Time to Get Rid of It

Colossians 3-Part 3
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.  Colossians 3:5-9 NLT


LET IT GLOW

Verse 10 of NLT says, "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.  In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
I am to be clothed in the new person since I've been saved. I am to be renewed, constantly being renewed (anakaineo). The ol' gal is continuously being renewed, maturing, developing spiritually.There are no distinctons in this process. Christ is all, and in all. Did you catch that? Christ is everything. He's all that matters.


LET IT GROW

Speaking of clothing, since the warmer weather is here, it's time to get rid of the winter clothing and bring out the summer things. I like the bright, light weight caprees and blouses. Though packing up sweaters and long-sleeved shirts isn't my idea of a way to spend an enjoyable morning, it is fun to have my favorites back to wear. Paul is telling us some things we need to get rid of, as a Christian.

My old self, old nature, seems to pop up every now and then. It is to be crucified in order that sin might be rendered ineffective in the believer's life.
Romans 6:6 says, "Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."  (NAS)

Shepherd's Notes tells us:

The first five are sins of personal aggression. The individual who commits them thinks more of himself than he does of others. Paul gives two reasons why Christians should never practice these sins. They bring the wrath of God (verse 6), and they characterize the former life of sin and rebellion (verse 7).

What are the first five?
1. Sexual immorality-adultery, breaking the covenant marriage and fornication, sex outside of marriage
2. Impurity-failure to have the proper attitued to God's gift of sexuality
3. & 4. Lust and evil desires-refer to strong desires gone bad
5. Greed-covetousness, longing for something that belongs to someone else.

We may have been committing those sins before we became a Christian, Paul is reminding us. Now that we are a child of God, we are to get rid of them in our hearts and life.
" Idolatry is the worship of false gods, putting things in place of God," Liberty Bible Commentary tells us.

I don't want to be a child that is disobedient. Therefore, I need to make sure I get rid of the next five things According to LBC, Paul mentions:
1. Anger-uncontrolled temper, revengeful resentment
2. Rage-wrath that is boiling agitation, fiery outburst of temper
3. Malicious behavior-malice, a vicious disposition, willful desire to injure, refoicing in evil to others
4. Slander-blasphemy which is slanderous talk, evil speaking, railing insults, reckless and bitter abuse
5. Dirty language-filthy communication, obscene speech, shameful speaking, foul-mouthed abuse, unclean
                           stories.

One more thing Paul says-do not lie to each other. In the Greek, the present tense is used, which says to stop lying. There is no such thing as  "a little white lie." All lies are big and black.

Since the old nature, my old self, is corrupt, useless, not renewed, not converted, I am to get rid of her. It's time.
James tells us to bridle our tongue in James 1:26 and 3:1-9. The Lord needs to keep my words under control as a horse needs a brittle to control where it goes.

I'm ready for a change of clothes, physically and spiritually. How about you?

LET IT GO

Let go of any sinful habits, sins of the heart, sins of the mouth, sins of the mind.

Daily let Christ be my all in all.