THE NEW LIFE

THE NEW LIFE
1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 3:5-10
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Colossians 3:5-10 NLT
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

How significant are you - child of God? He tells us. (1 Peter 2:9)
* Chosen generation
* Royal priesthood
* Holy nation
* His own special people
God has expectations for His children and He expects us to live as children of God.
The Living Word motto for 2024 is simply: Let us Show Unity even more in 2024.
Fact: Unity of God's people starts with HIS people.
But you may ask how can I live in a way that represents the almighty God, my heavenly Father? Great question.
Let us break down Colossians 3:5-10.

Colossians 3: 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 
Verse 5 In no uncertain terms, has Paul instructing his readers not to LET their body do whatever it wants. Rather, they are to live by Christ's desires for their lives. In particular, Paul calls out five specific sins which Christians are to "put to death"or MAKE THE CHOICE NOT TO DO , not simply to avoid in their physical bodies.

First, believers are to abstain from sexual immorality. This can include premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, or deviant sexuality such as bestiality.

Second, Paul speaks against impurity, or spiritual uncleanness. Again, this general sin can refer to many things, such as evil thoughts or actions.

Third, Paul mentions "passion," also translated as "lust, or inordinate affection." These are inappropriate cravings which distract us from the things above, and lead us to commit the sins of immorality and impurity.
But Paul, why can't I allow my body to do what it wants?

Galatians 6:8 NLT
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Colossians 3: 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

According to the Bible, God's wrath is the result of human sin. Jesus taught, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

Colossians 3:7  You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 

Never forget: 
Titus 3:3-4 NKJV
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

The Colossian believers are highly encouraged by Paul in this letter. However, their past lives were not godly. Paul knows that these believers were once sexually immoral, impure, and idol worshippers (Colossians 3:5). This was before their faith in Jesus. Now, Paul could say they "once walked." Their sinful lifestyles in these areas are in the past tense as Paul writes his letter

This presents two of the great blessings (benefits) of salvation. First and foremost, those who trust in Christ are free from the eternal penalty and punishment of their sins (Colossians 3:6). 
2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV: For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Galtians 6:7: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

At the same time, Christians are freed from the enslavement of those sins. Through the power of Christ, we don't have to be chained to those evil habits any more.

Notice, however, that freedom from the power of sin does not mean Christians cannot be tempted. Nor does it mean believers are immune to falling back into those sins. Moral perfection during this life is not promised for a believer in Christ. This is why Paul issues warnings about the dangers of sin, even to those he knows have a saving relationship with Jesus. Paul himself admits that he continues to struggle against sin (Romans 7).

"Struggle," truly, is the key distinction between the believer and the non-believer. All are capable of sin, whether they are saved or not. However, a believer will not continue "living in sins." Truly saved believers are not complacent or comfortable in their mistakes. The conviction of God's Spirit compels a true believer to fight against sinful actions, rather than to show no feeling or interest towards sin.

Colossians 3: 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 
Paul now adds five more areas of spiritual failure.

First, Paul speaks against anger. Outbursts of uncontrolled anger are not meant to be found in the life of a Christian. Anger in and of itself is not always wrong, but it can lead to much sin (Ephesians 4:26). Human anger tends to pop up over issues which are not worth that emotion.

Second, Paul addresses wrath. In modern English we often mingle the words "anger" and "wrath." However, they are really two separate ideas. Anger is an emotion, wrath is an action. In this context, wrath suggests the idea of revenge, and is sometimes translated as "rage." In Romans 12:19, Paul taught that believers ought to leave wrath to God and not seek revenge on our own terms.

Third, Paul condemns malice. Paul has already condemned the emotion of unrighteous anger. He has done the same with wrath, which is the act of revenge. "Malice" is a broader term, referring to a general desire to see another person suffer or be harmed. We should not hope for harm to befall others.

Fourth, Paul speaks against slander. In the Biblical context, slander is putting down other people or speaking evil against others. This can include insults, lies, harsh speech, or even gossip.

Fifth, Paul prohibits obscene talk. Speech which is vulgar, or intended to be offensive, is not to be associated with the life of a believer.

Colossians 3:9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 

Note that, in this particular case, Paul is specifically addressing Christians lying to fellow Christians. All believers, regardless of class, race, background, age, gender, or ability, are part of the same family (Colossians 3:11; Galatians 3:28). Rather than being petty or deceptive, believers are to treat one another well, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Paul's reason believers should not lie to one another is found in the issue of identity. Those who put a trusting faith in Christ are new people who have died to sin and have become alive in Christ. The goal is then to live a Christ-like life. Lying to one another is inconsistent with this new life. Paul supports this argument by appealing to the highest authority possible: Christ Himself. The old self, of sin and the world, is contrasted with the new self in verse 10. The idea of the "old self" is also discussed by Paul in Romans 6:6 and Ephesians 4:22.

Colossians 3: 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

LEARN = SANCTIFICATION 
A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose. To sanctify, therefore, means "to make holy." 

Philippians 2:12 NKJV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

In contrast with the old self, the believer is a new creation and should therefore live differently. Paul adds that the new self is constantly refreshed through knowledge of the one who created it: Christ. 
1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Knowledge which comes from Christ is noted throughout Colossians as an important part of the Christian life (Colossians 1:9–10; Colossians 2:2–3).

Just as Christ is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), believers are being remade into the likeness of Jesus. The believer is a new person increasingly designed to grow more like Christ, the one who created us.

IN CONCLUSION: 
If you want the blessing, favor, and protection of God in your life, there's no other way than to obey God's Word. Obey Scripture whether you like the command or not. 
Obey whether you agree with the command or not. Obey immediately and completely. Obey no matter what. Obey because God is God and you are not. 
Understanding can wait, but obedience cannot. To read a passage and not obey is to defy God. 
The purpose of the Bible is to simply.
Not to increase our head knowledge but to change our lives 
To build our character,  to be more like Christ
- Doctrine: To show us the path
- Reproof: To show how I got off the path
- Correction: How to get back on the path
- Instruction: To show how to stay on the path

The writer Flannery O'Connor observed, "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." Obey it! Obey God's holy Word and God will bless you in His timing. Period.

You are NEW. Choose to live like it. God's got you!!!