Colossians 3:5

So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]" Colossians 3:5.

"Kill"... that's a strong word, isn't it? How do you kill whatever The Lord is talking about killing, here? And why? I thought we were "made anew"... born again... changed? I thought we were covered by Christ... that God can can't see our sin anymore, if we are "in Christ"?

What God wants, is a relationship with man. We've learned up to this point in our study, how much God loves us, and that He wants us to love Him back. Well, love takes relations... a two-way system of relating between each other. Though, to completely "set us sinless", physically, (upon salvation... at the moment we are re-born) would be a very nice thing for God to do, it would relieve us of our dependence on Him. God knows that, if you and I no longer were dependant upon Him, then our relationship would be severed again. Though sinless, we would worship Him, follow Him, and revere Him... but all the while, He would know that He "made" us love Him. I know some of us have thought... "how nice it would be if our kids could be born all grown up... with degree and drivers license in hand... ready for the world... knowing how much their parents love them and they would love us back". But, would it be real love?

What happens if we skipped the times they were sick and mom nursed them back to health with hot soup and a cool damp washcloth... or when dad climbed up in the tree and helped make them the coolest playhouse, ever? What happens when we skip the bed-time stories, the laughing, the crying, and all those relational things? Wasn't that how love grew? Love takes relating... It means a relationship, and so that's why we must still do things in this NEW LIFE that we have in Christ. So, what do we do?

Well, we're back to the "Kill" word in this verse. What does it mean to kill these things God is showing us. The original word for kill meant how you treat something or how you consider things... In this verse, it refers to the things we have DIED TO... SIN. And so, we must treat these things that we use to do as though we are dead to them now. It's the Truth... Christ DIED on the cross to forgive us of the penalty those things brought (the eternal death) and we have accepted this truth and DIED with Him. So, we consider these things as dead, powerless over us (in case we fall into it in our struggle today) and powerless to us (because we see it for what it really is - sin).

What do we treat or consider as powerless and dead to us (kill)... "the evil desire lurking in your members, those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you... All that is employed in sin.

It's interesting that Paul uses the word members. In the same way we use our members, like, using our legs to walk to school or to the bus, our hands to eat, etc... we used sin to make ourselves feel important, we used sin to get what we wanted, etc. It's a long list of things we are to treat as being dead to and I'll leave you a verse below, which lists many, that is from Galatians. But, that's all Jesus wants us to do, is to treat these things as though we are dead to them. We just came out of His Word instructing us to focus on Him and not the sin. Treating and considering these things in the manner verse 5 suggests will help us to focus on Christ and those things above! Amen?

One verse today... well, it is a good one. We'll pick up with verse 6, next time.

I love you.

Galatians 5:17. "For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. 18. But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19. Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, 20. Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 21. Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23. Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. 24. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires."