Put off the Old, Put on the New!

Colossians 3:1–17 NKJV

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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. 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.

“Clothes Make the Man”

This is an old saying that signifies the impact that a person's clothing has on their self-image and how they are perceived by others.

The same is true of how we are “dressed” spiritually.

How are dressed? How do other people see us?

In Adam, we are a MESS!

Christians often excuse bad behavior by saying, “That’s just the way I am”—yes, in Adam, in the flesh!

In Christ, Things are Different Now

A New Status (Seated with Christ)

A New Life (Christ is our life)

A New Focus (Things above)

A New Outcome (Glory)

THEREFORE

Put to Death Your Members

Bring your body under the control of God. Stop involving your body in sinful activities. These bring the wrath of God on the “sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2)

Fornication: Sexual immorality

Uncleanness: Dirty, impure, and defiling activities

Passion: A depraved or perverted affection or desire

Evil Desire: Sinful craving for what is forbidden

Covetousness: Idolatry, Desire to have and possess what God has given to another or for what is outside the will of God.

Put off the Old Man (likeness of Adam)

Anger: Any violent emotion intended to damage or punish.

Wrath: Destructive outbursts and over reactions of anger.

Malice: Behavior that is malicious in its intent to hurt or damage.

Blasphemy: Slander, spreading lies,

Filthy language: Impure speech (Ep 5:4)

Lying to one another: Dishonest, deceitful, lack of transparency.

Put on the New Man (likeness of Christ)

The New Man is renewed in knowledge (according to the image of Him who created him) (no more racial, social, former reputation, or economic divisions among those who are in Christ. Christ is all and in all) (Elect of God, Holy, Beloved)

Tender mercies: Heartfelt compassion

Kindness: Gentle and moral goodness.

Humility: (1 Peter 5:5)

Humility is a right opinion of oneself in the light of God and others.

Humility means not thinking more highly of oneself than they ought.

Meekness: Mild and controlled in response. Not sharp, cutting, accusatory, belittling, or demeaning.

Longsuffering: Patient in adversity and slow to avenge wrongs.

Bearing with one another: (from note on 1 Corinthians 13:7): Love is not gullible, but it never succumbs to a spirit of negativity that blocks the positive potential of God. Love never condemns or makes final assessments of people. Love never allows itself to become blind to the good in even the worst of people. Love is always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. Love chooses to believe the best about people as God is at work in them.

Forgiving one another: (Mk 11:25) Even as Christ forgave you.

Love: The bond of perfection.

Maintain Victory

Let the peace of God rule in your heart. When peace is gone, find out why. Something is out of order. Let peace be in your heart toward others, because we are called in one body. Be thankful instead of being critical and fault-finding.

Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly.

In all wisdom

In all teaching

In admonishing one another in

Psalms

Hymns

Spiritual songs

Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord

Let everything be done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks (glory) to God the Father through Him (Christ)

Response to the Word