Put Away The Old | Put On The New

Put Away the Old – Put On the New

Colossians 3:1-17

If … you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(5) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: 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 also once walked when you lived in them. (8) But now you must also 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. (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, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering: (13) bearing one another, and forgiving one 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. (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. (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. [NKJV]

OPENING REMARKS

When I underwent heart surgery a few years back my life changed

. I had to change my diet – no longer the fat and greasy foods

. I had to change my activities – no longer the sedentary lifestyle

. I had to change my attitude – no longer saying: I can do what I want to do

. Instead I had to choose what was best instead of what was merely acceptable

So too when you become a Christian your life changes as well

. You change your diet – no longer desire a harmful lifestyle

. You change your activities – no longer participate in undesirable situations

. You change your attitude – no longer my importance matters

. Instead you now look to Christ for the best for His glory instead of what is merely acceptable

TEXT

I. SEEK THINGS ABOVE (1-4)

John Phillips

.. Where are you looking?

. The psychologist says: Look Within!

. The opportunist says: Look Around!

. The optimist says: Look Ahead!

. The pessimist says: Look Out!

. God says: Look Up!

.. Paul wants us to live above the world. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. Sin’s temptations assail us from without. Our sinful temperament attacks us from within. The answer to it all is Christ.

--- [Exploring Colossians and Philemon: An Expository Commentary, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2002, pp. 159, 163(adapted)] ---

John MacArthur

Paradoxically, before Christians can reach the world, they must first leave it. … It is only when we rise above the world that we can … appreciate the appalling spiritual poverty in which most people live and learn to fix our minds on heavenly realities.

--- [The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon, Chicago: Moody Publications, 1992, pp. 125-126] ---

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I will live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [ESV]

II. PUT OFF THE OLD MAN (5-11)

Therefore

. Reflects back to the first four verses.

. As citizens of heaven we need – No! We Must! – cut the ties of any sinful pattern of our former unsaved condition and look heavenly towards our Savior.

Put to Death –

. If you are a Christian –

. Put to death your members which are on earth (fleshly nature – old man)

. Literally means: To make dead.

Richard Baxter

Use sin as it will use you; spare it not, for it will not spare you; it is your murderer, and the murderer of the world: use it, therefore, as a murderer should be used. Kill it before it kills you