- … since you have taken off your old self with its practices …
Summary: Understanding Paul’s words sometimes forces us to try and see things from God’s perspective.
Being the person I am, the brain God gave me tends to dwell on the details. Maybe “obsess” would be a better word. In this passage, Paul writes that we have “taken off [our] old self.” This isn’t the first time he has referred to this.
Just a few verses ago, he wrote, “Since you died with Christ …” (Col 2:20), which he followed up with “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ …” (Col 3:1).
This is a difficult concept. How do we “take off” our old self? Is dying with Christ just a metaphor, or is Paul suggesting something different? It feels like if this were true, we could be permanently rid of our sinful nature, yet we know that is not true. Resisting sin requires work.
A few nights ago, I was lying in bed thinking about this as I drifted off to sleep. In my mind, I could see myself arriving in heaven and being greeted by Jesus. Off to the side was the cross still stained with the Lord’s blood. Hanging from the cross was what looked like my skin. It was empty and wrinkled, but somehow, I knew it was my flesh that had been nailed to the cross.
As strange as this night vision sounds, it helps me understand what Paul is talking about. Psalm 90:4* reminds us that time is not what it seems and that whatever it is, God is outside of time.
Somehow, when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, he already sees us with our sinful selves nailed to the cross. What Paul says is true, and at the same time the truth is not quite “yet.” In one sense, we have taken off our old selves and have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20). In another, we struggle with a war being waged in our minds (Romans 7: 21-25).
Choosing Jesus is not a one-time decision. We don’t get to “check” the Jesus box and then “check out.” Instead, we continually choose to take off our old selves with all the things that deserve the wrath of God.
Am I suggesting that we save ourselves by our “works?” Not at all! None of us can put off our “old selves” without God’s help. Even if we could, it is beyond our power to redeem ourselves before God. As it is, we still need a Savior every day, which is why we have to choose to follow him every day.
Application: Choose Jesus every day, all day.
Food for Thought: What does it feel like to take off our old selves?
*”A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4)
What does it feel like to take off our old selves?
We all enter this world as “spiritual beings” confined within these “physical bodies.” Our top concern is “our physical well being” and we have no concern for others as we cry out to be fed, changed, held, and on it goes. Our demands are for others to immediately stop whatever they are doing and make our needs, their immediate priority. As we grow, ( depending on our environment ) we are trained in culturally acceptable behaviors, and to varying degrees learn self control.
At some point in our lives, we all receive conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) and choose to receive of reject Gods revealed truths. All those choosing to receive Jesus Christ, immediately become a new person and are immediately faced with a major decision. “ Are we going to let go of our now dead physical self, or are we going to hang onto all our old, or possibly just a few pet, old ways and habits? “
Romans 6:6, We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
We must choose to live the new LIFE given to us by God. For some like Paul, this is an amazingly short process. For many of us, this is a life long process as we drag our filthy little teddy bear around with us wherever we go.
The sooner we trust God, cut the cord, release our grip on our old habits, the sooner we receive new strength, can breath deeply, think more clearly and receive the peace and joy God has always intended for us as we walk with Him.
Thank you, Ron!
I like your example. You remind me of Linus in the “Peanuts” cartoon. I’m now seeing him as a grown businessman still holding onto his blanket! 🙂
Thanks for the good comments R2T2.
Part of putting off the old self means putting on the new (Colossians 3:10). Like changing clothes, we change in a way that fits a follower of Jesus. Some clothes are inappropriate for some functions while others are appropriate. Some behaviors and attitudes do not fit a faithful follower of Jesus while others do.
2 Corinthians 5: 17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: a The old has gone, the new is here!
Ephesians 4: 22 – 24: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Thank you, Rich!
I love the “new clothes” approach!
I had an interesting thought this morning. The transformation from old self to new self is like the Israelites being rescued from slavery and led to the promised land. I think there are a lot of deeper correlations in this concept for the life of a follower of Christ. But for today, I would say the Israelites were promised the promised land, but they still had to claim it. Not only claim it, but hold it. They had to trust in the Lord in battle for it, and they had to seek the holiness of God in their hearts to keep it.
If the promised land for us today is full restoration with God, and in our own heart, Christ has provided the way to it, but here on Earth we will have to battle for it and we have to seek the holiness of God in order to keep it.
What does it feel like to take off our old selves?
As I think it has been said, it is not a “one and done” experience. It is step by step in faith. The territory of the heart is won in Christ. If we were capable of doing this ourselves, we would have already done it. Everyone in all things must grow to recognize the truth, and offer each part of themselves to Christ for redemption and renewal. In some ways the taking off of the old self feels like weights are lifted off, in some ways the taking off of the old self feels like there are areas of life that were once desert and are now gardens. Also though, the old self does constantly try and reclaim the victories that Christ has given us. The only defense that enables us to hold it is seeking the righteousness of God through Christ.
Thank you, Chris!
The analogy of the Israelites coming out of slavery is brilliant! Thank you!
What does it feel like to take off our old selves?
My mind starts to lean words taking up the Lord’s yoke and dropping the yoke of this world. So I guess it would feel like relief.
Well said, Tim!
It’s like canoeing in a fast moving river. It is much easier to row with the flow than trying to go against the stream.