1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Mortifying the Flesh, Pt. 2 Colossians 3:8-10
Why do professing Christians struggle to live the Christian life in joy and obedience to God?
Struggling against sin is the continuing common experience of all believers - Romans 7
Some struggle because they do not understand the gospel and do not actually know Jesus Christ

3. Mortifying the Flesh, Pt. 2 Colossians 3:8-10
2 Corinthians 13:5 –
We test ourselves about what we actually believe and if we are disciples of Christ
It is not an issue of how well you walk, but that you are on the narrow path to life - Matthew 7:13-14

4. Mortifying the Flesh, Pt. 2 Colossians 3:8-10
Many struggle with sin because of ignorance and immaturity.
We are to learn and mature - Matt. 28:19
Others struggle because they have been influenced by false teachers
We will struggle when we forget the truth and yield to temptations

5. Mortifying the Flesh, Pt. 2 Colossians 3:8-10
Temptations from the devil are conquered by submitting to God & resisting - James 4:7
Temptations from the world are conquered by being living sacrifices who are transformed - Rom. 12:1-2
Temptations from our old self are conquered by remembering & living according to who we are in Christ

6. The Foundation Colossians 3:1-4
Since we are raised up with Christ, we seek what is above and set our minds on the things above
We are secure in Christ because our lives are hidden in Him and we will be glorified with Him

7. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth Colossians 3:5
To mortify is to “put to death.”
The “members” include the desires of your unredeemed physical body and old way of thinking
We are positionally redeemed & righteous before God, but full & final redemption is still future

8. We are to put to death:
Immorality = any sexual sin
Impurity = anything not morally clean
Passion - overwhelming emotion
Evil desire = wanting what is contrary to God’s declared will
Greed, which amounts to idolatry = covetousness arising out of selfishness, which is self worship

9. What You Used to Be Colossians 1:6-7
Every Christian used to practice the sins that bring about God’s wrath
It is illogical & inconsistent for a follower of Jesus to continue in the old manner of life

10. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8-10
A second list of vices given as an example progressing from motivations to specific sinful actions

11. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Put them all aside (ajpotivqhmi / apotithêmi) to lay aside / put away from (Heb. 12:1; Jam. 1:21; Acts 7:58)
We are to view our struggle against sin from the position of the changed nature we have gained in Christ
Put the sin away from you and do not pick it up again

12. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Anger (ojrghv / orgê) - a broader term indicating a more settled or abiding state of mind. It burns.
Wrath (qumov" / thumos) - more emotional in being an agitated condition of the feelings. It explodes.
Anger and wrath can be godly - Deut. 32:16; Rev. 16:1; Mark 3:4; Matthew 21; John 2

13. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Man must be very cautious of anger –
Ephesians 4:26-27
James 1:19-20
We put away anger & wrath by dealing with their causes quickly and seeking the righteousness of God

14. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Malice (kakiva / kakia) - the quality of being bad / evil. Harboring evil intent.
Malice is contrary to the character of a Christian - Matt. 5:44.
We put away malice when we seek God to glorify Himself in others instead of our revenge

15. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Slander (blasfhmiva / blasphêmia) - actions taken to cause injury to another’s good name
Any impious or reproachful speech about God is blasphemy because it denigrates His good name
Blasphemy of other people includes belittling, denigrating and disparaging them - “cutting” wars

16. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
As malice increases, blasphemy escalates to defamation and false accusations.
You put away slander by being humble and seeking the interest of others above your own

17. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
Abusive speech (aijscrologiva / aischrologia) - shameful, base, sordid, filthy, foul speech / language
Even courteous people refrain from using crude and vulgar language.
What you say reveals the condition of your heart - Matthew 15:10-20

18. Putting Aside Evil Motives & Speech Colossians 1:8
You put away abusive speech by saying what is proper and godly, not whatever comes to mind

19. Do not Lie to One Another Colossians 2:9
Do not Lie (yeuvdomai / pseudomai) - a distinct command prohibiting telling others what is not true
Lying is characteristic of the devil (John 8:44) and the unsaved (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18)
We are to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:25)

20. Do not Lie to One Another Colossians 2:9
Lying destroys the foundation of trust upon which every relationship is built
Lying diminishes and ceases as we lay aside the old self and put on the new self

21. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ