal. Here we are getting back to
the motive for much of this, for these different sins listed here are founded on one thing, what
we want opposed to what God wants. When we see another person who is not our spouse
and say to ourselves, "I want to please and satisfy my desires with that one and God's will is
not going to stop me," or "I've got to have that TV on sale, even if I have to sacrifice my tithe
to get it," then we have moved from a wish list subject to the will of God and into the sin of
covetousness. Whenever we become so wrapped up in wanting something that we are willing
to subvert the purposes of God, we are not seeking first His Kingdom and the things above,
but the things of earth. Whenever we seek the pleasure of fulfilling our desires over the
purposes of God, it becomes sin and that is what covetousness is.

Paul tells us that these things are all idolatry. The Greek verb for "is" is plural so we are
talking about all of them and not just the last one. In English grammar what we have here is a
linking verb which is collectively referring to the whole group under the heading of "idolatry."
Why? Because in each case, we are placing the god of our own desires and will over God the
Father as ruler of our life. Whenever anything subjects God's will to itself, it becomes a god
for us and thus idolatry.

If you go back to the end of chapter 2, you see that what Paul was warning them against was
not self-discipline and observing feast and self-denial for spiritual growth; rather, Paul was
warning about making their desires a god again by trying to use earthly things to control their
spiritual life instead of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned then, as long as they are tools for the
Holy Spirit to use, subjected to His purposes, we are OK in using them, but once we begin to
depend upon them instead of the Holy Spirit, we have fallen into idolatry.

It is for this reason that Paul indicates that those who practice such things are destined for
destruction and the wrath of God for they have rejected Him and put in His place our own
desires and passions to rule our lives. Thus they become spiritually cut off from their true life,
being hidden in Jesus Christ. It was from this that the Colossians had been saved, and Paul
did not want them to fall back into it again. Idolatry is the central core issue.

(Col 3:8-9 NKJV)  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. {9}Do not lie to one another, since you have put
off the old man with his deeds,

Col 3:9:  
So after getting to the heart of what it means to be hidden in Christ, Paul wants to apply that
more to our outward attitudes and actions. The distinction is critical here for understanding
holiness and our dedication to God.

Verses 9b-10 are the central focus and reasoning for the other verses. The fact that we are to
put off these practices is a result of putting off the "old man with its deeds" and that we have
now put on the "new man who is renewed in knowledge." It is important to remember this, as
some tend to think that salvation by faith means salvation by faith alone, period, with no
works, no change of life necessary for salvation to be effective. Paul, however, never
disassociates being saved by faith from the works which are required to follow a true faith.
Paul's emphasis was that works alone cannot save us. James' emphasis was that faith alone
cannot save us. Both agree that faith in the grace of God, which results in a new man, of
necessity is followed by works validating and fulfilling the faith in us. Anytime that you have a
religion that follows one or the other to the exclusion of the other, you have a religion and
belief contrary to whole of Scripture and the Tradition of the Church from then to now.

It is because of this that Paul can say to us as a command in verse 8, "...put off all these...."
The verb here means to take off and lay aside as one would some clothing. In its sense here,
it is a renouncing of these things which indicates a mental attitude of disassociation which will
bring about a change in behavior. The laying aside of the old man means we have renounced
its ways, its values, its practices. Yes, there may still be habits of the old man that we must
break, much as some clothing might give us a rash that will take time to heal once we have
gotten rid of the clothing. But once we have renounced these things, taken off the clothing
that was fostering these rashes on our soul, then and only then can the rash begin to heal,
even though it might take some time. Yet, if we have gotten rid of what was causing the rash,
the rash will eventually heal and be brought under control.

Thus, Paul can say to us that since we have put off the old man, we are to renounce anger as
a way to deal with other people and God. Notice I did not say that anger is inappropriate in
dealing with sin, with injustice, with activities that violate God's sovereignty. Anger can be a
motivating factor to speak up and take action against the Devil's work. Yet, anger should not
be directed towards a person in a relational way. Sometimes it is hard for people to separate
the two. Yet, one can become passionate in dealing with an issue, but once that passion is
turned upon the person(s) involved in the issue in the form of personal attacks, it becomes
destructive rather than constructive.

This means that we must allow the Lord to gain control of reflex anger, for in that instance we
do not distinguish between anger to an issue or situation and anger towards a person.
Rather, we tend to just lash out at whatever is frustrating us, issue or person. Thus, the
"count to 10" idea when you feel yourself getting angry actually helps us to not be reflexive in
our responses to people, but gives us at least a moment to evaluate what we are doing and
respond as Christ would instead. It gives the Holy Spirit an opening to jump in and change
the situation.

In putting off the old man, we are also renouncing "wrath" or literally hate. The first was just
referring to anger as a way to deal with a relationship, but this is referring to the attitude that
we actually have toward people. 1 John 2:9-11 makes it clear that if we hate another person,
we are not in the light (in the new man) but in the darkness (in the old man). Hate is simply
incompatible with the love of God. Putting on the new man will make hating another individual
very difficult to do for we are looking at them through God's eyes of love rather than our old
man's eyes of hate. If we still hate someone for what they did, we are still looking at them with
the eyes and values of the old man. We must renounce all hate for other individuals as
contrary to God's law of love, no matter what atrocities they may have done or committed
against us or others, and instead work to show God's love to all people, whoever they may be.

Malice is also another item that must be renounced if we have really taken on the new man.
The first was referring to the emotion of anger, the second to the hate of the heart, this one to
the desire to hurt and take revenge. It is a desire to cause hurt and evil to befall those who
you hate and don't agree with you. If we got the news tomorrow that Sadam Hussain had died
in a tragic accident, what do you think would be the reaction of most Americans? "Yipeee!
Yes! He got what he deserved, the scoundrel!" Most of us felt that our mission in the Gulf
war should have been to take him out and not just free Kuwait. Maybe some have more
judicial reasons for it, but the fact that many Americans would react to such news in that way
is only an illustration of what the world views as an appropriate response to someone of his
caliber. It would be fair to say that most Americans hold a malice against him, just as many in
Iraq hold malice toward us. Is this what Christ would want? Not according to Paul. Those who
are truly Christian have renounced an attitude of malice, and though they might be glad that
his evil reign is over, they will feel sad that it had to come to that for it to end. David's
mourning at the death of Saul who tried to kill him numerous times is the more correct attitude
in such a situation. Putting off the old man means a renouncing of any desire to see bad
things happen to anyone.

Also, we are to renounce blasphemy. This is a rather obvious one, as blasphemy is basically
a renouncing of God and His values and will. Naturally, if one has put off the old man, which
is opposed to God, degrading God would go out along with it. This is not just "cussing", but
contradicting what God has said is true, claiming it to be false. It is for this reason that Jesus
said that blasphemy against Him, as a man, could be forgiven whereas blasphemy against
the Holy Spirit, the essence and power of God Himself, could not. For it we purposefully call
the work of God of the devil and works of the devil of God, we have made it impossible to ever
respond to the Holy Spirit and thus to salvation. (Mat 12:32, Mark 3:29,Luke 12:10) It is for
that reason that we always want to be careful in judging something, as to whether it is from
God or not. It should always be based on the criteria if it is something that goes against the
faith revealed in God's word and the Church. If it is not, then we need to tread carefully so
that we do not find ourselves calling something that is of God of Satan. But all other
blasphemies, spoken in ignorance and from human limitations, these are forgivable. However,
as one who has put off the old man, we have also put aside the practice of blaspheming in
general, whether it be people or God. Instead of degrading others, we will attempt to build
them up. This flows from the previous things, and indeed, all these are linked together.

And, yes, the Bible even says we are to renounce filthy language, or as we might call it,
cursing. Now, admittedly, what we define as filthy language is culturally conditioned. In Paul's
day, it was no doubt quite different in meaning and definitely in a different language. Even
today, there are words which I have never thought of as cursing that others would. So how do
we define cursing or filthy language without being "legalistic" about it? Filthy language is
basically anything that debases the meaning of God's creation as it was originally designed.
In that broad sense, anything could become a cuss word. If I slammed a door on my fingers
and yelled out "CHURCH!", I would have debased the meaning of the Church by yelling it out
in an inappropriate way. It is the same concept when we use Hell and damn in that way.
Why? What are we saying? Do we really wish the person to go to Hell? If so, we are violating
the Christian love we are to have. If not, we are using it inappropriately and thus debasing its
true meaning.

We could give other examples, but this should get the basic idea across. Filthy language is
degrading to others and God's creation, for it comes from the heart and its attitudes towards
others and God's creation. For many, this falls under one of those rashes that we can get by
wearing the old man. However, if we put off the old man, we should also see this rash heal
over time. If it does not, then we are not really setting our minds on the things above, but on
the things below. Putting off the old man will begin the process of putting off the type of
language that degrades as we renounce the practice.

It is interesting at this point, that Paul does not include lying as something to "put off", but
instead gives a direct command not to do it. This, as the others, is related to the putting off of
the old man, but Paul seems to emphasize this even more as a violation of our relationships
with others. Lying breaks down the trust and oneness that should be evident in Christian
relationships. Now we could get legalistic about it, trying to define how significant a white lie
is, half truths, lying to an enemy as a soldier, etc. But the principle is clear. We lie to another
person when we tell them something which will cause them to come to an untrue conclusion
which will do harm to themselves, others, or the relationship at hand. Sometimes it is
necessary to lie in order to protect someone. Although this can be a grey area, the important
thing to remember is the motive and intent of the heart, whether it is to hurt or risk hurting the
person(s) or to protect them. In most situations, lying is wrong and destroys trust and people.

The one tread running through all of this is relationships, both with God, each other, and
God's creation. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but is meant to give examples of the
types of deeds of the old man which we should be renouncing and actively putting away from
us. They all involved destroying and degrading our relationship with others, God, and thus
with ourselves in some way or fashion. Thus, any deed which serves this purpose can be
included as a deed of the old man, which we are to put away. It is the principle which Paul is
emphasizing here, not just the specific activities. Thus we can use this principle to judge all
the things we do, all the attitudes we have, to give us warning flags as to when we are putting
on the old man rather than the new, when we are setting our mind on things below rather than
things above.

(Col 3:10-13 NKJV)  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him, {11}where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised
nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
{12}Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13}bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Col 3:13:  
As mentioned before, verse 10 is a central verse to understanding this. For not only have we
put off the old man, but we are putting on the new man. What is that new man? Paul explains
it here.

The new man is one who has been renewed in knowledge. What knowledge? Human
philosophy? Science? Rational enlightenment? No, but in the knowledge of God. Paul
specifically goes back to the Genesis account here to get the terminology. He talks of a
different knowledge than what we have naturally. Where does our knowledge come from?
Remember the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Basically it represented us coming to
a point where we began to judge for ourselves what was right and wrong. But knowledge
"according to the image of Him who created" us goes back to the pre-fall type of knowledge,
one based not on our ability to know, but upon God's imparted understanding and our trust in
that. It coincides with Romans 12:2, a renewing and transforming of our mind to the mind of
God rather than our own reason.

Paul now makes a basic explanation of the difference between the two types of knowledge.
One type categorizes, divides, and judges people. The other sees them all as equally valid
and important. To the Israelite, you were either a Greek or a Jew. To the Jewish Christian,
you were either circumcised or uncircumcised. To a nationality like the Scythian, you were
either part of our advanced civilization, or you were a barbarian. To a slave, you were either
free or not free. To us, you are either black, white, yellow or brown. You are either rich, middle
class, or poor. You are either blue collar or white collar. You are either Republican, Democrat,
or Independent. You are pro-life or pro- choice. And the list could go on. Each category
carries with its own characterizations so that when someone says, "I drive a Mercedes," or
"I'm a Democrat," we automatically place a host of judgements on them about what they
believe or stand for without ever having to ask them or get to know them. We depersonalize
them, thus they become much easier to hate, to get angry with, to have malice toward, etc.
We can demonize a category of people, as long as we don't have to get to know any of them
personally. As long as we can keep from developing a real relationship with people. That is
the result of our own knowledge, to prevent relationships from developing that are threatening
to us. It prevents us from seeing each other as an individual with worth and value in and of
ourselves as created in God's image.

Thus, Paul indicates that when we put on the new man, this understanding is transformed so
that we no longer look at people as a mass in a category, but as individuals created by God
which He loves no matter how much we may disagree with what they believe, have done, their
values, or their religion. Our human tendency to categorize is superseded by God's
knowledge of love for each individual. Paul literally says that Christ is all and in all. In other
words, even the most evil person has something of Christ in him. Why? Because we were all
created in the image of God. The perfect incarnation of God in Jesus illustrates the imperfect
incarnation of God in us, to the degree that sin has perverted that image. But, it is still there in
all of us. Thus we have no authority from God to treat any member of any group with any less
love and respect than we do those of our group, indeed, even as we love and respect Jesus
Christ Himself. Even if a Jew was to meet Hitler, like Corrie Ten Boom, the love of Christ for
the individual would cause us to love him anyway.

If you want to know what the difference is in a Christian that makes them Christian, it is this
radical, unworldly view of ourselves that sees us through the eyes of God's love rather than
through our own eyes of judgment and hate. It is for this reason that we will put off the deeds
mentioned before because they are totally incompatible with such a understanding of
ourselves. And it is for this reason that we will put on the following qualities which are directly
opposite the previous ones.

We could get into all the implications of each quality as we did for the former, yet they are so
plain and obvious that it would just be taking up space and being redundant. Tender mercies,
kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering all boil down to one thing. We never think of
ourselves as better than anyone else and we always treat them as if their rights are more
important than ours. Paul explicitly states this attitude in Phil 2:3. This prompts us to "bear
with one another" and forgive one another instead of attacking and destroying one another;
devouring one another as Paul states it in Gal 5:14-15. Instead we support one another in
love and whatever we do is out of a love for that person, even when it comes to rebuke and
discipline. We should always be ready to forgive even as Christ forgave us.

(Col 3:14-17 NKJV)  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
{15}And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body;
and be 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 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Col 3:17:  
Paul here reflects the passage he wrote in 1 Cor 13:13 and Jesus' pronouncement to love
God with all our being and each other as we would ourselves. Thus when it comes to God, it
always comes back to this one aspect, love.

Paul calls us to put on love which is the "bond of perfection". Reminds one what Jesus said,
"Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48) Of course, this perfection is not
meant to mean absolute perfection, but a perfection in completeness and purpose which we
alone can find in God Himself, for whom we were made and to whom we find our fulfillment
in. (Col 1:16) This love is the bond which binds us to our purpose for which we were created,
to love God and each other. Without this love, the flesh rules and subverts these
relationships, causing us to be imperfect and unfulfilled.

It has been said that God is love. Yet we have many times not fully understood that aspect of
His nature. In actuality, we can never come to a full understanding of it in this life at least. Yet,
we fall far short of both understanding what has been revealed and in our practice of it. Many
do not realize why we have the Trinity. Think about it. If God was just one, could He have true
love in eternity? Even the nature of God must be more than one in order for true love to exist.
The oneness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the perfect demonstration of that
love which only God possesses. It is for that reason that Jesus prays in John 17:21 that we
be one as He and the Father are one. It is perfect love which binds the three persons of the
Trinity together in perfect union. It is love which will bond us to that perfect love and help us to
partake of God's life and union.

Verses fifteen and sixteen change the focus a bit. Up to this point, Paul has been talking
about taking off and putting on. Now he moves to say "Let..." Now we are talking about things
which are more passive than active. All we can do is allow God to do them to us, we cannot
manufacture them within ourselves. There is nothing to do but allow God to do His work
through the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds.

First, we are to allow God's peace to rule in our hearts. This peace comes from being part of
Christ's body, part of that eternal life which He freely gives to those who come to Him.
Through that union we gain peace. We can allow it to rule by being thankful for it, not trying to
force it on ourselves.

But we are not just to allow this union of love to affect our hearts, but our minds as well.
Rather, the word of Christ is to dwell in us richly. Just as the Son was made flesh, so the
wisdom of God is to be made a reality in our minds and life. This is made effective by
teaching and admonishing. We are many times good at teaching, but slow in admonishing.
Teaching is gaining an understanding of the truth. Admonishing is to support one another in
making it effective in our lives and hearts. It runs along the same lines as Wesley's
"Methodist" groups which he started that held each other accountable for their spiritual
growth. The church is suppose to be not only a place to learn about Christ, but a place where
we are trained and admonished to live as He has taught us to live in that perfect bond of love.

Paul sums it up in verse seventeen. Have you ever wondered how to "pray without ceasing?"
It is by making you whole life a prayer to God. A prayer which praises God. A prayer which
gives thanks to God for everything. A prayer that speaks of the excellence of God in our work
and our speech. A prayer that guides others to that same love and joy and peace because
they see the prayer of light that we are giving to God by what we say and do, how we treat
each person. Our prayer is all that we do and say, and if we do it in His name, then we are
His and our lives speak that truth to others around us. May God be glorified. That is putting
on love, allowing the peace and wisdom of God to dwell in our hearts.