PUT OFF THE OLD

Notes
Transcript

I. PUT OFF THE OLD

Colossians 3:5 ESV
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 ESV
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
“God’s work does not make our work unnecessary; it makes it possible.” John Piper p. 13 in Habits of Grace by David Mathis
Colossians 3:3 ESV
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

And the link between the indicative (what has already taken place) and the imperative (what must now be done) could hardly be clearer or more paradoxical: “you have died” (v. 3); therefore, “put to death” (v. 5)! We might well ask why it is necessary to put something to death if it has already died. But this manner of speaking captures beautifully the paradox of living in the experience often described as the “already” and the “not yet.” Something definitive has already been accomplished by God in Christ, but the full realization of it still awaits.

“The way to receive the gift of God’s empowering our actions is to do the actions. If he gives the gift of effort, we receive that gift by expending the effort.” David Mathis p. 29 Habits of Grace
“Grace does not just pardon our failures; it empowers our successes - like successfully enjoying Jesus more than life.” John Piper p. 13 Habits of Grace
Colossians 3:5–9 ESV
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

II. WHY WE NEED TO DO IT

Colossians 3:9–10 ESV
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.
Preaching the Word: Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Laying Aside the Old Life: the Rationale (vv. 9b-Ll)

There is constant renewal taking place in the believer’s life as he keeps increasing in true knowledge of what God is like. This knowledge leads to progressively being conformed to the image of the Creator, and thus building a life like his.

2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 3:11 ESV
11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Preaching the Word: Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Laying Aside the Old Life: the Rationale (vv. 9b-Ll)

If we make a practice of putting to death our sensuality and covetousness, laying aside evil attitudes and malignant speech, we will fully experience this astounding removal of barriers in human relationships. The “new self,” lived out, brings the destruction of racial barriers (“Greek or Jew”), religious barriers (“circumcised or uncircumcised”), cultural barriers (“barbarian, Scythian”), and social barriers (“slave or free”). This will bring a resounding affirmation of Tertullian’s exclamation: “See how these Christians love one another!”7 An amazed world will acknowledge that Christians have the “real thing”: “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Preaching the Word: Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Laying Aside the Old Life: the Rationale (vv. 9b-Ll)

We must put off:

• Sensuality—“sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.”

• Evil attitudes—“anger, rage, malice.”

• Evil speech—“slander, filthy language.”

• Deception—“do not lie to each other.”

Preaching the Word: Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Laying Aside the Old Life: the Rationale (vv. 9b-Ll)

Why must we put these things off? Because we have:

• A new self “which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

• New relationships—“Here there is no Greek or Jew … but Christ is all, and is in all.”

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