16 July 2023 PM – Colossians 3:8-11 – Col23 – Scott Childs
Introduction: We are social people. We live with people. We work with people. We interact with people. As a result, there are times that we conflict with people. Our sinful nature has a strong tendency to get upset with those who do not do live our way. This leads to social sins.
Transition: I want us to see, from Colossians 3:8-11, God’s commands and reasons that can enable us to overcome social sins.
1. God gave us Two Commands about Social Sins
a. We are to put off sinful social reactions (v.8).
1) God pinpoints five social sins.
a) Anger: an angry temper
b) Wrath: heated anger
c) Malice: wicked ill-will
d) Blasphemy: slander
e) Filthy communication out of your mouth: abusive words that come from the mouth
2) This week, I read the following report. “Two men, driving in Southern California, got into a battle of road rage after one cut the other off in a parking lot. The hot-headed men sped out of the parking lot in a fit of anger, chasing, driving recklessly, dodging and weaving in and out of traffic. They endangered a lot of lives before one finally forced the other to careen out of control. The driver frantically tried to regain control, but in the process an innocent little girl on a nearby sidewalk was killed. A young life was taken simply because two men became needlessly angry at each other.” Different by Design, Cary Schmidt
3) Do Christians commit these social sins? Yes, these sins are all too common even among Christians. Do you struggle with one or more of these social sins? If so, the devil wants you to deny it, excuse it, blame others for it, and play down its severity. However, God has commanded that you put it off.
4) “Put off” is God’s clear command.
a) We find the English phrase “put off” here and in v.9. While alike in English, they differ slightly in the Greek. The word in v.9 speaks of a complete removing of the sinful old habits. It is only found in one other Bible passage (Col 2:15) where it is translated “having spoiled” principalities and powers (totally stripping them of their possessions). However, the word in verse 8 expresses the idea of renouncing, laying down, or laying aside something. The word in verse 9 deals with transformation; the word in verse 8, with sanctification.
b) We are to renounce these social sins and not allow them to creep back into our lives. How is this possible? If you commit a social sin, immediately ask those who heard you for forgiveness, seek God’s forgiveness, then follow the victory steps in James 4:7-10. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“
b. We are to stop lying to each other (v.9).
1) “Lie not” is God’s second command.
a) Lying is deliberately speaking a falsehood. It is intentionally deceiving another.
b) We hate it when people lie to us. Therefore, we must never lie to others.
c) Typically, people tell lies to cover up another sin or to avoid something unpleasant.
d) People lie on their taxes, to their boss, to their clients, to their spouse, etc.
e) Scores of parents lie to their children instead of just telling them the truth. If a child is old enough to ask a tough question, he is old enough to receive a discrete, truthful answer.
f) Lying is a sin.
2) The command is reciprocal. It goes both ways. I am not to lie to you, and you are not to lie to me.
3) Instead of lying, God tells us in the book of Ephesians to speak the truth. (Ephesians 4:25) “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.“
4) If you tell a lie, admit it immediately, ask forgiveness of the one to whom you lied, seek God’s forgiveness, and follow the same victory steps in James 4:7-10.
2. God gave us Two Reasons for Our Obedience
a. We have put off the old man with his deeds (v.9).
1) As noted earlier, this word for “put off” describes a complete removal.
2) When Christ saved us, He broke the chains of sin in our lives and set us free from Satan’s bondage. He spoiled the principalities and powers that had dominated us (Col 2:15).
3) The “putting off” that took place at salvation was the result of repentance and faith in Christ. Those who truly come to know Christ are longing for Him to forgive their sin and change their lives. There is no such thing as true faith in Christ without genuine repentance.
4) If Christ has set you free and removed your sin and its bondage, you ought not to want to put those sins back on again. Though your flesh is still weak, those social sins ought to be repulsive to you. If you trip and fall, it ought to break your heart and drive you on your knees to 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
b. We have put on the new man (v.10-11).
1) When we put off the old man through repentance at salvation, we put on the newly born nature given us by Christ. We became new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.“
2) That new nature is renewed (i.e., is renovating) us unto a thorough knowledge. In context, this must be a thorough knowledge of the victorious life patterned after the likeness of Christ, our Creator.
3) If Christ has made us a new creation, we ought to fulfil His command to put off social sins.
4) This is true no matter who we are (v.11). In the first century Roman culture, these eight distinctions existed. However, salvation in Christ broke through those distinctions and barriers, declaring that Christ is the all, and He is in all. Whether Jew or Gentile, cultured or barbarian, free or slave, Christ gives to all the same new nature and indwelling Holy Spirit to enable them to put off social sins.
Conclusion: If you struggle with an angry temper, heated anger, wicked ill-will, slander, abusive words or a lying tongue, God wants to give you victory. If you have truly been saved, God has made you a new creation. You are being renovated in full knowledge of the victorious life in Christ.
Choose to put off these sins. Set them aside. Run to the Lord for victory every time you fail. Pray daily for protection and victory over the specific sin. Ask your spouse or a close friend to pray with you and for your victory.
