Dealing with Society's Pressure Print

Pastor David Koop 

Legalism was robbing the church in Colosse of its passion. Paul said that these self-imposed religious rules lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Col. 2:23) Now in Colossians chapter 3 Paul encourages the people to put off the carnal way of living and put on the new life we have in Christ. This will not happen by a list of rules but by the new nature of Christ in us.

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  1. Set your heart  in the right direction.
    1. Colossians 3:1 
      Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.
    2. Matthew 6:33
      But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
    3. 1 Chronicles 22:19b
      Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.

  2. Set your mind.
    1. Colossians 3:2
      Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
    2. The power and nature of the Holy Spirit flows from your heart to your mind and into your body. God knows there is a better way to change us then with a list of “do’s and don’t’s”.
    3. Hebrews 10:16
      “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.”
    4. 2 Corinthians 3:3
      It’s clear that you are Christ’s letter, written as a result of our ministry. You are a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, a letter written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
    5. Ephesians 3:16
      I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit.
    6. John 7:38,39
      As Scripture says, ‘Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.’ Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.
    7. Romans 8:11-13
      The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.
    8. Our soul is caught in a constant tension of deciding to follow the heart or to follow the old nature.
    9. 1 Peter 2:11
      Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you.

  3. Set your wardrobe on the right fashions.
    1. Put off the old clothes. It is time for new outfit. Paul lists the old clothes in verses 5 to 9.
    2. Understand that God sees you as holy. (Colosssians 3:12, 1 Peter 1:15,16, 2:9, 1 Corinthians 1:2)
    3. Changing in wardrobes is a process as we discover our new nature.
    4. Colossians 3:10
      In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.
    5. Romans 12:1,2
      I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
    6. Your new wardrobe includes: Colossians 3:12-15 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be
      1. sympathetic,
      2. kind,
      3. humble,
      4. gentle,
      5. and patient.
      6. Put up with each other,
      7. and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint.
      8. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
      9. Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly.
      10. Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body.
      11. Be thankful.

  4. Wear this outfit at home and in the workplace. Verses 18-25