16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Context
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
I love this 3:16! “Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you…” How do we do that? READ THE BOOK!!! Colossians is one of my favorite letters. This chapter is one of my favorite chapters. Paul is writing to a church he has not been to but had a love for them because of the desire to walk with Jesus. Paul is reminding them of their old lives and how we are now to live the new lives that Christ paid for with His death and resurrection by seeking the things above (3:1) Paul reminds us to consider ourselves dead to our idols of self gratifications; immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed…(3:5) Paul gives practical examples of how our old actions represented that idolatry by anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, and lying to one another, (3:8,9) Paul refers to this as the “old self” and tells us to set it aside and put on the “new self”
Paul is encouraging people who are living a very oppressive life because of their decision to follow Jesus. It is costing them something to follow Him. Paul knows about the cost as he is writing from a prison cell for preaching about Jesus. But rather than laying aside the “new self” and putting the “old self” back on and complaining about his situation and the people responsible or making plans for revenge, Paul embraces the “new self” and tells the readers to do the same.
He tells us that those who have been chosen by God have been set apart (holy) and we are loved. Therefore, we are to put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We are supposed to bear with one another (put up with each other) and forgive each other, Just as Christ has forgiven us. And above all, put on love, this is the perfect bond for unity. Love can overlook the stupid things we tend to get upset about, which is usually, the things that once held up our idols of self, where we were the center of all things.
Understanding the love Jesus has for you, how He has shown that to you, should humble you. In the words of a wise man, “Don’t sweat the petty stuff” And in the grand scheme of eternity, most of it is petty stuff. So what is the benefit of living with this ‘new self”?
It will allow the peace of Christ to rule in your hearts. Who does not want peace? This is a supernatural thing that takes place when you put on the “new self” and let the word of God richly dwell in you. and it gives us the power to give thanks to God in whatever we do or say. To live a life that honors the God who has done so much for you.
As far as the rest of the verse, “with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” I will have to do more study on that, taken at face value, not sure you all would like to hear singing sermons by Wingnut!
Lil’Cuz