Sunday, July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Putting off the Old Nature | Colossians 3:5-10a



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July 9, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Putting off the Old Nature | Colossians 3:5-10a

Putting off the Old Nature
Colossians 3:5-10a

Paul moves into a discussion about sin and sanctification in this next section. On the one hand, we must put off sin, and on the other hand, we must put on righteousness. The focus is not upon human effort expended in order to rid ourselves of sinful behavior or to add to our being a new force of righteousness. It is not a process of our effort and then God’s response. We are not commanded to do in order to receive. It is not action and then reaction. Paul sets this entire section in the context of what he has so clearly outlined in the first section. At the cross, Jesus Christ overcame and put on display the philosophies and practice of the world which so fully occupied our thoughts and actions. He has fully unmasked their deception and by His death and resurrection, destroyed their wickedness. He has both fully redeemed (bought or purchased) our broken nature, our sin nature, and forgiven us of the sins which have come out of that nature. As stated so powerfully already: “19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace (with) through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (Col.1:19-23). “1And again: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col.3:1-4).

Today we will explore how this action takes place– from the indicative act of Christ, we can imperatively act toward our world and ourselves.

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