Put to Death What is Earthly In You
by Edwin Crozier
Having explained his own work in ministering the gospel (Colossians 1:24-2:5) and then expounded the need to maintain a stable and steadfast faith (Colossians 2:6-3:4), Paul moves to the third leg of this letter laid out back in Colossians 1:21-23. He describes the need to move from hostility to holiness (Colossians 3:5-4:6).
We don’t want to be taken captive by seemingly plausible arguments of worldly philosophies. We don’t need to be concerned about those who judge us regarding Sabbaths, new moons, festivals, and kosher laws. We don’t need to submit to multiplied rules that have no purpose but to simply restrict us with asceticism and severity to the body. However, we are to eliminate some behaviors and attitudes. And not just “kind of” get rid of, not merely diminish, “put to death.” We are to kill them (Colossians 3:5).
As we learned yesterday, this killing of earthly members is not merely about multiplying restrictive rules to simply deny the desires of our flesh. Rather, it is part of the process of shifting our desires. Because we are transforming from worldly-minded to heavenly-minded, some weights and burdens simply have to be dropped. Not merely because they are “against the rules,” but because they hinder and destroy seeking the things above and setting our mind on things above. They weigh us down and lead us away from Christ (which is why God has made many of these things “against the rules”). As we become increasingly delighted with Christ, we will naturally drop these earthly attitudes and actions. And if we refuse to drop them, we will simply not learn to delight more and more in Christ.
If we want to be renewed in knowledge after the image of our creator, we will abandon sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, and dishonesty. No doubt, when we were outside of Christ, we walked in these things because they seemed to lead to what we delighted in. But as our delight changes, these actions and attitudes must change as well. At the same time, our delight won’t change if we continue to court these behaviors and attitudes.
The struggle for us is how the personal choice and the natural growth intermix and overlap. For instance, alcoholics are told they won’t quit being alcoholics if they keep drinking. It seems to go without saying, but it has to be said, they won’t stop drinking unless they stop drinking. At the same time, as long as they are an alcoholic, they will struggle to quit drinking. The recovering alcoholic, however, doesn’t just wait around until the desire to drink goes away. He or she decides to quit. Develops plans to quit. Pours out their stash of booze. Tells others they are quitting. Then, when the desire arises, they have to decide not to drink. Yet, at the same time, this recovering alcoholic does work that transforms his or her attitude toward drink, making the decision to avoid drink easier as long as he or she continues to do that work. They don’t quit drinking merely because it is against the rules; they quit because they know drinking leads them away from what they most desire. As they continue in that work, they seek sobriety and set their mind on sobriety in a way that changes them to be sober. The personal decision and the natural growth intermix and overlap, feeding each other in an upward spiral of growing sobriety.
Further, those involved in overcoming alcoholism learn that half measures avail nothing. They need to put drink to death, or it will kill them. This is a great illustration of discipleship living in general. Half measures avail nothing. We want to be with Christ and like Christ. We must choose to quit behaviors and attitudes that lead us away from Christ. Further, as we continue to grow, our transforming delight will make transformation easier.
But where does it all begin? By putting to death what is earthly. We don’t wait around for the transformation to happen on its own. We take up arms against sin and start cutting off what leads us to sin and away from Christ.
Is there anything you need to put to death today? If we can help you, let us know.
