Colossians 3:5-14
Paul is concerned that the Christians in Colossae might be still indulging in selfish and sinful practices. He teaches that even though we have been raised with Christ to new life, there are still practices and desires that cling to life. There is a spiritual reality (the old has gone, the new has come) that must be lived out in practice. Paul lists some of the practices of the sinful nature (sexual immorality, impurity, greed, etc.) and contrasts them to the virtues of Christ's nature (compassion, humility, forgiveness, etc.). He uses the metaphor of getting dressed: get rid of the old clothes which represent the old way of life and put on the new clothes which are tied together with love.
At first reading, it seems like this passage contradicts what Paul has been saying earlier. He has been teaching that by the work of Christ we have new life but here he says that we have a responsibility to work for that new life as well. This fits well with Paul's teaching in other books (and with the teaching of Jesus). The evidence or fruit of the new life can only come as we are connected to the source of life which is Christ but each one of us bears some responsibility to allow that evidence to show. Jesus talks about how each branch that does not produce fruit will be pruned so that it become productive. Paul talks about it in terms of ultimate reality (that spiritual dimension where we are pure, holy and righteous) that must be lived out in this present reality.
I don't have to go through the list very far to find those things that I need to change in my life in order to better reflect and represent the character of Christ: greed (wanting things that God has not entrusted to me), lust (using people to accomplish my own desires which strips people of the honour due to them as beings created in the image of God), etc. Being a practical person, I want to know how to get rid of these things and how to put on Christ. All Paul says is to put to death that which belongs to the earthly nature and put on the things that belong to the character of Christ. I think Paul is saying that there must be a concious action - I can't just sit back and wait for it to happen but I must daily indicate my desire to reflect the character of Christ and live that out as best as I can. This means that I must carefully consider each thought, attitude and action in view of Christ's character and conciously choose that which best represents Christ, asking for his help to live it out. The goal is Christ who is all and in all!
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1 comment:
So very true, how many people sit by and claim their salvation yet do nothing about it. We need to act on it and live what we believe, this is what Christ wants from us, he wants all of us and he wants us to reflect his character. So yes we need to choose each action and attitude carefully in light of what Christ would want us to do.
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