The New Self
060709 PM
Text: Colossians 3:9 - 10
Introduction
I think we can easily find Christians who don’t seem to be different from the rest of the world. I bet it would be difficult to pick them out as Christians at a party or a ball game. This is part of the reason that the world views Christianity with such skepticism. They ask, “What difference does being a Christian make?” We have the churchy words for them, but do we demonstrate the difference? My guess is that those who don’t appear to be different from the rest of the crowd are not living a transformed life; the life that Christ came to give all of us.
Colossians 3:9 - 10 (NASB) “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him”
Ephesians 4:21 - 24 (NASB) if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
The easy way to approach this lesson is to describe what makes up the new self. If someone is seeking a transformed life, what does it look like?
Being saved is great. It’s vital. But it’s not the end, it’s the beginning. There’s so much more that will fulfill us, complete us, satisfy us, and make us joyful. So, if we are renewed, why do we go through life as Christians and appear not much different than our non-Christian friends?
Romans 6:11 (NASB) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let us consider 4 key characteristics to the new self which enable us to live a new life fulfilled in Christ.
I. The New Self is Sacrificial
The first of the four keys is to understand that the new self must be sacrificial.
Romans 12:1 - 2 (NASB) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Now there’s a lot of complicated stuff in those verses. But, what we must see in there is that as Christians, we have a choice about how we live. If we look carefully at the passage, we see that we have a choice to make. The choice is whether to yield to God or to the world. If we yield to God, we will enjoy a transformed life. If we yield to sin, we will endure a defeated life.
But what does being a living sacrifice mean? It means we must give our whole selves to God, all of our heart, mind, soul, body and will. (The Greatest Commandment)
Christ is our great example and model for a sacrificial life. First, He yielded to the Father’s plan to leave His throne in heaven and take human form to endure the life of man. He subjected Himself to the world of man and was obedient to the will of the Father even to the point of being sacrificed on the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)
II. The New Self is a Servant
The second key is that the new self lives a life of service with Christ as our model and example.
Read John 13:12-17 (Example of Jesus)
Philippians 2:4 - 5 (NASB) do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
(Second Greatest Commandment)
I can’t say that we will ever be called to be martyred for our faith in Christ, but there are many more ways for my new self to serve.
III. The New Self is Sanctified
The next key on our list is to understand that the new self is one that is sanctified.
Sanctification really means to be set apart for a purpose.
Hebrews 10:10 (NASB) By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
2 Timothy 2:20 - 22 (NASB) Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
In a large and varied household are all sorts of containers. Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and clay. More importantly, some are for honorable purposes and some for dishonorable. The imagary which Paul uses refers to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church.
But Paul then shifted the metaphor slightly to show how one can be an instrument for honorable purposes, by cleansing himself from the dishonorable vessels. In this way he would be a vessel: (1) “for honor” (2) sanctified (“set apart”), (3) useful (“serviceable”) to the Master, and (4) prepared to do any good work
1 Corinthians 6:9 - 11 (NASB) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 2:10 (NASB) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
We must actively take ourselves out of the world and immerse ourselves in the world of Christ and His people. We are not to barricade ourselves away from the world, but not participate in the sinful and questionable activities that do not glorify God. This is being in the world, but not of it.
IV. The New Self is Spirit Led
Leading a Spirit-filled life is the fourth key characteristic of a transformed life. Read Galatians 5:16-25
The word if in verse 25 could also be translated “since,” for Paul was not expressing doubt as to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. God gives new life; therefore, all believers live in (are alive because of) the Spirit.
The verb translated “walk” means literally “follow in the steps of [or] stay right in line with.” Living in the Spirit means that we choose to follow after the Spirit. We “follow the Leader” and should have no doubt about who is in charge.
Colossians 2:6 (NASB) Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.
As Paul says, because we’re saved, we should live like it! “Walking in the Spirit” is not some emotional experience, detached from everyday life. It is the daily experience of the believer, in other words, the outward life of a Christian should be consistent with his inward experience. This verse emphasizes that life by the power of the Holy Spirit does not indicate an occasional influence here and there from the Holy Spirit, but a continual state of living in union with the Word and Will of the Spirit of God.
Romans 8:14 – 17a (NASB) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
Conclusion
What does a New Self in Christ look like?
The New Self is Sacrificial
The New Self is a Servant
The New Self is Sanctified
The New Self is Spirit-led
