Dead or Alive

This is the fifth sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of Colossians. This message covered verses 1-11 of chapter three. In these verses the Apostle speaks about the kind of transformation that takes place in a person who has spiritually died with Christ and has been raised with Christ. The video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I felt that I should continue with our series of messages through the book of Colossians today, even though it is Mother’s Day. So, I want to begin by asking if you remember seeing some of the old “Wanted” posters typically used on old western shows where the wording at the bottom of the poster practically screams out, “Wanted: Dead or Alive!”? I actually think that phrase could be the connotation of a verse in Revelation chapter 3 in regard to the church in Laodicea.

Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV) I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians at Colossae and in chapter two he asks,

Colossians 2:20 (NKJV) … if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

Why are you feeling it necessary to be in bondage to the rules of the legalistic Jews or the body-denying Gnostics?

Now, in chapter three, Paul proposes new objectives based on the fact of being alive (raised) with Christ.

Colossians 3:1 ^(NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Those who died with Christ and have been raised with Christ are also described as “hidden with Christ.”

Colossians 3:3 (NKJV) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Whether we speak of being dead with Christ or risen & alive with Christ, the result should be a transformed life in this world. It is not a life controlled and regulated by the rules of men, but a life that is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

As we look into this passage today, we will first of all consider the rationale for a transformed life, then we will define the characteristics that need to be removed from our lives because we are hidden in Christ.

I.          The Rationale for the Transformed Life (3:1-4)

A. We are raised with Christ. (vv. 1-2)

A “raised” life implies a life of supernatural power, and a new focus of mind and desire (seek things above). If we have been raised, then it should change the direction we look for fulfillment and direction.

B. We are dead and hidden with Christ. (v. 3)

To be dead/hidden with Christ implies a life that is not its own, but it is lived in the life of another – Jesus Christ. He is the one that shines out, not me. If I am “hidden” in Christ, then other people should be able to look at my life and see Him.

C. We are going to reign with Christ. (v.4)

We are saved and redeemed to be fitted and prepared to reign with Christ in glory. Some have described this life as the “dressing room” for eternity. We are currently getting transformed, prepared and equipped for greater things!

As we continue in chapter three, the Apostle describes several characteristics of a person that is “dead or alive” in Christ. All of these characteristics are either described negatively as something we need to remove from our lives or described positively as something that needs to be added to our lives. They are easily identified by the imperative verbs that are used. Remember, an imperative verb is the same thing as a command.

II.        Negative Characteristics to Abandon (3:5-11)

There are two different metaphors that the Apostle uses in these verses as he describes the characteristics we are to remove from our lives.

A. Put to death … (vv. 5-7)

Colossians 3:5-7 (NKJV) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

The first metaphor relates to the subject of warfare or conflict as he commands us to “put to death” (i.e., kill, slay, mortify) certain traits.

“members on earth” – body limbs. (Vincent, Word Studies in the NT) The physical members, so far as they are employed in the service of sin. … The organs of the earthly and sensuous life.

Romans 6:13 (NKJV) And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

earthly “members” exhibiting in:

Fornication – a word that represents all illicit sexual relationships including those prior to marriage as well as those that are extra-marital, such as adultery.

Greek word is the same word the English word “pornography” comes from.

Uncleanness – a word that refers to physical, religious, or moral impurity. (religious – in connection to “cultic” or sacrifices in the OT.) In this context it probably refers to the “contamination of character affected by immoral behavior.” (Tyndale Commentary)

Passion – (KJV, “inordinate affection”); πάθος; an affection of the mind, a passionate desire.

evil desire – (KJV, evil concupiscence) evil = what is contrary to law, either divine or human… concupiscence = craving, longing, or desire. (Thayer Greek-English Lexicon)

Covetousness, which is idolatry – greedy desire to have more (Thayer), which is nothing short of “idol worship,” i.e., seeking satisfaction in the grasping of material possessions rather than in God.

vv. 6, 7 – because of all these ungodly traits, God’s wrath / anger is coming on all those who are disobedient, which formerly included these Christian believers.

“you once walked” – it used to be a characteristic of their lives, but not anymore.

B. Put off … (vv. 8-11)

The second metaphor relates to the wearing of clothing as he commands us to “put off” certain traits.

Colossians 3:8-9 (NKJV) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

(N.T. Wright, Tyndale NT Commentaries) The list in verse 8 is another ugly one: anger, the continuous state of smoldering or seething hatred; rage, when this state breaks out in actual angry deeds or words; malice, a word which in the Greek can simply mean ‘evil’, but which here probably has the overtone of ‘evil intended to cause hurt’; slander, speech which puts malice into practical effect (the Greek is blasphēmia, speech which dishonours God himself—in this instance, by reviling a human being made in his image); and filthy language, words which, either by their foul association or their abusive intent, contaminate both speaker and hearers.

Lying – The person who has “died with Christ” and is “raised with Christ cannot be a person characterized by something that is completely contrary to the nature of Christ. God is a God of truth.

All of these traits represent the “old man” or the former life without God. They are to be removed like taking off an old garment.

Colossians 3:10-11 (NKJV) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

v. 10 And they are to be replaced by putting on new clothing (described later).

“have put on” – aorist middle participle.

“is renewed” – present passive participle.

According to the verb tenses Paul uses, the “putting on” is a decisive personal action, but the “renewing” is an ongoing process being done by God.

v. 11 – The commands and transformed lifestyle apply to all people regardless of ethnicity or status.

(N.T. Wright, Tyndale NT Commentaries) These intermingled distinctions of race, ancestral religion, class and caste provide the best soil for that mutual suspicion and distrust which turn into the vices listed in verse 8…. These distinctions, Paul declares with a breath-taking challenge, have become irrelevant in Christ.

III.       Positive Characteristics to Embrace (3:12 - 4:1)

The positive characteristics for the believer to embrace are described in the remaining verses of chapter three, as well as the first verse in chapter four.

Some of these positive commands pertain to personal attitudes and character traits, while other commands pertain to inter-personal relationships.

We do not have the time to examine this section today, so we will return to this next Sunday for a message we’ll brilliantly call: Dead or Alive (Part Two)!

Conclusion:

We have talked about a number of attitudes and actions that we are clearly informed have no part in the life of a believer who has died with Christ and been raised with Christ. This passage and many others in Scripture teach us that having a personal relationship with Christ will make a distinct difference in the way we live.

When we look at this sordid list of traits which do not belong in the life of a Christian, it ought to inspire a constant prayer in our hearts for God to make us whiter than snow in our attitudes and our character. After all, we cannot be the kind of person we ought to be without the cleansing and empowering of the Holy Spirit. Let’s sing such a prayer,

Closing Song: Whiter than Snow