At the end of last week’s bulletin, we established that we find our identities in Christ and that we were created to be in fellowship with God. We also talked about how our lives should look like Christ’s, but how exactly do we do that?
Put Off:
If our lives are to look like Christ’s we need to remember that Jesus calls us out of the earth and the works of it. In Colossians 3:5-9 it says,
“5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire. And covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”
We are reminded in vs 6 that there are consequences to doing the works of the world, and that the things of this world are what bring about condemnation. This is not something to be taken lightly either. There is no distinction made on the type of sin. Vs 8 talks about filthy language and vs 9 says that lying is to be put off. These two things are very normalized in today’s culture, so it is very important to remember that we are called to completely put off the works that we once walked in.
Put On:
As we are called out of the works of the world, we are also called to put on the “new man.” We take on a new life in Christ, a new identity, one that is not influenced by any previous labels of identity. Col 3:10-11 reads,
“10 [A]nd have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor jew, circumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”
We are renewed day by day through Christ, and with this new identity Christ overcomes all. What does this new man look like though? How does he act and live?
The Character of the New Man:
Colossians 3:12-17 speaks about what the new man looks like, and the characteristics he puts on after putting off the character of the world. The new man is one who puts on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forgiveness, love, the peace of God, and the Word. These qualities are essential to being like Christ, and this is clearly stated in vs 12, where it says,
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on…”
We are called, we are the elect of God, and we are holy (meaning set apart) and loved. God’s motivation behind giving us the new man, this new identity, is love, remember John 3:16, “God so loved the world…” He hopes for us to walk in this new way because He loves us and wants the best things for us, not so that we can have an easy life, but so that we would be like His Son.
Paul emphasizes the need for love in this new man, because through love we are able to have our relationship with God. He also writes how the peace of God should rule in our hearts, and that we are called to join that peace. We are also called to let the word of Christ dwell in us, so that we may grow, learn, encourage one another, and praise God in doing so.
The final exhortation Paul gives in vs 17 serves as a very good summary of how the new man should act.
“17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Now we know how we ought to act in the new man, what things we should put off and what we should put on. Next week we will explore the question of why we do these things.