Living the new life in Christ

When we come to Jesus Christ for our salvation we receive a new life with many blessings. We receive forgiveness for our sins, we come into relationship with Jesus and we receive eternal life. However, it is not a destination, but the beginning of a new life and journey with Christ.

If we have a look at the New Testament book of Colossians, we find a passage that talks about living the new life in Christ. When we look through chapter three we see that it gives us some pointers to help us live effectively for Jesus. Today I want to share some of those points.

Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".

As you can see the text naturally breaks into four sections. I have pulled out four points to help us live more effectively for Christ.

When we focus on heavenly things we see God's bigger picture. We still may have problems and struggles along our journey, but if our focus is on heaven, our lives take on an eternal perspective. Viewing our lives through an eternal perspective gives us peace and comfort and a sense of purpose and destiny that we are part of God's grand plan.

When we come to Christ the Bible tells us we receive a new nature. We need to feed our new nature by reading the Bible, by praying and spending time with others who follow Christ. Putting on the new nature also means we need to get rid of some of our old habits and behaviours. These include "having nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires". It also says we need to throw off anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. These things may take time, but if we feed the new nature and allow God to work in our lives, they will slowly drop away.

Verse 12 says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience". I love the analogy of clothing ourselves. It says we need to put on these attitudes and behaviour on like getting dressed. As we grow in our faith in Christ by feeding the new nature, we will see these things start to happen automatically, but we need to make sure we actively look for opportunities to bless and encourage others.

Verse 16 says the best way to be Christ's representative is to "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives". When we let the message of Christ's love, teachings and death on the cross for us fill our lives, we want to live for Him and let other know about Him. When we are full of Christ's love it has no choice but to outflow on to those around us. Verse 17 reminds us that whatever we do or say we need to be conscious that we are Christ's representative. As I have said before, we are the only Bible many people will read. Will people see Christ in your life?

Dear God, please help me to live my new life in Christ in a way that honours You. Please help to focus on heavenly things and spend time doing things that feed my new nature. I pray that You will help me to clothe myself with mercy and kindness and to be a worthy representative of Christ to those around me. In Jesus name, Amen.