Colossians 3:1-12 - Died to sin, alive to righteousness

Setting – Our old sinful self has died with Christ on the cross

Content – Since we (v. 1 NASB) “have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above” (symbolized in our baptism) we need to (v. 2 NASB) “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” because that’s (v. 1 NASB) “Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” If we align to Christ (v.3 NASB) “you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Being that we have died with Christ (v. 5 NASB) “consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” In these sins (v. 7 NASB) “you also once walked, when you were living in them” and it because of these sins (v. 6 NLT) “God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things”
But (v. 9 NASB) “since you laid aside the old self with its {evil} practices” and (v. 10 NASB) “and have put on the new self” we can put aside (v. 8 NASB) “all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, {and} abusive speech from your mouth.” and (v. 10a NASB) “not lie to one another” Our new self (v. 10b NLT) “is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you” And this renewal is not based on your race or social position (v. 11 NLT) “In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us”

Application – If we align ourselves to Christ, then we (Rom 6:6-7 NASB) “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with {Him,} in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” Since we have died (Rom 6:12 NASB) “do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts” We are no longer alive to the things of this world. Those “evil practices” are dead to us and we shouldn’t be returning back them again. We have “put on the new self” which is being renewed as we learn more about Christ. We can only learn more about Christ by being in God’s word, assembling with the saints and living out Christ. Being in God’s word is where we are reminded that we should be dead to sin and alive to doing righteous things. If we are alive in Christ, then our speech, and actions, should reflect who Christ is.
Do we see our lives reflecting Christ? Do we see that our heart is a heart of Christ’s? Because (Rom 6:18 NASB) “having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”

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