Christ's Law

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● Col 3:5a . . Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature

The earthly nature of Christ's believing followers was judged, sentenced, and
executed on his cross, but they won't be rid of their mind and body's natural
propensities and predilections till they pass on.

However, if Christ's followers want to take full advantage of God's kindly patronage
and providence, they have got to take the bull by the horns and make an effort to
suppress the "nothing good" that's been in them from birth. (Rom 7:18) This has
been a mandate since the very beginning, before even a Judaism or a Christianity.

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right,
sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Gen
4:6-7)

* At this point, the Colossian epistle lists a catalogue of behaviors that aren't
practiced in Heaven; and since Christ's sheep are destined for that place, they need
to start living now like they'll be living there because that life is permanent whereas
the now is only temporary.
_
 
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● Col 3:8 . . Put off all these: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and
greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Webster's defines "malice" as desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.
Behaviors like deliberate chafing, needling, ridicule, mockery, taunts, demeaning
comments, ugly words that tear people down rather than build them up,
denigrating labels, biting sarcasm, fault-finding, carping criticism, thoughtless
remarks, petty ill will, spite, vindictiveness, and stalking are all malicious behaviors
that no one in Heaven ever practices because Heaven is a sphere of harmony and
kindness where the Sermon On The Mount is actually practiced instead of only
discussed.

The Greek word translated "filthy language" means vile conversation.

Webster's defines "vile" as (1) morally despicable or abhorrent, (2) physically
repulsive; viz: foul and/or odious, (3) of little worth or account; viz: common,
vulgar, (4) tending to degrade, demean, and/or denigrate, (5) disgustingly and/or
utterly bad; viz: obnoxious, contemptible, unacceptable, disagreeable, and (6)
base; viz: crude, churlish, and/or unrefined.
_
 
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● Col 3:9-10 . . Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with
its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in
the image of its Creator.

Humanity began its created existence in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). In other
words; Adam started off as an honest man. Clearly then; dishonesty doesn't reflect
the image of God, rather, it reflects the Devil's image. (John 8:44)

It's interesting that the Colossian believers were lying to each other, and no doubt
would've continued had not Paul instructed them to stop it.

NOTE: The Greek word translated "renewed" basically means to renovate; defined
by Webster's as: (1) to restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing,
or rebuilding), and (2) to restore to life, vigor, or activity, i.e. revive.

The word appears in only one other place in the entire New Testament where it
says:

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day." (2Cor 4:16)

Sometimes renovation requires demolition and beginning all over again from
scratch, In other words: total regeneration.

Reconstruction of one's innermost being-- especially the conscience --is essential
because humanity's intuitive knowledge of what's acceptable and what's
unacceptable is unreliable due to the forbidden fruit incident portrayed in the third
chapter of Genesis.

This relates to one of the tragedies of Hell. People down there never gave God an
opportunity to overhaul their spiritual condition; so now they're no better as
persons in the afterlife than they were in this life. After all is said and done-- after
the big judgment of Rev 20:11-15 is completed, and the new cosmos of Rev 21:1 is
up and running --Christ wraps it all by announcing:

"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be
vile." (Rev 22:10)

In other words: people who end up in the lake of fire will remain just as much in
need of renovation there as they were here.
_
 
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● Col 3:12 . .Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Apparently the Colossian believers were neither compassionate, nor kind, nor
humble, nor gentle, nor patient; and would have continued to be that way had not
the apostle Paul spoken up.

His basis was the Colossians' standing as "God's chosen people, holy and dearly
beloved" I mean: is it appropriate for people in a favored position with God to
behave as devils?

You know; judging from the descriptions of some of the first century churches, I get
the impression that were we to go back in time to visit one, we'd be walking into a
snake pit!

NOTE: The virtues listed above are detrimental to the governing methods of the
Chinese Communist Party; which easily tells why the Party seeks to eradicate
harmless ideologies like Falun Gong, a.k.a. Falun Dafa. Its philosophy encourages
truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance which of course runs counter to the Party's
practices of dishonesty, deception, murder, Orwellian thought control, brutality,
theft, kidnapping, harassment, coercion, injustice, unreasonable searches and
seizures, political imprisonment, and involuntary organ harvesting.
_
 
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● Col 3:13a . . Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another.

The Greek word for "grievance" appears in only one place in the entire New
Testament and that's right here. It likely refers to complaints in the petty category;
viz: trivial, negligible, insignificant, and piddling, etc.

"Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col 3:13b)

I don't know how the superior of all superior judges is able to overlook many of the
things we do and/or say, but He does have that capability (Acts 17:30) So then:
seeing as how God doesn't get up in arms over every little thing about us that rubs
Him the wrong way, then maybe we shouldn't be losing our composure over every
little thing too, i.e. look to God as a role model. (Eph 5:1)

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity." (Col 3:14)

Love is inclined towards good will rather than ill will.
_
 
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● Col 3:15 . . Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace.

I first began chemo therapy in a very large space with numerous La-Z-Boy recliners
and chemo stations spaced around the perimeter up against the walls.

During treatment it occurred to me that in that large space, nobody was a stranger.
We were a tight community bonded together by one unique common denominator.
All of us-- regardless of age, race, gender politics, economic status, and/or religious
preference --were there fighting to survive cancer. The feelings of comfort, and the
sense of belonging I experienced in that valley of the shadow of death was profound.

The peace of Christ is like that. All of us under God's wing are under it because of
Christ's crucifixion; and when we meet together, it should be our one unique
common denominator binding us into a tight community where the focus is upon
Christ instead of ourselves. (cf. Eph 4:1-3)
_
 
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● Col 3:15b . . And be thankful.

You know "thank you" isn't profanity; and Christ's people should never take the
attitude that just because somebody is doing their job that they don't deserve
recognition.

One of my favorite romantic comedies is "No Reservations" starring Catherine Zeta
Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Prior to filming, Catherine took a job waiting tables to get
a feel for working in a restaurant.

On several occasions, patrons didn't even look up at her nor speak in a cordial,
courteous tone when they ordered. It struck her as remarkable that some of the
people whom she was serving totally took her for granted and displayed not the
slightest inclination to even so much as acknowledge her as a fellow human being,
let alone express their satisfaction with the quality of her service.
_
 
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● Col 3:16 . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish
one another with all wisdom

Before attempting to teach and admonish one another, it's essential that the word
of Christ first dwell in one's own self richly; which is from a Greek word that means
copious: defined by Webster's as yielding something abundantly. In other words:
fruitful.

The wisdom we're talking about here is gained by life experience wherein a quantity
of Christ's teachings have been put into actual practice rather than only memorized.

* As of today, I've been active on Christian forums all across the internet for the
most part of 27 years and can say from experience that much of the "teaching and
admonishing" going on typically turns hostile with quarreling, debating, and unkind
remarks; and that's because those folks lack the common courtesies of patience,
tact, diplomacy, lenience, tolerance, gentleness, et al. Apparently Jesus' teaching
about turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and the golden rule, have gone
out of vogue and no longer apply to modern Christian conduct.
_
 
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● Col 3:17 . .Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus.

In other words: Christ's followers should conduct themselves as Christians as
opposed to conducting themselves in any old way they feel like.

A simple way to apply Col 3:17 is just to ask yourself: Can my master put his
signature on this? If you know in your heart he cannot, then you do not have
Christ's authorization to proceed. If you proceed anyway, then you will be off
reservation, in your own little world of anarchy and rebellion against Christ's
sovereign right, as the lord and master of Christianity, to manage your affairs.
_
 
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● Col 3:18 . .Wives, submit to your husband, as is fitting in The Lord.

NOTE: Here's a new word for your vocabulary: Womxn. You know what that is? It's
the latest desperate attempt by "progressive" women to avoid identifying
themselves with men in every way possible. I suppose they'll next revise the
spelling of their gender to look like this: femxle.

The word "submit" raises a lot of unnecessary hackles. But it isn't referring to a
pecking order. What it's referring to is deference; defined by Webster's as a
readiness, or willingness, to yield to the wishes of others, which is just the opposite
of demanding.

Anyway: in a nutshell; the submission we're talking about here is related to a
Christian husband's position in the home rather than his gender in the marriage.

For example: back when young Queen Elizabeth II became monarch, her husband
Philip felt humiliated to have to kneel to his own wife till she explained to him that
he wouldn't be kneeling to her, rather, to the crown.

In other words: it's the position that deserves the respect rather than the person in
it. So, Christian wives ought to give their husbands the respect due to his position
in the home rather than the blokes they are.

That's a pretty tall order for Christian wives in a modern culture that constantly
pressures them to be strong and masculine rather than soft and feminine; to be
equals rather than subordinates; and to be defiant rather than diplomatic. (cf. Phil
2:3-4)

NOTE: The Bible teaches that men were made in the image and glory of God (1Cor
11:7a) Does that make men equal to God? The Bible also teaches that women were
made in the image and glory of men (1Cor 11:7b) Does that make women equal to
men?

In neither example does "image and/or glory" indicate equality, viz: God's seniority
is above the man's, and the man's seniority is above the woman's because the man
existed before the woman just as God existed before the man (1Cor 11:8) and the
man was given a leading role whereas the woman was given a supporting role.
(Gen 2:18, Gen 3:16, 1Cor 11:9) Well; it stands to reason that if women were
intended for a supporting role, then they simply cannot be equal to a man's leading
role.

* What was at the very root of the woman's fall from innocence? It was basically
her desire for equality with God (Gen 3:4-6) So the proliferation of suffrage and
feminism should not surprise us.
_
 
Last edited:
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● Col 3:19 . . Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

The Greek verb translated "love" doesn't necessarily pertain to either affection
and/or fondness. It's more about civility than emotion. This is the kind of love that
we extend to everyone-- friend, foe, and stranger alike --regardless of how we
might feel about them. It's the very same love that Jesus taught in Matt 5:44 which
reads:

"You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor, and hate your
enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,"

In other words; you don't especially have to like your enemies, but you do have to
be civil with them, i.e. courteous, kind, charitable, tolerant, patient, diplomatic,
tactful, gentle, reasonable, fair, deferent, approachable, cordial, genial, affable,
sociable, helpful, thoughtful, sympathetic, considerate, and cooperative, etc.

I readily admit the difficulty of being nice to people who rub us the wrong way; but
still, Christian men whose marriages resemble an on-going cold war would greatly
ease the tensions in their homes, and make the situation bearable for both sides of
the bed, were they to simply be courteous.

"Harsh" can be exemplified any number of ways.

Abrasive
Abusive
Snapping
Critical
Cruel
Demanding
Fault Finding
Giving Her No Say In Important Decisions
Hostile
Impatient
Explosive
Insensitive
Intolerant
Laying Down The Law
Loud
Marginalizing
Mockery
Money Rationing
Nit Picking
Oppressive
Penny Pinching
Public Scolding
Remarks About Her Appearance
Rough
Uncivil
Unfriendly
Obtuse
Unyielding

Those behaviors are very effective at making a Christian wife's existence bitter, i.e.
a living hell; especially a Christian wife who's making an honest effort to comply
with Col 3:18.
_
 
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● Col 3:20 . . Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases The Lord.

That command pertains only to Christian kids; not to just any kid who happens to
be looking in. And it needs to be said that not every kid in a Christian home is a
Christian kid. Some are demon seeds: that's just a fact of life and it can't be
helped.

The Greek word for "obey" in that verse is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean,
variously, to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication,
to heed or conform to a command or authority.

Too many movies and television sit-coms today portray kids who don't listen to
their parents. But of course those sit-com kids are typically indifferent to pleasing
The Lord so it's to be expected they'd be more like fallen angels than the holy.
_
 
Olde Tymer said:
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● Col 3:20 . . Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases The Lord.

That command pertains only to Christian kids; not to just any kid who happens to
be looking in. And it needs to be said that not every kid in a Christian home is a
Christian kid. Some are demon seeds: that's just a fact of life and it can't be
helped.

The Greek word for "obey" in that verse is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean,
variously, to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication,
to heed or conform to a command or authority.

Too many movies and television sit-coms today portray kids who don't listen to
their parents. But of course those sit-com kids are typically indifferent to pleasing
The Lord so it's to be expected they'd be more like fallen angels than the holy.
_
Click to expand...
I'm not trying to be argumentative but that sentence above really struck me in the wrong way. The children that you text is calling "Demon Seed" are potential Christians. All they have to do is accept Christ and believe what he did on the cross. Satan's a defeated foe, Jesus defeated him on the cross. I realize he's still ruler of this world but as Christians were not of the world. We are citizens of heaven. We are more than conquerors.

But while we're still walking around in this world it's our job to pick up our cross and share the gospel. So the statement from your text is incorrect something can be done about it.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

If a mother and father are believers in Christ they will want their children to be in heaven for eternity with them so they will make every effort possible to lead them to Christ.
 
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Believe said:
The children that you text is calling "Demon Seed" are potential Christians.
Click to expand...

I'm 80+ years of age: born in 1944; the year that the allies landed on the beaches
of Normandy. Apparently figures of speech from my era no longer have uses like
they did back in the days of switchblade knives, blackboard jungles, rebels without
a cause, and juvenile delinquents.
_
 
Olde Tymer said:
.


I'm 80+ years of age: born in 1944; the year that the allies landed on the beaches
of Normandy. Apparently figures of speech from my era no longer have uses like
they did back in the days of switchblade knives, blackboard jungles, rebels without
a cause, and juvenile delinquents.
_
Click to expand...
What does age have to do with it. You're like four years older than I am. Were you ever actually been in a gang? Have you ever stabbed anybody with a switchblade knife. Because both of those two things aren't figures of speech to me their memories. So this demon seed came to Jesus after a long run with the devil on the hard streets of L.A.
 
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● Col 3:21 . . Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become
discouraged.

The Greek word translated "discouraged" has to do with breaking the spirit. Really
bad cases can cause a child to lose the will to excel; sometimes even the will to
live, i.e. suicidal.
_
 
Believe said:
I'm not trying to be argumentative but that sentence above really struck me in the wrong way. The children that you text is calling "Demon Seed" are potential Christians. All they have to do is accept Christ and believe what he did on the cross. Satan's a defeated foe, Jesus defeated him on the cross. I realize he's still ruler of this world but as Christians were not of the world. We are citizens of heaven. We are more than conquerors.

But while we're still walking around in this world it's our job to pick up our cross and share the gospel. So the statement from your text is incorrect something can be done about it.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

If a mother and father are believers in Christ they will want their children to be in heaven for eternity with them so they will make every effort possible to lead them to Christ.
Click to expand...
I agree Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
 
BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
Galatians 6:1–2

God’s will for all of us is wholeness. It is not living with our souls full of holes and watching our lives leak out day after day.
 
Begotten said:
BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
Galatians 6:1–2

God’s will for all of us is wholeness. It is not living with our souls full of holes and watching our lives leak out day after day.
Click to expand...
Mark 12:28–31 Gives us the law of Christ. “‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’”
 

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