Farther, by Christ, he means the spiritual righteousness of Christ, which puts an end to ceremonies, as we have formerly seen. However, it stands alone as a very practical and helpful encouragement for the application of the Gospel to all of life, and therefore to technology ministry as well. We get credited to our accounts so many things; this truth is no exception. It is also to be observed, that he teaches that we must give thanks to the Father through Christ, as we obtain through him every good thing that God confers upon us. For, in the first place, God is faithful, and therefore will not deny what has been committed to him, (2 Timothy 1:12,) nor deceive in the guardianship which he has undertaken; and, secondly, the fellowship of Christ brings still greater security. Application Point 3: We are to put on the Gospel as we do clothing, through regular and rich times with God and in His Word. Colossians 3:1-17 is a recognizable section of the letter. As the chosen of God. Being in union with Christ means that the past, present and future aspect of our life is now and forever tied up and remains in union with Christ - and it began at the cross when we died with Him. Hence, with the view of removing ambiguity, I prefer to render it, “Be amiable.” At the same time I acknowledge that, if gratitude takes possession of our minds, (448) we shall without fail be inclined to cherish mutual affection among ourselves. 5:1), and the attitude of rest or security (Phil. Thus, all of life is to be devoted to the Lord and lived in accordance with the gospel of God’s grace and love at work in Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:1 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Colossians 3:1, NIV: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." In 15 we are to let the Gospel, "the message about the Messiah," inhabit our lives both individually and corporately as the church. (447) For God has reconciled us to himself in Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:18,) with this view, that we may live in entire harmony among ourselves. This beautiful verse is in a section of scripture where Paul deals with one of the basic aspects of the Christian life - believers are in union with Christ – we are one with Him. The passage for this first Sunday after Christmas has the flavor of both theological and ethical concerns. If the Gospel is to dwell richly among us, how do we facilitate this during these times? Here, there are a pair of passages, one negatively focused (verses 5-11) and one positively oriented (verses 12-17). 15.And the peace of God. 8.But now — that is, after having ceased to live in the flesh. He would have the songs of Christians, however, to be spiritual, not made up of frivolities and worthless trifles. 3… Colossians 3:3 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Colossians 3:3, NIV: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Specifically, this is tested when conflict arises. Nor does he mean that the word of Christ ought to be of benefit merely to individuals, that they may teach themselves, but he requires mutual teaching and admonition. The new man, on the other hand, is that which is renewed by the Spirit of Christ to the obedience of righteousness, or it is nature restored to its true integrity by the same Spirit. because God is immutable and cannot change His mind – this is an unchangeable fact in each of our lives. The text of Colossians envisions a community in action. Verse 14 itself is the admonition to put on love, which seems to supersede and epitomize the other virtues and directions given in this passage. The clause, in grace, Chrysostom explains in different ways. 18Wives, be subject. But those things which are already seen with our eyes are not hoped for. He gives the name of the peace of God to that which God has established among us, as will appear from what follows. This is an interesting idea in that the peace of Christ is to be the decisive factor in our relationships with others and in our circumstances in general. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. By these words he intimates, that it were an unseemly thing that they should addict themselves any more to the vices, to which they had died through Christ. For as all the things that he has hitherto enumerated flow from love, he now on good grounds exhorts the Colossians to cherish love among themselves, for the sake of these things — that they may be merciful, gentle, ready to forgive, as though he had said, that they would be such only in the event of their having love. Farther, he gives a short definition of this wisdom — that the Colossians teach one another Teaching is taken here to mean profitable instruction, which tends to edification, as in Romans 12:7 — He that teacheth, on teaching; also in Timothy — “All Scripture is profitable for teaching. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain. The number of passages in the New Testament exhorting, encouraging-even commanding us to love one another as part of the Church-is such that it is surely a familiar theme to any believer. To learn about Jesus’ childhood, we can turn to this text in Luke 2 or we can choose from the multiple apocryphal gospels replete with accounts of Jesus’ forming birds from clay and sending them flying into the sky or resuscitating childhood playmates. The gospel is personal, but it is not — based upon these verses — to be made private. Hence we may infer by what spirit those are actuated in the present day, who cruelly (449) interdict the Christian people from making use of it, and furiously vociferate, that no pestilence is more to be dreaded, than that the reading of the Scriptures should be thrown open to the common people. Our text for this Sunday contains the more positively expressed set of verses. but is still following out his discussion as to ceremonies, which he represents as resembling entanglements which constrain us to creep upon the ground. That he may commend it the more, he calls it the bond of perfection, meaning by this, that the troop of all the virtues (444) is comprehended under it. He says, however, expressly, that the wrath of God will come, or is wont to come, upon the unbelieving or disobedient, instead of threatening them with anything of this nature. I, however, take it simply, as also afterwards, in Colossians 4:6, where he says, “Let your speech be seasoned with salt, in grace, ” that is, by way of a dexterity that may be agreeable, and may please the hearers by its profitableness, so that it may be opposed to buffoonery and similar trifles. Be thankful. And this is what he immediately adds, that we are renewed after the image of God. For the meaning of the statement is this, that Christian perfection does not stand in need of those outward observances, nay, that they are things that are altogether at variance with it.