Colossians 3:1-11 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

1. Developing our true self does not begin with our will… but with a new life we now share in Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’ - Galatians 2:20

• We’ve died (3a)

• We’ve died (3a) • Our life is hidden with Christ (3b)

• We’ve died (3a) • Our life is hidden with Christ (3b) • Christ is our life (4a)

John 14:6, Jesus said about himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

• We’ve died (3a) • Our life is hidden with Christ (3b) • Christ is our life (4a)

Colossians 3:11 (New Living Trans.) – “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.”

• We’ve died (3a) • Our life is hidden with Christ (3b) • Christ is our life (4a) • Christ will be manifest again as he brings heaven to fully bear upon earth… and we will appear with Him in Glory (4c)

• We’ve died (3a) • Our life is hidden with Christ (3b) • Christ is our life (4a) • Christ will be manifest again as he brings heaven to fully bear upon earth… and we will appear with Him in Glory (4c) “…But we know that when he appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” - 1 John 3:2

2. Developing our true self does involve a process that requires our will and work to embody (live out of) the new life.

Verse 10 – ‘…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator…

‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.’ - Proverbs 4:23

The heart is the central place out of which we process life… formed by what we give ourselves to…and in turn governs our behavior. It is shaped by our choice of what we give our greatest affections to… which we internalize… out of which our actions flow.

Psalms 62:5 ‘Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.’

Psalms 62:5 ‘Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.’ Psalms 103:1 ‘Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.’

Ultimately spiritual formation… the development of our truest self… is the development of our AFFECTIONS.

Matthew 6:20-21 “…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Examples of the fallen and false nature

Examples of the fallen and false nature Sexual immorality – sexual pursuits that are relationally destructive

Examples of the fallen and false nature Sexual immorality – sexual pursuits that are relationally destructive Impurity – that which does not honor human dignity

Examples of the fallen and false nature Sexual immorality – sexual pursuits that are relationally destructive Impurity – that which does not honor human dignity Lust – that which flows from a separation of our body and our being

Examples of the fallen and false nature Sexual immorality – sexual pursuits that are relationally destructive Impurity – that which does not honor human dignity Lust – that which flows from a separation of our body and our being Evil desires - that which is corrupted and not serving and satisfying our deepest nature.

Examples of the fallen and false nature Sexual immorality – sexual pursuits that are relationally destructive Impurity – that which does not honor human dignity Lust – that which flows from a separation of our body and our being Evil desires - that which is corrupted and not serving and satisfying our deepest nature. ‘Greed, which is idolatry’ – the selfish possessiveness of either another person or material wealth above God

Another set of desires …

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred Rage – uncontrolled assaults of anger

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred Rage – uncontrolled assaults of anger Malice – the root attitude of ill will; hidden hatred of the heart

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred Rage – uncontrolled assaults of anger Malice – the root attitude of ill will; hidden hatred of the heart Slander – speaking that which degrades another

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred Rage – uncontrolled assaults of anger Malice – the root attitude of ill will; hidden hatred of the heart Slander – speaking that which degrades another Filthy language – speaking that which is generally degrading

Another set of desires … Anger - a continuous attitude of hatred Rage – uncontrolled assaults of anger Malice – the root attitude of ill will; hidden hatred of the heart Slander – speaking that which degrades another Filthy language – speaking that which is generally degrading Lying to one another – breaking the trust of honesty