Our Public Lives – Colossians 4:5-6

Colossians verse by verse – Lesson # 27. This section of Colossians contains the last of the main exhortations of the Epistle. This lesson explores the exhortation for us to live out a godly witness before the unsaved. 

1. These verses contain the last of the primary exhortations of the Epistle.
2. They cover 2 areas:
   • Our Prayer Lives (Vs. 2-4)
   • Our Public Lives (Vs. 5-6)
3. This lesson: Challenges concerning the order/conduct of our lives in three key areas. This is a natural flow on from the previous exhortation concerning prayer and Gospel witness. Paul now exhorts them to live in a way that is consistent with the Gospel message they preach.
4. Question: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Our Testimony (Vs. 5a)

1. The Spectators – “them without”
   1. Reference to the unsaved, those outside the household of faith
   2. 1Cor. 5:13 “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
   3. 1Tim. 3:7 “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
2. The Pattern – “walk in wisdom”
   1. A consistent walk
      1. word is in present tense
      2. Illustration: Spurgeon’s examination of prospective members
   2. A wise walk
      1. Wisdom defined: Biblical truth applied. “The OT concept of wisdom was that of applying the knowledge of God’s will to life’s situations.” (Linguistic Key)
      2. Wisdom applied: The importance of a good testimony is what is in view. Unbelievers should be able to look at our lives and see something different! Our lives are governed by God’s wisdom.

Our Time (Vs. 5b)

1. Redeem the minutes
   1. Means to buy back at the market place. Refers to buying up the opportunities. “This is a commercial term and pictures the Christian as a faithful steward who knows an opportunity when he sees one.” (Wiersbe)
   2. God gives us 1440 minutes to spend every 24 hours. How do we use our time? We live in the time wasting generation. Are we living with eternity in view? Or are we squandering our lives on the here and now?
   3. James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
   4. Psalm 103:15-16 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.”
2. Remember the hour
   1. Eph. 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
   2. Romans 13:11-13 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Our Tongue (Vs. 6)

Gracious speech (6a)

1. It is the spirit of one’s speech that is more in view in this verse than the contents of one’s speech.
2. It is not just what we say, but how we say it!
3. God’s grace is available for Christian living! 2 Cor. 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
4. Example: Two people can say the same thing but there is a world of difference between the two individuals. What is the difference? They both said the same thing! The difference was the tone and spirit of what was said.
5. Example: The Lord Jesus Christ
   1. Luke 4:22 “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth…”
   2. Psalm 45:2 “…grace is poured into thy lips…”
6. Object Lesson: How Grace helps our tongues

Pure speech (6b)

1. Salt seasons (palatable) – enhances the flavor and makes it more pleasant. Are people refreshed and encouraged when they speak to us?
2. Salt preserves (purity)
   1. Salt in the ancient world was primarily used as a preserving agent to preserve from putrefaction and corruption.
   2. Application: Our speech needs to be such that it has a sanctifying influence upon those around us. We edify and lift our brothers and sisters in the Lord with our words. Our speech is distinct in the presence of unbelievers and it affects them for good.

Appropriate speech (6c)

1. When we cultivate godly habits of speech, it helps prepare us for when unbelievers ask us questions.
2. 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Conclusion

1. What is the quality of our testimony before the unsaved? Do they look at our lives and see something different?
2. How are we using our time? Are we living for Christ and eternity or for temporal things?
3. Does what comes out of our mouths reflect our position in Christ? Do we build up and encourage with our tongues or tear down and destroy?

Sermon 27 of 28 in Colossians Series

Sermon Audio Id: 24172015374