Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Summary: There is a place that is not a place where God wants us to be. When we get there, we discover that our differences are not what we thought they were.
There is a place where hate and division do not exist. It is not a physical place, although you might say the place Paul is talking about is in the physical place we live.
Where is this place within a place?
It is not a place you can point to with your finger. In fact, it is tough to describe. Paul has been struggling to explain it in the last few verses.
How does one describe being radically transformed? If you were a butterfly, how would you describe what it was like to have changed from a caterpillar? To make things even more complicated, the caterpillar has to want to change, and this change is renewed moment by moment every day.
It would be pretty funny if a butterfly turned back into a caterpillar each time it stopped thinking about being a butterfly! Unfortunately, it is not funny when a Christian stops thinking about Jesus and turns back into a sinner.
Even though our salvation doesn’t rest on our “works of the law” (Romans 3:28), our effectiveness as a Christian does rely on putting on the “new self” (Col 3:10). When we effectively “put on” the “new self,” something amazing happens.
We step into Jesus.
Paul tells us that “Christ is all.” John’s Gospel account confirms this. He writes:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:1-4)
Everything came from and through Jesus.
When we put on our “new self,” we are putting on Jesus. When we become part of Jesus, we are in a new place, the place Paul calls “here.” In this place, “Christ is all,” and our differences disappear. All that matters is all that is supposed to matter– loving God.
In this new self, we can still see who we were made to be, but we are different. Instead of seeing ourselves as caterpillars, we know we have become butterflies. Being a butterfly, we do not need to look at ourselves in the mirror. We are drawn to the “light of all mankind,” and in that light, we see God’s will for us.
Application: Let go of “self,” and embrace the “new.”
Food for Thought: How do people of the “new self’ deal with people who are still wearing their “old selves?”
A few ideas from Scripture:
Matthew 5: 13 – 16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Colossians 4: 5 – 6: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
1 Peter 3: 15 – 16: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Matthew 10: 25 – 37: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ c ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ d ”
28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii e and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Rich,
Great words! Scripture is the BEST! 🙂
Thank you!
Great response Rich.
How do people of the “new self’ deal with people who are still wearing their “old selves?”
We are all born, spiritual beings confined within physical bodies, a life controlled by the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life. Without Jesus we are totally consumed, controlled by desires of our flesh.
All mankind is being convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come. 1 John 2:16, John 16:8
All who seek and receive the forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ, become spiritually alive, in HIS power. We become people who once existed in fear of death, now looking forward to the day we will called to our true home.
Ephesians 4:17-32.
The priority for our lives changes from pleasing self, conforming to this world, to pleasing God and submitting to His will for our lives.
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. John 8:29
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23
Believers have been saved, yet remain here on earth surrounded by the drowning unsaved. I remember as a new believer in Bible Study, I asked a brother, what do we do now that we are receiving truth?
HE REPLIED, JUST KEEP STUDYING, YOU WILL BE LED BY GOD! This wise counsel is what I would give to all believers reading this great question today.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Ron,
Thank you for sharing your “wise counsel.” I agree. There are times in our Christian lives for doing and times for receiving.
Blessings!