The Implications of Christian Baptism
Colossians 2:20-3:11
I. 2:20-23, 3:5-11 - Being Buried with Christ Means
Shifting Focus from Your Old Worldly Life
A. 2:20-23 - Die to the Law of Moses.
1. v21-22 - These Old Testament regulations never really penetrated the surface (the intellect) to get to the heart.
2. v23 - They didn’t provide the power to overcome. Paul described his life under the Old Testament Law this way: We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. and if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. - Rom 7:14-17.
B. 3:5-11 - Die to the world.
1. v5 - By getting rid of wrong attitudes.
a. Sexual Immorality (πορνεία) = (ASV) fornication - sex apart from the marriage relationship. We get our English words “fornicate” & “pornography” from this word.
(1) Paul’s letters have 7 “sin lists”. Fornication is listed in 5 of them!
(2) Context suggests this is more a mental state than an actual practice.
(3) Matt 5:27-28 - You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
b. Impurity (ἀκαθαρσία) = uncleanness - those things forbidden by God for human contact. I think this means that your mind is in the trash can always thinking about the unclean.
c. Lust (πάθος) = that which falls on you, a passion; (KJV) an inordinate affection. Two of these 3 NT passages imply homosexuality!
d. Evil desires (ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν) = bad desire, passionate longing; (KJV) evil concupiscence or strong sexual desire, a longing for the forbidden sexually.
e. Greed (πλεονεξία) = covetousness; the desire to always want more. Greed is the closest thing we have today to idolatry.
2. v8-9 - By getting rid of wrong actions.
a. Anger (ὀργή) = impulsive wrath.
(1) You may say, “I have a quick temper. I blow up, but it’s over quickly!”
(2) My answer, “So was the attack at the World Trade Center, but look at the damage it did!”
b. Rage (θυμός) = passion; you get so worked up you’re breathing hard. ILL: The bull about to charge!
c. Malice (κακία) = wickedness.
d. Slander (βλασφημία) = lit. “blasphemy” - to speak with the idea of injuring; showing contempt & lack of respect.
(1) ILL: The Lord was accused of this when he healed the paralytic man carried by his friends (Matt 9:1-8)
(2) ILL: The Unforgivable Sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (Matt 12:22-31)
e. Filthy language (αἰσχρολογία) = (ASV) shameful speech; swearing, “noise pollution”, mouth in the trash can language.
C. But - how do you die to the old life? How do you get rid of the old habits?
II. 3:1-4 - Being Raised with Christ Means
Focusing In on the Life of Christ
A. ILL: Taking off in an airplane above the storms.
B. v1 - Focus on the Lord - the authority in your life.
1. Right hand was the second in command to the king, the chief advisor. ILL: Hymen in Esther.
2. ILL: The Executive Officer in the Army.
C. v2 & 4b - Focus on heaven - the motivation in your life. Concentrate on:
1. Having resurrection bodies someday.
a. I Jn 3:2 - Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
b. Phil 3:21 - who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
2. Receiving a crown someday. I Pet 5:4 - And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
3. Being honored by God someday. Lk 12:37 - It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
4. Being raptured (raised to be with Him in the air) when He returns someday. I Thess 4:15-17 - According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
D. v3-4a - Focus on your relationship - the status in your life.
1. The Holy Spirit is in you - Act 2:38.
2. Christ is in you - Col 1:27.
3. v3 - You are hidden with Christ in God.
4. v4a - Christ is in your life! What does that mean?
a. The fruit of the Spirit are actually characteristics of the Lord’s life! Gal 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
b. His life becomes your life as the Holy Spirit is made known in it.
c. That’s what the Bible means when it says to “be filled with the Spirit”; let the Holy Spirit have more control.
The next time you see a baptism or experience your own baptism, remember the implications! When you are buried & raised, you are to die to the old life. Baptism is the door you go through from the old life to the new. Shut the door behind you!
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