Colossians 3:1-11 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”  NKJV

 

The “IF” is if you are raised with Christ in Salvation and set free from the bondage of sin having been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light in Jesus.  The “THEN” is if the first part is true then here are some things you are to do and chargeable in.

• SET YOUR MIND on Heavenly (Spiritual) things not Earthly (Carnal) things.

This is based on the fact and reality that you have died to that life and now your life is hidden with Christ in God.  You are a new creation.  You are a new person.  You are not the same as you were before.  Therefore, if in your spirit you are new then take steps to TRANSFORM your mind.

• PUT TO DEATH your flesh.

Put to death fornication, uncleanness, passion (inordinate affections), evil desire, and covetousness which is a form of idolatry.  This is not just something God is going to deliver you from and take from you but something you will cooperate with the Spirit of God and put them to death.  You make choices every day and you must RESIST the devil for him to flee.  These things bring the wrath of God and they are traits of your former condition in your lost state.  Now you are IN CHRIST so put to death the flesh.

• PUT OFF these character traits.

Anger (uncontrolled rage), wrath (which produces murder), malice, blasphemy, filthy language.  When I hear people profess to be Christians and exhibit those traits it concerns me for I know how the world views that profession of faith and hypocrite is too tame a word for what they think.

• DO NOT LIE.

Do not lie to one another and do not lie to yourself.  You have received Christ as you savior and the Old Man is now dead allowing the New Man to rise from the ashes of life.  Put off the deeds of the old and take on the garments of the new in salvation.  Allow the Holy Spirit to renew your minds so that you can truly manifest Jesus to the world.

IF we are IN CHRIST we should and will THEN set our minds on the spiritual not the carnal, put off the character traits and acts that are unbecoming to our position and condition in Christ and resist the devil speaking the truth in righteousness.  We are members of The Body of Christ and IF that is true THEN let our walk match our profession and thereby become epistles known and read of men.

            God bless you as you go through this beautiful day!