Exposition By C.H Spurgeon
Colossians 3, 4:1-4
Verse 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Oh! how often we need to be called to this, for the flesh is
grovelling, and it holds down the spirit; and very often we are seeking
the things below as if we had not yet attained to the new life, and did
not know anything about the resurrection power of Christ within the soul.
Now, if it be that you, believers, have risen with Christ, do not live as
if you had never done so, but "seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
2. Set your affection.
Not "your affections." Tie them up into one bundle. Make one of
them.
2. On things above, not on things on the earth.
You say that you were dead with Christ, and that you have risen with
Christ. Live, then, the risen life, and not the life of those who have
never undergone this matchless process. Live above.
3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The old life is dead. You are dead to it. You will not be consumed
by it: you cannot be controlled by it. You have a newer and higher life.
Let it have full scope.
4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory.
Christ was hidden while he was here. The world knew him not. So is
your life. But there is to be a glorious manifestation. When Christ is
made manifest, so shall you be. Wait for him.
5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry:
Since you are dead, let all the lusts of the flesh be put to death.
Kill those. They were once a part of you. Your nature lusted this way.
Mortify them. Do not merely restrain them and try to keep them under.
These things you are to have nothing to do with.
6, 7. For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye
lived in them.
"When ye lived in them" But now you do not live in them. You are
dead to them. If it should ever come to pass that you fall into any of
these things, you will loathe yourself with bitterest repentance that you
could find comfort, satisfaction, life in them. You are dead to them.
8-10. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to
another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds: And have
put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him:
No lies. Such communications are filthy. But you put these things
away through your union with Christ in his risen life. Therefore, abhor
them. Avoid the very appearance of them, and cry for grace to be kept
from them, for you have been "renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him."
11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all,
and in all.
In the new life there is no distinction of race and nationality. We
are born into one family; we become members of Christ's body; and this is
the one thing we have got to keep up--separation from all the world
beside: no separations in the church, no disunion, nothing that would
cause it, for we are one in Christ, and Christ is all. Now, as we have to
put off these things, that is the negative side: that is the law's side,
for the law says, "Thou shalt not"--"Thou shalt not." But now look at the
positive side.
12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering:
This is what you have got to wear, even on the outside--to put it
on; not to have a latent kindness in your heart, and a degree of
humbleness deep down in your soul if you could get at it; but you are to
put it on. It is to be the very dress you wear. These are the sacred
vestments of your daily priesthood. Put them on.
13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Just as readily, just as freely, just as heartily, just as
completely.
14-15 And above all these things put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
For that is the great foundation of every godly fruit. We are in
such a hurry, in such dreadful haste, so selfish, so discontented, so
impetuous, and the major part of our sins spring from that condition of
mind. But if we were godly, restful, peaceful, how many sins we should
avoid! "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
15. To the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye
thankful.
It looks like a very small virtue to be thankful. Yet, dear friends,
the absence of it is one of the grossest of vices. To be ungrateful is a
mean thing: to be ungrateful to God is a base thing. And yet how many may
accuse themselves of it! Who among us is as grateful as he should be? Be
thankful.
16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you.
Alexander had a casket of gold studded with gems to carry Homer's
works. Let your own heart be a casket for the command of Christ. "Let the
word of Christ dwell in you."
16-18 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. 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. Wives
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
See how our being Christians does not relax the bonds of our
Christian relationship, but it calls us to the higher exercise of the
responsibilities and duties connected therewith.
19. Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Oh! there are some spirits that are very bitter. A little thing puts
them out, and they would take delight in a taunt which grieves the
spirit. I pity the poor woman who has such bitterness where she ought to
have sweetness: yet there be some such husbands.
20-21 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is
well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
lest they be discouraged.
The duties are mutual. Scripture maintains an equilibrium. It does
not lay down commands for one class, and then leave the other to exercise
whatever tyrannical oppression it may please. The child is to obey, but
the father must not provoke.
22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the
flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers;
How much there is of that! How quickly the hands go when the
master's eye looks on! But the Christian servant remembers God's eye, and
is diligent always. "Not with eye service as men-pleasers."
22-Chap. 4:2 But in singleness of heart, fearing God: And
whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for
the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons.
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing
that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in
the same with thanksgiving.
See how he keeps putting that in--"Be ye thankful"--"with
thanksgiving." Why, that is the oil that makes the machinery go round
without its causing obstruction. May we have much of that thanksgiving.
3, 4. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a
door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in
bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
So the preacher of the gospel asks your prayers: and it is a part of
the duties arising out of the relationship between Christian men that
those who are taught should pray for those who teach God's Word.
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Canada
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