Colossians 3:3 contains one of the most amazing of statements. This statement has so many wonderful implications that it would greatly strengthen and bless our lives if we would allow it to. And in-fact, this particular verse of scripture contains a specific truth that is absolutely vital to our understanding of our identity and how we are supposed to live as new creations in Christ – yet sadly I have seen many people rush passed this truth and latch onto the verses following it, and adopt a self-focused mindset that is destructive, due to not taking the time to consider the truth of verse 3.
So in this study today, we are going to examine, both verse 3, and the verses which follow it; keeping everything in context, and viewing it all in the light of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
As we begin today, let’s read Colossians 3:3, because this is the verse that it often hastily skimmed-over, and there is quite a lot to see here that will greatly edify us and give us a larger perspective of Jesus, and His completed work:
“For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
I invite you to pause here for a few moments, and consider this one verse. Consider the implications of the statement that it is making, and what it means for you today as a beloved child of God, and as a new creation in Christ Jesus.
You see, my dear friend, You, are not you anymore. You are not who you used to be. The person you were before Christ, is dead and gone! Those sins, failings, shortcomings, have all been done away with and judged in the body of Jesus Christ on the cross! You entire old self, the very nature, person and identity of your old person was crucified on the cross. It is extremely important that we understand this point fully, because it is the foundation of the entire finished work of Christ. If we do not comprehend this, then the Gospel itself will not mean anything, really!
So let’s take a moment and read Romans 6:6-7:
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
This concept; this idea; this truth and fact is repeated over-and-over again in the scripture, said in a variety of ways and using many different images and word-pictures, because it is the very core and essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you – and it shows you what your identity in Him is today as well.
When Christ died on the cross, He did not die for Himself; He didn’t die for His own sin – indeed He had no sin of His own. (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
Rather, Jesus died, for our sins… and He took on our sin, and our old identity, and we were crucified with Him – exactly as the scriptures say. We need to recognize this, receive this, and own this as reality. It is a completed work. He has done it. And as verse 7 of Romans 6 says, we are now freed from sin.
This too, has an effect and an implication that we need to recognize – because taking this all together, shows us that indeed our very identity and nature has changed. As I said before, you are not who you used to be! Not only has your sin been dealt with, but returning to Colossians 3:3, the old you is completely dead and gone! This includes the mark of sin in your life, and the guilt, and shame that accompanies it!
I have observed many people over the years, who claimed to be believers, but have still lived their entire lives with crippling guilt and shame, and under the weight of terrible regrets and condemnation, all because they simply did not recognize or receive this truth which we are looking at today, that their old self, and their old identity of sin, and “being a sinner” is already dead – that person died in the cross with Christ – and today we live a completely new identity; the identity of a holy, righteous and blameless person… not because we behave perfectly, but because Jesus has given us His identity, which is completely perfect forever.
So now, understanding this, let’s read Colossians 3:3-11 in the light of the finished work of Christ:
“For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience:
In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
We can see some amazing statements about our new identity here in these verses.
A lot of people read verse 4 and see only a future hope and promise. However I humbly submit to you today that verse 4 would not be true, or even a hope or promise of anything, unless your identity has been changed by the finished work of Christ already, right now – today! You see, it is the fact that Jesus has finished the work and made you a new creation that gives verse 4 its power. The fact that you are the new creations precisely the reason why you will appear with Christ in glory when He returns; because you are united with Him right now!
These things are mentioned first, because the truth of your reality and identity in Christ as a new creation is vital the understanding of the verses that follow.
As I mentioned earlier, many people skip over this step and move on right to verse 4, and they end up missing the very core and essence of what is being said, and adopt self-destructive mentality of self-work and effort to accomplish something that Christ can only accomplish (and He did so!)
Verse 5 says to mortify our members that are on the earth, such as fornication (which we looked at previously), and all of the other things listed.
Now if you miss the foundation of the finished work of Christ, and simply read this verse, it’s easy to see how many people become misguided to focus on their own works and efforts. They erroneously think that they need mortify their own bad behaviors, by their own will-power or strength.
The word “mortify” means to recognize as dead. And this is perfectly in-line with the previous verses we have read, regarding the finished work of Christ, the death of our old-self, and the fact that we are new creations in Christ.
Let’s continue reading:
Verse 6 says that the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience because of such things. Yet remember that we are not “children of disobedience” – we are dearly beloved children of God, and His obedience is perfect.
This is confirmed for us even more as we read verses 7-11:
verses 7 and 8 says (and notice the tense being used), that we also walked in these things some time in the past.
But now we have put them off, and it also tells us to put off (leave behind) wrath and evil communication from our mouth – and these are two areas where believers have great difficulty.
I have personally talked with a great number of believers over the years who still very much feel that they are under wrath in one way or another. And this feeling or belief of theirs is ultimately because they have not actually embraced the truth of their new identity which we have been studying about today.
And also regarding evil communication. Keep in-mind that evil communication is not really cussing and swearing that a lot of people think it to be… But it is actually defined for us in the next verses (9 through 11):
“Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
Notice what is actually in focus here – notice what kind of lying here is of utmost importance… lie not to one-another seeing – and what is it that we are supposed to be seeing?
Seeing that we have put off the old man with his deeds.
It all comes back to the finished work of Christ, and the fact that our old identity is gone. We should always be seeing that we have put on the new man, renewed in the knowledge that we are made in the image of Christ Jesus!
That is your new identity, that is how you are to live! To say anything other than you are the absolute righteousness of Christ, is a lie! To say that you are still a sinner is blasphemy against the finished work of Christ! To say that you are still guilty is an evil communication straght from the devil!
To claim that you are still under wrath, admits that you are still looking at your old dead identity instead of your new identity in Christ.
I encourage you today my friend, see the marvelous truth, that today, your old identity is dead and gone, and your new identity is completely hidden with Christ in God.
Hidden with Christ means that you are completely safe, and totally secure, and forever in His hands.
Be blessed.
No responses yet