The New Life

Introduction

Recap:

Paul prayed and thanked God for the faith of the Colossians and asked for spiritual maturity.

Jesus was not just some guy in a robe two thousand years ago, but instead, He is the foreman of all of creation and died so that you could be called son or daughter of God.

Ministry is hard work, and we use the word of God in ministry to know Jesus more and grow in spiritual maturity.

We don’t need any thing to obtain heaven and a life of purpose but Jesus.

Why is becoming a Christian, a Christ follower, such a big deal?

Jesus gives us NEW LIFE! We are not the same anymore, but instead we are totally transformed, so we have to live like transformed people because of our love and gratitude for our Savior.

Text

Colossians 3:1–17 CSB

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the 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 hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Body

Old VS New

Old Morality vs. New Morality

Old

Sexual immorality

impurity

lust

evil desire

greed

idolatry

anger

wrath

malice

slander

filthy language

lying

New

compassion

kindness

humility

gentleness

patience

bearing with one another

forgiving

loving

peaceful

thankful

In Jesus we are given a new morality of LIFE rather than death.

Old Identity vs. New Identity

Old

nationality

religious background

what you look like

what you used to do

social status

New

You are only defined by Christ, in his death and resurrection.

In Jesus, your identity is that you have died to yourself, let your old self go, and embraced your new life in Jesus.

Old Purpose vs. New Purpose

Old

Life of self-centeredness

Life without a purpose bigger than yourself and your happiness

New

Life of selflessness

Life with a huge, cosmic, eternal purpose way bigger than anything you can imagine!

In Jesus, you are given a purpose of living with thanksgiving to God and giving life to others through Jesus.

Conclusion

Three Questions:

Do you want new life in Christ today? Raise your hand today if you would like to accept Christ for the first time today.

What in your life does not line up with the morality of the new life in Jesus? Raise your hand if want to commit today to live your life differently, repent of sin, and walk in your new life.

Is your life about God or about you? Raise your hand if you want to commit today to live your life for your Creator, Savior, Teacher, and Friend, the God of the Universe.

Response

For those of you who are followers of Jesus,

Have you embraced your new morality? How is it better than the old morality?

Do you live according to your new identity? How do you or others identify yourself that goes against your identity in Christ?

Do you live for the glory of God? How do you live for the glory of God? How do you not live for the glory of God?

Is your life defined by gratitude to the Giver of new life? Why or why not?

For those of you who are followers of Jesus, how different is your life from when you began your relationship with Jesus?