4/19/25 The Divine Introspection

We are now into Ch. 3 and advanced past the introductory verses. Paul directed us last week in his writing that there is a divine perspective we need to understand regarding life here on earth. He is climaxing his argument to the church of Colossae as to why sticking to the Word of God is essential and that anything outside of this is deceptive and while it sounds logical the Word of God exposes it as false teaching. Remember all sermon notes can be found at Deadlifter.org if you want to dig into last weeks or any in this series to gain the understanding as to where Paul started and why he is saying what he is in the book. This week we start at V6. Here Paul repeats a theme that gets more specific about.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Can this possibility be?? A servant of God calling the followers of Christ to kill? Yes Kill Kill what is in you. Take it to the graveyard. This is not the first time we have read this.  3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God

If you want the destiny spoke of last week you need to kiss the elemental spiritual forces of this world aka the worldly system the fads, the trends, the emphasis, on corporate agendas that are detestable to the Lord they must die. Even more Paul went deeper leading to this.

2:20 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.

2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

1:22 But 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—

He is not saying do away with it, he is saying kill it. Take away that which keeps it alive. Here he gets more specific and note it is tied to the earthly nature. Nature a word derived from natural., it may seem natural to behave loke this but this needs to die sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. It seems natural to the world system. But it is not true to who you are if you are a child of God. Why? Because of V6:

⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

The day of reckoning. The day of justice. Our wrong doings. Our violations.

For those who walk in the worldly system wrath is coming.

Wrath is not a subject spoke of much these days. We have a kinder nicer God right?

This message was worn out during the hell fire brimstone era where people were driven to heaven by fear and not by reverence and gratitude that there is a solution to that which is wretched before the Divine, it is Jesus.

The wrath of God during the Great Tribulation, right? Yes. At judgement right yes. See when you are walking the path of the worldly system you are track. You may have all the sex you want, all the money you want, acclaim and acceptance but it is only for a short amount of time. If you are a believer these idols must be cast down! What is missing in the NIV is the full translation that states because of which is coming the wrath of God on the sons of disobedience! Sons? Huh? V7 highlights this:

⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

The preacher led by God’s Holy Spirit is asking where are you going? Are you on the path God would have for you? You better find out. You won’t know what God can do until you are following his Son! Through the highs and lows of life. Through betrayals, bankruptcy, brawling and bitterness. Paul is specifically addressing the church of Colossae who in Ch. 1:2 he called saints This means to be in the family of God you gotta die and be raised with Christ. The world system means nothing to you because you exchanged it for something greater You fill that void with Jesus. The path your flesh wants you to pursue, you are on a path with a brighter future, a destiny that extends even after you are with Jesus at the right hand of God.

The key here is the tense. Specifics matter you used to walk in these ways!

No more will you be held prisoner, no more will you be held slave.

No more will you be held captive.

No more will you allow the world to dictate to you what is acceptable.

Now you walk in the Hope of Christ. Now you walk in the Truth of Christ.

Now you walk in the Life of Christ. When you do the Divine Introspection

He will lead you on the path of Christ and not only will the wrath of God avoid you like death avoided the tents of those who had blood on the doorframe but you will have a heavenly destiny in Christ Jesus.