old self – Three Minute Bible

February 18, 2025February 18, 2025

Colossians 3:9b – Choosing Jesus

Picture of a man in bed thinking about the cross...

… 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).

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

Colossians 2:11 – Cut Off & Born Again

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ …

Summary: Paul resorts to a metaphor that ties in his arguments about circumcision with spiritual truths that we cannot see with human eyes.

I have to confess that I find circumcision a rather awkward topic for discussion. However, since Paul has mentioned it and provided a handy description, we will go with that!

In this passage, Paul equates circumcision to putting off our “whole self ruled by the flesh.”

I wish it were that easy!

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023

Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work

… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Summary: Why does it feel like “putting on” this “new self” is a lot of work? The answer, like so many things in life, depends on how you look at it. Looked at correctly, we are not doing any work at all. Instead we are honoring our King, Jesus.

July 13, 2023July 14, 2023

Ephesians 4:24c – The Seven Step Plan

… in true righteousness and holiness.

Summary: Today’s passage marks the end of the beginning. In the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul lays out a seven point plan culminating in living a life that is “true righteousness and holiness.”

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023

Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus

… created to be like God …

Summary: The idea of being like God can feel a little intoxicating … to the old self. To the new self, being like God is to be like Jesus.

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023

Ephesians 4:24a – Programmed for Life

… and to put on the new self,

Summary: Using a computer for a modern metaphor for a spiritual concept is helpful. We operate in a similar way. The one major difference is that unlike the computer, we get to choose our “programming.”

July 9, 2023July 9, 2023

Ephesians 4:22b – Weed Killer for the Soul

… which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Summary: The “old self” is tricky. It wants to be liked so it plays tricks on us to make us think it is doing good.