Old Self Out, New Self In

[Christsfreeservant]

“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 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.” (Colossians 3:5-10 NASB’95)​

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-persuaded faith in him we die with him to sin that we may now walk with him in obedience to his commands. Therefore, sin is no longer to be what we practice. This does not mean that we will never sin again (1 John 2:1-2) but that we should no longer be walking in (living in) sin, deliberately and habitually. Now obedience to our Lord and to his commands in holy living is to be what we practice, by the grace of God, in the power of God, by his Spirit, and not of our own flesh.

So our bodies are now to be dead to sin, dead to immorality, impurity, worldly passions, evil desire, and the like. For when Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross it was to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, we will now die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands. For our salvation is not just deliverance from the punishment of sin, but it is Jesus Christ setting us free from our slavery (bondage, addiction) to sin so that we can now serve him with our lives in surrender to his will.

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience. So we need to take this seriously. Just because we made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ once in our lives, it does not assure us that we can keep living in sin and not in obedience to our Lord and that God is still going to let us into his heaven when we die. The Scriptures teach, in fact, that if sin is our practice, and not obedience to God, that we do not know God, we are not born of God, and we don’t have eternal life.

Sadly, not many people are teaching this anymore. They just skip over these kinds of Scriptures which are all throughout the New Testament which are written to the churches warning us against thinking that our sins no longer matter to God and that we can still walk in sin and still have eternal life with God. NOT! For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, then we are warned that we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess. For lip service alone does not equal salvation from sin.

If our faith in Jesus Christ is biblical faith, which comes from God, it should result in us no longer walking in sin (in lifestyle). We should have put off that old self with its sinful practices, and we should have put on the new self, created in Christ Jesus to be like Jesus in mind and character. Again, this does not mean we will be perfect in every way, but lack of perfection is never to be used as an excuse for habitual and deliberate sin against the Lord, and against our fellow humans. We should now love one another.

[Acts 26:18; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6,15-17; 1 John 3:4-10]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

Old Self Out, New Self In
An Original Work / March 16, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[stevevw]

Wow thankyou for sharing this. I have been discussion similar things you are talking about and its brought me closer to God. Specifically about submission and obedience and how Christs example leads the way in how we should live.

You are right that the church has become more worldly and the teachings watered down. There is little mention of sin and repentence and staying true to the clear tachings.

Paul mentions this many times to the church to watch out for false teachings and to nip sin in the bud if its happening in the congegation. To stop idel talk and false ideologies as they will undermine the teachings. Christ mentions this as well when He tells the disciples in sending them out to preach the gospel that there will be many wolves who will come for the sheep and attack you in Christs name.

I agree that salvation is an ongoing process of becoming more like Christ and it never ends. Its a relationship and we are taking our weakness and sins to God all the time. Sometimes we stray and the Spirit rebukes us and it is then that we must obey.

But sometimes even Christians can sort of relapse. Like the Prodigal son. Or like in how Paul tells a sinner in church who is rebuked by his brothers and still doesn't repent let him go out of the church so satan can have his way. Then maybe he will come to his senses and come back to God.

I have found Peters teachings on submission and obedience helpful as they are powerful when you consider that he is asking Christians to even submit and obey unjust masters and powers. That this example reveals to the world Christ where no one can deny the goodness and purity of such an act. That it will turn people to God. Such a poerful yet radical teaching that is lacking in this self centered world.

But more for the Christian and how obedience is purity, is worthy and not weak when it comes to God and His ways. A true test of faith. But also showing how as born against Chjristians we have a responsibility to shine this light which is a higher responsibility than what this world expects.