Colossians 3:9-17 → Put on the New Self

     Theme

► The main theme of Colossians, in my opinion, is the deity of Jesus Christ - His fullness as God, and His complete sufficiency as having done all that is necessary to save us from our sins.

► Colossians 2:9-10a → "⁹For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰and in Him you have been made complete,..."

→ Who Jesus is, is complete - the supremacy of the Person of Jesus

→ What Jesus has done, is complete - the sufficiency of the work of Jesus

• There is nothing that we can add to this to effect, improve, or add value to, our salvation.

► Paul will spend the rest of this letter, both carefully elaborating on the divine character of Jesus, and also being very specific about the completeness of what Jesus did on the cross to obtain our salvation.

► Attacks, if you will, from outside the church (and perhaps some from inside the church), that suggest that more is needed, specifically within the framework of our human efforts, to fully obtain salvation, will be shot down like enemy missiles, the intent of which is to destroy our faith.

     Outline

► An outline of the Book of Colossians

→ (This is the outline used by the group of teachers I participate with at our church. All of my blog postings for Colossians are following this outline)

          Theological          

• Pretty much everything in this section (chapters 1 and 2), including Paul’s greeting, is dialoguing about the truth of Jesus, and how it has impacted our lives, and will continue to do so in the future.

• Even when Paul is dealing with the false teaching, he’s dealing with the false teaching in light of the truth about Jesus he’s already dealt with up to that point.

1 →   Introduction to the Book of Colossians

2 →   1:1-12  Greeting and Prayer for the Colossians

3 →   1:13-18  The Preeminence of Christ

4 →   1:19-23  Reconciliation Through Christ

5 →   1:24-29  Paul's Ministry to the Church

6 →   2:1-7  Reaching the Riches of Full Assurance

7 →  2:8-15  Made Alive Together With Christ

8 →  2:16-23  Let No One Disqualify You

          Practical

• Once we get into chapter 3, and through chapter 4, Paul’s approach will be much more centered on how to live out this true gospel in our everyday lives, in the community of the body of Christ.

9 →  3:1-8  Seek the Heavenly, Put to Death the Earthly

10 →  3:9-17  Put on the New Self

11 →  3:18-4:1  Rules for Christian Households

12 →  4:2-6  Steadfast Praying, Wise Walking, Gracious Speaking

13 →  4:7-18  Final Greetings

     Intro to today's passage

► In the last section, we were challenged to "keep seeking the things above", and to "set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth", as is stated in verses 3:1-2.

→ Our primary focus is to be seeking the heavenly or godly things.

► In contrast to that, we were also told to "consider the members of your earthly body as dead", as is listed in verse 3:5, and to "put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth", as is referenced in verse 3:8.

→ Pushing off the old earthly things, primarily, the sinful/lustful things, and also the hateful outpourings that come from those sinful behaviors.

► And now, after one last "put them all aside" item, we are now going to be challenged as those who have "put on the new self", as stated in verse 3:10.

     Passage

► Colossians 3:9-17 →

⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

→ As I said, we start off with one last "put them all aside" item, and that is "lying". Specifically in this context, lying to other believers. It's not making allowances for lying to those outside of the faith, but is specific to this practice of deception amongst ourselves.

→ Verses 9-11 are all one sentence in the English, and this sentence is a transition between all the negative things listed in 3:5-8, and the character of the new life listed in 3:1-4.

¹⁰ 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—

→ In this verse, we see the transition from the off-putting aspect of our relationship with Jesus, to the renewal process that we have begun.

→ It's important to note that we are "BEING" renewed (emphasis mine), as opposed to having BEEN renewed. It's an ongoing process, not a one-time event.

→ This is called sanctification, and it is the process of being changed to conform to the salvation we have already received. Salvation makes us Christlike positionally. Sanctification makes us Christlike practically.

¹¹ a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

→ And contrary to what was previously understood by the Jews, this salvation/sanctification process is not exclusive to Judaism. They thought it was, but now we understand that they were supposed to point the Gentiles to Christ, not to Judaism. It's not about keeping the Law - it's about coming to the Messiah.

→ No distinctions in Christ...

• It doesn't matter whether your Jew or Gentile.

• Your heritage doesn't matter.

• It doesn't matter what your nationality or race is.

• Your economic state, or social class have no bearings.

→ All who are in Christ are of equal stature.

→ It doesn't mean that there are no differences between us in this world, but in our new position in Christ we are all the same - sinners forgiven by God, by the blood of Christ, and His resurrection from the dead.

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

→ The term "chosen of God" is interpreted several different ways, but I prefer the concept that God has chosen all of humanity, but some opt not to accept this choosing.

• I'm not a theologian, and don't claim to have any greater knowledge than anyone else, but my preferred interpretation allows me to continue to believe that there is no conflict between the love of God and the wrath of God.

• The scriptures clearly tell us that God loves the world. So much so, that He sent His Son to die for us. Only those who reject the Son will be subject to wrath. So choose life, not wrath.

→ We are also called "holy and beloved".

• "Holy", literally meaning set apart. It's like God has pulled us out of the quagmire, and has placed us on His trophy shelf.

• "Beloved", meaning that we are the recipients of God's sacrificial love. The love that God has for us cost Him something. Something dear to His heart. His Son Jesus.

→ And now Paul tells us to "put on" and gives us a list of qualities that each believer needs to grow into.

• "heart of compassion" - this is the quality of caring - seeking the best for those in need.

• "kindness" - this would the trait of treating each person you come in contact with respect.

• "humility" - here is a reminder to remember that we are no better than anyone else.

• "gentleness" - you don't necessarily have to be harsh to help someone who is struggling.

• "patience" - allowing others to progress in their faith at a different pace than your own.

¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

→ The "put on" list continues...

• "bearing with one another" - I would see this as hanging in there with someone who is struggling.

• "forgiving each other" - And this as hanging in there with someone who has offended you in some way.

¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

→ The greatest "put on" item is "love".

→ No matter what else is going on. No matter which of the other "put on" items you have, or need to develop, ALL of them are rooted in "love".

→ Again, this "love" is the "looking out for someone else, even at my own expense" kind of love.

→ This "love" is the basis for our relationship to one another in Christ.

→ Everything else is a product of, or an effect of, this "love".

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

→ Now we are called to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts".

→ You can't share this "peace", unless you've received this "peace".

→ This is an experience confined to those who believe. The expression "know Christ, know peace - no Christ, no peace" is so true.

→ The result of our experience of God's peace should be thankfulness.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

→ At the same time, we are to "let the word of Christ richly dwell within you".

→ Which can only be done if we are actually spending time in God's Word. It shouldn't be a haphazard process. Only reading your bible when you are in church on Sunday mornings hardly seems like letting it "richly dwell within you".

→ When we do this, we are equipped to provide "teaching" with "wisdom", and/or "admonishment", which would be correction.

→ So whether we are providing simple "how to do this" instruction, or more specifically some kind of "you shouldn't have ought to have done that" reprimand, it all should be based on scripture, and only when you're fluent!

→ And the end result of this bona fide instruction and/or application thereof, should be a thankful response to God via the ministry of music. Nothing like lifting our voices in praise to the Lord.

¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

→ This sort of sums it all up.

→ Whatever you do, NO MATTER WHAT, do everything as a representative of Jesus Christ.

→ And be ever so thankful for the opportunity to do so.

→ You've probably heard of WWJD - What Would Jesus Do - and it still applies today.

→ Do whatever Jesus would do, and leave off all the rest.

     So What?

► A lot of "putting off" and "putting on" in this and the last set of passages.

► The reminder to live in a way, both honoring and emulating Jesus Christ, is a message that I believe we can't hear enough.

► There's a reason that Jesus leaves us here after we're saved, instead of whisking us away to heaven, and that is so we be can be His light until He returns.

► So let's all get out there, shining that light, so that no matter where we are, or what we are doing, the light of Jesus can be clearly seen.

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Photo • 02/18/2025 - End of the world sign/art, Twentynine Palms, CA

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by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”

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