The Community You're Looking For
The Epistle to the Colossians 6.0
Colossians 3:11-4:1
by Eric Stillman
February 24th, 2008

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We’ve been going through Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, and we are up to chapter 3, verse 11, where Paul begins to discuss what the community that claims to follow Jesus should look like.  Remember that Paul is writing from prison to the church at Colossae, correcting some of the wrong things they’ve been believing and the wrong ways they’ve been acting.  In the last section, he has reminded them that by coming to faith in Christ, they have died to their old self, their old will and ways, and put on Jesus and his will and ways.  And now in verse 11 he begins to explain what this new community should look like:

¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. ¹² Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  ²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  ²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,  ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.  ^NIV Colossians 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.