The effect of the Gospel on the heart
Leader’s note: So far in Colossians, Paul has shown how our relationship with God is meant to change the way we live (3:12-14). Now, he addresses how this happens: By letting the word of Christ richly dwell in you. This raises the questions of what that word is, what is its relationship to Scripture and the relationship between the two covenants of Law and Gospel. Or put differently, the question is whether we take to heart the gospel that teaches how to be saved by faith and not by works, the narrow way, rather than the broad road (Mt 7:14), the way of the Holy Spirit and not of the ‘basic principles’ of this world (2:20) as to how anyone can “fulfill the law” and please God.
Read: Colossians 3:12-17
1) v15: The expression “…in one body” concerns relationships within the church. What is the true innovation of Christianity here, as compared to any civilized society?
- The word ‘rule’ means to referee or umpire (as in a sport). How does ‘the peace of Christ’ rule/referee in our hearts?
- How/why will it change how you navigate through conflict with others?
2) Re-read v15-17: What theme features in all three of these verses?
- Why is thankfulness such a positive character trait?
- How can a lack of thankfulness and gratitude negatively affect the life of a church community?
- Where does gratitude come from?
- Giving thanks through him: Why add the clause “through Him”? cf Jn 15:5; Eph 5:19-20
3) v16: What is the ‘word of Christ’ ? cf Jn 15:7
- Is everything in the Bible the word (gr. logos) ‘of Christ’ (genitive, lit. Christ’s word)? Why or why not? cf Jn 1:1; 15:3
- Is there a difference between the word of God (the Bible as a whole) and the word of Christ? Jn 1:17*
- Some say the Bible contains God’s word (rather than being it): What is the difference, and what is at stake? cf Col 1:5
- And how can it “…dwell in you richly”? cf 2Pet 1:9, 12-13
- What is the role of words that we sing during corporate worship?
- v16: What is “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom“?
4) v17: What does it mean when someone acts in someone else’s name?
- Accordingly, what does it mean to do everything in Jesus’ name?
- Why again the connection to thanksgiving and that all must be “through Him”?
5) Personal & application
- How does the biblical method for change differ from the self-help methods advocated by our culture?
- Think of the aim, the comprehensiveness of change: Fruit (not just fruitS), areas that we may exempt of change, …
- How can you stay focused on the heart and influence its desires?
- What helps and what hinders you to be filled with the word of Christ?
- Does this chapter identify any practical measures how you can be filled?
- How can you help one another to get there?
* How the Bible distinguishes “the word of Christ” (the gospel) from the word of God in general (Law and Gospel) is of fundamental importance, Col 1:5 (cf Gal 2:21). Jn 1:17 sums up the essence of the difference between the two. How we maintain this distinction will determine the outcome of any exegesis and whether it will preserve the unity of Scripture in how both the New and the Old Testament teach to set our hope on Christ alone (Mt 13:52; Jn 5:37-39). Failure to do it rightly invariably leads to a mixup of faith with moralism that diminishes the merits of Christ by exalting our own.
** The world does not disagree with the Bible that wisdom consists in doing right. They disagree about the way how to get there. Same within Christianity: No one in their right mind questions what is the fruit of the Spirit. Faithful and false teachers disagree on what is the word of Christ, and what is Christian faith that the Holy Spirit uses to produce His fruit.
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