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Colossians 3:6
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. (Col. 3:6-7 KJV)
Age of Grace: the wrath of God IS coming (future tense).
“Cometh” KJV- old English
For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, (Col. 3:6 NAS)
Note: the phrase- “on the children of disobedience” is absent in some early manuscripts. However, it is found in many early manuscripts and the Majority of manuscripts.
The words are absent from the NIV.
Note that Ephesians 5:6 has the expression
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Eph. 5:6 KJV)
The message is the same:
The object of wrath is still implied even if the phrase is omitted
➢ Humanity often reaps what it sows.
➢ Future wrath = eschatological outpouring
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (Col. 3:7 KJV)
We once lived as “children of disobedience” in rebellion against God
We lived in the flesh (old man or old sin nature)
Now we live in Christ with a new nature.
We have experienced “spiritual circumcision”
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Col. 2:11 KJV)
Buried with him in baptism [Spirit baptism], wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Col. 2:12 KJV)
Note the terms: “put off” and “put on”
The imagery is donning new clothing or removing old clothing.
1. “Put off all these” (vs. 8).
2. “Put off the old man” (vs. 9).
3. “Put on the new man” (vs. 10).
4. “Put on therefore” (vs. 12).
5. “Put on charity” (vs. 14)
6. “Put on the whole armour of God” (Eph. 6: 11).
7. “Put on the new man” (Eph. 4: 24).
8. “Put off concerning the former conversation” (Eph. 4: 22).
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Col. 3:8 KJV)
These begin with anger and end in hatred
Anger: this needs qualification-
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (Eph. 4:26 KJV)
Righteous indignation is in view.
Eph. 4:26- limit your outrage
Bunny trail: Simon Peter and John the Baptist and anger
Anger: soldering resentment
Wrath: explosion of anger
Malice: intention to harm; weaponized hostility
Blasphemy: abusive speech toward God (or others)
When this word is aimed at others, it is slander.
Filthy communication: corrupt speech; vulgarity, coarse joking
The misapplication of the 3rd Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exod. 20:7 KJV)
This commandment directly forbids doing evil in the name of God.
• These are not just behaviors to suppress
• They are expressions of the old man (v.9)
• The solution is not “manage anger better,” but “we have put off the old man” and “we have put on Christ” (v.10)
• This is our position in Christ
• Our sanctification should flow from our position
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Eph. 5:8 KJV)
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Col. 3:9 KJV)
This is another misunderstood commandment:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exod. 20:16 KJV)
This is in judicial matters.
Truthfulness is an attribute of God (a defining characteristic).
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Tit. 1:2 KJV)
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Heb. 6:18 KJV)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Num. 23:19 KJV)
There are moral absolutes:
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Rom. 3:4 KJV)
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Prov. 6:16-19 KJV)
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Col. 3:10 KJV)
This speaks of our position in Christ
Yet “renewal” is an on-going process:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2 KJV)
“The new man” in the believer is “renewed” (vs. 10) from day to day:
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16 KJV)
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Col. 3:11 KJV)
There are no racial, cultural, or social standings in your position in Christ
• Jews and Greeks still exist ethnically
• Social roles (bond/free) still exist in society
• Cultural differences (barbarian/Scythian) are still real
• So this is not social erasure or forced sameness.
Why do we say these things?
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28 KJV)
Male and female distinctions are maintained in the scriptures
This is not a modern argument for transgenderism
“The ‘new man’ is the believer recreated after the image of Jesus Christ, and continually renewed in knowledge. Because of this new identity in Christ, all spiritual distinctions are removed—‘where there is neither Greek nor Jew… but Christ is all, and in all.’”
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20 KJV)
These distinctions listed in Colossians 3:11-
• None of them grant spiritual advantage
• None of them justify superiority or inferiority
Greek: generally any gentile, but may refer to the culturally advanced.
Jew: someone who may lay claim to being the “chosen people.”
Circumcision: the ritualistic
Uncircumcision: someone not attune to ritual
Barbarian: uncultured, one who cannot speak Greek (the language of the Empire)
Scythian: the most savage and unruly barbarian of the Steppes.
Bond: a slave, today-someone poor
Free: someone who is not a slave or today someone who is rich
Side note: Institutional racism has no place in Christianity.
Part of the impetus for feminism, gay rights and transgenderism is abuses of the past.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Col. 3:12 KJV)
Now we are told to put on the following:
1. The garment of mercy (v. 12).
2. The garment of kindness (v. 12).
3. The garment of humility (v. 12).
4. The garment of gentleness (v. 12).
5. The garment of patience (v. 12).
6. The garment of forbearance (v. 13).
7. The garment of forgiveness (v. 13).
8. The garment of love (v. 14).
We should do so because of our position in Christ:
“…as the elect of God, holy and beloved…” (Col. 3:12 KJV)
Side note: When were you elected by God?
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph. 1:4 KJV)
When did you get in Christ?
What were you chosen to be?
“…that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
➢ God has foreordained before the foundation of the world that all who are in the body of Christ will be saved by faith.
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