“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.” (Colossians 3:1-3)
What does it mean to live in this new identity? It means to readjust our focus toward THE THINGS ABOVE, you know the THINGS OF GOD. We are to separate ourselves from the earthly and live independently different lives. As believers, we stand before God AS HIS BELOVED ONES. After addressing our sins and repenting of them, we are called to replace those behaviors with heavenly Christ–like behaviors. Paul explains that we are to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, peace, and thankfulness. We are to allow the Word of Christ to DWELL IN US DEEPLY. We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Ultimately, we are to DO ALL THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
“Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the WRATH OF GOD is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves ONCE WALKED when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 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…” (Colossians 3:4-10)
Because of the new life believers are given in Christ, they are to end certain practices and focus on others. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9), yet believers are to also seek to live holy lives before Christ. Verses 5–11 in this chapter focus on those worldly, sinful practices which Christians should stop. Verses 12–17 emphasize those godly, positive practices BELIEVERS OUGHT TO LIVE BY.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham