DEVELOPING OUR NEW LIFE IN JESUS

Scripture: Read Colossians 3:1–17, especially verse 10
… And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

Part of the Christian walk is to put to death certain things, taking sweeping action against that which is unholy in our lives…

On the positive side, we are to develop our new life in Christ… Paul, in Colossians 3:10 tells us we must be renewed, or strengthened, built up, restored… These verbs are present tense, assigning an ongoing action, a daily renewal… So how does the Holy Spirit bring about this process in our lives?

Let’s look at three ways we are renewed:

1. Renewal and the Word of God (vv. 10, 16). In verse 10, Paul says, “… put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge …”

This word knowledge is interesting: it’s the word knowledge attached to the preposition “upon…”

The idea is: knowledge growing into more knowledge upon more knowledge upon knowledge… Where does that knowledge come from? Verse 16 tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom …”

The word for “dwell” means to be at home in you… It’s to walk in, sit down in the den, and put your feet on the coffee table... God transforms us as we invite His Word into our life—not closing off rooms of our life where God’s Word cannot go—but inviting God’s Word into our life to take up residence…

2. Renewal and the Character of Jesus (vv. 12–14). Paul begins this verse, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on …” and lists a series of qualities found in Jesus Christ… At the end of these qualities, Paul says, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (v. 14).

The word “bond” is a medical term used for ligaments that hold the parts of your body together… When the ligaments don’t work, you limp, your knee gives way… When our lives are not filled with the love of Christ, we walk with a spiritual limp; things give way in our life…

Love binds together all of these virtues that reflect the character of Jesus…

3. Renewal and the Objective (v. 17). What’s the purpose of the process of renewal? Paul tells us in verse 17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

We should speak and act in the name of the Lord Jesus… Perhaps you’re wondering, “Now what does that mean? When I leave church do I go eat lunch in the name of Jesus? When I golf later this week, do I swing in the name of Jesus?”

Here are three simple and practical ideas of what it means to do everything in the name of Jesus:

A. I Am a Representative of Jesus… Whatever companies you work for you probably have a card with your company, your name, your title, etc… The card says “I represent ‘X’ company…” Yes, you work for them, and there is a degree to which you represent them, but as a follower of Jesus I ultimately represent Jesus Christ… To do everything in the name of Jesus is to remember I am the representative of Jesus…

B. I Am in the Place of Jesus… I am to speak and act as if Jesus Himself were doing it... I not only represent Jesus, but there is a sense in which my hands are, in fact, the hands of Jesus touching people… My mouth is the mouth of Jesus speaking to people… My feet are the feet of Jesus… My mind is the mind of Jesus…

I Live for the Honor of Jesus… We are to live for Jesus’ honor by calling attention to Him, not ourselves…

What does it mean to honor Christ as we gather?

Our attention is drawn to Jesus…
Our conversations should attract people to Jesus…
Our behavior should be pointing people to Jesus,
not ourselves,
not our religion,
not our church, but ultimately to our Jesus…

Are you paying attention to God’s Word?

Are you paying attention to Godly character?

Are you paying attention to Jesus?

My prayer is that whatever we do this week in word or deed we would do it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

To God be the glory forever!