The Christ SupremacyPaul’s Message To The Colossians

Colossians 3:1-11The supremacy of Christ demonstrated by the apostle Paul reveals many things that are essential to life in a very physical world.His supremacy has enabled us to be alive like no physical life can provide.Imagine being terribly scarred by burning and then, with a simple passing motion, having all burned flesh fall away to reveal perfect, renewed skin underneath! This is, spiritually, what Christ has accomplished with our sin.

Do We Appreciate It?Certainly, we would appreciate the renewal of body from horrible disfigurement.In our passage, Paul demands that our appreciation of sin supremely excised from our soul will produce a certain way of living.Oh, we can CALL OURSELVES Christians…so many do! Paul challenges us, as he did the brethren at Colosse, that we cannot truly call ourselves Christians if we fail in a life ripe with evidence of that worthy name.

Are We Seeking Above?What is it that motivates us to do? Perhaps our greatest motivation for work is so we can rest, be comfortable, retire, etc?Paul asserts that the Christian does so that he/she can continually pursue the Lord. Paul paints a picture here of a life of quest (the nature of quest is that it never ends). Like the search for the pearl in a sea of possibility, we are to dedicate all life to searching for deeper intimacy with the Lord.

Are We Thinking Above?With what things are we preoccupied? What thoughts serve as the majority as they travel across our minds?Do we find ourselves guessing about God, wondering about him, making assumptions about him? We cannot SEEK above without having a humbled knowledge about what is above versus what is earthly!Though not all earthly things are sinful, they can go that direction when they pull us away.

Are We Dead?How many of us can truly say we died to this world, and personal life died with us?If this is upsetting, we are dead anyway (Colossians 2:13)…so which is the death we have chosen?How many of us can truly say that our motivation in life, the source of our joy never comes from our mind, desires, or will?Possible? Paul says so…demands it!

A Matter Of MotivePaul starts the letter to Colosse with what Jesus has done for us, not what we should do for Jesus.This should affect an appreciation, a reciprocation by the dedicated follower of the Lord.This is summed up for us in 1 John 4:19.The goodness of God which shines in all his Son has done for us, should merit our constant growth in him and love for him.

A Starting ListI do not believe Paul had an idea of exhausting all possibilities in this list of things to avoid in Colossians 3:5.However, just as 1 John 2:16 gives us the essential three things which define sin and worldly danger to the soul, so Paul here inclines us to consider some of the more prevalent and difficult aspects of sinfulness that often serve to trip us up in our daily, constant search and thought.

Great TemptationAre there any greater temptation plaguing those who are seeking to serve the Lord than sexual immorality, lack of moral purity, and passion?Single or married, one of the most essential things we can dedicate ourselves to is engrossing ourselves in pure pursuits.Note 2 Timothy 2:22 / 1 Peter 3:7. Also consider Proverbs 6:23-29 / 7:10-27.

Other TemptationsPaul also demands that there are other temptations (some brethren call these “social” sins and the former “sensual” sins) that must be put away which are listed in Colossians 3:8.These are borne of a desire that is injurious either to self or others. All of these aspects are “used” to gain advantage in a social setting of some type (Matthew 26:74, as an example).When these prevail, what hope do we have?

Avenues Of HopeStudyPrayer

FellowshipSongsTeachServe

Trust (Faith)Hope

Accept Christ’s Supremacy• Listen to the Invitation of the Lord: Isaiah 55;

Matthew 11:28-30.

• Believe the gospel of Christ: John 8:24; 20:30-31; Rom 1:16; 10:10

• Repent or turn from your sins: Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31

• Confess your faith in Christ: Matt 10:32-33; Rom 10:9-10

• Be immersed in water: Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet 3:21

• Live in obedient faith: 1 Peter 1:14; Rev 2:10

The Christ SupremacyPaul’s Message To The Colossians