The first half of Colossians tells how Christ is preeminent in all things: creation, redemption, the church, wisdom and knowledge, even life itself. This is an important doctrine. If Christ is first and last in all of these things, then surely He must be preeminent in my life. The second half of Colossians provides a test to let us know if we have in fact made Christ first and last in our own lives. Chapters one and two of Colossians are the teaching; chapters three and four make up the test. Chapters one and two are the root of our faith; chapters three and four are the fruit of our faith. If we pass the tests found in chapters three and four, that is fantastic evidence that we belong to Christ and that He lives in us. If we fail these tests, we should run back to chapters one and two so that we might get a better look at Christ.
Colossians 3:2-7 states it plainly, Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. (NASU) Verse two tells us where our focus should be: Christ in heaven. Verse four tells us that Christ is our very life and we will be viewed as godly only insofar as Christ is revealed in and through us. Verse five begins with that marvelous word “therefore”. In other words, if and when we focus on Christ, allowing Him to live through us, only then will we appear to be Christians. We do not have to guess if we are doing this. Verse five gives us a practical and objective test.
You might be surprised at the first test. The first four terms in verse five are all related to sexual immorality. Thus, sexual sin in our lives is the first evidence that we do not belong to Christ or at least that we have not made Christ preeminent in our lives. The first term in the list is a general Greek word (porneia) which refers to all kinds of sexual immorality. Homosexual acts are certainly sinful. Both the Old and New Testaments confirm this. However, we often conveniently forget that any and all sexual activity outside of marriage is also sinful. So, try as we might, we cannot justify adultery or simple fornication or any other kind of extra-marital sex. Do not think for even one moment that God overlooks the common practice of cohabiting instead of marrying in an effort to obtain increased government benefits. The next three terms in verse five (impurity, passion, evil desire) translate other Greek words that describe various kinds of sexual sin. The point seems to be that the list is intended to be suggestive, representing all extra-marital sex, thus leaving exactly zero “wiggle room”.
Verse six starkly indicates that the wrath of God falls on those who engage in such sin. Verse seven is a marvelous verse of grace. We once walked in these sins but not anymore. Forgiveness is freely available through Jesus Christ. Not only is forgiveness available, but also Christ will free us from bondage to such sin. Will you turn your life over to Him?
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