B) THE PROPER METHOD. 3:5-17 Leaving the basic principle of who we are and will become in Christ, where we are and where to seek and mind. We then come to the proper method of how to practise our spiritual heavenly position on earth. Heb.6:1-2; Phil.3:12 V.5 a) Dismember - Members executed. I. The saints had to dismember by faith and obedience to the evil activities of the old man. II. The Gardener's practice of grafting - When the graft has been made on the old stock the gardener is careful to snip off any shoot from the old stock that may appear. In the saints life, since he has now been grafted into Christ, he must by the Spirit put to death any products and appearance of the old life. Rom. 8:13 V.6 b) Disobedience - Manifestation of wrath. I. Unrepentant continual practice of this evil causes God wrath. II. The sons of disobedience are the lost. Eph.2:2 V.7 c) Direction - Moved to walk in the past. This evil walk directed the saint’ s former life. Eph.2:3 V.8 d) Disconnection - Mortify the Mouth. The saints has to disconnect, take off the old mans sinful expressions through evil speaking. Eph.4:25-32 V.9 e) Deeds - Motive of speaking truth. The old man was put off through baptism into Christ death, but the saints so often lives in the old attitudes and ways. V.10 f) Design - It Demands a continual Process. I. Even though the new man was designed in holiness and in Christ’ s nature, it must willingly be put on every day. II. The new man is manifested and we experience renewal in us by acknowledging its existence in us, and by believing the Scripture that reveals the new man, and by acting out knowledgably the new mans nature. V.11 g) Dual unity - It Depends on a Divine Pattern. I. There are no races in Christ but the one race Christ, there is not a variety of citizenship in Christ but the one in Christ. Phil.3:20 There is no evil ones in Christ but only holy ones. II. The barbarian was one who did not know Greek. Scythians came from the Black Sea and Caspian Sea area, and the Greeks saw them as the lowest type of barbarian, a very crude and rough person. III. There is no slave or free in Christ. Philemon was a Colossian and that Paul wrote to, Philemon was a master and Onesimus was a slave, these 2 had problems with one another. h) Dimension of Christ - It Derives from a Person. I. All are equal in Christ and Christ’ s nature is all (equal) in all the saints. 1. In Salvation - Christ is all in all, we do not need any man or angels to be our mediators. Col.2:18 2. In Sanctification - Christ is all in all, we do not need legalism, ritualism and asceticism to be accepted by God. 3. In Satisfaction - Christ is all we need, we do not need philosophy to satisfy our intellectual search for God. V.12 a) Practice - Elected put on. I. Because the saints are elected and have Christ’ s nature they should put it on. II. 9 characteristics of Christ nature or fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5:22-23 V.13 b) Pardoning - Erase one another’ s sins. The saints must forgive like Christ forgave us. Matt.18:21-35 V.14 c) Perfection - Excellency of the saint. I. Love is the going on to perfection. Heb.6:1; Matt.5:43-48; 1.John 4:18 II. Love is the greatest abiding virtue. 1.Cor.13:13 III. Love sums up all Scripture. Matt.22:36-40 IV. Love is a bond, a rule, a golden thread and a sure way. 1.John 4:7 V. V.12-13 is the garment while love is the robe that ties it all together. V.15 d) Peace - Embracing the peace of God. I. Peace is also a bond. Eph.4:3 II. The peace of God is also a ruler, the peace of God guides us, by letting the peace of God abide in our hearts if it is right and removing the peace of God if it is wrong, conscience also impacts us at this level. Rom.2:15 III. By 2 or 3 witness every word shall be established. 2.Cor.13:1 In our walk with God we need the witness of God if we are going the right direction, there are 3 of this ways of sure witnesses. 1. The peace of God as a witness. 2. The Word of God. v.16 3. The Spirit’ s witness within us. Rom.8:16 In Eph.5:18-19 Paul explains Col.3:16 as being through Spirit filling. V.16 e) Possession - Enriched in the Word of Christ. I. The level we posses or store up Scripture in our hearts, can we experience the peace of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit through our conscience. 1.Cor.15:9 - Eph.3:8 - 1.Tim.1:15 II. The level we posses or store up Scripture in our hearts, can we minister effectively to the saints and to the Lord. III. Its not enough to “ stay” in the Word, the Word must “ stay” in us. f) Preaching - Exhortation and Encouragement. The Storage of His Word causes Sharing of His Word. Matt.12:34-35 g) Praise - Exalting the Lord. The Storage of His Word causes Singing through His Word. V.17 h) Pleasing - Energy Employed to God. Whatever we do, do it to, do it for and do it in the Lord. v.23