Colossians 3:9-17

Put Away the Old Nature

So last week we left off with the first two put ways Paul gives, saying at verse 8:

8 But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.

Let’s continue reading as Paul adds:

“ . . . malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices 10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Paul then provides an extremely important follow-up here, saying:

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Understanding Malice and Slander

Alright, jump back to verse 8 where Paul continues with his list and says:

8 But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.

The word malice means plain and simple, badness, evil, depravity. It’s a description of the worst of the worst – they are full of kakia – badness – sort of like the motorcycle bounty hunter in Raising Arizona. Blasphemy. We tend to think of blasphemy as words spoken against God or words that lessen him, but the word can be applied to any vile assault on anyone – human beings included – as the term best means vilification. Filthy communication out of your mouth. Lewd, indecent, and immodest discourse. If you have ever worked in an environment of non-believers – especially in the blue collar arena – you automatically can identify what filthy communications mean. It’s funny but there is an automatic rule among believers, at least an unspoken boundary, that is not typically crossed when it comes to speech and communications from our mouths- words and subjects that are avoided. It shows that believers are at least attempting to moderate their flesh.

The New Nature

Paul goes on at verse 9 and says:

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices.

Lies are huge in the realm of the flesh – they are part of everything the flesh does. And are at the ready when the flesh is in operation. Satan is called the Father of lies in scripture. And part and parcel with lying is . . . darkness. Why? Because there is always a covering up, isn’t there? God and Christ are light – so the antithesis of them is . . . dark. And so in lies we discover the opposite nature of God. Among believers the truth ought to abide – in every way. Be open. Be honest. Speak the truth in love.

Paul adds a line to the direct directive of “do not lie to one another” and says, “Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” In Ephesians, the reason Paul says that we should put away lying is because we are (believers) "are members one of another"- or are brethren. The reason assigned here is, because “we have put off the old man with his deeds.” The sense is that lying is one of the fruits of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and as connected members we are not in a body of sin but in the body of Christ.

And in describing these believers as such Paul says at verse 10:

10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

In Ephesians 4:24 Paul puts it this way, saying that the new man is "created after God in righteousness and true holiness." Here Paul says that “as brethren we have put on the new nature, which is BEING renewed in knowledge after the image of its (the new nature's) creator.” What a passage!

The Journey of Spiritual Renewal

When I was born again in 1997, I was given the Spirit to begin to see things differently, more clearly, and that included the fact that Jesus had paid for and forgiven me of all sin once and for all. I was a fantastic experience and gave me true liberation of soul that has never left me. But I had zero knowledge – and before long, I wandered back to the trough of sin knowing I was forgiven, but NOT knowing how to live. In fact, I actually believed that being a Christian was fully experienced in the coming to know that one's sins were forgiven and then to not experience anything thereafter. But the knowledge of my salvation, coupled with the condition of my flesh were incongruent, and I found myself in a growing state of confusion.

In that state, I learned from the radio about something called the SOM in Costa Mesa and broke as a church mouse, decided to apply. It was here that I began to gain knowledge and understanding of God by and through the Word by the Spirit. And it was here that I just started to see and comprehend the purpose of being a believer, and that it was not just to believe and be saved, but it was to believe, be saved, and “to put on the new nature, which is BEING renewed in knowledge after the image of its (the new nature's) creator.” Here I discovered the connection between the NEW NATURE (of rebirth) and being renewed IN KNOWLEDGE . . . as Paul puts it . . . after the image of its (the new nature's) “creator.”

Overcoming the Flesh Through Knowledge

When the knowledge started flowing in, the old man started laying in the dirt a little longer. But not before! My flesh, though possessing the Spirit of God and Christ by faith, was not capable of resisting the powers that keep it alive – anger, lust, hate, wrath – but when the KNOWLEDGE after the image of the creator of the new nature started to find a home in me, the New Nature started to live – to dwell, to take up resistance and ultimately to exercise power and dominion over the former old man.

I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had with people who believe, who struggle desperately with sin and come and ask me the secret to overcoming the flesh, and how many I share the secret with, and how many simply do not take it. Why? Because the flesh does not want “knowledge after the image of the new creation's creator.” It does NOT want to know that the creator of the new nature loves peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness, love, and hope. The flesh HATES this knowledge – and so it wars against our pursuit of it.

The Impact of Knowledge on Spiritual Growth

If you are watching me today and have watched for some time, you are someone whose flesh has at least in part surrendered to “the power of knowledge after the creator.” You are someone who has realized the connection, the relationship between knowledge of God, hearing the word, learning the scripture, and the strength of the New Woman or Man that comes by these things.

In my estimation, this is the primary means by which believers overcome their fleshly tendencies – by knowledge of the creator of our new creation. And again, this is why we focus primarily on the LOGOS (facts and reason and information of the word) and not so much on Ethos or especially Pathos. We are feeding those who want the Word because I personally know and understand that this is the means by which a born-again baby Christian becomes a mature Son or daughter of God. It’s by understanding, knowing, that once we have put on the new nature, that nature is “BEING renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator – who is God.”

The knowledge here that Paul speaks about is not the knowledge of “everything,” or worldly things – like a renaissance man gains knowledge, but the knowledge of God. And as we become acquainted in this specific knowledge with our Creator, we begin to slowly resemble him in his capacities. Two steps forward, one step back, all the way to His side at the end of life.

So, Paul adds at verse 11 – and this is important:

11 Here (meaning in the knowledge of our creator) there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free-man, (Galatians 3:28 adds male and female) but

Unity in Christ

Christ is all, and in all. In other words, in the new creation being renewed with the knowledge of its creator, all are on a same level – there are absolutely no distinctions among those who are Christian. None. Jew, Greek, Circumcision, uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free person, male, female – none are unique, none above, none below. No one is admitted into that blessed society because he is special or she is ruined – all are the same always and forever. And this is yet another reason why in CHRIST lies the solution to our world and its divisions – which are being played out mightily before us this present day.

By the way the name Scythian is applied in ancient geography to the people who lived on the north and north-east of the Black and Caspian Seas, which is a region that stretched almost indefinitely into the unknown countries of Asia and were apparently occupied by people called the Monguls and Tartars. Here Paul seems to be speaking of any race that is transitory, wild or perhaps savage. Isn’t that radical, though? That the new creation present in people is no different in a savage person than in an educated King? It’s this way because “Christ is all, and in all.”

To me it is one of the greatest things about being a Christian – and it ought to constitute so much of what it means to be a Christian because of Him all people are his friends, followers and members of his body who lay aside all other distinctions and are known only as brothers and sisters.

God's Elect and Their Responsibility

At verse twelve he enters into talking about what believers are to put on, and he says at verse 12-13:

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

I want to talk about that line, as God’s chosen ones. First of all, let’s talk about other places where we read about God’s elect. Paul wrote in Romans 8:33

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

He wrote in 2nd Timothy 2:10 Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

And then Peter wrote, speaking of himself in 1st Peter 1:2 that he was

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

There are two Greek terms that are related being used in describing being elect –

EK-LEK-TOS and KLAY-TOS

Biblical Terms of Being Chosen

These two words are found in a very familiar passage in Matthew 22:14: “For many are called, but few are chosen. ” Klaytos is synonymous with invited and eklektos is synonymous with elected or chosen.

I want to establish a position on this. I am convinced that we cannot box God in on this topic. We try – oh we try – but in my estimation, not possible. However, I do believe that a loving good fair and just God does invite all. That I will box him in on. Could be wrong, but in this day and age of fulfillment see him this way through Christ.

However, biblically speaking, in the Old Testament, God did not necessarily invite everyone but he did not refuse anyone either to join the Nation of Israel – so long as they embraced their ways. I think we can safely say that God certainly created Adam and Even and invited them to follow and obey Him.

And then when it came to the Nation of Israel, this is what scripture says in Deuteronomy 7:6

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

I don’t think we can get around the fact that God elects and chooses. But ask yourselves, did he then open up his invitation to all Nations? He certainly did.

Looking to the Old Testament I think we are safe to say that God invites and

God's Election and Choosing

that he elects according to His ways and will (LISTEN) and as means to accomplish his overall purposes. The LONG VIEW. Listen – because we see that God has certainly elected and invited some to do His bidding in that time and age does not mean that he always does this or would always do this forever more. There are always exceptions and God seems to take them.

Biblical Examples of Divine Election

Back to election and choosing we know that in the case of the prophet Jeremiah that God said:

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

We can interpret this in a number of ways, but we cannot escape the fact that this is what God said about the individual Jeremiah. Can we say that God did and does this with all of us? I don’t think we can. Can we say that he might continue to do this with some of us? We can say it, but we may or may not be correct. All we can say is God did this with Jeremiah so it is NOT outside his purview – and he may or may not, continue to do this today. Even with regard to angels we read in

1 Timothy 5:21 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias . . .

Because God chose the Nation of Israel, of Jeremiah, or angels, does NOT make them superior to other nations or prophets or angels – it simply means God in his wisdom chose or elected these to perform certain things – and again – we cannot get away from this.

New Testament Context of Election

So, when we come to the New Testament Paul makes some statements that people today will take and assign to all human beings. But that is neither responsible or necessarily true. For instance in Ephesians 1 Paul clearly writes:

Ephesians 1:4 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

But the “us” there is either referring to the Apostles and/or the Jews as a whole and we know this because later he will distinguish the us (who were elected by God) with the words, “but you,“ showing that the message in the first chapter was not about everyone in the world – not in the least.

Jesus' Chosen Apostles

When speaking to the Apostles Jesus said John 15:16

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

Most of the references about being chosen when from the mouth of Jesus (in the New Testament) are to his chosen or elected apostles. Such is the case in John 6:37 when Jesus said

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”

The modern reader reads passages like this and thinks that he is speaking to them today. But that is not the context. And we must also note that Jesus did not invite all to serve as his special witnesses, but only twelve. They are yet another group – limited group – who were selected/elected to do certain things. Again, NOT because they were superior but because God purposed it. And these are some believers.

Let’s start in the shallow end and work toward the deep. In John 1:11 – the beloved apostle writes (referring to Jesus):

“He came unto his own (the Jews) and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received Him, (suggesting an invitation was extended) to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (meaning, “they were born of the will of God”).

Admittedly, there does seem to be several passages in the New Testament that speaks to believers in that day and age AND as God choosing (electing) people to play their role or part. It was certainly the case with Paul as we know out of all Jews in that day God elected/chose him – and engaged

Exploring the Concept of Election in Scripture

When discussing election, Acts 13:48 highlights a moment of rejoicing:

“When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Romans 8:29-30 provides further insight:

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Many readers today believe these passages speak to them, interpreting themselves as the invited and elected of today, as these scriptures refer to past believers.

Election in Context

To me, it's evident that these scriptures, similar to those about Jeremiah and Israel, illustrate that God invited and chose specific believers by faith. The purpose of such divine election was to reconcile the world to Himself, showing that in choosing some, all ultimately benefit.

This pattern is visible with Adam and Eve, the Nation of Israel, the Prophets, Jesus, and the apostles. Could the same not apply to the early converts?

Paul addresses this in his letters. Romans 8:33 states:

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.”

Titus 1:1 continues:

“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.”

And in Colossians 3:12, Paul says:

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

He adds in 1 Thessalonians 2:13:

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

Purpose Beyond the Individual

From these texts, some conclude that God's choice and election extend to everyone, with the consequence being eternal separation for those not chosen. However, scripture suggests that God's choices are “according to his purposes” and aimed at the greater good of all.

I believe the early apostolic church may have been specially elected as part of the Bride of Christ. This unique call helped establish His Bride, a pure and faithful church that overcame tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More and was ultimately saved. It served to reconcile the world to God, ensuring that those accepting Him are adopted into His family, benefiting from the work accomplished by those He elected.

Moreover, God may continue to call and elect individuals for specific purposes on earth, ultimately serving a greater good.

Election For a Greater Purpose

I reject the idea that God's call on individuals is solely for their salvation. Scripture consistently shows that God’s election serves broader purposes. Every account of divine election, from Adam and Eve to Israel, points to accomplishing something more significant for the world.

Understanding the Biblical Concept of Love

For the world. Jesus was elected by God for the same. The Apostles were elected to reach others. Believers were elected to become His bride and people today, if they are elected by God, are so because they are used to reach and bless more. I think that this view is lost when we consider the Calvinist Tulip stance.

So back to the verse in Colossians – the “put on” verse – let's read them again and cover them as we go, as there are sixteen of them, and I will be quick:

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,

The Virtues to Cultivate

Compassion

Mercy is the Greek. Compassion is when you feel sorry or badly for someone who appears to be suffering unjustly; mercy is when you extend love and compassion to someone who deserves their suffering. God is merciful to us; as His chosen ones, we are to be merciful to others.

Kindness

Falls right in line with mercy but is suggested with a blanket – to all – kindness. It’s not just being nice, which is learned and often amounts to "behavior-based manners." Kindness is from the heart and cares way beyond the superficiality of mannerisms.

Lowliness

From the Greek meaning “humility of mind.” Lowliness of heart. If you don’t have it, work at it, which is consistent with the biblical phrase, humble yourself. See your person in the lowest of terms, not in terms of a creation of God, but in terms of personal holiness. See others as better than yourself in this way.

Meekness

Another stab at humility – but this seems to refer to external expressions, which are not boastful or proud. Looking at Christ, God with us, who had the capacity to call down legions of angels, was externally meek in the sense of humility – not weak, but meek.

And Patience

Of course, this is another manifestation of the fruit of the spirit. Having said patience, Paul adds in the next line:

13 Forbearing one another,

Which is an expression of patience. Forbearing one another. Bearing with the ways of others. Cannot do it unless we are exposed to the ways of others, which we learn to forbear. For this reason, we engage with people as they are, and try hard to reform them in the name of God but to love them in his name.

Having said this, Paul adds:

And if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

The Essence of Love

Paul does not commend perfection. Instead, he speaks frankly – believers in Colosse had to learn to be meek and humble and kind and to forbear each other, and if someone does something that causes a complaint, to forgive each other AS THE LORD has forgiven them, so they must forgive. This is full circle, intersection, interwoven stuff! The humility, meekness, kindness, and patience are all tied to the forbearance, forgiveness, and the next biggie as Paul says:

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Interestingly, everything he just said is part of Agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty. – love is patient, love is kind, etc., which is why love is the higher law. It is all these things. Sorry to borrow from pop culture, but I can’t unhear U2’s song One Love when they sing:

You say, love is the temple
Love the higher law.
Love is the temple,
Love the higher law.
You ask me to enter
And then you make me crawl,
And I can’t keep holding on,
When all you’ve got is hurt.

Love is the temple and the higher law, but it comes with a high price – the sacrifice of self – and that can be a costly divestment. “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Perfect harmony.

Talk about pop culture – I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.

Right out of the Bible. In the Greek, “united perfection.” Ever experience united perfection in the world? It’s an amazing thing. When people come together and achieve something, it makes for fantastic memories – a playhouse that puts on a play, a dinner with family at Thanksgiving when everyone jells together, a summer pool party with neighbors and friends. Perfect harmony. United perfection. But remember, those events are possible because they are short-lived, and people are on their best behavior, and they can go home and let the real selves pour out on the couch.

Just extend.

Love and Harmony in Community

Thanksgiving to a month together or the pool party to a week and perfect harmony tends to dissipate with time and familiarity and before you know it, your itching to get away from the people the singular event united you with.

Forbearance and Forgiveness

Paul is talking about reality here – not religion and Sunday dress. He is talking about forbearance and forgiveness being required! He is talking about patience, which means there is a reason for patience to be involved, and kindness, which means that there is an opportunity – perhaps even a justification to be unkind.

Genuine Love and Authentic Expression

This is a call when we KNOW each other, when genuine faults come out and traits are made plain. And it is in this mess of authentic expression that Paul is prescribing love and perfect harmony because while the romance of hit and run dinners and barbeques are really nice, the ability to successfully love each other, (warts and all) is the real experience, the real growth. And when people are successful at it there is NO greater reward – because there is genuine love, agape – which comes from God.

And that equates to a wheelbarrow of gold to the soul. We will stop there.

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