Transcript

Put Off The Old Self

Colossians 3:5-11
Sunday, January 13, 2002 
Pastor Randy Smith

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For eleven years a man named Merhan Nasseri was a man without a country. He had no passport. He had no citizenship. He had no papers that enabled him to leave the airport or fly to another country. He had been expelled from his native country of Iran. Then he was sent away from Paris, France, because he lacked documentation. He said his Belgian-issued refugee document had been stolen. He flew to England but was denied entry and sent back to Paris. When he was returned to the Paris airport in 1988, airport authorities allowed him to live in Terminal 1, and there he stayed for eleven years, writing in a diary, living off of handouts from airport employees, and cleaning up in the airport bathroom.

Then in September 1999 the situation reversed. French authorities presented Nasseri with an international travel card and a French residency permit. Suddenly he was free to go anywhere he wanted. But when airport officials handed him his walking papers, to everyone's surprise, he simply smiled, tucked the documents in his folder, and resumed writing in his diary. They found he was afraid to leave the bench and table that had been his home for eleven years. As the days passed and Nasseri refused to leave, airport officials said they would not throw him out of the airport, but they would have to gently and patiently coax him to find a new home. Chicago Tribune (9-21-99).

When I was reading this article I couldn't help but think of the countless Christians who sadly, though God has provided their freedom and a new home, still find themselves in love with their despicable circumstances here on earth. On the contrary, Ephesians 2 says we have been made alive with Christ, we have been raised up with Christ, and we have been seated with Christ in the heavenly places.

When we better understand our heavenly abode, we can better understand Paul's admonitions in Colossians 3 from last week: keep seeking the things above and set your mind on the things above, not on the things of the earth. We can better understand why the biblical writers call us strangers and aliens and exiles here on earth. Our future home (for eternity) is in Heaven; Christ (who is our life, Colossians 3:4) is in Heaven. As Christians we have a new home, new Master, new heart, new nature, and new identity. And with these new realities should come new desires, new aspirations, and new goals.

Like the Iranian in the airport, God enables us to be set free; but so many Christians would rather delight in living under newspapers and cleaning out toilet bowls the rest of their lives.

Beloved, from a theological perspective the Christian life is very simple; our old self was crucified with Christ, we now live in union with Him. We are members of His body. We have been given His mind and His Spirit dwells within us. We have been transformed from a slave of Satan to a slave of Jesus Christ. We are to live for His glory and long for eternal holiness in Heaven. Everything about our new nature and new home screams righteousness!

How can we still love sin? Why would we want to continue in sin? Should we not, as Paul says in verse 5, consider ourselves dead to sin?

Next week we'll cover what we are to put on ; this morning we'll cover what we are to put off . First , we'll learn to specifically identify the sins from the old self (We'll learn to recognize them!). Second , we'll examine the reasons why we should put off sins from the old self (We'll earn to hate them!). Third , we'll explore ways to put off sins from the old self (We'll learn to remove them!)

The objective of this lesson is not only to recognize sin unfitting for the new self, but also become skilled to deal with that sin when it arises. Simply put, our goal is to hate our sin as much as God does.

1. RECOGNIZING THE OLD SELF (3:5, 8b-9a)

Before we seek to put anything off, we need to know exactly what we should put off. Therefore Paul provides two lists, neither by any means exhaustive, but rather a sampling of deeds from the old manner of life; deeds that we are (verse 5) to consider ourselves dead.

Though the whole sermon could be spent on explaining each of these deeds, I only plan to briefly touch on each one this morning. However, I have provided some self-examination questions after each deed on the bulletin insert for you to consider this week in the quietness of your own heart.

The first list (and you can follow along on your insert) is found in verse 5. They can all be classified as sexual sins . Obviously deeds such as evil desire and greed and idolatry are not isolated in the sexual domain, but I believe Paul's context here is sexual sins and I will therefore keep their definitions narrow specifically pertaining to that topic. Additionally for the purposes of continuity, the list in verse 5 begins with actions and progresses to motives. For example, immorality happens because of impurity, impurity happens because of passion, etc. And as the list of these vices proceed; each one exposes a deeper inward craving of the heart.

Let's narrow our study to a specific examination of these sins. Immorality is any form of illegitimate sexual behavior. Impurity is more general than immorality to also include the thoughts and intentions of the mind. Passion is sexual passion set loose in pursuit of sexual excess. Evil desire is the sin that precedes greed because illicit sexual conduct is ultimately an evil desire against God's holy law. Greed is unchecked hunger for sexual pleasure, a never satisfied desire to have more. Idolatry is placing sexual desire over a desire for God. So basically, any act of immorality is blatant idolatry.

Sexual sins were very characteristic of the Colossian's pagan past and unfortunately very common of our own life in this sexually saturated society before we trusted Christ. Though I trust we have repented of any explicit and overt behavior, I'm confident all of us sitting here right now are still guilty of these sins to different degrees in our private thought life. God is saying to you this morning, put them off.

In all my counseling with men, no other sin has been more prominent than the sin of sexual lust. Oh, they may be married to one wife in an adulterous free relationship, but their heart is craving 15 other women. I believe the problem, as we will see for the next three weeks, is not so much what they can't put off, but rather what they fail to put on. Our mind will naturally seek that which brings us the most pleasure. The only reason we fanaticize about sex is because it brings us greater joy than delighting in God.

The second list of "put-offs" is found in verse 8 and 9. This list deals with social sins , primarily the sins of anger. If the first list was personal sins, this one is social sins. If the first list was feelings, this list is speech. And unlike the first list, the second list begins with motives and proceeds to actions.

Let's take a brief look at them. Anger is deep settled feelings of hatred in a continuing state. Wrath is sudden outbursts of anger. Malice is a vicious nature bent on doing harm to others. Slander is speech that reviles another human being. Abusive speech is an exhaustive category characterizing an improper use of the tongue. Lying is a deliberate attempt to circumvent the truth.

2. REASONS TO PUT OFF THE OLD SELF (3:6-8a, 9b)

Now that we have briefly identified these sins mentioned in Colossians, you may be wondering, why can I no longer practice these sins that bring me such pleasure? Allow me, as we move to point 2 to provide you with 3 reasons from the text itself which demand that these sins are to be "put-off."

1. You are dead to those sins (3:5)

First of all, as a born-again Christian, you are dead to sin! Verse 5; "Therefore (based on Colossians 3:1-4) consider the members of your earthly body as dead…" and from here Paul follows with the series of sins we just examined. The word "dead" is in the aorist tense, which denotes one-time decisive action. These sins in respect to our new life in Christ are gone, crucified on the cross. They should no longer a part of our thinking or our desire.

The thought is expanded in Romans 6:11-14a, "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin , but alive to God in Christ Jesus . Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness ; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God . For sin shall not be master over you." Realize this beloved, you are either dead in sin (Col. 2:13) or dead to sin (Col. 3:5). Think about that one for the Scriptures provide no other options.

2. They provoke of God's wrath (3:6)

A second reason why we should avoid sin is because it provokes the wrath of God. Verse 6 says, "For it is on account of these things (the sins just mentioned) that the wrath of God will come" (Col. 3:6). This is a very frightening and potentially confusing verse.

Let's begin with a working definition of God's wrath? According to AW Pink, God's wrath is "His eternal detestation of all unrighteousness. It is His displeasure and indignation of Divine equity against evil. It is the holiness of God stirred into activity against sin." Simply put, God's wrath is His constant holy anger against sin. God demonstrates His wrath because His righteousness and holiness would be a sham if He didn't uphold His nature and punish sin. The text in Colossians clearly says God's wrath will come upon those who practice such sin.

At this point you may be wondering, what about me? Though I claim to be a Christian, there is no doubt that I have been guilty at times of the sins we've just discussed. Will I be saved from the wrath of God? I allow the Scriptures to answer that question. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 speaks of, "Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come". 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Christian is spared from God's wrath by the asbestos covering of Jesus Christ. He bore God's entire wrath against our sin on the cross. We show ourselves pardoned not only by our confession, but also by ongoing repentance and a failure to practice such deeds. Therefore believers are saved from God's wrath by recognizing their Creator, accepting His love offering of Jesus Christ, and hating their sin (we basically call that faith and repentance). Whereas unbelievers will face God's wrath for spurning their Creator, refusing to accept His love offering of Jesus Christ and preferring rather to love their sins. Today, possibly more than ever, our society has made a mockery of a holy God. People even boast of their sin. They would rather come out of the closet than clean it up. God will vindicate His righteousness; His wrath is being kindled.

Before we move on, there are some personal implications from verse 5. First , if a "believer" does not recognize his sin, hate his sin, feel biblical remorse over his sin, and eagerly seek to repent from his sin, I find it difficult to biblically justify that he is indwelt with the Spirit of God. This individual is no different that the one mentioned on whom the wrath of God abides. In a similar way, after listing the deeds of the flesh in Galatians 5, Paul concludes the list by saying, "of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21). Therefore it is implied in the verses both in Colossians and Galatians that a true believer when confronted with sin in the Word of God, will not continue in his sin, but will seek biblical repentance through the Spirit.

Second, if a believer realizes that these sins anger his heavenly Father to such a degree, how can he desire to have any part in them? How can he intentionally bring continual grief to his heavenly Father? If he is a child of God, why does he act like a child of wrath? On the other hand, in recognizing the pain which sin brings to his Creator, the true child of God will avoid sin at all costs in a heartfelt desire to please the One who loves him dearly. He will recognize the great cost that sin already cost the Father in needed to spend the life of His Son.

And another point to consider before we move on, Christian, don't think you can take your call to live righteously half hearted. Hebrews 12 says God loves you too much to allow you to remain in a state of disobedience. He'll chasten you, He'll discipline you, and He'll do whatever it takes to bring you back. I think about those in the Corinthian church who failed to examine themselves rightly were either weak, sick or dead! So either way, whether you are a believer or unbeliever, all who pursue sin will suffer consequences.

2. They characteristic of your unredeemed life (3:7-8a, 9b)

A third and final reason to put off sin is because these sins were characteristic of our unredeemed life. "And in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices," (Col. 3:7-9).

In verse 7, Paul reminds the believers as to how they once walked. This reminder has already been mentioned in the book of Colossians. 2:13 says we were dead in our transgressions. 1:21 says our sin had alienated you from God. Sin characterized our life, but now that we are redeemed, we are to "put them all aside." The same word was commonly used in antiquity for taking off clothes. As believers we should be discarding our dirty clothes and refusing to dress ourselves again in the filth of sin. Our wardrobe should now be the clean garments distinguishing our new self in Christ.

When Paul is saying we have "laid aside the old self" (in verse 9) he is basically referring to a past event that has us positionally justified and righteous before God. Accordingly, we are exhorted to live in agreement with that position. We are to do whatever it takes to keep the old dirty clothes from finding their way back on our body.

3. REMEDY TO PUT OFF THE OLD SELF (3:10-11)

So we have identified some sins from the old self. We have discussed three reasons as to why we should continually put off the old self. Finally (point #3), let's examine how we are to put off the old self. Verse 9 says we have "laid aside the old self." Verse 10 says, "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him - A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all" (Col. 3:10-11).

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." We call that verse the "Great Exchange" verse. At the cross, my sin was placed on Christ and Christ's righteousness was placed on me. Colossians 3:10 speaks of another exchange, an exchange in which practically shed off the old self and putting on the new.

We'll identify some specific virtues that characterize the new self next week, but for now suffice it to say, the new self is what all believers are in Christ. Paul does not ask believers to amend their lives for the better, reform their ways or make minor modifications. He's talking about an exchange, a whole new way of life consistent with our position in Christ.

How can one undergo such a radical transformation? Only by the grace of God! Verse 10 calls it a renewing according to the image of God. The verb is in the passive tense meaning that God is forever in a process of enabling each of His children to mature in their faith. And with that maturity comes greater victory over sin. Elsewhere Paul said, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16). "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). "That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph. 4:22-23).

God's Spirit works within us to renew us according to His image. As we cooperate with the Spirit, we are enabled to "work out our salvation" (Phil. 2:12). We can put off the old self and put on the new, being forevermore recreated back into the original image of God. We can begin to discard the improper clothing like a filthy set of rags and replace them with new clothes that represent our new position in Christ. We can bring glory to God by allowing His Spirit to make us holy.

God's goal is to see us conform to His image. Is it your goal to conform to His image? If so, how can you continue in sin that is not consistent with His nature? Do you want to honor God? Do you want to repent? Are you fed up with being entangled and enslaved with the same sins? If so, meditate on the Scripture, pray, and allow the Spirit to transform your thinking. Beloved, we will always struggle with sin, but there is no reason we can't have progressive victory. Overcoming sin may be the hardest thing you have ever set out to do, but with God, all things are possible!

Discipline yourself for godliness! Richard Baxter, the great Puritan preacher, once said, "Use sin as it will use you; spare it not, for it will not spare you; it is your murderer, and the murderer of the world: use it, therefore as a murderer should be used. Kill it before it kills you; and though it brings you to the grave, as it did your Head, it shall not be able to keep you there." Beloved, I think we are way too soft on our sin. Radically amputate the sin! Do whatever it takes! If you have a problem with alcohol, don't keep it in the refrigerator! If you have a problem with lust, get rid of the TV and the magazines! If you have a problem with spending, cut up the credit cards! If you hate the old self as much as God does, you do whatever it takes to break with sin. May we yield to God, allowing His Spirit to renew our mind. May He help us put off the old self and put on the new self, a new self that is created in the image of God.

Realize this beloved, it is God's goal for you to be like Him. We were created and recreated to reflect His image and bring glory to His name. We are to be His unblemished and polished trophies. Our behavior is to be excellent amongst the world (1 Pet. 2:12). We are to be sincere and blameless (Phil. 1:10). "We are to let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in Heaven" (Matthew 5:16). The only way we can practically achieve these lofty goals is put off the old self and put on the new self by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ.

Let me ask you beloved, what have our sins ever accomplished? They mar the image of God, make a mockery of the church, and they bring shame to the Name of Jesus Christ.

"It was called the 'Congress of the Cults.' Over 4,000 priest, pastors and ministers from all denominations were assembled. They had elected Joseph Stalin as their honorary president. One after another went to the podium proclaiming that Christianity and communism were fundamentally the same. They could co-exist. They could 'all get along.' A young Christian woman could bear it no longer. She looked at her husband, a Lutheran pastor and said, 'They are spitting on the face of Jesus. Go wash the shame off His face.' Her husband warned her, 'If I speak against the communists, you will no longer have a husband.' The pastor's wife, Sabina Wurmbrand, simply replied, 'I do not wish to have a coward for a husband.'

Pastor Wurmbrand died this last year, but his life is chronicled in his biography entitled, Tortured for Christ . Beloved, I could give you a thousand reasons to put off sin, but I wish to leave you with one, are you shaming the face of Jesus? Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand were willing to lay down their lives to prevent shaming the face of Christ. Are you willing to put off your sin to prevent shaming your precious Savior?