The Power of God

The Power of God (Col 3:1-17)
Review: The New Life is Here
The illustration of the runaway slave (see M.L. Jones on Rom 6).
'He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love' (1:13, see 2:12, 3:3, Rom 6:14-22).

Intro: The Two Pastoral Problems
John Owen says all pastoral problems can be reduced to these:
(1) Convincing people who are under the dominion of sin that they are under the dominion of sin (see 3:5-6).
(2) Convincing people who are no longer under the dominion of sin that they are no longer under the dominion of sin (see 1:13).

1. Transforming Your Mind (3:1-4)
   'Seek those things which are above... Set your mind on things above' (3:1-2). 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly' (3:16).

2. Transforming Your Actions and Affections (3:5-17)
   Is love the fruit of the Spirit that he works to produce, or is it something we have to work to produce (Gal 5:22 vs. Col 3:12-14)? Clearly, it's both.

Paul says of himself, 'To this end I also labor, striving according to his working which works mightily in me' (Col 1:29, see Phil 2:12-13, Ps 18:34, 2Pe 2:14).

Conclusion
'I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you... Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you' (Jn 14:18-20).