Christ Supreme: A Study In Colossians (Page 3)

New Clothes For The New Man

Colossians 3:12-13 — With new life in Christ comes a new way of living, but it’s not automatic. There are sins to be put off and virtues to be put on. That’s what Paul instructs his readers to do in this text – to put on new attitudes and new behaviours as they would new clean…

Equality & Unity In Christ Alone

Colossians 3:11 — Race, religion and class. Three phenomena that have divided human societies for millennia and continue do so. Despite the best efforts of governments and progressive organisations prejudice and discrimination remain. We’re told endlessly that we need “to come together” but we simply can’t and that’s because we are so thoroughly broken by…

The Change That Makes All The Difference

Colossians 3:9b-10 — Why is a Christian capable of saying “no” to sin? Why should they? It’s because a decisive change has taken place. The “old man” has been put off and the “new man” put on. That’s what the Apostle Paul tells us in these verses and it’s very good news! But what exactly is he…

Bad Heart – Bad Mouth

Colossians 3:8-9a — Jesus taught that what comes out of our mouth comes from the heart. So if we’re going to speak in a way that honours God and blesses others we first have to address what’s going on in our heart. This is what Paul does when he turns his attention to our speech in his…

Salvation From Sexual Sin

Colossians 3:6-7 — Sadly, many forms of sexual immorality barely raise an eyebrow in our world today and evangelical Christians, though not approving, can become indifferent. They’re not bothered by the sexual sin that is rampant in our community and in the media. In this text the Holy Spirit, via Paul’s pen, gives us a…

Put Sexual Sin To Death

Colossians 3:5 — In the opening verses of this chapter, the Apostle Paul points us to heaven and the assurance of future glory. He then immediately turns to the present and what we do with our bodies. A Christian who’s mind is set on heaven will mortify his/her members on the earth. The Apostle is…

Your Life Is Hid With Christ – Part 2

Colossians 3:3-4 — A belief in the return of Jesus Christ is definitional to the Christian faith and it’s what Paul talks about in the second half of this text. His return is the consummation of His redemptive work and the end of our salvation. When He appears in glory so will we. Our everlasting…

Your Life Is Hid With Christ – Part 1

Colossians 3:3-4 — After an extended break we pick up our study through Paul’s letter to the Colossians and we come to a section where Paul explains why Christians should look and live heavenwards. He then moves to talk about our everlasting life and why it is secure forever. We hope the truth unfolded in…

Pursuing Things Above

Colossians 3:1-2 — “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.” Every Christian has been made to share in the resurrection life of Jesus and that is remarkable! New life in union with Christ is the very essence of salvation. After conversion, Christians must live out their new life day-by-day and this…

Counterfeit & Worthless

Colossians 2:23 — Counterfeit and worthless. This was Paul’s final assessment of the religious practices that had come into the churches at Colossae and Laodicea. They had the appearance of wisdom but were powerless to effect spiritual progress. These practices were man-made and simply efforts to control the flesh by means of the flesh.