TRANSFORMED BY NEW LIFE
Colossians 3: 5-14
January 10, 2021
NEW LIFE:
IS PRECEDED BY DEATH.
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.” (vv. 1-4)
It is the paradox of dying to live.
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die.” D. Bonhoeffer
ENERGIZES US TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION AGAINST THE BAD STUFF.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity – sexual appetites gratified, not controlled.
lust – a slave of one’s passions.
evil desires – desire for the wrong things.
greed – the desire to have more (and more). (v.5)
Do not feed, give air to, provide opportunities to grow, but deal a death blow to these activities rooted in the earthly (old) nature. (“You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived.” v.7)
“But now you must rid yourselves of such things as these:
anger – long-lasting, slow-burning.
rage – sudden outbursts that quickly die.
malice – viciousness of the mind.
slander – viciousness of the mouth.
filthy language – obscene talk. (v.8)
CHANGES THE WAY WE ARE INSIDE.
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (vv. 9-10)
“We were formed in God’s image and deformed from God’s image by sin. But through Jesus Christ, we can be transformed into God’s image!” (Warren Wiersbe)
Our lies must be replaced by God’s truth. “being renewed in knowledge”
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self with its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 22-24)
CHANGES THE WAY WE LOOK AT OTHERS.
“Here there is no:
Greek or Jew – (nationalistic, ethnic differences)
circumcised or uncircumcised – (religious differences)
barbarian, Scythian – (cultural differences)
slave or free – (social and economic differences)
male nor female – (gender differences) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3: 28)
but Christ is all, and is in all.” (v. 11)
We see all people according to their relationship with Jesus, not by appearance.
CHANGES THE WAY WE TREAT OTHERS.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with:
compassion – a constant attitude of heart to help others that makes us easy to live with.
kindness – graciousness towards those around us.
humility – not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.
gentleness – (meekness) power under control.
patience – putting up with provoking people and circumstances.
Bear with each other – holding back from impulsively giving people what we feel their actions deserve.
Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (vv. 12-13)
HAS A DISTINCTIVE OUTER GARMENT.
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (v. 14)
