Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Colossians 1-4
Colossians 3:9-10
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Paul, writing from a prison cell, pleads with those in the church at Colosse to keep Christ in His proper place. That place is defined in 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. This is Christ’s place. The head of every church, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have the preeminence. Meaning in everything He is to be first.
This entire book is an argument for simple faith in Christ vs. worldly philosophy, vain deceit, traditions of men, and the rudiments (principles or elements) of the world (see 2:8). Paul warns this church, which was located close to Asia, about 100 miles east of Ephesus, of the merging of Gnosticism, Eastern mysticism, and Greek intellectualism. He refutes false teaching by reminding the believers of that church: As ye therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (2:6). The question is how? How can we walk in Him? How can we keep Him in His proper place? How can we do all things heartily unto Him as commanded in 3:23?
In today’s two highlighted verses above we are told how: …put off the old man… and …put on the new man… Inconsequential to the specifics surrounding this action, consider the action in and of itself.
The old man was the person we were prior to salvation. The new man is the person we are to be after salvation. The difference between the old man and the new man is Christ. But then, how does one take off the old man and put on the new man? Paul leaves the reader not without assistance in this matter. For he clearly states in 3:2 this key, Set your affection of things above, not on things on the earth.
This is one of the overriding responsibilities of pastors of churches, to help their church members keep their minds on things of eternity. Things above in opposition to the things of the earth. False teachers cannot tolerate this focus. They focus on wisdom, fleshly actions, and ceremonial rites, not the mere simple faith and worship of God through Christ.
Think about a financial consultant that focuses on retirement accounts. They must keep the client’s mind on the long-term investment strategies to grow their wealth. Meaning they encourage them to have a savings plan, to withstand the temptation to use all the money they earn for the “todays” of their life. They keep the client’s thoughts on 4o, 50 or more years into the future. Likewise, a pastor is similar, but the pastor continually draws the attention of his congregation to the greater investments with superior eternal rewards. By keeping their thoughts, sights, and aims on things above, not of things on this earth. This is that which Paul does throughout this epistle. He continually encourages them to put off the old man and put on the new by keeping their focus on things eternal, things in the heavenly realm, meaning the things of Christ.
Dr. William T. Howe
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