We continue to look at Colossians 3:5, where we are told to “put to death what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

 

We spent the last two days on the first of these things which we are to put to death. It may well be that the Apostle Paul, meant the second, third and fourth members of his list to unfold the meaning of the first, that is, that impurity, passion, and evil desire unfold further the meaning of sexual immorality, or he could be speaking more generally with these words. The word “impurity” highlights the manner in which immorality contaminates the character of the person. Some “impure” is something tainted. We are not to be tainted inwardly by immorality. That is what living under the Lordship of Christ means; that is, seeking things that are above, where Christ is. There was nothing tainted about Jesus. This is not to say that we won’t be tempted, but to be tempted is not the same as to be tainted, and we are to resist actively the temptation to do something which will taint us, and make us look less like Jesus our master.

 

“Passion” or “lust” speaks of that driving force that carries us along to immorality. This negative internal energy for that which is not to be ours can be very strong, and we are to resist it even to the point of shedding blood if need be. Once lust wins over our minds and hearts we will proceed down the path to sin until the lust or passion is satiated.

 

Even lust itself has a precursor, and that is “evil desire.” We know that we remain a mixed bag of good and bad inclinations inside of ourselves. Evil inclinations are any inclinations that lead us away from obedience to God and toward that which he forbids us. The potential impulse is always there for evil desire to become passion or lust. There is a thought of something forbidden and instead of it being rejected or denied, either outright or by changing our immediate circumstance and thus “changing the subject,” we nurture and fondle the thought until blossoms forth as passion or lust. Lust then has a way of twisting our thinking, and we head down the road to darkness.

 

To all of this Paul says “put to death.” We have to fight. And it is a fight unto death. How many times, despite known weaknesses, do we put ourselves into situations where latent desires can blossom forth into passion – whether it be for sexual pleasure or financial pleasure or ego pleasure or addiction pleasure. We think, “just this once,” and before we know it we are caught in a spiral into deeper darkness. Soon, we rationalize our actions and make the light into darkness and the darkness into light. As the writer to Hebrews encourages us, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

 

We need each other in the battle against indwelling sin. We need a lifeline, a person to call for help, many persons to call for prayer and encouragement. We are not so strong as we think.

 

Thanks be to God that we have not only the indwelling Spirit, but also the intercession of the Lord Jesus, who, though knowing no inward bent toward anything contrary to His Father’s will, yet was tempted as we are, though always without sin.

 

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18).

 

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).