Colossians 3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Paul said we lived like this before repentance and baptism.

Now, Paul then turned to “social sins.

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

These Sins comes by the tongue (of the heart).

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

Lying is one of the very first evidences of the carnal nature, which is easy to distort the truth, by a tone of voice, a look will do it, or silence or false and misleading words.

When a Christian lies, he is cooperating with Satan, we know Satan for he is a liar and the father of lies. **John 8:44.

John wrote to us that The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.  **John 14:17.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Renewed in knowledge means constantly being renewed, His Will and His Word.

We were formed in God’s image, and deformed from God’s image by sin. But through Jesus Christ, we can be transformed into God’s image!

Paul tells us we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds **Ephesians 4:23)

As we grow in knowledge of the Word of God, we will be transformed by the Spirit of God to share in the glorious image of God

Paul is telling us to be transformed into His image, the Lord’s Glory and to be transformed by the renewing of our mind into God’s Will.  **2 Corinthians 3:18 and **Romans 12:2

John tells this renewing involves the study of God’s Word. It is the truth that sets us free from the old life **John 8:31-32

God’s purpose for us is that we be “conformed to the image of His Son”

Colossians 3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Paul breaks down the church membership, Greeks regarded all non-Greeks as “barbarians.” However, the Scythian was the worst, came from the area around the Black Sea.  The new man is none of the above, only favor Jesus, because in this new family, Christ is all and in all.

Ministries are not Biblical if they are built upon human distinctions, such as race, color, social standing, etc, but equal acceptance of all the groups into God’s family.

In Christian fellowship, our relationship is with others. 

Remember, Jesus is the life of all the new creation.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people {or elect of God}, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

We have been set apart in Christ; sanctified by His blood and dear to God because we are His own children, partakers of the Divine Nature of God.

We are God’s own special people who has the Holy Spirit living in us. As God is holy, we who are beloved by God must be holy and put on His characteristics.

Colossians 3:13 bear with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Forgiveness opens the heart to the fullness of the love of God. How much, and how frequently, has He forgiven us?  

A forgiving spirit is a characteristic for one who has been forgiven by Christ.

Forgiveness is for us, not the other person, don’t do it, could lead to bitterness.

The Christian’s “bar of soap”   Have you heard about this before?

**1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Paul tells us Love is the first fruit of the Spirit and greater than faith and hope **Galatians 5:22, **1 Corinthians 13:13;

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

This peace must reign in the heart, then it will rule in the act.  People we know outwardly speak of peace to their neighbor with their mouth, while war or evil is in their hearts. **Psalms 28:3

Peace of God means that peace should characterize the community of God’s people and is the standard for discerning God’s will.

How much we have to be thankful for! Paul said one of our most common sins is ingratitude. Always, giving thanks to the Father for all things in the name of Lord Jesus  *Ephesians 5:20. 

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

A hymn is addressed to Him is always from our hearts, not our lips.

One way we teach and encourage ourselves and others is through the singing of the Word of God.

But if we do not know the Bible and understand it, how can we honestly sing it from our hearts.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This verse summarizes it all.

Our entire life—every detail—is to be put in subjection to the Lord.

Paul just sums up how we should live.

We as followers of Jesus should always be thankful, because if we “do all in the name of Jesus,” He will always be with us and in us, and He will work out all for good for us each.

We are to seek to do all our actions in the name of the Lord Jesus

Remember, Paul was a Roman prisoner while writing this!

Paul now gives us rules for Christian Households

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Important Notice, it is to your husbands, not other men.  Wives are to treat other men as you treat other people.  Only in the spheres of the home and in the church, not in areas of politics, business, education and so on.

Submit – Or be subject to. It is a military term, as a soldier submits to higher ranks or to “arrange oneself under another or rank” and indicates a voluntary submission, as between Captains and Sergeants.    

It does not mean to have ones thumb on the wife, otherwise, how can a husband love his wife.  Things to remember, Both husband and wives are to obey the Law of God.

Exceptions to Husband:

• Husband asks the wife to sin
• When he is medically incapacitate, insane, influence of mind altering drugs
• When he is violent and physically threatening
• When breaks the marriage bond by adultery

Notice, Paul gave Only One rule for wives

Remember, this applies to all, When God’s truth and anyone’s demands come into conflict with the scriptures, we should obey God first. Basically not in things sinful, contrary to the Scriptures and Gospel of Christ.

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with {or bitter toward} them.

Paul gives Two rules for Husbands 

Be not harsh/bitter – (Which may be without any appearance of anger) either in word or spirit and provoking.  Are we polite away from home and bitter at home, taking it out on our wives.

Husband may feel perfectly justified towards his wife, but he is not justified at all because of love requirement.

**Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

We as fathers should be very careful not to frustrate or discourage our children.  Rules should be reasonable.  Teach and train our children the same way God corrects and teach me.  Do unto others as I want to be done

**Ephesians 6:2  “Honor your father and mother”  which is the first commandment with a promise  {Deuteronomy 5:16}

The bottom line, Children, obey – in all things while you are at home; That is, in the Lord – in everything that your parents command you, which is not contrary to the will or word of God.

The adult child does not owe the parent obedience, but they do owe the parent honor.

Paul gives only One rule for children

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Paul gives one important rule for fathers or parents; not to provoke by being unreasonable, faultfinding will provoke discouragement in the child.

Our children learns what our Father and Jesus is like, through us. Paul made it clear that parents must make it as easy as possible for children to obey with lots of grace. 

Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Paul gives instruction for servants in a household.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Employment instructions: Who is our real supervisor? Your heavenly supervisor, working as we are working for Jesus.

Colossians 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Paul is saying here, they have neither lands nor property; because they are servants or slaves; but do not be discouraged, but we have an inheritance in store; be faithful unto God and to your employers, and Christ will give you a future inheritance.

Crowns of Promise – we covered this in the past

• Crown of Life: promised to those who love Him. **James 1:12
• Crown of Life: promised to those who are faithful until death **Revelation 2:10
• Crown of Righteousness: for those who loved His appearing. **2 Timothy 4:8
• Crown of Glory: for those who feed the flock. **1 Peter 5:2-4
• Crown Incorruptible: for those who competes for the prize. **1 Corinthians 9:25
• Crown of Rejoicing: our hope, joy in the present of Jesus **1 Thessalonians 2:19.

Colossians 3:25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done wrong, and there is no favoritism.

• God is no respecter or favoritism of persons: Acts 10:34
• Everything will be brought to light at the Judgment Seat: **2 Corinthians 5:10
• The case of the unsaved, at the Great White Throne: **Revelation 20:11-15