Your New Clothes

Col 3:12-14

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

• What is the focus of the qualities you are to put on?
  
• What image does the phrase "put on" bring to mind?
  
• Who comes to mind when you hear these qualities listed?
  
• What must die for you to put these qualities on? Why?
  
• Who will you look like if you are wearing these qualities?
  
• If you were to look in a spiritual mirror today, which of these "garments" would be missing or not fitting well?

Harold's Musings:
In Gal. 3:27 we are told that when we are baptized into Christ we put on Christ. Here Paul leads off with us being hidden in Christ, tells us to do an old for new self exchange, and then gives us a list things to be sure we do. One of those is this list of things to put on. I am impressed by how this list states characteristics of Christ. We sometimes grouse about wondering what God's will is for our lives. We seem to ignore the clear statements of what God's will for us is and are perhaps more concerned about the embarrassment of making a wrong choice in a physical realm situation. When I look at this list, I realize that I put these on selectively; much like how I choose what physical clothes I wear. I dress up for special occasions and wear sloppy comfortable clothes when I'm at home. I'm thinking God wants me to dress up like Christ all the time, even when it is not comfortable. So what "clothes" are you going to selectively not wear today? Patience? Forgiveness? Hmmm.... What to wear, what to wear?

Old for New

Col 3:9-11

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self [1] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [2] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Footnotes
[1] 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
[2] 3:11 Greek bondservant

• Whose responsibility is it to get rid of sinful behavior and habits?
  
• Why would you want to pick up the old self you have previously laid aside?
  
• What is your new self beginning to look like?
  
• If everyone in Christ is the image of Christ, how can you distinguish backgrounds, race, etc.?
  
• If everyone in Christ is the image of Christ, why would there ever be divisions and strife in the body?
  
• Would the image of Christ do the things Paul has previously listed, such as greed, anger, and lying?
  
• How does focusing on being the image of Christ help you in your renewal?

Harold's Musings:
It is more rewarding to look towards achieving something than it is to look at the costs that you will have paid to do it. College students look toward graduation and work to achieve the goal. What if they focused on the number of hours of study, the number of boring classes attended, the number of pages read, the number of exams taken, and the amount of money spent? I think they may quit while they are ahead. We have been convinced that as Christians we have to focus on the "do and don't" and not on the goal. We wave the flag of "count the costs" instead of the flag of "becoming the image of Christ". Like the student who attends, reads, studies, and spends, the Christian seeking to look like Christ will "do and don't". will give up things, and will do whatever it takes to be like Christ. Be Christ on earth today!

Cleaning List

Col 3:3-8

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: [2] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [3] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Footnotes
[1] 3:4 Some manuscripts our
[2] 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
[3] 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience

• Why does your life in Christ mean changes in how you live?
  
• What are some logical results of "dying"?
  
• What things in your life do you need to consider your body dead to?
  
• Why are anger and other person-to-person sins listed along with immorality and idolatry?
  
• How is living for self and its desires seen in daily life?
  
• How is dying to self and its desires seen in daily life?
  
• Which of the listed sins would Jesus do?

Mind set

Col 3:1-4

3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Footnotes
[1] 3:4 Some manuscripts our

• What are the things above that you should be seeking?
  
• Why should you seek the things above?
  
• How is setting your mind on things above more effective than a list of rules?
  
• Which has a higher percentage of your mind: things above or things on earth?
  
• How does your being dead to flesh and your life being hidden in Christ change your daily walk?
  
• What is the result of your fleshly nature being resuscitated?
  
• Which seems more preferable: glory now or glory with Christ when he comes?

Harold's Musings:
Oh that I could be consistent in regard to these verses! The world assaults these attitudes almost every minute of the day. How can I set my mind on things above when my stomach wants the food below? How can I simultaneously seek the things above and seek to do an excellent job at work below? (And yes I do know that in a few days we will look at doing a good job on earth.) The challenge I see in these verses is the all-consuming nature of being in Christ. If I have been raised with Christ, then what does the world really offer me? If I am dead, then what does the world offer a dead man? Perhaps I have had CPR and I'm hanging on by a thread. Perhaps Christ is competing with me to be my life. Think I need to go read Romans 7-8 again.

The dead have no rules

Col 2:20-23

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

• What is the difference between God's rules and man's rules?
  
• How can you determine the source of the rules you live by?
  
• When is a rule-based life beneficial to a Christian?
  
• How has dying to the elemental spirits of the world changed your life?
  
• What man-made rules for living drive your life?
  
• Are man-made rules a source of freedom or bondage?

Harold's Musings:
Rules and regulations imply control, yet they are impotent by themselves. Throughout history, countless rules have been made and I suspect every one of them have been broken more than once. Even the best of rules seem to have exceptions, conditional variations. Ultimately rules are guidelines for those who want something. If you want to win a contest, you must at least follow the rules. In recent years, rules and even laws seem to be perceived as optional; the exception is the norm. Rules do not control. They merely appear to control. When you died to Christ, you died to the elemental spirits of the world. It means you should not even want then things that the rules were created to prevent. What rules your life: Christ, rules, or you?

Keep your prize

Col 2:16-19

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, [1] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Footnotes
[1] 2:18 Or about the things he has seen

• What are some things today that are mere shadows of what is to come?
  
• What is the prize in this passage?
  
• Where did the self-abasement, angel worship, and personal visions come from?
  
• Why is it so important for you to hold on to Christ, the head of the body?
  
• How does the body grow?

Death and Debt

Col 2:12-15

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities [1] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. [2]

Footnotes
[1] 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities
[2] 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross)

• How were you dead?
  
• How were you made alive?
  
• What was necessary to be made alive?
  
• Why was the law of Moses hostile to man?
  
• What was the certificate of debt that Christ took away?
  
• What did you owe God before you were baptized into Christ?
  
• How did Jesus' death disarm the spiritual rulers and authorities?
  
• What weapons did Christ take away from Satan?

Fill ups

Col 2:9-12

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

• What lives in Jesus body?
  
• According to this passage, what happens to you when you are in Christ?
  
• If Christ is the head over all rule and authorities and you are in Christ, what do you have to fear?
  
• What is the body of flesh that baptism removes?
  
• What is the significance of being buried with Christ in baptism?
  
• What is the significance of being raised with Christ?
  
• What is the means through which you were raised?

Harold's Musings:
The phrase "in Christ" and its variants, e.g. in Him, is frequently overlooked in passages. We recognize the "Christ" part but read over the "in" part. This passage tells us that the fullness of deity lives in Christ and then states that as Christians you and I are filled in Him. The various translations use phrases like "made full", "made complete", etc. It is interesting to muse over why the Holy Spirit put the fact that Christ was filled with Deity in Him and that we are filled in Him next to each other in the passage. If Christ is filled with Deity and we are in Christ, then we are at least sharing space with Deity. Perhaps this is related to our receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this speaks to our being a temple. Perhaps it is about our being partakers of the devine nature. The bigger questions are "what does it mean to me" and "what will I do with it".

Captive to empty things

Col 2:8

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits [1] of the world, and not according to Christ.

Footnotes
[1] 2:8 Or elementary principles; also verse 20

• What comes to mind from the phrase "takes you captive"?
  
• What is life according to Christ?
  
• How can philosophy take you captive?
  
• When are traditions dangerous?
  
• How do you know when traditions have become dangerous?
  
• What is at the root of everything that directs you away from Christ?
  
• How does the world work in philosophy and traditions to take you captive?

Walk in the Truth

Col 2:4-7

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

• What would Paul think about your "good order" and faith?
  
• Why is it important for your faith in Christ to be firm?
  
• How is a firm faith recognized?
  
• Why does walking in Christ require being established in faith?
  
• What does being firmly rooted in Christ mean?
  
• How are you being built up in Christ?
  
• What is your gratitude's rate of flow?

Harold's Musings:
A number of scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter to address an early version of Gnostism. This particular passage seems to be a pointed defense. Beginning in 2:1, Paul talks about true knowledge and wisdom being in Christ. Here he warns about being deluded by plausible arguments. I look around and see so many different religions and even within believers in Christ there are so many different "flavors". My observation is that we want something new and we want someone of our choosing to be the expert. I find it difficult to walk the seemingly fine line between mere tradition and real truth, knowledge, and wisdom. No wonder we are at risk from "plausible arguments". It is critical that you and I be established, firmly rooted in our faith and that faith is based in large part on what is in God's Word. How firm is your faith today?

Goals of the struggle

Col 2:1-3

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

• How could Paul be struggling for people hundreds of miles away?
  
• What was Paul wanting for these people?
  
• What image comes to mind from "knit together in love"? Why the word "knit"?
  
• How does entwined by love encourage the heart?
  
• What sort of riches is Paul talking about here?
  
• Why is understanding so important?
  
• How is knowledge different from understanding?
  
• What other questions does this passage raise for you?

Harold's Musings
Three little verses with a lot of meat. I first ask myself if I am struggling so that someone is gaining the things Paul lists here. I have to admit that my efforts are scarcely a struggle. Maybe a short scuffle or quick task, but not a struggle. I ask what is Paul really wanting for these children of God. My wife used to do a lot a machine knitting. I watched the process and the results as she worked (even struggled) to change cones of yarn into a single wearable garment. Without the knitting process, the strands of yarn would not hold together and were useless. Then there is the issue of understanding and knowing Christ and what that does to a person. I ask how rich is my assurance of my knowledge and understanding of Him. A lot to chew on today...

Purpose and Power

Col 1:28-29

…the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

• Who is Paul's audience when he proclaims Christ?
  
• What does it mean to be mature in Christ?
  
• How does warning and teaching result in maturity in Christ?
  
• How mature are you in Christ? What areas need work?
  
• What was working in Paul so that he could proclaim Christ?
  
• What power is available to you if you want to be mature in Christ?

Harold's Musings
What a challenge put before us! To proclaim Christ to everyone. To warn everyone. To teach everyone. To present everyone mature in Christ. Or do you think this is only for Paul? That you and I get a pass on this challenge? I know I stuggle with the scope of the challenge, but Paul struggled to achieve the goal. Paul realized that he could not do it alone. He realized the energy that he had been given. Like the electricity that runs throughout our houses, Christ's energy is available but untouched unless we plug ourselves in. Just perhaps that comes with maturity.

The Mystery

Col 1:24-27

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

• What sort of feelings do you get when you find out a secret?
  
• How would you react if you discovered something that would help a lot of people?
  
• What was the mystery that had been hidden?
  
• How does knowing this mystery influence your life?
  
• Why is this mystery so important to you? To your friends?
  
• What is your hope? How often do you feel hopeless?

Harold's Musings
Maybe this is a reason why we are so reluctant to tell others about Jesus. We simply do not feel that we have anything to offer them. We do not have anything to offer; Jesus does. Perhaps we do not feel the hope of glory that comes from realizing that Christ is in us. We go through our day accomplishing what we do or failing in what we try with our hope of glory firmly resting on our own abilities. Dale Carnegie summarized a number of authors when he wrote "everyone wants to feel important". We frequently fail to recognize just how important we are to God and only focus on how important we are to the humans around us. The secret though is "Christ in you, the hope of glory".

Suffering Your Part

Col. 1:24

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

• How much suffering do you do for another person's sake?
  
• How much suffering do you do for the church?
  
• What lacked in Christ's afflictions for the church?
  
• When do you do your share of the suffering for the church?
  
• How frequently do you find joy in your suffering for the church?

Reconciliation

Col. 1:18-23

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation [1] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Footnotes
[1] 1:23 Or to every creature

• How do you feel realizing that the one who is over everything died for you?
  
• What does the word reconcile mean to you? What must be present for reconciliation to be needed?
  
• When did you realize you were an enemy of God?
  
• Why would Jesus die for His enemies?
  
• What conditions are stated here for remaining reconciled to God?
  
• How important is hope in this passage?

Our Rescuer

Col. 1:15-18

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by [1] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Footnotes
[1] 1:16 That is, by means of; or in

• How does it feel to be on the winning team? How about the championship team?
  
• What do you feel about Jesus Christ when you read this passage?
  
• What struggle in your life is outside of Jesus Christ's control?
  
• Where in the universe is something held together outside of Christ?
  
• As the head of the church, what control does he have over you, a member of the body?
• When you read this, what feelings does it evoke or is it merely intellectual fluff?