You have been made new, are being made new, will be wholly new when Jesus returns. The progress towards that newness is dependent on how much you work along with Him but it also is His work and He will complete it whether you work with Him or not. You can live in your new self and the way He asks us to in this life. In light of that, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for making us new creatures. Thank You for continuing to bring us to this newness and making it possible for us to walk out our lives in it through the study of Scripture. Lead us Lord and make what we learn stick in our minds and get to our hearts so that we can really live it out. In Your Name and for Your Glory I pray. Amen.
Colossians 3 – Amplified Bible
Put On the New Self
Please read Colossians 3:1-4
1 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
This new life is your real life. So set your mind on Christ habitually. Yes, it all depends on whether you’re in Christ, if you are, then you are able to make it a habit to focus on Him. so help us, Lord. Make our focus on You a habit.
The New Self Means
Please read Colossians 3:5-7
5 So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. 6 Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming [b]on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], 7 and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ].
Ah, explainer: you once lived habitually in sin, so it is possible you can now live habitually focused on Him, and whatever else is ‘above’. Because a lot of what is visible and even not visible above inspires worship and praise too.
In Your New Self Also
Please read Colossians 3:8-11
8 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self— 11a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] [c]barbarian or [d]Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].
Equality is what He’s bringing us to, unity in fact. We will all be built together into His dwelling. Shalom all over it. That is why we must rid ourselves of these other awful human characteristics.
Chosen
Please read Colossians 3:12-13
12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; 13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.
If you wonder what do I have without all that sin, well, here, compassion and kindness, humility and gentleness and patience, graciousness, forgiveness.
If we talk forgiveness for a minute… the Lord’s prayer makes it clear that we are only forgiven if we forgive. So learn how to forgive all along the way of asking for forgiveness. You can be certain He has forgiven you because He says He has. And yes, those are similar words to the fruit of the Spirit. So live by the Spirit and you won’t gratify the sinful self.
Wrapped in Love
Please read Colossians 3:14-15
14 Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. 15 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].
Wrapped in Love and controlled by Peace. Yes, it does sound like God (God is Love and Jesus is the Prince of Peace) but it is our calling to become like Jesus. And over it all be thankful.
Words of Christ at Home in You
Please read Colossians 3:16-17
16 Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Dwell on His word, let it permeate your heart and mind. Sing and be thankful. Depend continually on Him.
Family Relations
Please read Colossians 3:18-21
18 Wives, be [e]subject to your husbands [out of respect for their position as protector, and their accountability to God], as is proper and [f]fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives [with an affectionate, sympathetic, selfless love that always seeks the best for them] and do not be embittered or resentful toward them [because of the responsibilities of marriage]. 20 Children, obey your parents [as God’s representatives] in all things, for this [attitude of respect and obedience] is well-pleasing [g]to the Lord [and will bring you God’s promised blessings]. 21 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or exasperate your children [with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by favoritism or indifference; treat them tenderly with lovingkindness], so they will not lose heart and become discouraged or unmotivated [with their spirits broken].
Love and Respect between spouses, even with kids it’s better to love and respect them as they obey what their parent tell them to do. All of us are better people when we are treated with love and respect.
All New Self
Please read Colossians 3:22-25
22 Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord. 23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. 25 For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].
Every believer is to be treated well by other believers. And what we do is to be done for the Lord and through the power of the Lord. To live this way is challenging but the rewards are great and we will receive this inheritance too.
Footnotes
[a] Colossians 3:4 -When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears- A reference to His second coming.
[b] Colossians 3:6 -God is coming [b]on the sons of disobedience- Two early mss do not contain this phrase.
[c] Colossians 3:11 –[c]barbarian- A derogatory term used to describe uneducated, uncultured people who were not fluent in the Greek language.
[d] Colossians 3:11 –[d]Scythian- The Scythians were savage equestrian herdsmen who were skilled archers and often worked as mercenaries and/or slave traders. The Scythian women were known to dress as warriors and fight alongside the men.
[e] Colossians 3:18 -Wives, be [e]subject to your husbands- The wife is to submit voluntarily to her husband (not to men in general); not as inferior to him, nor in violation of her Christian ethics, but honoring her husband’s responsibilities and authority as head of the household.
[f] Colossians 3:18 -proper and [f]fitting in the Lord- I.e. not in conflict with Scripture.[g] Colossians 3:20 -well-pleasing [g]to the Lord- Lit in, as “in the Lord’s presence.”