Colossians: Study 7 - Hearts and Minds

Colossians 3:1-4
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

As we seek to live new lives in Christ we seek to intermingle or entangle or lives with Him in every way possible. He is our treasure and we aim to both be with him and become like him. He is not a means to an end but is the ultimate end in himself. As Christians we should delight in the pursuit of God and take great joy in seeking his presence.


I would argue also that the best defense against sin is not legalistic action but rather the pursuit of God and the enjoyment of his presence. When we enjoy God and constantly chase after him sin starts to seem less appealing. This section of Colossians follows directly from Paul saying that legalism has no value in restraining sin, this section now presents an alternative that does, the life-long pursuit of God. Jonathan Edwards words it better than I can below:

“The enjoyment of [God] is our highest happiness, and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean.”

Lets all consider how we “set our hearts and minds” on God in our lives? There are no rules or formulas here, each of us must work it out ourselves. What makes you think about the wonders of God and what things take away your love for him? Some people go to a mountain top to sit, read and pray while others listen to loud music, others might find that painting makes them meditate on God, others still go for a run, others quietly read their bible and write down their thoughts…. its different for everyone…. think about it. There is a good reflection on this below in the further reading. Maybe post a comment on what works for you.

Sermon: Matt Chandler, Stirring the Affections For God
Blog: http://www.theresurgence.com/Inspirations
Book: Richard J. Foster, “Celebration of Discipline”
Book: Jonathan Edwards, “Religious Affections”

Colossians: Study 6 - Religion vs Christianity

Colossians 2:16-23 16

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21″Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence”.

There is a massive difference between Christianity and religion. Religion is about what we can do to please (or even appease) God, Christianity is about what God has done for us already. Last week we looked at how God came to us while we were dead (completely unable to help ourselves) and made us alive through Christ. We saw how the law makes us aware of our sin but how Christ cancelled and defeated the power of the law over us. This week Paul warns us not to return to legalistic action which is only a shadow of the gospel that saved us. In verse 23 he makes an important observation about legalistic religion, that it is completely ineffective…. it just doesn’t work. We can “conform” to a set of standards which may make us appear pious but this does nothing to “transform” us in the way we need. Religious action does nothing to “restrain sensual indulgance” or any other kind of sinful desire we have. What we need is Christ and the gospel. As verse 17 says “the reality is found in Christ”. If we have the gospel, which is perfect and has the power to tranform, why would we return to hollow imitations that have no power at all? Yet again we see that God calls us to transform our attitudes and motivations, He wants a sincere follower, not just empty religious actions.

The following (adapted from Tim Keller) statements nicely contrast the gospel we believe in and religion:
-RELIGION says that if I obey, God will love me.
GOSPEL says that because God loves me, I can obey.

-RELIGION has good people and bad people.
GOSPEL has only repentant and unrepentant people.

-RELIGION values a birth family.
GOSPEL values a new birth.

-RELIGION depends on what I do.
GOSPEL depends on what Jesus has done.

-RELIGION claims that sanctification justifies me.
GOSPEL claims that justification enables sanctification.

-RELIGION has the goal to get something from God.
GOSPEL has the goal to get God.

-RELIGION sees hardship as punishment for sin.
GOSPEL sees hardship as sanctified affliction.

-RELIGION is about me.
GOSPEL is about Jesus.

-RELIGION believes appearing as a good person is the key.
GOSPEL believes that being honest is the key.

-RELIGION has an uncertainty of standing before God.
GOSPEL has certainty based upon Jesus’ work.

-RELIGION sees Jesus as the means.
GOSPEL sees Jesus as the end.

-RELIGION ends in pride or dispair.
GOSPEL ends in humble joy.

Further Reading:
Book: “Religion Saves and nine other lies”, Mark Driscoll
Video: “Jesus vs. Religion“
Video: “Inoculated to Jesus? Contrast the Gospel and Religion“

Week 5: Life is living in God's undeserved forgiveness

Colossians 2:13-15

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”.

What strikes me about this passage is, that life without Christ is hopeless. Without His Grace and forgiveness we deserve death. Where is the hope for the future without Him? This passage stands in direct contrast to our self-centered world where we are told that we can be whatever we want to be and achieve anything we want through hard work and effort. The Old Testament sacrificial system was in-line with this, sacrifice was a way of honouring God and paying your debt in order to be forgiven - this is the 'written code.' But this passage emphasises that this system has been cancelled by Jesus. This passage tells us that in regards to what really matters, the eternal state of our souls, we can earn nothing. He has cancelled the written code of earning His favour. He has forgiven us through His effort and sacrifice, not our own. It is only by His will that we are saved. He is God, He owes us nothing and we are fooling ourselves to think we can earn His favour. God is glorified by offering us forgiveness we do not deserve and cannot possibly earn.

So the picture is bleak without God - we cannot live a 'good life' and hope the good outweighs the bad to gain salvation. But, because of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the picture for those who love Him is fantastic! GOD LOVES YOU – and as a result of this, he forgives all sin of those who repent of that sin. Your sin. My sin. Your father’s sin. Your friend’s sin. Your enemy’s sin. The passage emphasizes that Jesus’ death and resurrection made unwavering adherence to the written code of regulations moot. It is only because of God's mercy and love we can gain eternal salvation.

Real life is living with hope for the future. For out of Christ’s humiliation at the cross for our sin, we are free to live joyfully in the promise of an eternal relationship with Him. Not because we achieved more, stored larger amounts of treasure, or lived restrained by laws designed to force us to walk an emotionless tightrope. But simply because God wanted to have a relationship with us and sent His Son to open the door of that possibility to us. He didn't need to - He is God, He does as He pleases and what He pleases is perfect - but He did.

Praise Him for being God and for the love He has for us.

Further Reading:
Sermon/Video: Mark Driscoll, “God Pursues”
Book: Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology” (Chapter 34 on Regeneration)
Book: Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology” (Chapter 32 on Election)

Colossians Study - Week 4 - Focus

Colossians 2:5-12

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which de­pends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given full­ness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circum­cised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Thoughts: Our faith and lives must be rooted in and built on Christ and Christ alone. We have already seen in Colossians how Jesus is the creator and sustainer of all things (week 1) and how he reconciled everything to himself through his death on the cross (week 2). Last week we looked at how our lives and destiny are intermingled with Jesus and this results in sharing in the suffering, struggles, life and victory of Jesus (week3). Paul continues this week by acknowledging the way in which we will be tempted (subtly and overtly) to move away from that central gospel of Grace bought by the suffering Christ. Tempted by worldly ideas and philosophies that have no value. Our gospel is simple, we are offered undeserved salvation and fullness by a God who decided to personally pay our debt of death. We don’t earn it, we don’t deserve it, it is freely given… it is grace and it is truly amazing.

There are many temptations to pervert this gospel and make it about ourselves rather than God. We must be wary of all these temptations and cling hard to the cross of Grace. Grace is not a simple doctrine that we advance away from, it should be the central experience in our lives. Spurgeon put it like this “we must abide hard to the cross and search the mystery of his wounds”, Paul said “For I resolved to know nothing…. except Christ and him crucified”. Lets pray that we do not waiver from the wonderful truth of Grace and continue to live our lives “rooted and built up in him”

Further Reading /Listening:
Book: CJ Mahaney, “The Cross Centered Life"
Video: “Jesus Wants The Rose” (this is a great little video)
Article: John Piper “The Gospel in 6 Minutes”

p.s. If you have any good videos/articles etc which might help the group, post a link to them below

Colossians Study - Week 3 - Suffering and Strugle

Colossians 1:24-2:5

24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Thoughts: Paul certainly has a unique view of struggle and suffering. He seems to view everything through gospel lenses whereby he sees the eternal importance and purpose of events. His life is so driven by a desire to glorify God and be part of his salvation narrative that the sufferings of this world are put into greater perspective. There is plenty we can learn from Paul in this regard.

This week I want to explore chapter 1 verse 24 (“I fill in my flesh what was lacking in Christs afflictions”) in a little more depth as this is a difficult piece of scripture and can be open to misinterpretations. Lets start with what this verse does not mean. The death and resurrection of Christ is perfect for the forgiveness of sins, the salvation of souls and the reconciliation of the broken. It does not lack anything and nothing needs to be added to it. This is a repeated theme throughout Pauls writings, the gospels, and scripture in general. So, Paul is NOT saying that the cross is lacking or that we need the cross “plus” suffering for personal salvation. We are saved by grace, not works.

Whatever you think of this particular verse, one thing is absolutely clear: As Christians we are called to suffer joyfully and with perseverance for the sake of Christ and his church. It is also clear that this experience both binds us even more closely to Christ and also serves to bring him glory. We are bound with Christ in everyway. We are bound to him in his life and mission, and we are bound to him in his suffering and death, and this gives us great assurance that we are also bound to him in his resurrection and victory (Phil 3:10-11). The promise of God was never that we would be free from suffering but that in the depths of that suffering he will be enough to sustain us. Verses such as this one, although mysterious, still speak to the deep significance and importance of suffering in the Christian life.

That said, I think there are several compelling interpretations of this verse. I have included an article by Sam Storms in the further reading section that presents several of these views. Although we may not know Pauls exact intention this side of heaven I will present is the one I am most persuaded by.

Although the work of salvation was completed on the cross the process of those afflictions being “presented” to the world was just beginning. One of the most powerful presentations of the gospel is when Christians suffer (share in the afflictions of Christ) and in the depth of their suffering are able to point to Jesus as their hope and the source of deep joy that will sustain them through the suffering. It is easy to say “praise God” when everything is going well but much harder in the depth of pain and despair. But when we are able to do this, it presents the gospel as a real and life changing truth that transcends worldly issues and makes God look glorious! The fact that Paul is able to suffer so much and still give glory to God is a great presentation of the hope of the gospel. The same is true today. To have the bottom fall out of our world and still be able to say “God is enough, he will sustain me, he is my joy and my life” is an incredible testimony. It shouts to the world that we are living for something greater than it.

I think that Paul is saying that the afflictions of Christ are sufficient in everyway for salvation but they are now to be shared by the church and presented to the world by the church. It is only this presentation that is “lacking” or still required. John Piper puts it like this, “What is lacking, then, in Christ’s afflictions is not propitiation but presentation. In other words, the sufferings of Jesus fully satisfied the wrath of God, but there is lacking “a personal presentation by Christ Himself to the nations of the world. God’s answer to this lack is to call the people of Christ (people like Paul) to make a personal presentation of the afflictions of Christ to the world. In doing this, we ‘fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.’ We finish what they were designed for, a personal presentation to the people who do not know about their infinite worth”,“Christ wants His body, the church, to reveal His suffering in its suffering” (John Piper, “Desiring God”).

Example: I have included a current example of this in the further reading this week. Matt Chandler (Yes, THAT Matt Chandler!) is a young pastor (early 30s) in Texas that has seen his church grow from 100 people to many many thousands. He is a gifted preacher (he will crop up in the additional reading section often) and has devoted his life to sharing the gospel. Late last year he collapsed in his living room and woke up in hospital to discover he has a malignant tumour in his brain. Surgery and chemo has been only partially successful to date. He also has 3 small children. The article below was written by AP discussing his amazing approach to his cancer. The video below has him discussing his view of it along with his wife. I pray that his tumour will be healed but the way that he has bourne this affliction powerfully presents the gospel to the world. He lives for more than this and his hope is found in Christ alone.

Further Reading / Listening Links:
Sermon: Tim keller, “Suffering if God is Good”
Article: AP Article on Matt Chandlers cancer
Video: Interview with Matt Chandler about his cancer
Book: Philip Yancey, “Where is God When it Hurts?”
Video: John Piper on Suffering vs Prosperity Gospel.
Article: John Piper, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer"
Article: Sam Storms, “Colossians 1:24″

Colossians – Part 2: Reconciliation to God, through God, for God

Colossians 1:20-23

“19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Thoughts: I love that God has reconciled us TO God, THROUGH God, and FOR God. This salvation that we enjoy was entirely the work of God and enacted completely for his pleasure and Glory. At one point we were all Gods enemies, rebelling and warring against Him. For this, we willed His judgement on ourselves and yet he chose, for His glory, to reach down and absorb that judgement so that he might offer us salvation. It PLEASED God to do this. It is His pleasure to save. It brings him glory to offer forgiveness - we cannot earn it, He is given even more glory because it is undeserved. We are now presented holy and blameless before the judgement seat. That broken relationship has been fixed, all BY God, FOR God, and to OUR immense benefit!

The reconciliation that Jesus provided on the cross goes further than just reconciling man and God. It also provides the framework for reconciliation of other kinds. The grace of God allows reconciliation between us all as well. Galatians 3: 28 sums up the new relationship we have with each other: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. Reconciliation means putting aside the traditional divides and recognising we are one in Christ.

Some questions to discuss:- What does reconciliation mean to you?
- How have you experienced reconciliation?
- Do you think people see this reconciliation in the church?

Further Reading:
Book: Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology”, (Chapter 40, Perseverance of the Saints)
Video: You Tube: How Reconciliation Was Achieved.
Article: Can a Christian Lose Salvation?
Link to Studies: Colossians_All10Parts_8

Colossians – Part 1: The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1: 15-19

“15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”

Thoughts: “Who do you say Jesus was?” is one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves and others. It cuts to the heart of what makes somebody a Christian or not. Many people in the gospels asked who Jesus is, from the disciples after he commanded the weather, the Pharisees after he teaches, right through to Pilate at his trial. Fortunately the bible also provides us the answer by teaching clearly that Jesus was, is and forever will be, God incarnate. This section of scripture makes this argument powerfully. Jesus created all things that exist. Not only were all things created BY him but all things were created FOR him. It was His pleasure to create all things for His glory. He existed before all things and all things continue to exist because he wills them to do so. All things “hold together” because of Jesus. The “fullness” of God dwells in him and he reigns supreme over us, the church, the world and everything that exists. This is a different notion of the softly softly, slightly effeminate Jesus that is often presented to us and our non-Christian friends recognise. The Jesus of the bible is so powerful that he is indescribable.

It is common today to say that Jesus didn’t believe he was God and that this was invented later as a mechanism to “control” people. Maybe you have heard some variation of this argument (Da’Vinci code etc). These arguments are incredibly flawed but are repeated by people searching for reasons not to believe. I would recommend you read books such as “ The case for Christ” by Lee Strobel that address these isssues in more depth than I can in a short blog.

Jesus made many bold claims about himself that reject the claim that he didn’t believe that he was God. He claimed that “the Father and I are one”, he said “Before Abraham was, I am” , and “ I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening”, he demonstrated his authority over nature, illness, demons and even death itself. He did all these things in his own power. Most tellingly, he took on himself the authority to forgive other peoples sins. Who, other than God, has the right to do this?

The belief that Jesus was God incarnate is also held by Jesus and his disciples in the gospels. It is also found in the very earliest Christian writings. The Pauline epistles, all written before Pauls death in 64/5AD all clearly show the divinity of Christ. Paul also includes what appear to be early Christian creeds such as Phill 2:6-11 that declare Jesus to be God. If these were given to Paul soon after his conversion, that would show believers in the 30s AD using common accepted creeds about the divinity of Christ.

These are all important issues to look into. Let me encourage you to listen / read some of the suggest reading from this weeks study to get a really solid grounding in what Christians believe about the divinity of Christ.

Futher Reading / Listening:
Sermon: Matt Chandler, “The Fullness Was Pleased To Dwell“
Article: JohnPiper, “How can Jesus be both man and God?”
Book: C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”
Book: Lee Strobel, “The Case for Christ, A Journalists Personal Investigation”
Video: Mark Driscoll, “Thug Jesus”

Colossians Study - Introduction

Welcome to the online portion of the Colossians bible study series. Each week our lifegroup will meet to work through one of the 10 parts of this series. However, that is only part of the experience. My brother Tim wrote this with the intention for those using the guide to engage with the material during the week as well. Each study has a set of suggested “further reading” which will include books and articles as well as videos and sermons that relate to the study. All of these links will be listed on this site for ease of access. There will also be a reflection on this site that we encourage you to read and engage with. You can read the reflection, follow the further reading, make a comment, agree, disagree, or just post a musing. This site will be updated each week so that the material is available directly after the Monday or Tuesday night study. On the right hand side of the blog you can subscribe so that the latest blog is sent direct to your email account when it is posted.

Colossians teaches us to “set our hearts and minds on things above” and to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly”, hopefully this online portion of the studies will help us to do just that. Lets reflect on the word and let it speak to us, challenge us and change us all through the week as well when we are “at church”.


Part 1: Col 1:15-19 The Supremacy of Christ
Part 2: Col 1:20-23 Reconciliation to God, through God, for God
Part 3: Col 1:24-2:5 Struggling and Suffering for the Gospel
Part 4: Col 2:5-12 Fullness through Christ
Part 5: Col 2:13-15 Unmerited Grace and the victory of the Cross
Part 6: Col 2:16-23 Legalism and Imitations
Part 7 Col 3:1-4 Hearts and Minds set on Christ
Part 8 Col 3:5-17 Defeating Sin
Part 9 Col 3:18-4:1 Harmonious Living
Part 10 Col 4:2-6 Going forwards, Prayer and Share