So, we continue on our journey to answer the question, “How do we walk in Christ by faith?” The first way Paul teaches in chapter 3 is to seek the things of God and not the things of the world. Now, he will unpack that idea more. Let’s read Colossians 3:5-11 (NASB):
Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Now, literally the beginning of verse 5 reads “Therefore, put to death…” Now, wait! I have told you for 17 weeks that when you believed in Jesus Christ, you are a new person – the old is gone, and the new has come. Before faith in Christ, we “also once walked…were living” (in immorality, impurity, passion evil desire, greed, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, etc.). Paul teaches that you have died (have been crucified) with Christ, and you have a new life in Christ Jesus. So, if you have died to your old ways, why do you have to put them to death again? Great question!
Let’s look how John MacArthur explained it:
“We talked about living the risen life. Living the risen life involves the process of killing the old life in a practical way. Now positionally, and I want to clarify this for you, positionally that has been done. When you came to Jesus Christ and received Him as your Savior and Lord, when you confessed your sin and were born again, God as an act of sovereign power, killed the old life and gave you new life. But that has to work itself out in you practically in an everyday kind of living. What God has done positionally, what God has done in reference to your state in Christ, you need to work out in your own practice.”
One time I taught this passage to a small group and told them to write down the sins in their life that seem to reoccur. After everyone finished, we put all the paper in a basket, and we went outside. I had a shovel ready and dug a hole. I took everyone’s paper and threw it in the hole. I threw dirt back over the hole and packed it with shovel. I told them the next time they are tempting with that sin again, remember it is dead and buried – Christ paid for it! We now have a new life in Christ, and we must live from our new position! Christ in you the hope of glory! We will unpack this more next week. See you then!