Colossians 3:1-11 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  5 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.” 

I readily acknowledge that as we receive Christ, we are instantly transferred from the domain of darkness into God’s kingdom, born-again – We are Saved!  However, I know from scripture and experience that the process to maturity and righteousness is not instantaneous and is sometimes difficult and painful but worth it.

Paul speaks to his listeners, saying, “IF, ” which is critical!  If you have been raised with Christ (Salvation), there is something for you to do that will not be done for you but in you!  You must keep seeking.  You make the decision, choice, and commitment to keep seeking the things of God. You set your mind on heavenly or spiritual things. You do it because you have been born again and in order to develop, grow, and mature.

Paul tells them to make the determination that their bodies and fleshly desires are dead!  Dead to immorality, evil desire, greed, and idolatry.  He says you put aside anger (it is a choice), wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech.  You, stop telling lies.  You must realize that “IF” we are in Christ, regardless of sectarian background or ethnicity, we are brothers and sisters in God.

If we are to become that which Christ died for, we must receive His forgiveness.  There is no step two without step one, but after we receive His forgiveness, we move into the process that requires action.  Some people want God to do it all and justify things in their lives, saying, “If God wanted it gone, He would remove it.”  No, He wants us to participate in the process! 

He has instructed us to participate in our spiritual development.  So, while we are instantly saved, we do not automatically become mature spiritual adults any more than an infant becomes a mature adult upon birth.  It is a process that is progressive. We move by little and little, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, as we grow in grace and relationship with the Lord!

May God be with you as you go through your day!  Blessings!