Chapter 3:
Practical Outcomes of Philosophy:
In Chapter 2 Paul discussed the dangers of an unchristian philosophy – hedonism, asceticism, spiritualism and religion – and how these things try to answer the questions of the world without God. These types of thinking aren’t just wrong they are immoral and lead to evil and a frustrating and self-defeating existence.
Paul commanded them in the end that if they had died with Christ they ought to stop thinking of Christ in fleshly ways. Now he instructs them on how to live now that they have been raised with Christ.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
For the Christian the death and resurrection of Christ is not just important when we first came to believe. The Christian is not just saved once – in a way he is saved continually through following the pattern of Christ who died on this earth and rose again and ascended to heaven.
In that same way we ought to die to this world and set our minds on heavenly things. Paul says it this way in another place:
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [2 Corinthians 5:16]
What does it mean to see things in the flesh or set your mind on the earth? We set our minds on the earth whenever we do not see the hand of God in all things. The person that does not think it important to read their word and pray is not setting their minds on the things above. The person who gives in to despair is acting as if God has not ordained victory. The person who believes that men are generally good is acting as if God has not already spoken on this issue.
Setting your mind above incorporates an understanding of the truth that is more than superficial. It is not just an intellectual pursuit – it is theology and it is life. It is a pattern of thinking, acting and reacting that incorporates the truths of God. Setting your mind on things above takes concentration, training and meditation.
In other words the only way to follow these commands is to set ourselves under the ministry of the word and prayer. Faithful men of God have the gift to open understanding and God grants revelation and opened eyes to those he chooses. Without the ministry of the word and prayer we would be left trying to accomplish this command on our own and it would be all to easy to try and rely on the flesh and not the spirit. The church facilitates all of the commands of God.
When we follow the pattern of Christ we follow the pattern found in Romans 8:30 –
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
We who are called into salvation will be made righteous. And those who are made righteous will be glorified.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Following the pattern of Christ we must put to death sin. Many people would like to make sin a pet or imprison sin, but scripture calls for a more thorough solution. To play with sin is to underestimate its allure and power – in some ways the one who refuses to put sin to death has already fallen prey to the allure of sin and may have already fallen into enslavement without even realizing it.
The things listed are important but Paul says something interesting – covetousness is idolatry. Covetousness is wanting things that belong to someone else. Idol worship is Satan’s way of stealing worship that doesn’t belong to him.
But even more implicitly covetousness is idolizing the self. The one who no longer things ownership is important is one who has decided to make himself the Lawgiver.
No one ought to be deceived by sin. Because of the sins listed God is bringing judgment and throwing men into hell. Hell is a most important doctrine because it demonstrates the holy zeal of God who makes no peace with evil and is not satisfied until everything is perfect. But the Christian is not one who goes around pointing out everyone that is going to hell – as some do and shame the church – the Christian realizes that he too was subject to the judgment of God. Because he now understands the purpose of God he ought to put those sins away.
Part of putting sin to death is just being honest with each other. Often times Christians will do the indefensible and attempt to hide the truth from the eyes of their brothers. If we are really serious about putting sin to death we have to stop lying. We have to acknowledge the devastating and the embarrassing – we have to have open hearts. And there is no excuse for not opening our hearts because we are all one in Christ.
But Christianity is not a “do not” list. It incorporates positive and negative actions.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
One of the most important things we must put on is the ability to bear with each other. Often times unity exacts its own price in small annoyances, irritations and conflicts for the more we are unified together the more our divergent opinions matter. The Christian is primarily an part of the Church – he must first realize that he cannot serve God outside of the body of Christ and that leaving the Church is never the first solution to anything. Then he must strive to be agreeable and a person who is possible to bear with.
We must forgive as Christ forgives. Some interpret this wrongly as an attitude that sees sin and decides to continually think nicely of the other person. This is not the attitude Paul is calling for. Christ continually called out sin yet he was willing to do whatever it took to win souls to Himself. He forgave the repentant, not just anyone who asks for an apology.
This type of forgiveness is often difficult for some to understand because they have given their minds over to the ways of the world, not Christ. But we must come to understand that as God will only forgive those who repent we can only forgive those who repent. Forgiveness demands judgment.
Above all this we must understand proper Christian love. When we become loving we reach true unity. Love leads to fulfillment – it will produce the harmony that our hearts wish for.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The peace Paul speaks of is the true unity that can only be accomplished when men and women are united in both mind and purpose. It incorporates an acceptance of reality because what happens is ultimately God’s will. Rather than trying to earnestly change reality this person is trying to change themselves to be in tune with the Spirit of God.
Part of achieving peace is letting the word dwell in us and we cannot let the word dwell in unless we actively participate in the ministries of the word and praise. The ministry of the word makes the word understandable, applicable and powerful for us in ways we could not do on our own. The ministry of praise makes the word dwell with us in a different way. Praise ministers directly to the heart and at the same time praise is an outpouring of the heart. Praise trains the heart to love God.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
When we truly put on Christ we will see changes in our personal relationships. Paul commands wives to submit to their husbands because it is “fitting in the Lord”. To submit means “to align oneself under” – in other words wives are to support their husbands as the leader of the home because this is the way that God made men and women. It is “fitting”.
Husbands are to love their wives and not “be harsh with them” – this suggests a display of self-control and leadership with care. The Husband is not a Lord over a servant, he is king to his queen.
The two commands work together to fulfill the central needs of men and women. Men need respect and a Christian wife meets that need; women need attention and affection and the Christian husband meets that need. Both husband and wife ought to meet the needs of the other in ways that the other will receive and ultimately enjoy.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
The child’s main responsibility is to obey their parents – while they are still at home the parents represent the authority of God to them. At the same time Fathers are the leaders of the home but that should not lead them to abuse their power. Proper biblical leadership puts an emphasis on the limits of power.
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
The bondservant was essentially a slave. Paul reminds us that God never promises to deliver every believer from every distressing or injustice circumstance we may find ourselves in; he promises to empower us to live righteously despite our circumstances.
We may think slavery is unjust or that our workplace is unjust but that does not excuse us from obeying God. The bondservant is to obey their masters in everything. Paul uses the expression “not by way of eye-service” – we have to remember that obedience is not just an outward expression; it is the overflow of an obedient heart. Just as it would be wrong for a husband to outwardly loving and inwardly bitter it would be wrong to outwardly obey while inwardly resenting authority.
Thus the believer is to work for the Lord because ultimately that is who pays him. And Paul makes it clear that the Lord pays everyone – he pays the righteous and rewards them according to his grace and their works and he pays the wicked and punishes them according to their works. There is no favoritism in reward or judgment.
The Master’s responsibility is to be just and fair. The Master realizes that even if he has no earthly limit to his power he will be held into account for every use of his power.
Practical Outcomes of Philosophy:
In Chapter 2 Paul discussed the dangers of an unchristian philosophy – hedonism, asceticism, spiritualism and religion – and how these things try to answer the questions of the world without God. These types of thinking aren’t just wrong they are immoral and lead to evil and a frustrating and self-defeating existence.
Paul commanded them in the end that if they had died with Christ they ought to stop thinking of Christ in fleshly ways. Now he instructs them on how to live now that they have been raised with Christ.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
For the Christian the death and resurrection of Christ is not just important when we first came to believe. The Christian is not just saved once – in a way he is saved continually through following the pattern of Christ who died on this earth and rose again and ascended to heaven.
In that same way we ought to die to this world and set our minds on heavenly things. Paul says it this way in another place:
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [2 Corinthians 5:16]
What does it mean to see things in the flesh or set your mind on the earth? We set our minds on the earth whenever we do not see the hand of God in all things. The person that does not think it important to read their word and pray is not setting their minds on the things above. The person who gives in to despair is acting as if God has not ordained victory. The person who believes that men are generally good is acting as if God has not already spoken on this issue.
Setting your mind above incorporates an understanding of the truth that is more than superficial. It is not just an intellectual pursuit – it is theology and it is life. It is a pattern of thinking, acting and reacting that incorporates the truths of God. Setting your mind on things above takes concentration, training and meditation.
In other words the only way to follow these commands is to set ourselves under the ministry of the word and prayer. Faithful men of God have the gift to open understanding and God grants revelation and opened eyes to those he chooses. Without the ministry of the word and prayer we would be left trying to accomplish this command on our own and it would be all to easy to try and rely on the flesh and not the spirit. The church facilitates all of the commands of God.
When we follow the pattern of Christ we follow the pattern found in Romans 8:30 –
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
We who are called into salvation will be made righteous. And those who are made righteous will be glorified.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Following the pattern of Christ we must put to death sin. Many people would like to make sin a pet or imprison sin, but scripture calls for a more thorough solution. To play with sin is to underestimate its allure and power – in some ways the one who refuses to put sin to death has already fallen prey to the allure of sin and may have already fallen into enslavement without even realizing it.
The things listed are important but Paul says something interesting – covetousness is idolatry. Covetousness is wanting things that belong to someone else. Idol worship is Satan’s way of stealing worship that doesn’t belong to him.
But even more implicitly covetousness is idolizing the self. The one who no longer things ownership is important is one who has decided to make himself the Lawgiver.
No one ought to be deceived by sin. Because of the sins listed God is bringing judgment and throwing men into hell. Hell is a most important doctrine because it demonstrates the holy zeal of God who makes no peace with evil and is not satisfied until everything is perfect. But the Christian is not one who goes around pointing out everyone that is going to hell – as some do and shame the church – the Christian realizes that he too was subject to the judgment of God. Because he now understands the purpose of God he ought to put those sins away.
Part of putting sin to death is just being honest with each other. Often times Christians will do the indefensible and attempt to hide the truth from the eyes of their brothers. If we are really serious about putting sin to death we have to stop lying. We have to acknowledge the devastating and the embarrassing – we have to have open hearts. And there is no excuse for not opening our hearts because we are all one in Christ.
But Christianity is not a “do not” list. It incorporates positive and negative actions.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
One of the most important things we must put on is the ability to bear with each other. Often times unity exacts its own price in small annoyances, irritations and conflicts for the more we are unified together the more our divergent opinions matter. The Christian is primarily an part of the Church – he must first realize that he cannot serve God outside of the body of Christ and that leaving the Church is never the first solution to anything. Then he must strive to be agreeable and a person who is possible to bear with.
We must forgive as Christ forgives. Some interpret this wrongly as an attitude that sees sin and decides to continually think nicely of the other person. This is not the attitude Paul is calling for. Christ continually called out sin yet he was willing to do whatever it took to win souls to Himself. He forgave the repentant, not just anyone who asks for an apology.
This type of forgiveness is often difficult for some to understand because they have given their minds over to the ways of the world, not Christ. But we must come to understand that as God will only forgive those who repent we can only forgive those who repent. Forgiveness demands judgment.
Above all this we must understand proper Christian love. When we become loving we reach true unity. Love leads to fulfillment – it will produce the harmony that our hearts wish for.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The peace Paul speaks of is the true unity that can only be accomplished when men and women are united in both mind and purpose. It incorporates an acceptance of reality because what happens is ultimately God’s will. Rather than trying to earnestly change reality this person is trying to change themselves to be in tune with the Spirit of God.
Part of achieving peace is letting the word dwell in us and we cannot let the word dwell in unless we actively participate in the ministries of the word and praise. The ministry of the word makes the word understandable, applicable and powerful for us in ways we could not do on our own. The ministry of praise makes the word dwell with us in a different way. Praise ministers directly to the heart and at the same time praise is an outpouring of the heart. Praise trains the heart to love God.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
When we truly put on Christ we will see changes in our personal relationships. Paul commands wives to submit to their husbands because it is “fitting in the Lord”. To submit means “to align oneself under” – in other words wives are to support their husbands as the leader of the home because this is the way that God made men and women. It is “fitting”.
Husbands are to love their wives and not “be harsh with them” – this suggests a display of self-control and leadership with care. The Husband is not a Lord over a servant, he is king to his queen.
The two commands work together to fulfill the central needs of men and women. Men need respect and a Christian wife meets that need; women need attention and affection and the Christian husband meets that need. Both husband and wife ought to meet the needs of the other in ways that the other will receive and ultimately enjoy.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
The child’s main responsibility is to obey their parents – while they are still at home the parents represent the authority of God to them. At the same time Fathers are the leaders of the home but that should not lead them to abuse their power. Proper biblical leadership puts an emphasis on the limits of power.
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
The bondservant was essentially a slave. Paul reminds us that God never promises to deliver every believer from every distressing or injustice circumstance we may find ourselves in; he promises to empower us to live righteously despite our circumstances.
We may think slavery is unjust or that our workplace is unjust but that does not excuse us from obeying God. The bondservant is to obey their masters in everything. Paul uses the expression “not by way of eye-service” – we have to remember that obedience is not just an outward expression; it is the overflow of an obedient heart. Just as it would be wrong for a husband to outwardly loving and inwardly bitter it would be wrong to outwardly obey while inwardly resenting authority.
Thus the believer is to work for the Lord because ultimately that is who pays him. And Paul makes it clear that the Lord pays everyone – he pays the righteous and rewards them according to his grace and their works and he pays the wicked and punishes them according to their works. There is no favoritism in reward or judgment.
The Master’s responsibility is to be just and fair. The Master realizes that even if he has no earthly limit to his power he will be held into account for every use of his power.
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