Kress Biblical Resources :: Exhortation: Completeness in Christ Is a Gift of God That Should Shape All of Life (Col 3:1-4:6)

Detailed Outline of Colossians

Completeness in Christ Guards Against the Counterfeits of Mysticism, Legalism, and Traditionalism

5. Exhortation: Completeness in Christ is a gift of God that should shape all of life (Col 3:1-25; Col 4:1-6)
   1. The root of your life: Your thinking and desires should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:1-4)
      1. Continually pursue the glory and worship of God in Christ (Col 3:1)
         1. Because of your life union with Christ
         2. Because it is commanded by God’s Word
         3. Because Christ is your exalted Lord, Savior and Intercessor
      2. Continually purpose to meditate on the glory of God in Christ, and the vindication to come—not earthly “religion”, earthly circumstances, or earthly desires (Col 3:2-4)
         1. Because it is commanded by God’s Word (Col 3:2)
         2. Because Christ is the source and summation of your life (Col 3:3-4a)
         3. Because of the final vindication and glory to come at the revelation of our Lord and Savior—the Christ (Col 3:4)
   2. The fruit of your life in general character: Your character should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:5-17)
      1. Put off your old way of life (Col 3:5-11)
         1. Slay [put to death] the things that formerly controlled your physical pursuits (Col 3:5-7)
            1. The command to put to death the things that formerly controlled you physically (Col 3:5a)
            2. The description of what formerly controlled you (Col 3:5)
               1. Immorality
               2. Impurity
               3. Passion
               4. Evil desire
               5. Greed, which is idolatry
            3. The reasons they must be executed (Col 3:6-7)
               1. The wrath of God (Col 3:6a)
               2. Your new character (Col 3:6b-7)
         2. Strip away [put off/throw] the things that formerly controlled your attitudes and speech (Col 3:8-11)
            1. The command to put off the things that formerly controlled your attitudes and speech (Col 3:8a)
            2. The description of what formerly controlled you (Col 3:8-9a)
               1. Anger
               2. Wrath
               3. Malice
               4. Slander
               5. Abusive Speech
               6. Lying [Stop lying—is parallel grammatically with points a and b in this outline (“put to death”; “put aside”), but thematically fits into this list of vices] (Col 3:9a)
            3. The reasons they must be put off/thrown away (Col 3:9b-11)
               1. You laid aside the old self (Col 3:9a)
               2. You have put on the new self (Col 3:10a)
               3. You are being renewed into the image of Christ (Col 3:10b)
               4. You are part of the body, which is Christ’s body—and He is supreme (Col 3:11)
      2. Put on the new life [Christlikeness] (Col 3:12-17)
         1. Remember who you are in Christ (Col 3:12a)
            1. A new man, part of the body of Christ
            2. Elect of God
            3. Holy
            4. Beloved
         2. Remember your responsibility to pursue Christlikeness (Col 3:12b)
         3. Remember the character of those who are chosen of God (Col 3:12c-14)
            1. Compassion
            2. Kindness
            3. Humility
            4. Gentleness
            5. Patience
            6. Bearing with one another
            7. Forgiving each other
            8. Love
               1. The supreme characteristic
               2. The perfect bond of unity
         4. Remember/Realize how to pursue Christlikeness (Col 3:15-17)
            1. Be covered, consoled and constrained by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15)
               1. The command concerning peace
               2. The source of peace
               3. The rule of peace
               4. The unity of peace
            2. Be continually thankful (Col 3:15c)
            3. Be controlled by the indwelling word of Christ (Col 3:16; cf. Eph 5:18-20)
               1. The command
               2. The consequences include teaching
               3. The consequences include admonishing
               4. The consequences include singing
            4. Be consumed with the fame and reputation of Jesus Christ (Col 3:17)
               1. In the name of the Lord Jesus
               2. In word
               3. In deed
               4. With thankfulness
   3. The fruit of your life in specific social relationships: Your relationships should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:18-25; Col 4:1)
      1. Relationships within the family [the family ruled by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15); controlled by the Word of Christ (Col 3:16); and doing all in the name of Christ (Col 3:17)] (Col 3:18-21)
         1. Wives—continually submit to your husbands (Col 3:18)
            1. The command—continually rank yourself under your husband’s authority
            2. The manner—as is fitting in the Lord
         2. Husbands—continually love your wives and do not treat them harshly (Col 3:19)
            1. The 1^st command—continually love your wives
            2. The 2^nd command—be not embittered against them
         3. Children—continually obey your parents (Col 3:20)
            1. The command—continually obey your parents
            2. The scope of obedience—in all things
            3. The reason for obedience—for this is well pleasing to the Lord
         4. Fathers—do not exasperate your children (Col 3:21)
            1. The command—do not exasperate your children
            2. The reason—so that they will not lose heart
      2. Relationships within the work environment [the work environment ruled by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15); controlled by the Word of Christ (Col 3:16); and doing all in the name of Christ (Col 3:17)] (Col 3:22-25; Col 4:1)
         1. Slaves/Employees—continually obey your earthly masters and work hard for the Lord (Col 3:22-25)
            1. The 1^st command—continually obey your masters on earth (Col 3:22)
               1. The scope of obedience—in all things
               2. The manner of obedience—with sincerity of heart
               3. The motive of obedience—reverence for Christ
            2. The 2^nd command—continually work hard (Col 3:23-25)
               1. The scope of service—whatever you do (Col 3:23a)
               2. The manner of service—heartily (Col 3:23b)
               3. The motive of service—as for the Lord (Col 3:23c)
               4. The encouragement of service—heavenly reward and service to Christ (Col 3:24)
               5. The consequences of poor service (Col 3:25)
         2. Masters/Employers—continually grant justice and fairness to your slaves (Col 4:1)
            1. The command—continually grant justice and fairness to your slaves
            2. The motive—knowing that you too have a Master in heaven
   4. The fruit of your life in prayer and evangelism: Your prayer life and witness should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 4:2-6)
      1. Continually occupy yourself with prayer (Col 4:2-4)
         1. The command—continually devote yourself to prayer (Col 4:2a)
         2. The manner of prayer (Col 4:2b)
            1. Keeping alert in it
            2. With thanksgiving
         3. The content of prayer (Col 4:2-4)
            1. Implied by the preceding and following contexts (Col 4:2-3; cf. Col 3:17-25; Col 4:1, 5-6)
            2. Explicitly stated—For God’s spokesmen and the progress of the gospel (Col 4:3-4)
      2. Continually look for ways to witness for Christ by the way you live and what you say (Col 4:5-6)
         1. Your life should reveal Christ and His character to non-believers (Col 4:5)
            1. The command to reveal Christ’s character through your daily conduct—continually walk with wisdom
            2. The human audience—outsiders
            3. The urgency
         2. Your lips should reveal Christ and His character to non-believers (Col 4:6)
            1. Your speech should always exhibit grace
            2. Your speech should be both tasteful, and yet useful as a preservative—seasoned with salt
            3. Your speech should be sensitive to the need of the moment