Put it to Death! – Colossians 3:5-7

Nineteenth lesson in a verse by verse series through Colossians. This lesson looks at the command to ‘mortify’ (put to death) sexual sins in the life of the believer.

1. In this passage we transition from the doctrinal section to the practical. This is clear from the frequent commands and exhortations we find laced through the entire chapter.
2. In the first 4 verses, we have seen that the believer’s spiritual lungs are oxygenated in the heavenly places.
3. Paul has laid down a firm foundation concerning the believer’s position in Christ. In Vs. 1 & 3 of this chapter, he has again reminded them of their spiritual death, resurrection and union with Christ.
4. Key phrase: “Mortify therefore…”

The Command (Vs. 5a)

1. The Basis of the Command
   1. “Observe the word “therefore.” The command is empowered and effected by our union with Christ (Moo)
   2. Our position in Christ is the power source for obedience to this command. “ye are dead” Vs. 3
   3. H.C.G. Moule: “Because of the possession of a hidden life, and in its power, they were to put sin to death. Here is no mere assertion of duty, but an implied assurance of power, the power of life, life welcomed and developed. So, in nature, the rising sap of the tree makes the dead leaf fall.”
2. The Essence of the Command
   1. ‘Mortify’ means to put to death, to regard as impotent. It means to deprive of power, to destroy the strength of (Wuest).
      1. “The Christian, in the power of his hidden life in Christ, is thus to deal with his sins; entirely to renounce the thought of compromise or toleration, and to apply to them the mighty counter-agent of his union with his Head.” H.C.G. Moule
      2. It is made possible by reckoning upon our position: Romans 6:11 “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ‘reckon’ = to impute, think, reason & conclude.
      3. It is made possible through inward operation of the Holy Spirit: Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
   2. ‘members’ = the body

The Sins (Vs. 5b)

‘Fornication’

1. Definition: porneivan – The related word pornh is translated ‘harlot(s)’ 8 times in the N.T. and 4 times as ‘whore’. Our English word ‘pornography’ comes from two Greek words porneia and grafh meaning, “to write about a whore or harlot.” It is a broad term encompassing any form of illicit sex.
2. Background:
   1. The Grecian view: “We have courtesans (prostitutes) for the sake of pleasure; we have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation; we have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately and of having a faithful guardian for all our household affairs.” Demosthenes (Greek Orator/statesman)
   2. The Roman view: The marriage bond was almost extinct. Seneca (Roman Philosopher) says that Roman women dated the years by the names of their husbands.
   3. Other pertinent Scriptures:
      1. I. Cor. 6:13, 15-20: “…Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body…Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
         1. Eph. 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”
         2. 1Thess. 4:3 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

‘Uncleanness’

1. Definition: moral uncleanness, perversion, impurity. It is a more general term than the previous, encompassing not only sinful actions but thoughts and intentions as well. A closely related form of the same word is used to describe demons as ‘unclean’ at least 22 times.
2. Other verses that link uncleanness to sexual perversion:
   1. Rom. 1:24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”
   2. II. Cor. 12:21 “…and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
   3. Gal. 5:19 “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness”
   4. Rev. 17:4 “…filthiness of her fornication.”
3. Application: The believer is to abstain from perverted thoughts and actions in relation to sexual matters. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Prov. 23:7
4. Illustration: The pornography epidemic

‘Inordinate affection’

1. Definition: Unrestrained, unbridled, depraved, sexual passion.
2. Other translations: “…vile affections” (Rom. 1:26). It is also translated ‘lust’ (I. Thess. 4:5).

‘Evil Concupiscence’

1. Definition: Strong desire or craving.
2. The word ‘concupiscence’ is translated mostly as ‘lust’ in the N.T. (31 times). It refers to strong craving or desire.
3. It is not always used in a bad sense, but here the word ‘evil’ qualifies its true nature in this context.

‘Covetousness’

1. Definition: greedy desire for something that is not rightfully yours.
2. Context: Sexual sins. Covetousness is the root from which these perverse sins spring.
3. Covetousness linked to sexual lust elsewhere in Scripture: Eph. 4:19, 5:3, 5. 1 Thess 4:6

1. Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife…”
2. Nature: idolatry. Because it places selfish desire above obedience to God.

The Reasons (6-7)

The Wrath of God (Vs. 6)

1. The Definition of His wrath: ‘wrath’ = hot anger. “Sin causes God’s anger to burn.” (Phillips)
2. The Reason for His wrath (6a)
   1. “for which things’ sake” = the sins previously mentioned
   2. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
   3. Psa. 7:11 “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”
   4. Illustration: Sodom & Gomorrah – “…giving themselves over to fornication” (Jude 1:7)
3. The Objects of His wrath (6b)
   1. ‘cometh’ = present tense.
      1. John 3:36 “…he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
      2. Romans 2:3-6 “And thinkest thou this, O man…” Vs. 5 “treasurest up” = to store up, to accumulate.
   2. ‘disobedience’ = essence of sin (1 John 3:4)

The Past Life (Vs. 7)

1. ‘walked’ = manner of life
2. ‘lived’ = realm of existence (daily)
3. Phillips: “True, a believer can fall, he can even wander in the wilderness for many years, but he can never again feel at home living in sinful disobedience to God. Never again can he find in the polluted environment of this world a congenial atmosphere, a native habitat. He can no longer have his life in these things. Once he did, but now he cannot.”

Conclusion

1. Unsaved: Have you sheltered from God’s wrath at Calvary?
2. Christian: Are you living in purity or are you entertaining perverse lust?

Sermon 19 of 28 in Colossians Series

Sermon Audio Id: 11121621643