The Old Life

Colossians 3:5-11

[5] Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [6] On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [7] In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. [8] But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. [11] Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

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Sometimes our old life rears its ugly head. Though Christ’s grace has captivated us and leads us to a holy reform, fully restored to the presence of God’s glory, we remain in a sinful world. The temptations of our fleshly nature linger still. Though they tempt, their presence can remind us why we needed Jesus‘s resurrection power. Our new life is not just a fresh coat of paint but a transformed life with Jesus.

Paul then urges us to join with Christ in purifying our lives of sin. Distancing ourselves from sinful acts is not enough. As Jesus taught during his earthly ministry, this is an issue of the heart. Paul places two lists in front of us, showing us that it is not just practices but attitudes of the heart that reveal themselves by the mouth.

“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Matthew 15:11

Therefore Paul’s use of the word “therefore” calls us to refer back to the truth which was stated before. The new raised life we now have in Christ calls for the old life to cease. The behavior we once used to find satisfaction, feel in control, and preserve what we have does not have a place in our new life with Christ.

Not only are we free from the consequences of sin, but by the power of Christ, we have the will to deny them. Our minds are renewed in understanding the truth of what these behaviors and attitudes create: a destructive, rebellious, and separated relationship with God. By our own power, we do not reflect the visible image of Christ as we ought. This is why previously Paul told the church of Colossae to set their mind on the things of Christ and not on the things of a fallen world.

Jesus, who is the Christ to all mankind, is the source of our renewal. As His character and the knowledge of His truth are revealed to us, they must be applied for our sake.

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Questions:

Q: Why is it important to remember that we all once walked in these ways?

Q: Why do some sins listed take longer to ‘put away’ than others?