So far from Collosians 3 we have been challenged to go into this new year with a proper focus (3:1-2), knowing that as long as we keep our trust in Jesus our salvation is secure (3:3), and to look hopefully for Jesus’ return (3:4). This morning we will look at a fourth resolution from Colossians 3:5-9. This is, perhaps, the most challenging of them all.
Resolution 4: Go into this new year putting to death the sins of your past.
In verses 5-9 Paul writes, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion (lust), evil desire, and covetousness (greediness), which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath (rage), malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth (dirty language). Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”
I want you to notice this is written to believers. Many people are under the impression that Scripture is directed to unbelievers when actually, every New Testament letter we have is addressed to the church. Now, you may wonder why Paul would be writing to believers about these things?
First, he is writing to them to remind them of their confession of Jesus. He is reminding them that they stand before God only by the grace of Jesus Christ. Why would Paul do that? It’s to urge them to remain committed to that confession. As one commentator said: “Paul was appealing to the commitment the believers had made and urging them to remain true to their confession of faith.” Sometimes we need that don’t we? We need to be reminded of our commitment to Jesus. And I want to do the same here: as you go into this new year, think back to the time you first gave your heart to Jesus, the first time you announced Jesus as your Lord, the first time you made the commitment to follow Jesus, and remain committed to those things.
Secondly, Paul is writing this to them to repent, if need be. Repent means to rearrange your way of thinking, feeling, and being to forsake that which is wrong. Now you may hear that and wander: do Christians still need to repent? Absolutely. It’s Charles Spurgeon who said, “Sincere repentance is continual. Believers repent until their dying day. This dropping well is not intermittent.” Meaning repentance is not something believers are to do every so often, but should often do. Believers should remain in a constant state of repentance. That’s because believers, contrary to the belief of many, are not perfect people. Even as saved people we do things, say things, look at things, and have thoughts we should not. I would also say what makes a saved person different from someone who is not saved is his or her awareness of how much they need to repent and how much they continually need the grace of Almighty God, because they are aware just how wretched and sinful they are. And I’m sure last year we all did things, said things, thought things and reacted in ways we know are not in accordance with godliness. Everyone of us can do this, and should do this often, by evaluating our life and rearranging the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we live by forsaking our ways for God’s ways.
Thirdly, Paul is writing to the believers in Colossae to remind them to continually be killing their sin nature saying, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” & “put them all away”. First, I would point out that this is war talk and I’ve told you many times when you make the decision to follow Jesus you are entering into a war with your flesh; Paul talks about this in Romans 7. Now, someone might ask what is this about putting to death my sin? Putting to death the deeds of our flesh is something we must do and we must do everyday. It means that we have an active role in battling and resisting our sinful habits. How do we do that? We can only do it by the power of the Spirit, which is God’s role in helping us put to death our sin. It’s in Romans 8:13 that Paul wrote, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” As believers, sin is never something we should get comfortable with. It is the old puritan preacher John Owen who once said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” And if we aim to live our lives by the power of the Spirit with our minds set on living a life pleasing to God, we will surely be killing sin instead of sin killing us.
Fourthly, Paul writes this to remind them that it is because of sins such as those Paul mentioned that God will one day pour out his anger and wrath on this world. And if you are found purposely and intentionally living according to the deeds of your flesh you will be subject to that wrath and perish in hell. Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon: “If you profess to be a Christian, yet find satisfaction in worldly pleasures and pursuits, your profession is false.”
So, I want to ask you: Is there something you need to repent of that you have not? Are you daily killing the desires of your flesh by the Spirit or have you grown comfortable with your sin nature and purposely living according to the deeds of your flesh? Have you come to find greater satisfaction in your sin than in Christ? Have you grown comfortable with lust, greediness, sexual immorality, anger, rage, hate, slander, unforgiveness, lying, and dirty language? If so, I urge you to go into this new year repenting of any sin that needs repenting of, renewing your commitment and confession to Christ, and make a commitment to kill what is sinful in you every single day by the Spirit.