In Colossians 3:16, Paul wrote, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Does the word of Christ still dwell in Christians richly?
The word of Christ should dwell richly in every Christian
If you are born again in Christ and have been delivered from the power of darkness and have become a new creation, the words of God, the words of Christ, shall be your daily bread.
You shall have a desire to read the Bible and renew your mind with the words of God. So that you get to know God and His truth and your mind lines up with the will of God.
You shall make time daily, to read and study the Word through the Holy Spirit. And you shall meditate on His words day and night.
If you don’t do this, your mind remains unchanged and conformed to this world. As a result, you shall keep walking after the flesh living like the world.
By studying and meditating on the Word, day and night, the word of Christ shall dwell in you richly. And through obedience to the Word, the word of Christ takes shape in your life.
The Word shall abide in you. And if you submit to the Word, the Word teaches, corrects, and warns you.
You shall grow up into the sonship of God and have the mind of Christ. You shall think and walk as a son of God (this applies to both males and females) on earth. (Read also: What are the characteristics of a son of God?).
Discerning the lies from the truth and darkness from light
You shall not only think, speak, act, and walk like the Word. But by the truth of God, you shall also discern the lies from the truth and darkness from light.
When the word of Christ dwells in you richly, in all fulness, you shall walk in all wisdom. This is not the wisdom of the world. Because the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. It is the wisdom wherein the sons of the devil, who belong to the world, walk in. But this is the wisdom of God. The wisdom that’s foolishness to the world. It’s the wisdom whereby the sons of God distinguish themselves from the sons of the devil (a.o. 1 Corinthians 2; 3:18-19. 1 John 3:4-11).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1:24-29)
The believers in Christ are the Body of Christ; the Church and divided into local churches on earth. The believers are together one in Christ. This means that everyone is equal, despite the position (office), power, and responsibility in the Body.
The word of Christ should dwell richly in Christians, in all wisdom. So that the believers think like Christ, speak the words of Christ, and teach and admonish one another.
Through the words and doctrine of Christ, the church is built upon Christ; the Rock.
Through admonishing and warning one another, the church stays faithful to Christ and prevents the church from committing spiritual adultery with the world and the darkness from entering the congregation of Christ and defiling the church with his lies and works. (Read also: What did Jesus mean by the gates of hell shall not prevail against My Church?).
Paul was familiar with the devil’s works and uncovered and destroyed them. The devil had a hard time to mislead the disciples of Jesus Christ. He had to do his best to silence them and stop their work.
But these days, the devil can go his way undisturbed. He doesn’t have to try so hard anymore. That’s because many Christians keep silent about the Truth and open the door for the devil and his minions. Because they don’t recognize them and don’t see what they are doing.
If someone in the church sins, or heads in the wrong direction, or does things, that diametrically oppose the will of God, the person should be admonished.
How do you admonish someone?
Admonishing someone is done from the word and the will of Christ instead of the words and will of man. Admonishing is not done from the flesh; from pride or a position or sense of power (superiority) or to feel better. But admonishing someone is done from the Spirit; out of love.
First of all, you admonish out of love for Jesus. Because you love Him and want to stay faithful to Christ. You don’t want His Name to be defiled and ridiculed.
Secondly, you admonish out of love for your neighbor. Because you know where sin leads to and you don’t want that person be lost but be saved. You also don’t want to defile the other members of the church; the body. Because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Read also: Can you be complicit in the sin of fellow believers?)
A person, who is admonished from the word of Christ, should be open for correction.
The person should receive the admonishing in meekness and not react offended and become angry. The person should listen to the admonishing and take the admonishing and think about it, and (if applicable) repent and put the sin away and return to Christ.
If you have a willing and open attitude, the Holy Spirit will show you the truth. But when you are prideful and rebellious, and say to yourself, what does he (or she) think he (or she) is? You will never come to the purpose of God in your life.
Together, you are the army of Christ. Together, you represent and bring the Kingdom of Heaven, where Christ reigns, on earth.
the church can be the most powerful institution on earth
If Jesus Christ is the center and the word of Christ dwells richly in all the believers and the importance of God is paramount in the lives of Christians, then the church shall be the most powerful and mightiest institution on earth.
But as long as people remain the center and the flesh reigns and people’s own interests are paramount, then the church shall remain weak and nothing shall change. (Read also: Is the church a social institution or a power of God?).
In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:17-21)
When you come together, and the word of Christ dwells in your heart richly, you shall sing with grace in your heart to the Lord God in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
You shall sing from your renewed heart, in which the word of Christ dwells richly. You shall thank God for everything! And you shall exalt Him and praise Jesus Christ for who He is and what He has done. And while singing, you shall testify of the greatness of God and His mighty works.
Instead of singing from an unrenewed heart for selfish reasons; to get into a certain state or to feel better and/or experience warm and fuzzy feelings.
You shall sing spiritual songs, which are inspired by the Word and the Holy Spirit, and revolve around God. Instead of carnal songs, inspired by the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of carnal people, and revolve around (the lives of) people.
Exalt Jesus and leave your lamentations, which revolve around you, out! You are not important, He is important and He should be exalted forever!
‘Be the salt of the earth’
