The Old Versus The New - Colossians - Part 20

Let's let our position in Christ shape our thinking and choices.

If you have believed in Christ then you died when He died and can walk in Him (as we discussed before when reviewing Col 2:6 & 20)

"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." - Colossians 3:5-7 NASB

Notice how the writer is pointing to position and not prohibition so that a choice can be made. This is not the law. This is grace.

At the same time He doesn't sugar coat the facts. The world is under judgement and the actions given are what is provoking God's judgement. The hammer was going to fall and everyone was going to be under it but Jesus saves. Jesus is a strong tower we can run to and be safe.

"But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." - Colossians 3:8-14 ESV

As a believer, we have another option. It isn't good or evil. It is 'old life' or 'new life.' It is Jesus or natural thinking. We can walk like we did as ethnic individuals or we can live as a member in particular with love binding everything together in forgiveness.

Wow. I love this book. I can't tell you how much it helps me. It brings clarity and definition. It opens pathways once closed. It reveals potentials and possibilities.

What would happen to racism if people read and embraced the teachings of just the passages we have reviewed in this book so far? It would be gone! People would have a place to walk where race was not an issue. If Jesus was understood as Colossians teaches then there would be no place for it.

Thank You God for Colossians and the rest of the Bible. You have given us many gifts but I am especially appreciating the Bible right now. It is so sublimely wonderful. Please bless our day. Cover the people we pray for. Guide us as we go. We trust you will. Thank You.

--