Let the Peace of God Rule Text: Colossians 3:15–17 (KJV) 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.
Introduction We have been studying Colossians chapter 3, where Paul is explaining the believer’s life in Christ.
Earlier in the chapter, we saw:
• We are risen with Christ (v.1) • We are to mortify the deeds of the flesh (v.5) • We have put off the old man (v.9) • We have put on the new man (v.10) • Then in verses 12–14, we are told what to “put on”: mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forgiveness, and above all, charity. Now in verses 15–17, Paul shows us what should govern, fill, and direct the believer’s daily life.
This passage gives us three controlling principles: 1. The Peace of God must rule you 2. The Word of Christ must fill you 3. The Name of Christ must guide you
I. Let the Peace of God Rule (v.15) “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…”
The word rule carries the idea of an king- “The peace of God” is to rule and reign in the affections of the believer
Let nothing disrupt the “peace of God” in your hearts
This is not peace with God (that was settled at salvation), but the peace of God ruling within.
Be careful for nothing [do not be anxious]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7 KJV)
What does it mean? • It means Christ’s peace governs your reactions • It settles your conflicts
Context matters: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col. 3:15 KJV)
See also verse 11.
There should be unity in the body of Christ: Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:1-6 KJV)
Why? “…to the which also ye are called in one body…” This peace is essential for unity in the body of Christ.
A church cannot function if: • Everyone is offended • Everyone insists on their own way • Everyone reacts in the flesh
Peace is what holds the body together.
• It controls your decisions
When agitation, anger, or anxiety arise, something is out of rule.
Practical Applications:
A husband is not to be bitter against his wife: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (Col. 3:19 KJV)
• The husband is the head of the home but he is not to be domineering
• Men are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Eph. 5:25 KJV)
Fathers are urged to restrain their anger: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (Col. 3:21 KJV)
Where does PEACE rule?
…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, (Col. 3:15 KJV)
Not just outward behavior—but inward control.
Further Practical Application • When conflict arises: does peace rule, or emotion?
O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master, The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung; Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster, And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue; Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster, And Christ sufficient is for old and young. (A Christian Home by Barbara Hart, 1965)
• When decisions are made: is there spiritual calm, or confusion? • When dealing with others: are you governed by the Lord’s peace?
Final Command
…and be ye thankful. (Col. 3:15 KJV)
When gratitude dies in a man’s heart, that man is well nigh hopeless.
• Gratitude is the atmosphere where peace thrives. • A complaining Christian will never be a peaceful Christian.
A Survey was done that indicated that people who complained lived longer. It wasn’t true. It just seemed like it to everyone else!
In every thing [note: not for everything] give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thess. 5:18 KJV)
Matthew Henry’s Reaction To Robbery When the great Bible scholar Matthew Henry went one Lord’s evening into the city to preach for his friend, Mr. Rosewell, he was met on his return by four men and robbed of about ten or eleven shillings. Instead, however, of indulging in useless regrets, he entered in his diary the following remarks: “First, what reason I have to be thankful to God! I who have traveled so much, and yet was never robbed before; “Second, what a deal of evil the love of money is the root of, that four men should venture their lives and souls for about half-a-crown apiece; “Third, see the power of Satan in the children of disobedience; “Fourth, see the vanity of worldly wealth; how soon we may be stripped of it. How loose therefore should we sit to it.” [Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (WORDsearch, 2004)]
II. Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly (v.16)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
The word dwell means to live, to settle down, to make itself at home.
This is not occasional exposure to Scripture—this is constant indwelling.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.1 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14 KJV)
What is the “word of Christ”? • The teachings of Christ
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,1 (1 Tim. 6:3-4 KJV)
• The doctrine concerning Christ
One of the arguments Paul is making is to admonish the believer to utilize the Psalms for admonishment.
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. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
Much of our Christology comes from the Psalms
• The Word of Christ is the full body of revealed truth centered in Him
1. Learn it. 2. Study it. 3. Mark it. 4. Memorize it. 5. Live it. 6. Use it. 7. Hold it out. 8. Eat it. 9. Live by it. 10. Fight with it. 11. Rightly divide it. 12. DIE by it.
The entirety of the Scripture: • Christ is found in every book of the Bible
What does “richly” mean? • Not shallow knowledge • Not occasional reading • But abundant, overflowing truth within you (let the word of God become part of the fabric of our souls)
Result #1: Wisdom
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. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
The Word produces: • Right thinking • Right discernment • Right application
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect [mature, complete], throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16-17 KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV)
Result #2: Ministry to Others
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. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
This is not just the preacher’s job. Every believer should: • Teach truth to as many people as he can • Admonish (warn, correct) in love
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph. 4:15 KJV)
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. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
This shows that music is a teaching tool, not just emotional expression.
Result #3: Worship
…singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
Notice: • It is from the heart • It is toward the Lord • It is filled with grace
Practical Application • Is the Word living in you—or visiting occasionally? • Can you instruct others from Scripture? • Does your worship come from truth-filled hearts?
III. Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus (v.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. (Col. 3:17 KJV)
It sums up all of the teachings of Romans 12– 14, and 1 Thessalonians 5.
This covers: • Everything you say • Everything you do
There are no “neutral” areas in the Christian life
There is no secular parts of the Christian life all is sacred
The Standard “…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17 KJV)
This means: • Under His authority • For His honor • Consistent with His character
Ask: • Can I say “this” in His name? • Can I do “this” in His name? • Does “this” represent Him well?
If not—it does not belong in your life.
The Attitude “…giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:17KJV)
Again, thanksgiving appears.
A Christ-centered life is marked by: • Gratitude • Dependence • Recognition of Christ as the mediator
Conclusion This passage gives us a complete picture of the Christian life: • The Peace of God rules the heart • The Word of Christ fills the mind • The Name of Christ directs the life
If these three are in place: • Your relationships will be right • Your thinking will be right • Your actions will be right
Final Challenge Ask yourself: • Is God’s peace ruling me? • Is Christ’s Word filling me? • Is Christ’s Name guiding me? Because the Christian life is not about trying harder—it is about letting Christ have His rightful place.
