Off with the Old, On with the New

Introduction

New Year’s Resolutions

2020 is finally over

A new year has begun

At this time of year, many people make New Year’s Resolutions

Lose weight

Exercise

Be more kind

Pray more

Spend more time in the Word

These are resolutions, not revelations

They are not new ideas

They are things they know they should do

And they challenge themselves to refocus on what they need to focus on

Paul’s Challenge

In Colossians 3, Paul gives a challenge to the Colossian church

This letter is one where Paul is not calling them away from sin, as some of this other letters have done

But he warns them of some practices that were threatening the integrity of the Gospel practice

Heresies in the areas were creeping into the church

And Paul gives them a challenge that we should also heed

It is not a revelation, but more of a resolution that we should make every day

Colossians 3:1–17 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have 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. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rationale: Because we belong to Christ (v. 1-4)

Have a proper focus (v. 1-2)

Focus on things above, not earthly things

Consider the future (v. 4)

We will appear with Christ when He appears

We don’t know when that will be

But we want to be dressed right

Put Off the Old (v. 5-9)

INTRODUCE PRACTICE: Verses 5-9 list several earthly practices we need to be wary of. When Scripture gives lists, sometimes slowing down and breaking them apart helps us connect the pieces. We will do that today. I have these verses printed on your handout. Take a minute and make a square around each of the things listed that are old self practices. For those at home, you can certainly do this in your Bible or print off the page or even highlight it in a word document.

Severity: Promised wrath of God (v. 6)

God is love, we all know that

But God is also a wrathful God

He hates sin and has promised that His wrath is coming

In fact, when we celebrate salvation, we are celebrating a salvation from the wrath of God that is coming because of our sin

So this is a serious issue

Reality: We are familiar with these practices (v. 7)

We don’t need a model to look to when it comes to practicing these things, for we know how to wear the old self - it is second nature

We used to walk in these ways when we wore the old self

Some of these we still struggle with

We have given the devil a foothold in our lives due to letting elements of the old self stay

Which is why Paul had to remind the Colossian believers that they needed to “put to death” these earthly things

Put to Death - LOOK THIS UP FOR MORE INFO

We are familiar with several of the things on this list, so I won’t spend much time on them

But as we go through these, pray that God will convict you on the areas you are still wearing that need put to death

List of old self practices

Sexual immorality

Impurity

Passion

Evil desire

Covetousness (which is idolatry)

Anger

Wrath

Malice

Slander

Obscene talk

Lies

Put On the New (v. 10-17)

Practice: Same as before, Paul gives us a list of things that are elements of the new self. Circle the new self practices we see listed in verses 12-16

This is a process (v. 10)

We are “being renewed”

We can find encouragement in this

But it should not be an excuse

We need to continue to put on more of the new self

Unlike the old self, these new self elements are not second nature

We need a model and we have one: Christ

Focus on Christ

To put on the new self, we must have a Christ focus

In verse 11, Paul makes clear there are trivial things we easily find ourselves distracted with that are not to be the focus

Race, ceremonial religious practices, economic standing

None of that matters, for Christ is the focus

And in verse 17, he sums up this entire section by telling us what our drive needs to be

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

It is possible to do these things listed with an improper motive

Then we are doing it externally, but our heart is not living it out

Our motive must be genuine, for God sees the heart

So as we go through this list of things we need to “put on”, think about how you are doing with these. Which are weak in you? Which are you doing with an improper motive?

List of new self practices:

Compassionate hearts

Kindness

Humility

Meekness

Patience

Bearing with one another

Forgiving as the Lord forgives

Love

Peace

Thankful

Focused on the Word of Christ

Teaching and admonishing with it

Singing praises

Conclusion

Homework: There is another passage very similar to this that Paul wrote to the Ephesians telling them to take off the old and put on the new. There are similarities and differences. This week, spend some time going through Ephesians 4:17-31 and mark the things of the old and the things of the new, praying for God to convict you in what needs put to death and what needs put on