THE DEMANDS OF THE NEW LIFE
Read Colossians 3:5-11
Unfortunately, many believers have become comfortable with sin in their lives. Many are at peace living in compromise while they justify their unholy lifestyle. Living the Christian life demands that we embrace everything the Bible teaches. Notice two primary admonitions in this morning’s text.
1. First, there is the command to mortify (put to death) the sins which enslave the body – vs. 5-7.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.”
Prior to salvation a person can become enslaved to many fleshly desires and passions. However, as a believer, we are commanded to mortify these sins. Examples are:
Fornication – sexual sins
Uncleanness – impure motivations
Inordinate affection – depraved and vile passions
Evil concupiscence – longing for that which is biblically forbidden
And covetousness – being greedy for more than what is needed (which is idolatry)
These sins are to be put to death by putting on Jesus Christ and depending upon God’s Spirit to grant us victory. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “…if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
2. Next, there is the command to put off the sins which enslave our emotions and our tongue – vs. 8-11.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
If we aren’t careful, we may ignore the command to put off those sins listed in verses 9 and 10. How does your life look in relation to having put off the following:
Anger – the natural disposition of being deeply short tempered.
Wrath – this is step above anger, it is someone who boils over.
Malice – possessing ill-will toward another, desiring to injure them.
Blasphemy – this is speaking evil of another, injuring their name.
Filthy communication – this is having a foul mouth, speaking obscenely.
Lying – this is simply deceiving another.
Are you prepared to put off these emotional sins? Christ demands a new life be lived by everyone who professes to know Him as Saviour.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. In what practical ways are you to mortify the members of your body?
2. Why does God require you to mortify the members of your earthly body? Why do we sometimes have so much trouble putting our members to death?
3. Which of the emotional sins listed above do you struggle with the most? What can you do better to put off this sin?
4. How can you guard your tongue against sinning against others?