Life in Christ

KEY VERSE: “Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” —Colossians 3:10

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:1-17

IN THE PREVIOUS chapter the apostle warned the Colossians against the dangers of false philosophy and the erroneous doctrines of teachers. In this chapter, he teaches them what those whose “life is hid with Christ in God” ought to pursue and to seek.—vs. 3

In Colossians 2:12 Paul had said, You have been “buried with him in baptism, wherein ye are also risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead.” As the waters close over the Christian in baptism, it is as if he were buried in death; as he emerges from the waters, it is like being resurrected to a new life. Now, his thoughts must be set on things above—on heavenly things—giving him a new set of values which are set by God and not man. But it does not mean he must completely withdraw himself from the activities of this world.

Paul wrote (vs. 4), “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Because our Lord died on the cross as a ransom for all (I Tim. 2:6), and as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself. John explained, in I John 5:11: “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” It is through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and the power of God’s Holy Spirit that we have been provided the means whereby we may receive life as New Creatures in Christ Jesus. And our goal in this regard is that we “be conformed to the image of his Son.”—Rom. 8:29

In our Key Verse Paul said, “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.” Then, he urged us that since “we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (vs. 10, New International Version; Gal. 5:25) However, this is not an instantaneous change, but it is gradual and progressive. In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle described it as the act of “growing up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”—Eph. 4:15

In writing to the Romans, Paul told of the problem he had of putting off the old man with his weaknesses. He said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. … Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”—Rom. 7:15-20, NIV

After “putting off the old man with his deeds,” Paul gave a list of graces with which the Colossian brethren must clothe themselves: “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”—Col. 3:10-17, NIV

The bond of love which Paul describes, encircles all the graces. It well illustrates the intimate tie that binds true followers of the Master into one body in Christ. True Christian love is built upon the foundation of a clear understanding of God’s great plan, and unquestionable faith in our part in it.

The Scriptures assure us that the body of Christ is composed of many members—by one Spirit the members are baptized into one body. It is God who sets the members, everyone, into the body as it pleases him. As recipients of such great honor, what more can we do than to strive earnestly to do his will, and in so doing, assist our brethren, building them up on our most holy faith.

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