Putting On the New Self

The new self that a Christian must put on cannot be realized until the old self is put off. One doesn’t put clean clothing over dirty clothing.

Colossians 3:1-17
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amount to idolatry. 6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- 11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 4Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Observations
· “Raised up with Christ” means that believers were in God’s scheme of redemption and grace when Jesus gave His life a sacrifice for their sin, and when they understood this, they participated in a re-enactment of His death, burial and resurrection by being buried in water and raised up to live a new life (Rom 6:1- 11; Col. 2:12-14). Baptism is not a ritual cleansing of the body (I Per. 3:21) but a participation, a sharing with Jesus in His death and resurrection, as in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:16).
· This experience marks the end of the old self and the beginning of a new life in Christ. When you died, you were hidden with Christ in God. From that time on, new things have been required of you. (1) Keep seeking the things above. (2) Set your mind on the things above. (3) Consider the members of your earthly body dead to immorality and (4), “put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of its Creator. This renewal results in a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience unity and love.
· The way to worship God is to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, (that is, within your midst or among you), as you give thanks to God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. A parallel passage says, “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

Remarks
· Those who question or deny that Christians can be filled with the Spirit are grieving the Spirit rather than allowing Him to move them in worship. Those who use this precious scripture to condemn the use of instrumental music in worship are also in error by claiming that this verse prohibits something it doesn’t even mention. Why do people complicate, reject, deny and otherwise modify God’s system of redemption and manner of worship? All He asks is that we “put off” the old immoral self and put on a new nature which is modeled after our Lord. We begin, maintain and cultivate this nature by participation in the life of Christ. This life-style is new in every respect. Think about it! We have a perfect Model, along with all the support and encouragement we will ever need. God hears our prayers and accepts our collective praise when we are filled with the Spirit and worshiping Him in songs of praise. Our greatest problem has been the way we have distorted God’s gifts and requirements. Could He have spelled it out any clearer?