Deep Dive into New People, Old Words: Putting Off the Old Self and Putting On the New (Colossians 3:8–10)

The Christian life is understood as the outworking of an identity already bestowed by grace, adhering to the principle of "indicative before imperative," where identity precedes behavior. This foundational truth dictates that Christian ethics flow from what God has already accomplished, rather than being a means to earn acceptance.

The change in identity is definitive, marked by the two words "But now," signaling a decisive break from the old life. Believers have experienced definitive sanctification, meaning they have definitively "put off the old self with its practices" and "have put on the new self." The "old self" represents the corrupted humanity inherited in Adam, characterized by slavery to sin and patterns of anger, malice, and lies. In contrast, the "new self" is a completed work of God, belonging to Christ’s resurrection life.

Since believers are already clothed in the new self, the ethical commands become a summons to live consistently with this new reality. Believers must actively "put them all away," discarding the sins belonging to the former identity. These are primarily relational and verbal sins that strike at the heart of Christian community. These corrosive practices include internal attitudes like anger, wrath, and malice, and outward expressions like slander, obscene talk, and lying. Lies are particularly damaging because trust is the invisible architecture of the community, and deceit undermines fellowship. Indulging in these sins is acting out of character, putting on the garments of a person who no longer exists.

While the new self is definitively received, it is also "being renewed" continually in a process called progressive sanctification. God is the primary actor in this ongoing work, which takes place "in knowledge"—true, experiential knowledge of Christ. The ultimate goal of this renewal is to restore the divine image, directing the new self "after the image of its creator" so that believers increasingly resemble Christ. Thus, the struggle against sin is the struggle of a liberated person learning to walk in freedom, trusting God to complete the work He has begun.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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