Christ in Colossians | Dead To Flesh, Raised With Christ – Colossians 3:1-17
Followers of Christ live in a tension between what we once were and we we will one day be. Our former selves, the one that gave in to selfish ambition and the desires of our flesh cannot peacefully consist with our new life being raised with Jesus Christ. We claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior yet, if we are honest, crave our sins despite our declared allegiance to Jesus Christ. For some, it may even be that we attempt to conduct ourselves as both under the Lordship of Jesus Christ but living in rebellion to our commitment. Even for mature Christians, we wrestle our sins and struggles. As Paul continues in Colossians 3:1-17, he alludes to the idea of “Progressive Sanctification,” the idea that we continue to grow in perfection and righteousness until we arrive at eternity. Paul exhorts us to seek the things of Christ based on His position at the right hand of God. We are to put to death the old self and come alive to the new self.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is 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, ESV
Putting To Death The Old
When you read through Paul’s list of earthy desires, it should become readily clear how few of us make it through the list. Everyone, it seems, struggles to some extent with at least one impurity. Their effect will only serve to end the lives. Sin, whatever form it takes itself, destroys the person it inhabits. Paul’s command to put to death the old self is not a restrictive, oppressive decree but a haunting warning. The old self and its desires rooted in a sinful heart, must be put to death, nailed to the cross of Christ, before the old self puts us to death. Putting to death the old self means that we submit to Christ as Lord over and before all things, seeking the will of God for our purpose and direction.
Yet, we must be willing to be patient with ourselves and with those around us. Everyone’s past is riddled with horrifying and disgusting sins that plague our past. We all walk through the process of progressive sanctification. As we put to death the old self, we must be willing to do so bluntly and without prejudice, calling sin by the sin it is and being willing to open up to our spiritual brothers and sisters regarding our struggle. Furthermore, Christ is preeminent over every aspect of our life, even more as we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, acknowledging His supreme reign. As Christ reign’s preeminent, we put to death the sin running rampant in our life
Alive In The Spirit
In contrast to the old self, the self alive in the Spirit is defined by the love of God glowing through the individual. Jesus still looks to the heart of mankind as the root issue, but the Spirit if God overflows and expresses through our actions. In contrast to the flesh, the things of the Spirit deny our personal selfishness and immediate gratification but exudes the peace of God through denying the self and coming alive in Jesus Christ. Love for others, as Paul describes, binds people together in harmony. In order for love to be truly expressed, love must involve two people willing to submit and care for other other, sometimes at great Christ. For those claiming faith in Christ, we serve a God who acted first out of love. As Christ is preeminent, we follow Christ in the love and grace He first demonstrated to us.
Therefore, the word of God should dwell deep within our soul. Coming alive in Jesus Christ, while we first to the old self to death, reshapes our spiritual DNA into new being. Our struggle through progressive sanctifiction demonstrates the newness of life that God creates inside of us. This process will be marked with pain from refinement but ultimately will be for our own good and speak to the glory and grace of our God. Every action we take pronounces the magnificent love of God that He would seek to save and rescue mankind from the sickness of our willful sin. As the word of God dwells inside us, the Holy Spirit gradually forms and shapes us until we reflect the glory of God. We are gradually and progressively sanctified, as witnesses to God’s gracious righteousness, until we reach the final day of glorification where we stand in eternity, perfected and unified with Christ.
