Colossians 3.5-7

Sins of the Flesh

 

Review:

1. Chapter three begins the practical side of Colossians.
1. Chapters 1-2 dealt with our position in Christ: redeemed; reconciled; died with Christ; risen with Him; and seated with Him, hidden with Him now, but soon to be manifested with Him in glory.
2. Then, on the basis of our glorious position, Paul challenges his readers to LIVE like it!
3. The law said, “Walk worthy, and you will be blessed.”  Grace says, “You have already been blessed. Therefore, walk worthy!”

 

2. A knowledge of, and a belief IN our position should have an effect on the CONDITION of our daily lives.
1. SINCE you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above!
2. SINCE you died with Christ, mortify the sins of the flesh!
3. Since we are the sons of God… citizens of heaven… certain types of behavior are inappropriate!
4. The first thing Paul tells us to do in this context is to put to death the sexual sins listed here.

Þ    Eph.5:3 – But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.

Þ    Cf. Eph.4:19 - Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

5. He is speaking to the SAINTS in Colossae… such sins are unbecoming a saint of God!
6. Committing these sins of the flesh (which relates to the corruption of the original creation under the first Adam’s curse) is completely inconsistent with our position as heavenly sons of God… who are part of the new creation in Christ, the Second Adam.

 

 

A.    The Possibility of Sins

 

1. What an incredible contrast! Paul has described the believer’s position:
1. On the one hand, the believer’s glorious, heavenly position is extolled:

Þ    Redeemed and forgiven! (1:14)

Þ    Indwelt by Christ (Col.1:27)

Þ    Complete in Him! (2:10)

Þ    All our enemies defeated! (Col. 2:14-15)

Þ    Risen with Christ (3:1)

Þ    A new life hidden with Christ in God (3:4)

2. And yet, on the other hand, to THOSE privileged, blessed, saints, Paul has to warn about committing sexual sins!

Þ    At first glance, from a heavenly position, it might seem unnecessary to warn those indwelt by Christ not to commit fornication… but it IS necessary, because it happens!

Þ    This is a real life issue every one of us has to deal with… every day…

Þ    Vs. 8 – he also has to warn about anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication!

Þ    Our privileged position does not exempt us from the battle. It ought to ENGAGE us in the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.

Þ    Being heavenly minded does not mean that we have our head in the clouds and are uninterested on the things of the earth.

Þ    Rather, being heavenly minded should give us a solid, concrete foundational motivation and source of resurrection LIFE for OBEDIENCE down here on earth!

3. From an intellectual, rational, cerebral-only perspective, these commands concerning sexual sins might seem quite unnecessary, but ONLY IF:

Þ    Puffed up in pride and self righteousness.

Þ    We grossly underestimate the vile, hideous nature of our own fallen flesh!

4. Take heed to the lessons Paul learned concerning the frailty of his flesh in Rom. 7:15,18,24!

Þ    Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall!

Þ    The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Þ    Thank God we don’t have to rely on the strength of our flesh. We can rely upon the power of God working IN and THROUGH us to give victory over the flesh.

Þ    The fruit of the Spirit is temperance… self control.

 

B.    The List of Sins to Mortify

 

1. Fornication
1. Defined: illicit sexual intercourse; illicit sexual acts of a general kind that includes many different types of immoral and unnatural behaviors. It is a broad and general term.
2. I Cor. 5:1 – “such” fornication indicates that fornication is a term broad enough to include a wide range of illicit sexual sins: adultery; incest; homosexuality; bestiality; pedophiles; etc… and any other abominable practice.

 

2. Uncleanness
1. akatharsia, a + word catharsis or “cleansing.
2. Defined: 1a physical. 1b in a moral sense: the filth & impurity of lustful living… associated with a loose lifestyle.
3. Impurity would include impure thoughts AND deeds.
4. II Cor. 12:21 –used in a context of sexual uncleanness or impurity.
5. I Thess.4:7 – it is the opposite of holiness… purity.
6. Rom. 1:24 – uncleanness is what God gave the gentiles up to through the lusts of their own hearts. It leads to dishonoring the body.
7. Matt.23:27 - it is the term Jesus used of the inside of a coffin… dead man’s bones and all uncleanness! Rotten, corrupted flesh! That graphic illustration is a picture of what moral uncleanness is like.
8. The term uncleanness is used of moral impurity which excludes man from fellowship with God (opposite aγιος)

                                                             i.      In the OT the concept of unclean referred to ceremonial uncleanness that excluded Jews from fellowship. It was a picture of the unclean nature of sin… which excludes us from fellowship with God.

                                                          ii.      However, Paul does not use it in the sense of ceremonial uncleanness, but of moral uncleanness.

                                                        iii.      Moral uncleanness is not ceremonial uncleanness but is GENUINE uncleanness. Ceremonial was the shadow. This is the substance of uncleanness! It excludes man from fellowship with God.

 

3. Inordinate affection.
1. sexual perversion, erotic passion; sexual passion; lust;
2. Rom. 1:26 - for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.
3. I Thess. 4:4-5 - know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.

 

4. Evil concupiscence.
1. Strongs:Deep desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust;
2. Greek Eng. Lexicon of the NT: to greatly desire to do or have something
3. The term “evil” before it indicates that it is an unrighteous desire.
4. The context indicates that it is an illicit sexual desire.
5. Used in II Tim. 2:22 – flee youthful lusts.
6. Inordinate affection and evil concupiscence are virtually the same.

                                                             i.      They both speak of lust.

                                                          ii.      Some have distinguished them this way:

1.    Inordinate affection are lusts which arise from the body

2.    Evil concupiscence are lusts which arise from the mind.

 

5. Covetousness
1. Strongs: greedy desire to have more, covetousness,
2. The term itself does not mention anything about the object desired.
3. It can be a strong desire for ANYTHING: sex or material goods.
4. It occurs 10 times in the NT and its usage is evenly divided between the two meanings: material goods or sexual pleasure.
5. The context in Col.3:5 seems to indicate that the greedy, insatiable desire is for sex.
6. Ex. 20:17 – “thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”
7. The term is used several times in that sense.

                                                             i.      Eph. 4:19 - Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (given to lust to work uncleanness WITH covetousness!

                                                          ii.      Rom. 1:29 - fornication, wickedness, covetousness, (same setting here too!)

8. Our minds and bodies are both influenced by strong desires for sexual pleasure… and more and more. Face it – this is how it is.

                                                             i.      It is a sin that comes at us from two different directions: body and mind… inner man and outer man.

                                                          ii.      It is a very real and unrelenting battle each day… to be admitted… and thus to deal with appropriately.

                                                        iii.      It is an insatiable desire. Giving in to greed does not satisfy greed. It FEEDS it… and you want more and more!

                                                        iv.      Giving in to and committing sexual sin does not satisfy the desire. It FEEDS the desire for MORE!

                                                           v.      The desire for more is insatiable, and marriage is God’s only method of satisfying the desire.

 

9. Covetousness is idolatry.

                                                             i.      The particular KIND of covetousness here is sexual sin.

                                                          ii.      Sexual sin was associated with idolatry in the OT – when the Israelites committed fornication with the women of Moab and bowed down to their idols.

                                                        iii.      Covetousness is idolatry in the heart because it in essence worships things that can be seen or felt… down here on earth, as opposed to worshipping God who is invisible… and in heaven.

                                                        iv.      Coveting ANYTHING could be idolatry!

                                                           v.      Eph. 5:3-5 – Paul seems to equate fornication and uncleanness with covetousness… greediness. And then he connects this kind of covetousness to idolatry… as he does in Col. 3:5

                                                        vi.      Sex can be an idol. It can be virtually worshipped as god, instead of the Father. It can be given preeminence over Christ. It can be filled with lust instead of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

1. These sins are to be put to death.

a.    Mortify your members which are upon the earth… (vs.5a)

                                                             i.            Mortify means to put to death. Serious language.

b.    There is no justification for such lust.

                                                             i.            Don’t assume that because you did not commit the ACT of fornication, that a little lust is therefore OK… as long as you don’t hurt anybody.

                                                          ii.            It is not OK. It is sin!

                                                        iii.            Jesus equates lust with the act itself… it is the same sin! (Matt. 5:28)

c.     There is to be no coddling or pampering of lustful thoughts and feelings.

d.    We are not told to keep lust under control. We are commanded to put it to death.

                                                        iv.            Putting to death is a much more serious method of dealing with lust than controlling it.

                                                           v.            Controlling implies that it is tolerated up to a certain level; it just needs to be kept under control.

e.    Death means zero tolerance for such sins.

f.      We are to put to death the ACTION of fornication.

 

2. Get to the root of the problem.

a.    Matt. 5:27-29 – Jesus taught that we are to get to the root of the problem… hyperbole. Bodily mutilation was NOT His intent.

b.    The root of the problem of lust is not the eyeball. It is the heart… the mind. Blind men can still lust in their hearts!

Þ    Matt. 15:19 – evil thoughts… adultery… fornication come from the heart.

Þ    Gal. 5:19 – fornication and lust are the works of the flesh… the fleshly nature… our old sin nature.

Þ    Thus, to deal with the sins of the flesh, we have to go to the ROOT of the problem: our hearts and minds.

c.     II Cor. 10:3-5 – Here Paul is speaking about the philosophies and teachings that can enslave a believer’s mind.

1.    Paul sees EVERY attack of the adversary as a spiritual attack…

2.    It might APPEAR to be a battle with the flesh, but in reality, it is a spiritual battle.

3.    Since it IS a spiritual battle, warring after the flesh would be futile.

4.    The world has come up with all kinds of earthly, carnal methods of dealing with sexual sins: from lobotomies, to drugs & medication, to psychological therapies, to castration!

5.    That is not God’s plan. God’s weapons are not earthly or carnal, but mighty and spiritual.

6.    In fighting against the false teachers, Paul told his readers NOT to attack the people personally, but to fight the battle in your own MIND and HEART!

7.    Cast down imaginations… deal with your own mind… don’t allow those foreign thoughts to fill you mind. Cast them out! Put them to death!

8.    And then fill you mind with truth.

9.    The same is true in dealing with the sins of the flesh. They too begin in the mind and heart.

10.                 To properly deal with these issues, get to the ROOT of the problem: cast out those imaginations which LEAD to lust… which leads to immoral DEEDS.

d.    We are to put to death the state of mind and attitudes that LEAD to the act.

                                                             i.            The way to deal with the act of sexual sin is to first deal with the mind and heart before it boils over into action.

                                                          ii.            And the easiest way to deal with those thoughts and feelings is to nip it at the bud!

                                                        iii.            Prov. 17:14 – Solomon gives us an illustration of how to deal with feelings that easily get out of control.

1.    He is speaking about anger and strife…

2.    However, lust works the same way.

3.    They are both works of the flesh… that begin small and if left unchecked can become overwhelming and overpowering… quickly rage out of control, and leave us virtually helpless!

4.    Solomon illustrates how if there is a crack in the dam, it is easily plugged up if dealt with immediately.

5.    If the crack is ignored and water is allowed to trickle out… soon it will be flowing out… then it will break open the dam and it will never be stopped! There is a point of no return.

6.    That’s Solomon’s point. Nip such feelings, emotions, and desires at the bud BEFORE they get out of control… when they are ABLE to be dealt with.

7.    Deal with the ROOT of the problem immediately!

8.    Cast out those imaginations… which stir up lust… which leads to fornication.

9.    Don’t allow those thoughts and feelings to fester and take root. It’s easy to pull out a tiny sapling. It’s virtually impossible to pull out a full grown oak tree.

 

e.    Solomon gives another helpful illustration in dealing with the sin of lust.

                                                             i.            Prov. 6:25-29 – Pampering lustful thoughts and thinking we can handle it is like putting burning embers of coals in our clothing and thinking it won’t burn us! It WILL!

                                                          ii.            The man that takes fire in his bosom and discovers that his clothes are burning would be a fool to hold on to the coals and at the same time, try to extinguish the fire!

                                                        iii.            First get to the ROOT of the source! Get rid of the coals… then you can put out the burning clothes.

                                                        iv.            Rather than constantly dealing with the outward sin of adultery or fornication, deal with the issue of your heart!

                                                           v.            If your sink was left on and running over onto the floor, FIRST you turn off the water… then clean up the floor.

                                                        vi.            Deal with the ROOT of the lust… rather than its FRUIT… the external sins.

                                                      vii.            Prov. 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

 

3. There are some practical things we can DO to avoid sexual sins. We have MIGHTY SPIRITUAL WEAPONS which are able to tear down the strongholds established by the flesh.

a.    Walk in the Spirit – Spirit Filling.

Þ    We have the indwelling Holy Spirit… who enables us to plug up that dam…

Þ    Gal. 5:19 – sexual sins are the works/fruit of the flesh.

Þ    Gal. 5:23 – self control is the work/fruit of the Spirit

Þ    Gal. 5:17 – the flesh and Spirit are in a continual battle for control of us… of our minds, hearts, and bodies. There is constant opposition. Get used to it. That is the Christian life: a battle…

Þ    Gal. 5:16 – but if we WALK in the Spirit, the flesh is powerless!

Þ    Our weapons… our source of power is SUPERIOR!

Þ    Victory is ours any time we CHOOSE it… and walk by faith.

Þ    We can never say, “The devil made me do it.” Or “I couldn’t help myself!” Yes we can!

Þ    Walk in the Spirit and you will NOT fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That is a promise to be believed and PRACTICED.

Þ    God always keeps His promises.

Þ    Failure is never because of a lack of power… it is never the fault of the Spirit, but of our flesh. We CHOOSE to walk in the flesh…

Þ    If we in faith, trusting God, CHOOSE to mortify the deeds of the flesh, God’s power will be more than sufficient!

Þ    But this only begs the question: HOW do we CHOOSE to mortify the deeds of the flesh?

Þ    Rom. 7:18 - for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  We can all relate to Paul’s dilemma!

Þ    Nevertheless, we are COMMANDED to put those deeds to death… to MORTIFY fornication, uncleanness, etc.

Þ    It boils down to a  matter of a yielded heart… surrendered to God… our bodies presented as a living sacrifice… yoked together with Christ… not my will but thine be done!

 

b.    Col. 3:6 – develop a fear of God:  the wrath of God is executed against the children of disobedience.

Þ    Fear is a legitimate emotion. It is God given.

Þ    God’s wrath CONTINUALLY comes (is coming…) on the children of disobedience. (unbelievers)

Þ    This is a revelation of who God is… and His infinite hatred for sin… and in particular these sexual sins.

Þ    Perhaps Paul still had the Second Coming of Christ in mind from vs.4. At His appearing, judgment will fall upon the children of disobedience… those who obey not the gospel of God. (II Thess. 1:9)

Þ    Since God’s wrath is upon those sins, put them to death!

Þ    The believer should want nothing to do with that which brings down God’s wrath.

Þ    Why would we the children of God want to behave like the children of wrath?

Þ    The wrath of God is meant to evoke a FEAR of God.

Þ    Prov. 16:6  - by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Þ    Godly fear will cause us to depart from evil!

Þ    Hence, the better we get to know who God is… and what He is like… as we learn of His wrath toward sin, His infinite hatred of it, it will cause us to depart from it!

Þ    HOW do we cast down imaginations of sexual sins? By filling your mind with the Word of God… for the Word of God TEACHES us about God’s hatred of sin. (Adam’s sin; Cursed earth; Flood; Sodom; Egypt; etc…)

Þ    Fill your mind with PURE thoughts about God… His character… His holiness… His wrath…

Þ    It’s sort of like teaching a toddler that the stove is hot.

 

c.     Develop a fear of the consequences of sin.

                                                             i.      Adultery is like taking burning clothes in your bosom. You WILL get burned eventually!

                                                          ii.      Fear is a legitimate emotion.

Þ    Fear displeasing God.

Þ    Fear bringing a life into the world illegitimately.

Þ    Fear aids and other sexually transmitted diseases.

                                                        iii.      Solomon warns us of the consequences of sexual sins:

1.    Prov. 5:8-12 – lost honor; lost wealth; irreversible regret; body consumed;

2.    Prov. 6:32-34 – he destroys his own soul… dealing with the regret and broken pieces of one’s life… broken families… wound & dishonor that will not be wiped away… rage of third party!

3.    Prov. 7:22-23 – to the slaughter… stocks… a dart through his liver…

4.    The consequences of sexual sins should cause us to FEAR getting involved in it.

5.    This fear is legitimate before God.

 

d.    Think rationally and thoughtfully about what sexual sin really is for the Christian.

                                                             i.            I Cor. 6:18 – The horror of what sexual sin means for the believer.

                                                          ii.            As Christians, WE are members of the spiritual Body of Christ… the church. WE (bodies, souls & spirits) are members of the Body of Christ.

                                                        iii.            The church is an incarnation of Christ in this age… in this sense: the life of Christ is manifested through our physical bodies to an onlooking world.

                                                        iv.            I Tim. 3:15-16 – in describing what the church is, Paul states that it is the manifestation of God through Human flesh.

                                                           v.            God LIVES in our bodies… Christ in you… the indwelling HS.

                                                        vi.            God’s plan in this age is to manifest the LIFE of CHRIST through our mortal bodies. It is HIS life operating in our bodies of flesh as Christ lived on earth in a body of flesh.

                                                      vii.            This is an AWESOME privilege!

                                                   viii.            Sexual sin UNITES the two people involved. It is not a marriage union, but it is a union.

                                                        ix.            Sexual union unites the whole person… not just the body. It joins a male and female PERSON to each other… a union of body, soul, heart, mind… it is in a real sense a UNION of BOTH parties involved.

                                                           x.            Therefore, for a believer to join his body to a harlot for a few moments of sexual pleasure… ought to be UNTHINKABLE!

                                                        xi.            It is a union that involves MORE than his body. It involves his whole PERSON to that harlot… and since he is a member of Christ, it joins CHRIST to that harlot!

                                                      xii.            Paul says that that believer is joining a member of Christ’s Body to a harlot!

                                                   xiii.            Sexual sin in some sense involves bringing the Lord into an illicit union.

                                                    xiv.            How much MORE hideous and unthinkable is such a sin!

                                                      xv.            It is like joining Christ Himself to an harlot.

                                                    xvi.            It does not taint His character or His person, but it does taint His reputation and testimony!

                                                 xvii.            It profanes and disgraces HIM! It is the ultimate act of irreverence and disrespect; an utter disregard for the Person of Christ.

                                               xviii.            This sin is FAR WORSE for a believer than for an unbeliever.

                                                    xix.            The thought ought to be so REPULSIVE to a believer that it would never occur. It ought to send shivers of HORROR down our spines…

                                                      xx.            Those thoughts of holy horror will be more effective in removing lustful thoughts than a cold shower!

                                                    xxi.            THINKING about what sexual sin is in God’s sight is an effective means of turning away from it.

                                                 xxii.            Vs. 18 b –  It is sinning against one’s own body.

1.    Most sins involve that which is without (outside the body).  (stealing, idolatry, murder, etc.)

2.    But sexual sin arises from within the body… and comes right out of the body.

3.    It is a degradation or a corruption of the body… using for something it was never intended to be used for.

4.    I Cor. 6:13 – the body is NOT for fornication (illicit sex), but was created FOR the Lord… for His honor and glory.

5.    It is sinning against one’s own body… a corruption of the body’s God-given purpose.

6.    I Cor. 6:19-20 - The body is a holy Temple. Joining it to a harlot is like the sin of profaning the Temple of God!

7.    It is like turning the holy Temple of God into a whore house. (those terms were chosen carefully and prayerfully to capture what Paul is saying here – even though even the sound is offensive.)

                                               xxiii.            THINK about what you are about to do… and you just might change your mind!

                                               xxiv.            Vs. 18a - When a believer THINKS about what this kind of sin means, he should FLEE fornication!

 

e.    Rom. 13:14 - make no provision for the flesh.

                                                             i.            This principle implies that the believer is AWARE of how easily his sinful flesh can be stirred up.

                                                          ii.            The alcoholic who wants to make no provision for his flesh will go the extra mile to avoid temptation. He will walk an extra five blocks to avoid having to smell the barrooms.

                                                        iii.            The glutton will not hang around the bakery… but will avoid situations that will stir up his appetite.

                                                        iv.            The believer will do whatever it takes to avoid the temptation of sexual sins too… he will avoid that which stirs up his sexual appetite.

1.    Computers are part of daily life in the 21^st century. I use it to study the Bible and prepare sermons. It is a great tool.

2.    But the danger is that it puts every one of us just a mouse click away from the most defiling forms of pornography…

3.    If you are having a problem with pornography on the computer: make no provision for the flesh! Put in a filter… or get rid of the computer if you have to!

4.    If you watch TV – use the clicker… mute the ungodly music and turn off the wicked pictures.

5.    If it is an old illicit relationship that continually stirs up your flesh AVOID that person. Burn the bridges.

6.    And ladies, be sensitive to the fact that your bodies stir up the flesh in men. Be careful about what you wear… and the way you carry yourself!

7.    Avoid PLACES that stir up the flesh… avoid MUSIC that stirs up the flesh… avoid ANYTHING that stirs up the flesh!

8.    You know yourself. You know your limits. You know what stirs up your flesh. Make no provision for it! 

9.    Story: little boy bringing his fishing pole to SS.

10.                       We too make provision for the flesh. God’s Word says, MORITIFY it… put it to death… don’t hide it under the seat… or bury it under a tree… or put it on the back burner. Put it to death! And make no provision for the flesh.

 

f.      And if you find yourself in a situation that you know puts you in a compromising situation… facing temptation, God has another tool to use: RUN!

                                                             i.            Flee fornication! (I Cor. 6:18)

                                                          ii.            Flee youthful lusts! (II Tim.2:21)

                                                        iii.            Consider the example of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. He ran because he was afraid of what might happen!

                                                        iv.            He knew how easily his flesh could get stirred up. He didn’t have time to think… no time to plan something clever to say… he just ran!

                                                           v.            The water was starting to leak out of the dam – so he dealt with it BEFORE it had time to get out of control.

 

g.    Another powerful weapon against fornication given to the believer is MARRIAGE!  (I Cor. 7:2)

                                                        vi.            To avoid fornication, get married!

                                                      vii.            It is better to marry than to burn in lust! (vs.9)

                                                   viii.            This is the God given outlet for a very normal and natural desire.

                                                        ix.            In the bonds of marriage, the sexual relationship is honorable and pure… (Heb. 13:4)

                                                           x.            Outside of marriage, it is dishonorable, impure, and worthy of divine judgment!

                                                        xi.            Marriage is God’s means to AVOID fornication… illicit sexual contact.

                                                      xii.            Marriage legitimizes the sexual union.

 

IF YOU ARE NOT BORN AGAIN…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The sinful lifestyle of our old man must be put to death so that the indwelling life and character of Christ can shine through.

1. Christ in us is like a light in a pot. The pot must be clean for the light to shine through.
2. Either the fruit of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested in our life at any one given time.

 

 

A.   It Was Part of Your Former Lifestyle

 

1. The Colossian believers USED to walk this way before they were saved. It is the way of the world.
2. They WALKED in those ways… 
3. They LIVED in them…
1. The fact that we lived in it in the past and experienced its bitterness… is a good reason WHY we ought to depart from it today!
2. Cf I Pet.4:3 – the time past of our lives…

 

B.   It is Not Consistent With their New Position in Christ

 

1. One expects uncleanness to surround a dead man (in a tomb).
2. But uncleanness has no place in the child of God… in a new creation…
3. We are new creatures now… old things are passed away.
4. The lifestyle of the old man is totally unbecoming and unfitting for a new creature in Christ.
5. We have been raised up with Christ and seated with Him in heaven. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
1. Why would we ever want to return to the former slum of our old life and live like those in the gutter?
2. That condition is not fitting for one in our position in Christ!