July 13 2025, Sunday School Lesson

Affection for Things Above

Lesson Text: Colossians 3:1-17

Related Scriptures: Psalm 31:19-24; Romans 6:1-14; 8:18-25; Galatians 5:6-26; Ephesians 1:3-14

TIME: A.D. 60

PLACE: from Rome

Golden Text “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17)

Introduction

Jesus said to store up eternal treasures in heaven, knowing that one’s heart is wherever one’s treasure is (Matt. 6:19). He also said to seek first God’s kingdom (vs. 33). Paul applied these concepts to the Colossians.

As Christians, we are identified with Christ. When Christ died, we died to sin. When Christ rose, we too were raised to new spiritual life. As we look to the future, when Christ is revealed in glory, we will share that glory with Him.

In light of our glorious position in Christ, we need to put off ungodliness. The obvious sins that everyone acknowledges as wrong, the past sins that marked our unbelieving years, and the common sins that afflict all people – all must be abandoned.

The positive side of Christian living is putting on godliness. Since we are united with Christ, we are to increasingly become like Him. We are to behold Him in His holiness and submit to the Spirit’s work to recreate us in His image. This Christlike spirit should be demonstrated in compassion, love, peace, and thankfulness.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. PUT ATTENTION ON HEAVEN - Col. 3:1-4

II. PUT OFF UNGODLINESS – Col. 3:5-11

III. PUT ON GODLINESS Col. 3:12-17

QUESTIONS

1. How did Paul prompt the Colossians to assess their spirituality?

2. In what sense is the life of Christians hidden with Christ?

3. What does Christ’s return promise for Christians?

4. What kinds of obvious sins did Paul reject as wrong for Christians?

5. Why is it dangerous for Christians to do what comes naturally to them?

6. What kinds of common sins did Paul mention?

7. How does being in Christ provide power for spiritual transformation?

8. How does Christ’s forgiveness provide the standard for Christian compassion to others?

9. What role does the peace of God play in a Christian’s decision?

10. How should thankfulness be evidenced in the Christians life?

ANSWERS

1. Colossian 3:1 begins with a condition: “If ye then be raised with Christ.” Paul was confident that his readers were indeed Christians, but he had an important purpose in writing that way. By using a conditional clause, Paul drove his readers to examine their own lives.

2. At the present time, their lives are hidden with Christ in God. There are two senses in which Christians are hidden. First, they are hidden from people in the world. Unbelievers do not value the things of God; so, they do not appreciate or applaud the live of Christians. Second, the full extent of the believer’s life in Christ is hidden from view today. As 1 John 3:1-3 indicates, Christians today have only an inkling of what life with Christ will entail for them in the future.

3. As Christians look to the future, they can anticipate glory with Christ. Just as Christ died, rose from the grave, and then ascended to glory in heaven, so Christians have died with Him, been raised to new life in Him, and will one day share in His glory. The Bible does not say when that wonderful day will come, but whenever Christ returns in glory. His people will bodily rise from the dead and appear with Him (cf. 1 Cor. 15).

4. Paul therefore challenged the Colossians to abandon all kinds of sins. He started by enumerating several sins that are obviously violations of God’s moral standards. Sexual vices defile God’s rightful place for sex within marriage alone. Covetousness, the desire for what belongs to another, in effect raises one’s personal cravings above God’s demands; so, it constitutes idolatry. If we desire something more than God, we have idolized it.

5. All humans are born with a sin nature they inherited from Adam. Because of that, it is as natural for humans to sin as it is for them to breathe (cf. Gen. 6:5). The unsaved person does not have to learn how to sin or to try to do what is wrong. Sin comes naturally to all people.

6. Some people might suppose that they do not have a problem with sin because they are not guilty of the obvious sins of sexual immorality and covetousness listed in verse 5. In verse 8, however, Paul turned his sights on several common sins that infect every life. “Anger” and “wrath” refer to the uncontrolled emotion that lashes out at others. “Malice” speaks of a desire to hurt another person. The word translated “blasphemy” refers to insulting speech directed toward God or others. “Filthy communications” is foul-mouthed talk. “Lying” is speaking what is false, either to harm others or to defend oneself.

7. When people are saved, they receive a new nature, which is made after the image of Christ. The Christian’s new position should shape his practice. The new nature is continually renewed so that it can make the Christian more and more like Christ. One day, all Christians will be entirely Christlike in their character. When Christ is in a person, there is no limit to the transformation that He can produce.

8. The standard for Christian behavior is Christ Himself. Because He has loved and forgiven them, they too should love and forgive others. All the qualities listed in verses 12 and 13 can be summed up in a single word – love (“charity”). Christian love is the kind of love that God showed when He gave His Son to die for sinners. Love is free action to help others, despite the cost.

9. The Christian, however, has a different standard for decisions. God’s peace is to “rule” as his umpire to determine whether his actions, attitudes, and desires are worthy. This is just a subjective feeling of goodness; rather, by doing what pleases God, the Christian stands before the Lord with a clear conscience. Because he is living as God desires, he enjoys joyful fellowship with the Lord and his fellow believers.

10. The joy that results not only fills the Christian’s own heart but also overflows in all kinds of teaching, encouragement, and praise within the community of believers. Thanksgiving should affect every part of the Christian’s life. Every word should reflect the character of the Lord Jesus. Every deed should be motivated by His love. Every response should manifest gratitude to the God from whom the blessing of spiritual life has come. God is good. Let us praise Him.