“our” to “you?” Does he purposely exclude himself? Compared with I John 3:2, this verse seems to refer to the second coming. But Paul ex pected that he would still be alive and changed a t that great event (I Thess. 4:15; I Cor. 15:51). Paul’s use of “you” shows that his refer ence is not at all to the second com ing, but rather to the exaltation and glorification of the Lord in the life of the believer. “You,” because Paul had already become so Christlike he could say, “Be imitators of me” (I Cor. 11:1). Now he seeks the same for the Colossians. Apart from Him, there can be no glory for the Chris tian (I Cor. 2 :7 ). The change in our looks, life, words, and worship is seen by God and the world (II Thess. 1:7-12). Verse 5. “Put to death therefore [your] members which are upon the earth.” “Therefore” looks back to verses 1-4, especially verse 4. “Put to death” is a polite way of saying “murder” and is used to show the parallel between it and “put on” in verses 9, 12. The tense of the verb implies a once-for-all doing away with certain things; and the com mand itself implies freedom and abil ity on our part to comply. We must marshall all our strength and, with the power of God (1:29), destroy these and all evils from our lives. Once killed, they will be immobile and powerless to tempt us (James 1:14). But beware! Don’t play with any sin or evil habit, for though dead, each has tremendous “resur rection” power. We can destroy them and in a moment bring them back to life. When Paul says “members,” we think immediately of our human bodies (Rom. 12:4). However, “mem bers on the earth” really means the same as “flesh” (2:11) : that is, the passions and desires of our lower nature. The word signifies a per manent part of the person’s nature (v. 2). It is only by getting rid of these anchors that we can go on ward with Him.
Picturedabove is the front entrance to Biota's new Student UnionBuilding. Landscaping is just going in. The facility recentlyopened and was constructed through the self-assess ment of young people attending Biola. The cost is ap roximately $300,000, representing a tremendous asset to the expanding Biola Campusministry.
separate us from God (Rom. 8:35- 39). Christ is on the right hand of God (v. 1), in the place of blessing and security. “With Christ” denotes our relationship to Him (2:10). We are joint-heirs with the Son of God; we are partakers of the divine life. Why should we, like pigs, even want to return to the mire from which we have been drawn? Verse 4. “When Christ is shown forth.” This can refer to either of two events: the second coming, or His glorification in the life of the individual believer. The verb means to disclose, to bring to light( 1:2; Rom. 3:21). Here, in the aorist pas sive, it speaks of an instantaneous and one-time unveiling. “Who is our life.” How? Physically, He created and sustains us; spiritually, He saved, keeps, and directs us in our new life. Until we draw near Him and show forth His life in ours, we have not begun to live. We should be so like Him that our life is a re incarnation of His (Phil. 1:21). “Then you also with him shall be shown forth in glory.” “Then” cor responds to “when” and means “at the same time.” To this agrees the “also.” Why does Paul shift from
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