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(Col. 2: 11). This is a work of grace accomplished without hands, and therefore beyond
the power of man to accomplish. Throughout the epistle the apostle not only warns and
teaches, but he preaches "Christ". So in the opening verses of chapter 3:, the believer is
directed to the risen Christ, and to where Christ sitteth. His life is hid there with Christ,
and his hopes are all bound up in Him. Steadily and surely the apostle moves on to the
climax of verse 11, where we read "Christ is all, and in all".
Turning from the false teaching which if followed would "spoil" and "beguile" the
Lord's people, the apostle deals positively with practical sanctification and godliness. We
must not forget that while he most strenuously opposes the false teaching of gnosticism,
he as strongly emphasized the necessity of a walk that is "worthy" (Eph. 4: 1;
Col. 1: 10). He will not be behind the most fanatical ascetic in urging the believer to
"mortify" his earthly members; he most definitely teaches that consistent practice "puts
off" the old man with his deeds, and puts on the new. He not only speaks in general
terms and of broad principles, but he descends to details, speaking frankly of immorality
and uncleanness, of quarreling and forgiveness, and of domestic and business
relationships. The essential difference between the apostle's teaching and that which he
so strongly condemns concerns the ground upon which it rests, the seed from which the
fruit springs. Instead of beginning with the exhortation to "mortify", the apostle points
away to the risen Christ, saying: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek . . . . . set . . . . .
mortify." He speaks of "things above" before he speaks of "things on the earth"
(Col. 3: 1, 2 and 5). He exhorts the believer to apprehend that which by grace is
already his position in Christ and from that starting point to advance experimentally.
Col. 3: 1 - 4: 6 is the apostle's exhortation in contrast with the system he has exposed
and condemned in Col. 2: 4-23. The sub-division of this section is as follows:--
1)
The only true ground for all growth in grace is Christ risen and the believer risen
with Him (Col. 3: 1-4).
2)
The exhortations themselves (Col. 3: 5 - 4: 6).
The exhortations may be divided as follows:--
(a)
The putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new--the doctrinal fact
(Col. 3: 5-11).
(b)
The putting on and the putting off--the practical outcome (Col. 3: 12-17).
(c)
The outcome of the above as expressed in social duties. Wives, husbands, etc.
(Col. 3: 18 - 4: 1).
(d)
The outcome of the above as expressed in prayerful concern for the spread of the
truth. "As i ought to speak" (Col. 4: 2-4).
(e)
The outcome of the above, as expressed in walk and witness, "How ye ought to
answer" (Col. 4: 5, 6).
Let us now give earnest heed to the teaching upon which the whole of the apostle's
exhortation rests--Col. 3: 1-4.
The first thing we observe is that it is resurrection that is placed first. Death with
Christ is necessarily assumed, but the power for newness of life is found in union with
the risen Lord. We are taught in Rom. 6: not only to reckon ourselves dead to sin, but