PUT AWAY THE OLD, PUT ON THE NEW!
PUT AWAY THE OLD, PUT ON THE NEW!
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. —Colossians 3:5-10
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. —Psalm 14:1
As followers of Jesus, we are to put to death—
- Sexual immorality
- Impurity
- Passion
- Evil desire
- Covetousness
- Idolatry
- Anger
- Wrath
- Malice
- Slander
- Obscene talk
- Lying
—“seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” There should be a difference between who we used to be and who we are now. Our values and focus should be different than they were before we called on Jesus to save us. This list above, and it is partial, are just outcomes that are not to occur in a person’s life as they follow Jesus.
On the other hand, the one who disclaims God will be corrupt and do abominable deeds. That is all they can do because they do not have the power of God’s Holy Spirit in their lives. You who have called on Jesus know how that used to be because—
“you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” —Ephesians 2:1-3
But—
“because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:4-10
Thank You, Dear Father, for the gift of salvation through Jesus. Now may I be faithful to the work You have called me to for Your honor and glory and in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANH8MWuyaE&list=RDQANH8MWuyaE&start_radio=1