Ben Stuart kicks off a study of the second half of Colossians in our new collection, Live Again. If Jesus is our Lord, how does that change how we live our lives?
Key Takeaway
When you put your faith in Jesus, you are surrendering to His Lordship. He is Lord over your life, your whole life. Where we set our eyes determines our direction and often our direction leads us to our besetting sins when we are not living according to God's standard.
Where does the locus of authority lie? We often view Jesus as someone we like to get counsel and advice from, but when His reasoning goes against our own, we decide that His words don't apply to us. So, we redefine God to match all of our personal preferences.
In Colossians 1, we see Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of all the universe. He is Lord over your life.
In Colossians 2, we see how He used His authority to sacrifice and save us. He is the lover of your soul.
Saying, "No, Lord" is an oxymoron. You are still trying to be in control. Why does Jesus being in control bother you so much? Why don't you trust Him, His rule, and His heart towards you? Keep continuing the journey of learning who He is.
Where you set your eyes matters because it determines your direction. So, where the culture differs from Christ, you go with Christ. His Authority isn't a burden, it's a joy. It's wonderful to be ruled by an authority who has affection for you. That's who we are.
Our besetting sins grind us down, but Jesus Christ has a power that you don't. He has knit Himself together with us and used His power to save us. Who He is defines who you are. He can tell you how to live because He's earned the right. And honestly, we want Him to.
Summary of Colossians 3:5-10. Kill the practices that are inconsistent with a life in Christ. Take off the old clothes and put on the new. Our activity is an effect of Jesus, not a cause. We are not just individuals walking around with Christ. We are a community walking with the King.
Therefore, we don't use each other. Paul presses on sex and anger because he knows they are powerful human forces. We see it immediately in Genesis. Right after Adam and Eve are removed from the garden, Cain murders Abel. Seven generations later, Lamech kills a man for insulting him. (Genesis 4) When sin festers in a human heart, you see the growth sexual immorality and the growth of anger.
This is why we constantly see Paul address sexuality immediately after people put their faith in Jesus. He knows how strong these impulses are. If the Lord is truly the Lord over you life, then you will kill what is earthly in you.
Colossians 3:5. Paul uses the word "pornea", where we get the word porn. It means any sex outside of the boundaries of the covenant of marriage. God isn't anti-sex, He is anti-distortion of sex. He made it. It was His idea. And it is a kindness and a grace that He made it so fun. Culture today has tried to separate sex and the body from emotions or relationship. It doesn't work. Paul turn his focus from outward action to inward determination. Covetousness is saying, "I want for me and I don't care about you."
Colossians 3:6. Wrath is coming as a result for sexual immorality. That's a good thing. You shouldn't be used or using people. Wrath isn't the opposite of God's love, it is a function of it. He hates sin because He loves you.
Colossians 3:7. None of us have made it out pure. If you're arrogant because you didn't go as far as someone else. Paul warns that you're still far off from where God intended. Get some humility. If you have made so many mistakes and experienced enslavement to your own desires: that is what you used to do, but that you died. You might have responsibilities and consequences, but there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Your desire for sexual expression, for relationship, to be loved; it's all good and put into you from God. Trust Him. We don't use pieces of each other for our own pleasure.
Discussion Questions
In your own life, where does the locus of authority lie? Who is in control of you?
How have you seen yourself or others redefine God to fit their own personal preferences?
Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus being in control bothers you? It may not be your whole life, but are there areas you haven't yielded control? What makes you hold back?
How has Jesus earned the right to tell us how to live?
What was the summary for Colossians 1 and 2?
Ben had one main point in this message. What was it?
Why did Paul press on sex and anger in Colossians 3:5?
Wrath is coming for the sexually immoral. Why is that actually good news? What is His wrath a function of?
What is Paul saying in Colossians 3:6? How are all people involved?
If you are struggling with using people for your own pleasure, what is something you can do to honor people this week rather than use them?
Scripture References
