Living the Transformed Life

TEXT: Colossians 3:1-17

TOPIC: Living the Transformed Life

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama,

February 8, 2009

A.B. Simpson was right when he wrote, “There must be a new man before he can wear his new clothes.” No one puts on dirty clothes to go out to eat in a nice restaurant or put on clean clothes over a dirty, sweaty body without first bathing or showering.

The Christians at Colossae had put on Christ so they are now ready to put off their old garments and put on the clothes that reflect their new life in Christ.

Here before us Paul describes the Excellency of the Christian life as it is to be lived here on earth. The believer is to live like a citizen of Heaven. This to Paul is normal Christian living. He pleads for a complete change of clothes from what the Colossian believers had been wearing.

Today we are called to do the same. Now that we are in Christ we must dress the part. For the new man, there must also be a new wardrobe. What we are really going to learn from today’s Scripture passage is how to dress for success, or principles for living the transformed Christian life.

(Read Colossians 3:1-17)

I. THINGS THAT MUST BE ABANDONED, Colossians 3:5-9

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: (the NIV renders it: Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature) 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,

In verse 5 we are told to put to death certain things, and in verse 8 he tells us to put off others. This is Paul’s double discipline he demands of Christians. Let’s look at this grim catalogue of sins we are to put to death and put off.

A. The External Sins of Deed, Colossians 3:5

Fornication or Sexual Immorality – sex outside of God’s standard – unusual sexual relations. It is difficult for us to imagine the extent to which a pagan society such as that of Colossae was given over to in sensuality and immorality. William Barclay said of that day, “Relationships before marriage and outside of marriage brought no shame and were the normal and acceptable practice.” Sounds a lot like our day doesn’t it?

Uncleanness – impurity in thought of deed, or any word, look, or behavior which is impure. The Phillips translation calls it “dirty-mindedness.”
Passion – uncontrollable passion; unbridled lust
Evil Desire – all unholy or sensual longings
Covetousness – greed or worship of possessions. The conjunction “and” signifies special force and should read, “And especially covetousness.” Covetousness is nothing less than a lust for other people’s possessions.

Now Paul moves to another ugly list of sins of temper and tongue in verses 8-9 that believers are to discard.

B. The Internal Sins of Desire, Colossians 3:8-9.

Anger – Revenge, passionate revenge
Wrath – Explosive outbursts, or a quick temper, anger boiling over.
Malice – Ill will against another, Lightfoot describes it as “the vicious nature which is bent on doing them harm.
Blasphemy – Evil thoughts or words about God, cursing, even slander directed toward God.
Filthy Language – Abusive, corrupt or shameful speaking
Lying – deceptive falsehoods whether large or small.

How do we abandon or put to death this grievous list of sins? By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot effectively change our lives without fully surrendering to the Lord Jesus’ control.

II. THINGS THAT MUST BE ADOPTED, Colossians 3:10-14

10 and 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 nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 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. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

In these verses Paul sets forth both the new wardrobe believers are to wear and the new behavior believers are to exhibit. He calls for a new pattern of behavior. It is what Alexander MacLaren calls “the white robe of Christlikeness.”

In essence, he calls for a Total Makeover:

Tender Mercies – tender heartedness or compassion, the KJV calls this “bowels of mercies.” Living the transformed life calls for a heart filled with compassion toward others.
Kindness – a sweetness of disposition, or a good heart toward others
Humility – humble mindedness, we are to be clothed with a low estimate of oneself
Meekness – gentleness of spirit, not weakness, but strength under control, used of wild stallions which had been broken, under the control of the rider who holds the reigns in his hands.
Longsuffering – patience, Phillips renders it, “be most patient and tolerant with one another.” Such patience is to be demonstrated as explained in verse 13, “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” In other words, transformed living leads us to resist forceful arguments, and vengeful retaliation.

Finally, for those of you who wanted to hear a message of love this Sunday before Valentine’s Day, Paul last of all says, put on love.

Love – “the golden chain of all virtues” Love may be the highest virtue of all.

Do the people around you, your family, friends and work associates know that you love them? Do they see you as a loving Christian?

During the days of D.L. Moody, a young lad was asked the question: “Why do you travel all the way across the city of Chicago to attend Mr. Moody’s Sunday School?” He hesitated but for a moment and then responded, “Because they love little boys like me over there.”

Finally, things to be abandoned, things to be adopted, last of all, things to be appreciated.

III. THINGS THAT MUST BE APPRECIATED, Colossians 3:15-17

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 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.

Benefits of Transformed Living:

A. The Peace of God, Colossians 3:15,

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

More literally it is “the peace of Christ,” or “the peace that Christ gives.” As a part of the body of Christ, we have peace with God and the peace of God. It is a peace that passes all understanding. The transformed life is a life filled with peace.

B. The Word of Christ, Colossians 3:16,

16 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.

It is interesting here to note that the phrase, “the word of Christ,” has a dual meaning. It refers both to the word(s) concerning Christ, and the word(s) of Christ. The transformed life begins by comprehending and receiving the truth of the Gospel about Jesus Christ and it continues through our obedience to the teachings and commands of Christ’s words. We should value and appreciate this word about Christ, the Gospel that leads to salvation, and the words of Christ, that leads to sanctification or transformation.

And the loving principle that must rule our lives in all of this is given by Paul in verse 17.

C. The Glory of Christ, Colossians 3:17,

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.