Habits!
Part 5
V24 n6
Colossians 2:8-9, 8 Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the
fulness of the Godhead bodily. KJV
Colossians 2:8 Take care lest
there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy
and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions
instead of following Christ. 9 For it is in Christ that the fulness of God's
nature dwells embodied, and in Him you are made complete, (
One
seldom gives thought to how many habits one picks or develops as a part of
their character, by that which they have seen other people doing. Things become
habitual by the continued use of, or repetition of doing things, whether right
or wrong. Things then become a routine or custom (philosophies and idle
fancies) to the person, and these traits or characteristics are then passed
onto those that are around them.
There
is a philosophy which is a noble exercise of our reasonable faculties, and
highly serviceable to religion, such a study of the works of God as leads us to
the knowledge of God and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy
which is vain and deceitful, which is prejudicial to religion, and sets up the
wisdom of man in competition with the wisdom of God, and while it pleases men's
fancies ruins their faith; as nice and curious speculations about things above
us, or of no use and concern to us; or a care of words and terms of art, which have
only an empty and often a cheating appearance of knowledge. (from
Matthew Henry's Commentary)
It is not as difficult as
most suppose, to become caught up in ideas, trickery, traditions and such,
established by people and “their” customs. The teachings of the world, such as
being politically correct, well this may impress worldly people, it takes the
people away from a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ, and an intimate
relationship with Father.
Colossians 3:8-10, 8 But now ye also put off all
these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him: KJV
Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry
and passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that
these may never soil your lips. 9 Do not speak falsehoods to one another, for
you have stripped off the old self with its doings, 10 and have clothed
yourselves with the new self which is being remoulded
into full knowledge so as to become like Him who created it. (
It
is only by one turning to God, by and through Christ Jesus, that one is able to
“put off” or abandon the old man (old nature) and the habits, customs, rituals
or traits of the flesh and it’s way of doing things.
For one to maintain this relationship, one must continue in the faith, that is,
they must continually abide in Christ and His Word.
Paul
lists some of these traits or habits of the flesh in the above verses, let’s take a little closer look at their meanings.
Definition for anger: 3709 orge (or-gay'); from
3713; properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e.
(by analogy,) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by
implication punishment: 1) anger, the natural disposition, temper, character 2)
movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but
especially anger 3) anger, wrath, indignation 4) anger exhibited in punishment,
hence used for punishment itself; used of punishments inflicted by magistrates.
Definition for wrath: 2372 thumos- 1)
passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again 2) glow, ardor, the wine of passion,
inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker insane or kills him with its
strength).
Definition for malice: 2549 kakia- 1)
malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure
2) wickedness, depravity; wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws
3) evil, trouble.
Definition for blasphemy: 988 blasphemia
(blas-fay-me'-ah); from 989; vilification (especially against God): 1) slander,
detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name 2) impious and reproachful
speech injurious to divine majesty.
Definition for filthy communications: 148 aischrologia-
foul speaking, low and obscene speech
Not merely "filthy talking," as the King
James Version, but "foul-mouthed abuse." The English Revised Version
(1885): "shameful speaking." (from Vincent's
Word Studies of the New Testament)
The word was used for both abusive and filthy talk
and Lightfoot combines both ideas as often happens. Such language should never
come out of the mouth of a Christian living the new life in Christ. (from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)
As
we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate
passions (v. 8): But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for
these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities;
and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in
them. The gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower
powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience
over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse,
because it is more rooted and deliberate; it is anger heightened and settled.
And, as the corrupt principles in the heart must be cut off, so the product of
them in the tongue; as blasphemy, which seems there to mean, not so much
speaking ill of God as speaking ill of men, giving ill language to them, or
raising ill reports of them, and injuring their good name by any evil arts,--
filthy communication, that is, all lewd and wanton discourse, which comes from
a polluted mind in the speaker and propagates the same defilements in the
hearers,-- and lying: Lie not one to another (v. 9), for it is contrary both to
the law of truth and the law of love, it is both unjust and unkind, and
naturally tends to destroy all faith and friendship among mankind. (from
Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Lying makes us like the devil (who is the father of
lies), and is a prime part of the devil's image upon our souls; and therefore
we are cautioned against this sin by this general reason: Seeing you have put
off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, v. 10. The
consideration that we have by profession put away sin and espoused the cause
and interest of Christ, that we have renounced all sin and stand engaged to
Christ, should fortify us against this sin of lying. Those who have put off the
old man have put it off with its deeds; and those who have put on the new man
must put on all its deeds-- not only espouse good principles but act them in a
good conversation. The new man is said to be renewed in knowledge, because an
ignorant soul cannot be a good soul. Without knowledge the heart cannot be
good, <Prov. 19:2>. The grace of God works upon the will and affections
by renewing the understanding. Light is the first thing in the new creation, as
it was in the first: after the image of him who created him. (from
Matthew Henry's Commentary)
It
should only be the truth of God’s Word that proceeds forth from our mouth, that
the believer may give the proper portrayal of Father’s love. One’s words should
always minister the grace of God to the hearer. People often forget who the
father of all lies is.
Isaiah 5:13-14, 13
Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge:
and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with
thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and
opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and
their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. KJV
Note
that the scripture says, that it is His people that go
into captivity, for a lack of knowledge. Yet, one often thinks that it is only
the heathen that have this problem. These things happen, when one allows the
wrong habits, traits, customs, rituals, traditions or such, to remain in their
life, once they have come to a knowledge of the truth.
What things are you holding onto yet, that is hindering your relationship with
God?
That you may know Him,
In the service of
Jesus Christ.
Larry Gazelka
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