Put on the New Self
Colossians 3:1–17 (NIV)
Introduction:
I’ll never forget the night of my 40th birthday.
Not because I planned it—because I had no idea what was coming.
It had been a normal day. I’d been outside running around, doing a few things around the house, completely relaxed. My best friend—my college roommate—had come into town. And I didn’t think much of it. We were just hanging out like old times.
I was wearing an old pair of shorts—you know, the kind you’ve had for so long they basically have memories stitched into them—and a casual, worn T-shirt. Nothing fancy. I hadn’t shaved. I wasn’t dressed to impress. I was completely unkept and off the radar.
Now, Lori had been nudging me a little—encouraging me to go out to dinner. But she didn’t say much about where, so I figured it was just a relaxed night out. No big deal.
Then the phone rang. It was one of our staff members, calling in a panic.
“I’ve broken down. I need help.”
Immediately, I was ready to respond. The plan changed: let’s go help, and then we’ll grab dinner afterwards. Lori gently suggested I might want to at least change my shirt before we left—so I did. But I kept the shorts and tennis shoes on. Again, I thought we were just grabbing something casual.
But what I didn’t realize was… everything was a setup.
As we pulled into the destination—still thinking I was just helping a stranded staff member—I walked through the doors and into a room full of hundreds of people from all seasons of my life. Friends. Church members. Leaders. People from ministry, college, and beyond—gathered together for a formal dinner… celebrating me.
And there I was… in old tennis shoes and those infamous shorts.
Now listen—I was grateful. Honored. Deeply moved. But I was also mortified.
Because what I was wearing didn’t match the moment.
I wasn’t dressed for the occasion.
I didn’t look like someone being celebrated.
I looked like someone who had no idea what was happening.
And in Colossians 3, Paul essentially says the same thing to us spiritually.
You’ve been raised with Christ. You’ve been given a new identity.
You belong to a new kingdom. You’re headed toward eternal glory.
So… why are you still wearing the old clothes?
He’s not talking about fashion. He’s talking about the spiritual wardrobe of our lives—our character, our choices, our speech, our relationships. And he says plainly:
Take off the old self. Put on the new.
Not because you’re trying to earn God’s love—but because you already have it.
You don’t live holy to earn celebration—you live holy because you’ve been raised with Christ. You’ve been given new life—so live like it.
Let’s open the Word and see what it means to “dress” like someone who belongs to Jesus.
Colossians 3:1–17 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Paul begins this section by reminding us not just what we’re called to do—but who we are. If you’ve been raised with Christ, your heart, mind, and life must reflect that new reality.
1. Set Your Mind Where You Belong (vv. 1–4)
“Set your hearts on things above… Set your minds on things above…”
Paul begins with identity: You’ve been raised with Christ.
You’re not who you used to be—and you don’t live where you used to live. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
So what does he say next? “Set your heart… Set your mind…”
It’s an intentional redirection—a daily, conscious refocusing of your priorities, your desires, and your thoughts.
- Set your heart – your passions, your pursuits, your longings.
- Set your mind – your reasoning, your habits of thought, your worldview.
You don’t set your mind once and walk away. This is an ongoing posture. Like adjusting the compass when you drift—Paul is saying: Recalibrate your focus toward heaven.
Why? Because Christ is not just your future—He’s your life (v. 4). And when you belong to Him, eternity isn’t something you wait for—it’s something that shapes you now.
Pilots are taught to “fly by their instruments,” especially when visibility is limited. The horizon can play tricks on your senses. Your body may feel like it’s flying level when it’s actually banking into danger. The same thing happens to us spiritually. Culture, emotions, and circumstances can skew our sense of direction. That’s why Paul says: set your instruments. Look up. Trust what’s true, not just what feels right.
Application: What has captured your mind lately? Where has your heart been focused? Have you been consumed by earthly worries—or captivated by eternal truth? The Christian life isn’t lived in neutral. You must aim your life at Christ—or you’ll drift somewhere else.
But setting your mind on Christ isn’t passive. It leads to action—specifically, putting to death what doesn’t belong in your new life.
2. Kill What Doesn’t Belong to the New You (vv. 5–11)
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…”
Now Paul moves from mindset to morality. He uses brutal language here: “Put to death.” Not minimize. Not manage. Not excuse. Kill it.
Why so harsh? Because sin is not a bad habit—it’s spiritual cancer.
You can’t coddle cancer. You can’t negotiate with it. You kill it—or it kills you.
Paul lists two clusters of sins:
A. Sins of appetite and desire:
Sexual immorality – the Greek word porneia, referring to any sexual activity outside God’s design.
Impurity – impure thoughts and intentions.
Lust and evil desires – cravings that take root in the imagination.
Greed – a consuming desire for more, which Paul calls idolatry.
B. Sins of attitude and speech:
Anger and rage – unchecked emotions that explode.
Malice and slander – using your mouth to injure others.
Filthy language and lying – degrading speech and deceptive behavior.
Paul isn’t just describing “big sins”—he’s describing heart issues that still affect many believers. These are the “clothes” of the old self.
And here’s the key: “You used to walk in these ways…” (v. 7). That’s not who you are anymore. You’ve taken off the old wardrobe. Don’t go digging it out of the laundry basket.
Have you ever tried to wear a shirt that no longer fits? Maybe it’s from another era—outdated, uncomfortable, just… wrong. That’s what it’s like when a Christian walks in their old nature. It doesn’t match your new identity. It doesn’t fit your calling.
Application: What parts of the old self have you kept around?
Is there a sin you’ve tolerated that God is calling you to crucify?
Take off the old. Don’t polish it. Don’t patch it. Kill it.
Because you’ve been raised with Christ—and the old life doesn’t belong to the new you.
But Paul doesn’t just call us to put off the old—he calls us to put on something better. The Christian life is about more than saying no to sin—it’s about saying yes to Christ.
3. Dress Yourself in Christlike Character (vv. 12–14)
“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility…”
After putting off the old, Paul now says: Put on the new.
Just like you wouldn’t walk out the door physically unclothed—you shouldn’t walk into your day spiritually unprepared. Paul gives a wardrobe list of virtues that reflect Christ’s nature in us.
Compassion – feeling deeply for others, especially those who hurt.
Kindness – acting gently and generously.
Humility – not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
Gentleness – strength under control, like a bridle on a strong horse.
Patience – enduring inconvenience or offense without complaint.
But it doesn’t stop there. Paul says: “Forgive each other, just as the Lord forgave you.”
Forgiveness isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command rooted in grace.
And then the clincher: “Over all these virtues, put on love.”
Love is the overcoat. It binds everything else together in harmony.
Picture a sports team. Each player has a specific jersey—but they all wear the same team colors. That’s love. Love is what identifies us to the world as belonging to Christ. Without it, all the other virtues unravel.
Application: Are you dressed for the life Christ has called you to live?
Are you patient with others, or reactive?
Do you offer compassion—or quick judgment?
Are you bearing with the weaknesses of others—or growing resentful?
Every day, you put something on. Let it be Christ.
And finally, Paul brings the message home—not just to individuals, but to the community of believers. He gives us a glimpse of what life in the church looks like when Christ is at the center.
4. Let the Peace, Word, and Name of Christ Lead You (vv. 15–17)
“Let the peace of Christ rule… Let the message of Christ dwell… Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
Paul closes with a vision of a Christ-centered community—a church and life where the presence of Jesus is not peripheral, but central.
A. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart:
The word “rule” is like an umpire—let peace call the shots.
Don’t let anxiety or conflict lead you—let Christ’s peace take control.
B. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly among you:
Not a surface-level visit—but a deep indwelling.
Teach, admonish, worship, and encourage each other in the Word.
C. Do everything in His name:
Whether in word (what you say) or deed (what you do), let it all reflect Jesus.
Imagine hosting someone important in your home. They don’t just visit the living room—they move in. They shape how you use the space, what music you play, what conversations you have. That’s what it means for the Word to dwell richly—it permeates everything.
Application: Does peace rule in your heart—or is fear in charge? Does the Word dwell in you—or is it a guest you visit on Sundays? Are you living in His name—or just using it? Let peace lead. Let the Word guide. Let the name of Jesus mark every action.
Don’t compartmentalize your faith. Let Christ reign in everything.
Conclusion:
The Christian life is not about adding a little Jesus to your old life. It’s about dying to who you were—and living as who you now are.
You’ve been raised with Christ.
You’ve been rescued from the old life.
You’ve been given a new heart, a new wardrobe, a new calling.
So don’t live like the old you.
Put off the anger. The lust. The pride.
Put on love. Forgiveness. Humility. Patience.
Let your speech change.
Let your attitude shift.
Let your life reflect who you belong to.
You’ve been invited to the table of grace. Don’t show up in your old clothes.
Live like you’re raised.
Love like you’ve been forgiven.
Dress like someone who bears the name of Jesus.
Christ has raised you—now live like it.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that we’ve been raised with You—that our lives are hidden with You in God. Thank You for calling us out of darkness and clothing us in righteousness. Forgive us for the times we’ve reached back for the old self. Forgive us for tolerating sins You died to set us free from. Today, we take off what doesn’t belong—and we put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Let Your peace rule in us. Let Your Word dwell in us. And let our lives bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.