Promises and Commands in Colossians
By way of a little “open-source theology”, I have compiled a list of commands and promises found in the book of Colossians, and I have phrased them in my own words. Feel free to chime in and let me know if I’ve missed something, or where I might be off.
COMMANDS:
- Don’t just claim Christ as your savior, and then go about your life as normal. Live every moment of your life with him as your Lord and master. (2:6,7)
- Don’t let anyone get you derailed/distracted with “philosophy” and empty arguments; that is, anything that has to do with human tradition, human wisdom, or anything other than what Christ has said. (2:8)
- Don’t let anyone question your faith based on what you eat or drink (or don’t eat/drink), or what holidays you do/don’t celebrate, or whether or not you keep a Sabbath (!!) (2:16)
- Don’t let anyone question your faith by saying you have to believe in anything besides what Christ taught (teaches…). (2:18)
- Think about heaven, and how what you are doing will affect eternity, instead of what is going to make you happy/comfortable here. (3:1-2)
- “PUT TO DEATH” (don’t do, think about, or even consider as an option): (3:5-9)
- anything that is sexually immoral (anything sexual outside of a marriage relationship)
- anything that could be considered not pure
- “evil desires” (you’ll know if it’s evil…)
- wanting things you don’t have (i’d say discontentment)
- anger/wrath
- malice
- talking about someone in order to “knock them down”
- crude talk
- lying
- “PUT ON” (make a habit of your life): (3:12)
- Compassion
- Kindness
- Humility
- Gentleness
- Patience
- Love (3:14)
- Get along with eachother. If you have something against some one, drop it and forgive them. (3:13)
- Let the peace Christ offers rule your heart (check out phillipians 4:4-7 for the mechanics of that) (3:15)
- Be Thankful (3:15)
- Make learning God’s word a habit, then use what you’ve learned to teach and counsel others, and let them teach and counsel you.(3:16)
- SING SONGS TO GOD WITH A THANKFUL ATTITUDE (3:16)
- Do EVERYTHING you do as if Jesus’s reputation depended on how YOU act, because it does! (3:17)
- Wives, submit to your husbands (3:18)
- Husbands, love your wives. (3:19)
- Husbands, don’t be harsh with your wife. (3:19)
- Children, do whatever your parents tell you to do. (3:20)
- Fathers, don’t aggravate your kids (3:21)
- Slaves, do whatever your masters tell you to do.(3:22)
- When you work, do it like God himself is your boss.(3:23)
- Masters, treat your slaves fairly and justly (4:1)
- Pray… all the time. And when you do, be thankful. (4:2)
- Be strategic when you interact with someone who doesn’t know God. Look for an opportunity to present itself when you can introduce them to him.(4:5)
- Be gracious in all of your conversations (4:6)
PROMISES:
- If you live by faith continually, and never give up on the hope you found through the gospel, Christ will be able to present you to God as blame-free, holy, with nothing on your record. (1:22-23)
- If you work as if God himself is your boss, you will be rewarded in heaven. (3:24)
