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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:2-3

Heavenly things the true object of Christian contemplation. "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth; for ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God." We must not only seek things above, but think them. I. THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN CONTEMPLATION . 1 . Not things upon the earth, because 2 . " Things there are above." (See hints on previous verse.) We ought to set our mind upon them, because II. THE DUTY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:3

For ye died, and your life is hid, with Christ, in God ( Colossians 2:11-13 , Colossians 2:20 ; Ephesians 4:22 ; Philippians 3:20 ; Romans 6:1-14 ; Romans 7:1-6 ; 2 Corinthians 5:14 , 2 Corinthians 5:15 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 1 Corinthians 3:23 ; John 15:5 ; John 12:26 ; Revelation 3:21 ). In this hidden life of the Christian lies the ground and the spring of the more outward life of thought and endeavour of Colossians 3:1 , Colossians 3:2 . And this life comes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:3

The hidden life. After Christ died he was seen no more by the world. It is true that for forty days he appeared repeatedly on earth, but only to his own disciples. The world never saw him after the stone was rolled against the entrance of the sepulchre in Joseph's garden on the night of the Crucifixion. And soon he ascended to heaven to be with God, and was no longer visible even to his own followers. But he will come again, when "every eye shall behold him." Now, a similar experience is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:4

When Christ shall be manifested, our (or, your, ) life, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory ( Romans 8:18-23 ; Philippians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:15 ; 2 Timothy 2:10-12 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Titus 2:13 ; 1 John 3:2 ; 1 John 2:28 ). Our future destiny, with our present redemption ( Colossians 1:14 ), is wrapped up in Christ. Our life is not only "with him" ( Colossians 3:3 ); it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:4

The believer's final manifestation with Christ. "When Christ, who is our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory." The believer's life will not be always hidden, any more than the believer's Lord. There will be a period of manifestation for both. This marks the last stage of spiritual life. I. CHRIST IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE . This is more than saying that our life is hid with him or that he is the Author of it. "He that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5

Make dead, therefore, the (or, your ) members that are upon the earth ( Colossians 2:11 ; Colossians 3:9 ; Ephesians 4:21 , Ephesians 4:22 ; Philippians 3:19 ; Romans 6:6 ; Romans 8:13 ; Romans 13:14 ). "Your" is omitted by most textual critics, but English idiom requires it in translation. In its absence a stronger emphasis falls on the defining clause, "that are upon the earth." As these things may no longer be pursued or studied ( Colossians 3:1 , Colossians 3:2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5-7

The duty of mortifying the old man. The apostle proceeds to deduce the practical consequences of our "death in Christ" in the mortifying of tendencies to impurity, covetousness, malice, and falsehood. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." I. THE NATURE AND DUTY OF MORTIFICATION . 1 . Its nature. It is to resist the solicitations of sin, to suppress its first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5-7

Sins of the flesh and the sin of covetousness. Paul, an example to faithful preachers, is not satisfied with general exhortations; he is pointed and personal in his allusion to special sins. The great motive power is in the preceding truths ( Colossians 3:1-4 , "Mortify therefore," etc.). What neither Jewish ceremonialism nor Gnostic teaching could secure ( Colossians 2:23 ), Christ "our Life," our "Hope of glory," could effect. Note the use of similar lofty motives in Romans 6:1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5-11

Mortification after death. Paul, having spoken of our death to earthly things and of our heavenly life, speaks next of mortification as succeeding death. It seems at first sight strange, yet, when analyzed, it is seen to convey most important truth. To quote from Coder's 'Etudes Bibliques:' "When this apostle [Paul] wishes to teach us how one may attempt to die to sin and to live to God, see how he expresses himself: 'Reckon that you are dead to sin and living unto God in Jesus Christ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:5-11

Dying before rising. There is an alternating between dying and rising. Having carried out the idea of rising, the apostle goes back to the idea of dying; and, before this paragraph is concluded, he goes back to the idea of rising. I. MORTIFYING OF OUR MEMBERS WITH REFERENCE TO TWO SINS . "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth." It is not a ground of condemnation that our members are upon the earth. The idea is simply the members through which we... read more

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