Put on the New Self

Colossians 3:5-6 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Our Friday night Bible Study group has resumed after a short break for all the family busyness of Christmas and New Years, and we concluded our final lesson on “The Power of Knowing God”. But this was actually three lessons in one, as a trifecta of important life issues were addressed, which I will unpack over the next few posts. But to start, I’d like to give you the conclusion because the bottom line is solid ground for a balanced life that we seek.

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

The study closes with: From Genesis, the book of beginnings, we know that God (the Father, Son & Holy Spirit) first created us in their image. Although that image was marred, distorted, cut off from God because of the sin of unbelief and disobedience, we have hope of restoration, because God is love and merciful. He called us beloved when, in our sin against Him and His holy way, there was nothing lovely about us. Out of His love, grace and kindness, the eternal Creator Father justly redeemed us through the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Holy Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Greater love has never been known and  never been seen, in that while we were sinners, without hope, helpless, ungodly – literally enemies of God – Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, died for us. Grab and hold onto this! Jesus took on our sin, even though that wages of sin (the penalty for sin) is death, and paid for it in full. And because God’s holiness was satisfied in this acceptable substitutionary atoning sacrifice, He raised Jesus from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. Thus when we repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ, our sin are forgiven and we pass from death to life – eternal, everlasting life. And because Almighty God is sovereign – because all is under the dominion of the kingdom of the Most High God – you and I have absolute assurance of it. Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator.

It is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and humbling that as we grow in “the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3), we become more and more like Him. Strengthened, able to be courageous, to actively serve the Lord wherever and however He, in His omniscience (all-knowing) desires us to live until He calls us home. And as a child of God, our home is Heaven! Jesus is there now, in His Father’s house, preparing a dwelling place for us (John 14:2-4), and you know the way.

John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Oh beloved of the Father, walk by the Holy Spirit, aligned with the perfect Word, Will and Way of God. Be holy (set apart from sin) as He is holy, so that when you see the Holy One on the glorious day, you’ll hear Him declare; “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master!” (Matthew 25:21).

1 Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

In Christ, Brian