Colossians 3 - How You Pick Your Clothing Matters!

Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 3

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

Paul is speaking metaphorically when he says we have been "raised with Christ". We sometimes call this "our position in Christ". Though we live on earth, we are to be "heavenly minded". This is why Paul says, "Set your minds on things above." Throughout Paul's letters we see the importance our minds play in our spiritual transformation. 

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4

What does it mean that we have died and our life is now hidden with Christ?  

 We don’t have to know what’s going on. Your life is hid with Christ in God. You’re dead. The old life is cut off but you’re alive in Christ. That’s the fundamental teaching about Christianity and conversion - we have a new life within us. - Dallas Willard

This becomes the key to our Christian life. Our old self has been crucified, while our new self is being renewed by Jesus day by day. When Jesus appears we will appear with him in glory. The true nature of who we are in Christ will become evident to all. This is like the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. 

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Though we are a new Creation in Christ, we still live in a mortal body, which has a sinful nature with all of its desires. Therefore, we continually need to deny ourselves and pick up our cross to follow Jesus. 

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10

Paul uses the language of "taking of your old self and putting on the new self." Though God is at work transforming us from the inside out, we still play a role. We take off our old self intentionally, and put on our new self intentionally. 

The phrase Paul used was commonly used for changing a set of clothes. We can almost picture a person taking off the old and putting on the new man in Jesus. - Guzik

Just like consciously we put on a new pair of clothes every morning before we go to work, we need put our new clothes which have been given to us by Christ. 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Then, Paul specifically gives us what these clothes look like. This are similar to the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23

Each one of the qualities mentioned in this passage express themselves in relationships. A significant measure of our Christian life is found simply in how we treat people and the quality of our relationships with them. - Guzik

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

This could easily be a life motto for every Christian. As we think about doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus it shows the importance of everything we say and do. We do the things he would do if he were us. This is a life wholly submitted to Christ. We do not act one way around some people and another around others. We don't give Jesus just part of our life and then have secret areas we still control. If we do everything in the name of Jesus, our life will have dynamic power that will enable us to be who God wants us to be. 

What would your life look like if everything you said and did, you consciously did in the name of Jesus? 








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more