I love to write through chapters of the Bible or spend time on thinking and writing through Biblical topics. Here is that collection, arranged easily to be able to find what you are looking for. Here is the list of things I have written on.
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:9-11)
I love this Biblical concept because it illustrates the idea of effortless change. It is what God’s provision and His Spirit will do in you; He will change you from the inside out. Previously Paul commented that submitting to behavior based rules as a change element was destined to perish with use (Colossians 2:20-22). This is merely the human approach for change; based on mortal commands and teachings. It is important to pay attention to God’s way for change.
Take off the Old Unregenerate Self
Growing up in a church, this idea about taking off the ‘old self’ is normal, I’ve heard it many times. However, I realize a statement like this can be somewhat shocking—after all, what does that even mean? It is important to understand, especially since this is some of the best advice you can get—to take off the old self that clings and oppresses with desires of the sin nature.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:5-8)
Interestingly, Paul gives a roadmap for change in Colossians 3. He starts with where to aim, by setting our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated (vs. 1-2). Then explains the day to day process of change; we are to rid ourselves of everything that the earthly nature is employed in.
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4)
I frequently think back on periods of life wishing I would have had a better perspective during those times. For instance, as a teenager high school consumed a lot of energy. I worried about who my friends where, how I was doing in sports and activities and if I’d have a prom date. Now, I get facebook friend requests from people I went to high school with and I barely have memories of them.
This patterned continued in college. I stressed about picking the right major; I worried about finding a job in my field. I wondered what would happen after college and didn’t feel prepared for the job market. Now I am on my third professional job since graduation, I’ve learned a lot since and I wonder why I stressed over all of these things.
Life takes energy, careful thought and attention are needed for decisions that have to be made. But in reflection, perhaps the time and attention given to focusing on these things is disproportionate to the time and attention focused on eternal things. Looking back, these moments in time are faint echoes and I wonder how important they were to the big picture.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2)
The beautiful thing about coming into a revelation of Christ is that it allows you to be free. Not only does it release you from obligations that stem from human notions, but it frees you to pursue the things of God.
I recently shared how I struggled for years with materialism but found release when I learned to find contentment in the Lord rather than in material possessions. This came through God revealing to me who I am in Christ. It did not happen all at once, but through a journey of discovering who the Scriptures say I am.
Once I started seeking the Lord, His truth started rewriting my perception, the result was freedom in the areas I struggled. The amazing thing in all of this, is that this process works each and every time, which is why Paul instructs to “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (vs. 1b), because God is in the business of change!
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:20-23)
In my early twenties I was rather materialistic; I worked and I shopped. It was fun at first, however the more I shopped the more my desire for things grew. After a couple of years I accumulated a lot of stuff as well as debt.
In the midst of this, I remember reading this verse, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”” (Hebrews 13:5). That verse hit me and I knew changed was needed. So what I did was write this on a piece of paper and put it into my wallet so when I was shopping I would have to confront this idea each time I wanted to purchase something.
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person also goes into great detail about what he has seen; and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (Colossians 2:18-19)
Several years ago I hosted an early morning Bible study at my office. I invited all of my co-workers and throughout the lifecycle of this group, as people were hired, the groups dynamics changed. I remember one morning in particular the newest member kept introducing Buddhist principles to the discussion. Of course I was confused because I had assumed she was a Christian; rather she was spiritual and interested in taking ideas, beliefs and practices from different sources for her custom-make belief system. Needless to say, the group that had been meeting for years didn’t survive.
Spirituality is very popular; what is not popular is Jesus. What I mean is that teachings of Jesus are en vogue. Or saying He’s a good teacher, a predominant historical figure, a good man are all acceptable. But drawing a line in the sand and declaring that He is Lord, the only way to be saved, and the only way to God is very, very unpopular.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17)
When I was young, I remember our pastor making an offhand comment about someone in the church. Their washing machine broke, the pastor said the reason why is because they were doing laundry on Sunday; God needed to get their attention. The tradition surrounding Sundays in this church (& many others) was attending in both the morning and evening and doing nothing the rest of the day. Work was not allowed. And by the comment made, I understood from a young age, that this rule was enforced.
This mentality is not unlike what was happening in the Colossian church. There was a large influence of both legalistic Jewish traditions and what later became known as Gnosticism. It created hybrid worship beliefs which Paul combats and corrects in this letter.
One thing that was happening is false teachers were imposing dietary regulations on the people, based on what was written in the Law of Moses. They were also pressuring them to observe special religious celebrations like the festival, the New Moon and Sabbaths. However given everything written in this letter about Jesus, the only conclusion to be reached is Christ is the center and focus of our worship. Because everything those things described pointed to Christ; the literal fulfillment.
I am trying to figure out something. I have a friend who seems to be searching. She reads the Bible a lot. But she seems to think God is a bigoted angry meanie in the OT & a nice softie in the NT. She even teaches a Bible study at her church! Bev is in Exodus. She cited 32:27. She asks me, "Why did God tell these guys to kill their own families? The law He just gave said not to kill & then He turns around & says to do it to folks that they love, not even in a war with or anything!” Sadly, I could not answer her. Stuff like this confuses folks.
Hoping for an answer, Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
Yes, this is something that many struggle with and are confused about. It is easy to misunderstand God’s actions in the Old Testament unless we understand a few things...
Today is Easter. Today all over the world people will take time to celebrate the most significant event in history, Jesus’ resurrection. It is something I personally look forward to and spend time preparing for. I love to read each gospel account and imagine myself in the middle of the events unfolding. It makes it personal and real; it helps me celebrate this day.
This year, as I read through the gospel of Luke I got to the account of the resurrection; the women had just returned to grave with spice on the first day of the week. They were prepared to use them in preserving Jesus’ body. However, when they got there, they found the stone rolled away and there was no body. While they were pondering this, two men, whose clothing was as white as lightning appeared and asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5b).
My thought, “Why wouldn’t you look for Him there?”
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15)
There is an account in the book of Judges where the tribe of Judah was sent to fight against the Canaanites (Judges 1). As they set out, God delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into the Israelites hands. When they captured the Canaanite king solidifying their victory, they cut off his big toes and thumbs then paraded him as a conquered foe.
While this practice seems foreign, it was very effective. First because the king had no big toe, he would never be able to stand and fight again. Secondly, because he had no thumbs, he would never be able to hold a sword in battle again. Lastly, because he was on display as a defeated king striped of power and dignity, if he ever tried to assemble an army he would be discounted immediately. He has been overthrown, defeated, publicly shamed, humiliated, conquered and crushed.
Not only would he never be able to raise an army again, everyone who saw him would know what had happened. In the same way...
Jesus Overthrew, Defeated, Publicly Shamed, Humiliated, Conquered & Crushed Death!
