A New Self for a New World

Good morning Ambassadors! I’m grateful to be able to share with you this morning some reflections from Colossians 3. We are in our first Sunday in the 12 week period of Pastor JP and Sandy’s sabbatical. I welcome your prayers and your help in this time as we move forward as a church in a time of transition. We are now 14 months into the Coronavirus problem and it looks as if their is still a good bit of transition time ahead for us before we return to whatever “normal” is.

For many of us, this time has done much to reveal what was lying under the surface for many before the pandemic. Many have retreated within themselves, begun to serve themselves, or begun to mistrust their neighbor. Others have grown in relationships during this time or recognized a longing for better, deeper friendships that weren’t there all along. Some have allowed fear to dominate their every move, while others have acted in what can only be described as reckless.

No matter where we fall in regards to how we have responded or how our hearts have been revealed in this time, the greatest blessing is that we are now faced with opportunity. We have the opportunity to begin with a new focus, a new set of principles, and a chance to put on the new self.

Let’s read our first section of Scripture this morning, which you will be able to find on the digital bulletin.

Colossians 3:1–4 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.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Colosse, describes here the new opportunities presented to the people of the church there (who, by all accounts, are relatively new converts). The theologian and author N.T. Wright explains how Paul’s writing here is drawing out the implications of what it means to die with Christ, and then in chapter 3, to live risen with Christ. We see this right from the off in verse 1, and he qualifies it again in verse 3.

This brings us to the what of our message- the what is this:

Eternal life in Christ has already begun!

When we have put to death our old self and are raised to new life in Christ, our new life is not on hold. We are a new creation and we are a soul that has been redeemed unto God. In verse 1, Paul’s command to “seek the things that are above” is a call to be focused on where our true identiy lies! We are no longer mere earthly, carnal beings. We are now fully entrenched in who God has called us to be and redeemed us to become.

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

How has the last year dominated your thoughts? Has this time presented you with more opportunities to think on what is above, or focus on things that are on earth? As Christians, we must take heart to truly live this way. Do we really allow our lives to rise and fall based on who is affecting our earthly circumstances? Or are we seeking to do justice, love others, worship God in spirit and in truth, and point all to Jesus as the eternal solution to all temporal problems?

If our eternal life has begun, we must begin to live like it, pray like it, and live victoriously. We have been given an incredible inheritance that is ours not just for our life after this life, but one that is ready to be received and shared in this life today. All the language that Paul speaks is in the present - he is making the call to see ourselves as God sees us, a part of the resurrection now, and to be further revealed later.

There is a term made popular by one of my favorite theologians, George Eldon Ladd, where he states the kingdom of God being in place “already but not yet.” We like to use that phrase here as well. In this context, already but not yet is what it means to have died with Christ and to be risen with Christ. We have not yet been perfected in glorification, but we have been justified by faith in Christ. We are already in eternal life, but not yet fully realized!

This leads us to the so what of our time this morning. The so what or why does it matter is this:

Our activity flows from our identity, not the other way around

Paul follows up the identity portion of the first 4 verses with activity. He begins to lay out for us here how we are to then live. But the qualification for these instructions has already been laid out. We find that in a keyword in verse 5 - THEREFORE. Therefore is a word that says, because of this, now this. Because you have been raised with Christ (Verse 1) put to death therefore what is earthly in you.

Let’s read this next section as a whole

Colossians 3:5–10 ESV

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.

These instructions here describe an important activity to our holiness, our Christ-likeness. Now that Paul has worked out for us what our identity is, he says, “Ok, now that you know who you are, let’s live like it.” The activity of the new person in Christ is two-fold: it is putting away/putting to death our sin activity and putting on, godly characteristics.

But again, this is where we need to slow down and consider what drives what. Is the cart driving the horse or is the horse driving the cart? Are we putting to death all this list of what is immoral because it flows out of our conversion, or are we doing it because that’s what we feel like we should do or that’s what my family wants for me?

Am I participating in the work of holiness for the glory of God or am I doing it out of convenience or approval of those around me? It is vital that we ask ourselves these questions. We must ensure that our spiritual activity is flowing from a place of spiritual identity.

Let’s dive further into the identity aspect again in verse 11:

Colossians 3:11 ESV

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Even here at the start of the church, it was vital for the church to no longer centralize their worldview, their actions, and their identities on their dna, skin color, or heritage. No, it was that Christ is ALL, and ALL in ALL. May that be our posture as well. May the church be a beacon that says all of those areas of identity are important but secondary to who we are in Christ.

This leads us to the now what of our time this morning. The now what or what do I do with this is this:

Pursue holiness in the power of the Spirit

Colossians 3:12–17 (ESV)

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.

break these verses down as a finisher, then summarize

Pursuing godly holiness in the power of God's Spirit is the formula for meeting the challenges of life post-pandemic and beyond.