1.

Read vs. 1-2.  What does Paul mean by: 1) “you have been raised with Christ” (cf. 2:11-12; Gal 2:20); 2) “set your hearts” (or minds); 3) “things above” (Heb 11:3; Mark 8:33); and 4) “Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Job 40:4; Psalm 60:5, 118:16)?  What difference does it make for one to set one’s heart and mind on one thing or another? (Luke 6:45; Mark 8:33)

** Paul talks about the spiritual baptism coming through repentance and faith in the Lord. Baptism (which is to immerse one’s body in a body of water in water baptism) is symbolic of man dying with Christ and rising from the dead with Christ. 

** One of the meanings of the word “set” is “to direct with fixed attention.” 

** It means the things that are of God. In other words, this expression talks about what God has in mind, rather than what man has in mind. 

** God does not have hands as we do. So this expression is only an analogy. As used in the Bible, right hand refers to the ability to get work done. As used in regards to Jesus, this term is an idiom for Jesus’ power to save men from the power of sin and Satan, so that the expression “seated at the right hand of God” refers to Jesus’ continued work of salvation for those who put trust in Him. 

** Mind and heart are like a womb (or incubator) which causes what goes inside to be manifested in the visible reality, bearing either good fruit or bad fruit. The relationship between mind and heart is like a porch attached to a room. 

2. 

Read vs. 3-4.  This passage describes the past, present, and future life of believers in Christ.  What do the following statements teach about our life in the Lord: 1) “For you died”; 2) “your life is now hidden with Christ”; and 3) “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”?    

** For the one who puts trust in Jesus, as of Jesus’ death and resurrection, his old person died together with Jesus; which had already come to pass. In the present time, the new resurrected life is hidden in Jesus. In the meantime he is living in a body which is dead because of sin, so that upon the setting aside of his physical body, his spirit goes to be with Jesus. Then when Jesus comes again, Jesus will give him a new risen body.

3. 

Read vs. 6-7.  How can you “put to death” whatever belongs to the earthly nature? (Romans 8:13)   Consider the way Paul describes “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed”, together with “therefore” and “the wrath of God is coming.”  How does this observation motivate us to put them to death?

** Two things: First, it is each person who must make a decision to put it to death. Second, because it is not within his own power to do it, one must ask the Holy Spirit to do the job, whereupon the Holy Spirit comes and does the putting to death.

** This observation motivates us to do it, in three ways: 

First, the expression “earthly” nature indicates that it lacks the ability to give [eternal] life to man, so one must not expect anything out of it.

Second, the word “idolatry” indicates that the life that lives according to the earthly nature is to worship what is created rather than the Creator, so that no matter how diligently one indulges in this nature, one will only end up with complete emptiness.

Third, the word “therefore” refers us back to what Paul said in the previous passage, that is, the new reality that the old person died, and it is a new person who lives in the Lord, so that the life that lives according to the earthly nature comes in conflict with the new life which is hidden in Christ. 

Fourth, the expression “the wrath of God” tells us that the life that lives according to the earthly nature not only forfeits salvation but also calls for God’s judgment with the due penalty, that is, condemnation in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 

4.

Read vs. 8-11. This passage says that the new self which comes from the Lord is being renewed in “knowledge.”  What does this passage suggest about the man who keeps walking in the ways of the old self?  (Col 1:10; 2Pe 3:18; Gen 6:3,6; Eph 4:30)

** He cannot grow up to maturity. 

Here the word “knowledge” has the meaning of “personal experience” within the personal fellowship with Christ. So if one walks in the ways of old self, one remains disconnected from Jesus Christ, so that eventually he is going to wither up and die, so he will be like a branch cut off from the vine. 

5.

Read vs. 12-14 and describe the seven virtues Paul exhorts us to pursue.  What do the expressions “clothe yourself” and “put on” suggest about the benefit these virtues might have?

** Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love

** They protect man’s soul, both for himself and for others. It keeps man’s soul warm and happy.

6. 

Read vs. 15-16.  What does this teach us about the way Christ’s body is built up?

** We can say two things: grace and truth, that is, the grace of sin-forgiving love which is what the peace of Christ is all about, and the truth which is promoted by feeding on the word of God fully. 

7.

Read v. 17.  What does it mean to do everything “in the name of the Lord”? 

** It means prayer. This tells us that we can obey Paul’s exhortations and get blessed not through our own integrity but through Jesus’ love and power.

The end.