What would it be look like for the children of God who have
been born again by the cleansing blood of Christ? It is not worry free, care
free, easygoing life at all. All knows that. Rather, full of troubles and
difficulties, and even persecutions. Jesus says, “Remember what I told you: ‘A
servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
(John 15:20) However, the Scriptures tell us not to be afraid, nor worry, but
to rejoice in sufferings. It’s so revolutionary and incredible. But we all know
that the Scriptures never exaggerate or lie at all. It tells all truth and nothing
but the truth. Is it possible to think like Jesus, live like him, and act like
him as a child of God? I believe the answer is yes. But it is a long process to
get to know that and live like our Lord Jesus did on the earth. The secret of
life is summarized by seven words of Jesus, “You in me and I in you.” This is a
new creation in Christ who shed his blood to cleanse the sin of the world. That’s
what we are in God, a new creation. Here in Colossians Chapter 3, Paul explains
what’s happened in Christ and gives exhortations what we ought to do in him.
“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. 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 3:1-4)
It is almost impossible to believe what Paul is saying here.
We have been raised from the dead with Christ! Yes, that’s what’s happened in
Christ since we died with Christ (Colossians 2:20; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:8).
We did not die physically because Christ died in our place. After we died with
him, we rose from the dead with him. That’s a resurrection life, imperishable
and immortal. What is impossible with man has been done with God. It’s a divine
power that made us alive from the heavy burden of sin and the most formidable enemy
of death. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never
go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) That’s
eternal life we have freely received by the faith of Jesus Christ. We’ve made
alive and vital, so never go hungry nor thirsty at all. It’s incredible and
breathtaking. So, we can set our hearts on things above as we ought to, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God. We can set our minds on things above
as we ought to, not on earthly things. We’re now living eternal life in heaven
with Christ. How could it be possible? It’s because we died and were buried
with Christ. We died to sin, so we no longer live our old lives, but the new
life of Christ. We’re in Christ and he in us. It’s a total communion with
Christ. We no longer rely on earthly things but on everything supernatural and
divine in Christ. Even things like food and clothing we depend on are all coming
from the Lord of Almighty. Nothing is coming from us because we’re totally
broke. Since we’ve been made a new creation, we ought to live in a completely
different dimension of life.
Just as the Risen Christ is invisible so is our life hidden
with him in God. Christians aren’t different at all in all levels of life like
standing and appearance. They suffer, bump into troubles, fail, and at times
commit sins. They pay taxes, face floods and storms, play football, practice
professions, raise kids, embrace social unrest, political conflict, and at
times family troubles. They are humans just like others in the planet. Prophet
Isaiah reports us that there is nothing attractive, no beauty or majesty in his
appearance. He is Jesus Christ crucified in our place (Isaiah 53:2). Even the
Risen Jesus was not recognized by two men who were heading down to Emmaus,
walking and talking with him. Although Jesus was God in full, no one recognized
him. But there were a few who were told and revealed by the Father in heaven
like magi, the shepherds out in the field, and Simeon and Anna. People in the
world are super busy in exalting themselves and worshiping idols. They are
blind and in darkness. So, our Father in heaven put the hidden treasures in the
world as salt and light. It indicates that the impact and influence of
Christians to the world doesn’t come out of their appearance, far from the
religious piety, but their presence because in them the true life of Christ is
hidden. But one of these days, the heaven will open the eyes of the world to
see the sons and daughters of God with Christ in glory, even in the eternal
weight of glory.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and
momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 -17)
Now, it is our turn to take actions. What our God has poured
out upon us is every spiritual blessing in Christ. Psalmist proclaims, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Paul
spells out so aptly as well, saying “Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) What we ought to do in Christ?
“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. 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 3:5-11)
Growth ought to happen to every new born. It requires the
decisive determinations and commitments in order to grow in Christ. What’s the
motivation for making decisions of faith? It’s God’s unfailing grace through
the Son Jesus Christ. That’s the most powerful motivation. But motivation is
not enough. We need power to take actions. Jesus Christ is the motivation and
the power. While we were still sinners he died for us. Even before we make any
decision to repent and change our minds to believe in him, he shed his blood to
cleanse our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. Paul argues that
how he could not save us who have been made alive through the faith of Jesus
Christ, saying “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him
through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we
be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10) Putting to death whatever belongs to
our earthly nature like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and
greed, which is idolatry is only possible to the children of God in Christ. It
is impossible for the unregenerate of the world to flee away from the earthly
nature. Only the born again in Christ is able to put to death to all forms of
idolatry. God never demands putting to death to sins before he has first made
the provision of grace, Jesus Christ.
We all once used to walk these ways in the life once lived
and experienced the wrath of God without finding pure and living water to
quench our thirst and hunger. But now we have found the living water welling up
to eternal through the faith in Jesus Christ. So, we must get rid ourselves of
all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language
from our lips. We must not lie each other, since we have taken off our 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 difference whether Jew
or Gentile, slave or free for Christ is all and is in all. Anyone who has been
made alive in Christ is now a new creation in God’s sight. “Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is
here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Practically, what does it mean to put to death our old self?
Psalmist says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked,
or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers.”
(Psalm 1:1) So, it means completely putting away all idolatry, wickedness, and unrighteousness.
It means fixing our eyes on God the Father and Jesus the Son, listening to the
holy words of the Lord always. It means fearing the Lord of glory and taking
heed to the precepts and commandments of God more than anything else. It means
truly recognizing the presence of the Lord in the midst of everything in our daily
lives. Fasting and memorization of passages in Scriptures would be helpfully
and effectively working, some say. Putting to death our old self doesn’t mean
only on Sunday services, bible studies, or religious activities. Rather, it
means always, day and night, public and private, home and away, church and
work, leisure and chores, especially in our loneliness of time and space. Practically,
it means getting away from pornography, sexual promiscuity, love of money, and
love of self, even in thoughts let alone talks. Paul admonishes and exhorts
every believer to offer true and reasonable worship to God, saying “Therefore,
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies
as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper
worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Putting to death our old self means to be holy in every way,
Apostle Peter says. “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set
your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at
his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had
when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy
in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter
1:13-16) To be holy is not an option but the commandment of God, so we shall be
holy in all we do. We’re holy because we’re his possessions. Whatever belongs
to God is holy. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, so they are holy
to God. How could we then worship idols by uniting our bodies with a
prostitute? By no means, Paul says. “By his power God raised the Lord from the
dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members
of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with
a prostitute? Never!” (1 Corinthians 6:14-15)
How is it possible? It’s absolutely possible because we’ve
been raised with Christ and seated with him in heaven. Paul says, “And God
raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable
riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians
2:6-7) Of course, it’s not us who do it but Christ in us who does everything.
We’ve been clothed with Christ who was raised from the dead by the power of
resurrection. Christ indwells within us forever (Hebrews 13:5). It’s the gift
of God promised even before the creation of the world. We’ve already been
equipped with the power of God, the Risen Jesus Christ. We’ve been made a
totally new creation in Christ. We’ve burnt our bridges behind everything in
our old self when we’re baptized with Christ. It has completely done by divine
and supernatural power. On the night of God’s Passover, the people of Israel
stayed inside their houses silently and quietly without making any noise of
plea for life. They completely had to depend on the blood sprinkled on the
doorframes until the angel of death passed over. It indicates that they didn’t
do anything at all to be delivered other than full dependence on his grace and
mercy. Dependence on the work of Christ Jesus is the way to life, delivery,
fulfillment, excitement, vitality, and even more abundantly and forevermore.
Why is it inevitable to put to death our old self? It’s
because it is the way to put on the new self in Christ. No death, no
resurrection, Scripture says. No suffering, no crown. Jesus says, “I am the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6) Jesus gave his life unto God in obedience to him for it’s the will
of the Father to save the lost world and humanity. So, Jesus honors those who
hate their life with eternal life. “Anyone who loves their life will lose it,
while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever
serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father
will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:25-26) It is not normal not to put
on the new self even after we put to death to our old self. There is no other
choice or alternative than putting on the new self. If anyone continues to
refuse to put on the new self, it simply tell that they are not born again. They
are still in darkness and delusion. Many, so many who crossed the Red Sea had
been perished in the wilderness because they stubbornly refused to obey God.
“Therefore, as God’s
chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive
one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since
as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the
message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to
God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)
What does it mean to put on the new self in Christ
practically? It means loving each other as Christ loved us. How did Christ love
us? He gave his life unto us. He was wounded, afflicted, crushed, bruised in
our place. So, loving each other means not loving the lovable but loving the
unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable. Jesus says, “I tell you, not seven
times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22) Proverb says, “If your enemy
is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In
doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward
you.” (Proverb 25:21-22) Putting the new self is to clothe ourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These virtues are God’s
characters. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
How could we not come unto Jesus who is gentle and humble? He is compassionate
and merciful for the people who are like sheep without a shepherd. He wept over
the people under the powerful grip of darkness and death. He wept over
Jerusalem, the holy city which rejected the blessed Messiah and poised to kill
him by the hand of pagans and thus invited the imminent judgment of holy God. This
is what our God has been doing, loving his children in compassion and pity,
kindness and gentleness, long suffering and forbearance for ages and ages. He loves
and forgives a contrite and broken heart and fills with his overflowing love,
peace and joy.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)
So now, what do we say? Thank you Father in heaven for being
our shepherd though we are like sheep, getting lost and weary always not
knowing where to turn, stop, or go. Thank you Lord for the knowledge of mystery
which you have disclosed generously and lavishly in our hearts and minds that
Jesus Christ lives in us forever. “To them God has chosen to make known among
the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) Thank you Jesus for delivering us from all
evil to make us live a holy and worthy life of the Lord. Amen.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack
nothing,
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will
follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord
forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6)
P.S. Won’t you memorize these passages—Colossians 3:1-17 and Psalm 23:1-6?
2016. 10. 27.
© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.
