The Scripture makes it very clear that as we focus on purity we experience power from above. Paul stressed this in his final letter to his understudy Timothy. “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter [i.e., “iniquity”], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Ti 2:21). How? The process is simple: God the Father works through the Son. The Son works through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works through the Word. The Word works through the believer. The believer works through living faith.
Gene Cunningham - December 2, 2006
Colossians Lesson 21
In Phi 3:14 'the upward call' means we need to live on a higher plane (Isa 55:8-9; Luk 21:28; 1Co 10:5). Col 3:5-17 positive and negative commands for practical living a spiritual life. We need to put on Christ (Rom 13:14) and put off defiled garments (Jud 1:23; Col 3:9-10) -- our 'old man' was nailed to the cross with Christ and is dead. The power of sin is broken. We are not 'sinners saved by Grace' but new creatures (2Co 5:17; Rom 12:2; 1Co 2:16; Rom 6:11). We need to reckon our members dead to sin (Col 1:5-8; Rom 6:13) ; e.g.; our hand alone has phenominal potential; for sin or good. Luk 11:24 a downward spiral that occurs when we don't replace an area of sin with the things of God: prayer; service; the word; etc (Col 3:11-17).
Scripture References: Colossians 3:5-17, Colossians 1:5-8, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Luke 21:28, Romans 6:11, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 3:14, Colossians 3:9-10, Colossians 3:11-17, Jude 1:23, Luke 11:24, Romans 13:14, Romans 6:13
From Series: "Colossians - 2006"
Paul never met the Colossians but wrote to them from a Roman prison around 62 AD to counter misconceptions of his day. It magnifies the character of Jesus Christ more than any other book in the New Testament, and counters misconceptions of our day as well. The key verse may well be Col 1:18 "...that in all things, He might have preeminence."