The Believer's New Position Lesson 5 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Key word preeminence. “That in all things he might have the preeminence (1:17).

2. Theme: the position, privilege and power of the believer. Fussing at you will not get rid of sin. You must know what God has done for you, what a wonderful new position you have in Christ, and what God wants to do with you and for you.

B. EARTHLY PRINCIPLES TO REFLECT OUR HEAVENLY POSITION

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).

1. Premise. “Since you were raised with Christ” (3:1, ELT).

Seek things above – keep on pursuing

Set your mind – keep on thinking

2. Christ sits at the right hand (3:1).

a. Our representative in the Father’s presence.

b. Christ finished His earthly task.

c. We are in place of honor, at the right hand.

3. “For you are dead . . . with Christ” (3:2).

a. Past action, you have been separated from sins.

b. “In Christ,” union in Christ’s position; and “Christ in us,” communion with Christ, place.

c. Life is zoe, i.e., resurrected life or eternal life.

4. “Christ who is our life shall appear” (3:4). When?

a. Manifest in us.

b. In times of need.

c. At death to take us to Heaven.

d. Second Coming.

C. EARTHLY PRACTICAL THINGS TO REFLECT NEW POSITION

1. “Mortify” means put to death. Not your whole self, but your members.

2. What must we put to death?

a. Sin exists and lives.

b. Sin wants to control you. You will never triumphant unless you are in the driver’s seat.

c. A spiritual oxymoron. “You must die to live.”

3. We must kill evil before it kills us.

a. Fornication, illicit sexual intercourse; uncleanness, dirty mindedness; inordinate affection, evil desire; evil concupiscence, beyond natural affection. Covetousness, greedy desire; idolatry, putting things in place of God.

4. “The wrath of God” (3:6). God does not regard sins with indifference.

5. “Ye also walked” (3:7).

a. To control sin, and

b. To have sin control you.

6. “Put off” (v. 8) to rid completely.

a. Anger, uncontrollable temper.

b. Wrath, fiery outburst.

c. Malice, desire to injure.

d. Blasphemy, denounce God.

e. Filthy communication, dirty words.

f. Lie not, “Stop telling even a little white lie.”

D. PUT OFF AND PUT ON

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10).

1. The old man, also called old nature, flesh, sin nature, Adamic nature.

2. The old nature cannot be eradicated, improved, educated, or ignored.

3. “Put off” (3:9) means strip off like old dirty worn out clothes.

4. “Put on new man” (3:10), also called new nature, regenerate man, new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).

5. Why put on the new nature?

a. Both old and new struggle to control you.

b. The decision is with you.

c. God will not do it for you, it’s your responsibility.

d. The old nature will destroy you if you don’t control it.

e. To glorify God.

6. “Renewed” (3:10) present passive participle, anakaineo must constantly be activated.

7. “After the image” (3:10). No race has an advantage; all have some expectations, and some privilege.

8. “Put on” (3:12). In verse 10 you put on once and for all a new nature. In verse 12 you constantly put on new actions of God.

a. Bowels of mercies, heart of compassion.

b. Kindness, unselfishness.

c. Humbleness, modesty.

d. Meekness, not push self.

e. Long suffering, patience under provocation.

f. Forbearing, to put up with things you don’t like.

g. Forgiving, bestow favor.

h. Charity, love the other person.

i. Perfectness, maturity.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.