Servants are to do their duty, and obey their masters' commands, in all things consistent with duty to God their heavenly Master. And parents must be tender, as well as children obedient. Dutiful children are the most likely to prosper. And husbands must love their wives with tender and faithful affection. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Verses 18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. Those who do all in Christ's name, will never want matter of thanksgiving to God, even the Father. Whatever we are employed about, let us do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in believing dependence on him. But when we sing psalms, we must be affected with what we sing. The soul prospers, when we are full of the Scriptures and of the grace of Christ. Many have the word, but it dwells in them poorly it has no power over them. Thanksgiving to God, helps to make us agreeable to all men. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts it is of his working in all who are his. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. Verses 12-17 We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All, his only Lord and Saviour, and all his hope and happiness. There is now no difference from country, or conditions and circumstances of life. The gospel changes the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and passion. It is necessary to mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world and covetousness, which is idolatry love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Verses 5-11 It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Do we look for such happiness, and should we not set our affections upon that world, and live above this? At the second coming of Christ, there will be a general assembling of all the redeemed and those whose life is now hid with Christ, shall then appear with him in his glory. Christ lives in the believer by his Spirit, and the believer lives to him in all he does. The streams of this living water flow into the soul by the influences of the Holy Spirit, through faith. Christ is, at present, one whom we have not seen but our comfort is, that our life is safe with him. To be dead, then, means this, that those who have the Holy Spirit, mortifying within them the lusts of the flesh, are able to despise earthly things, and to desire those that are heavenly. Those that are born again are dead to sin, because its dominion is broken, its power gradually subdued by the operation of grace, and it shall at length be extinguished by the perfection of glory. As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other. Verses 1-4 As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. The Colossians exhorted to be heavenly-minded (1-4) to mortify all corrupt affections (5-11) to live in mutual love, forbearance, and forgiveness (12-17) and to practise the duties of wives and husbands, children, parents, and servants.
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