{"id":1852,"date":"2025-05-28T17:38:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T17:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1852"},"modified":"2025-12-15T21:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T21:10:14","slug":"put-on-the-new-self","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/put-on-the-new-self\/","title":{"rendered":"PUT ON THE NEW SELF"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Put on the New Self<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Colossians 3:1\u201317 (NIV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll never forget the night of my 40th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not because I planned it\u2014because I had no idea what was coming.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had been a normal day. I\u2019d been outside running around, doing a few things around the house, completely relaxed. My best friend\u2014my college roommate\u2014had come into town. And I didn\u2019t think much of it. We were just hanging out like old times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was wearing an old pair of shorts\u2014you know, the kind you\u2019ve had for so long they basically have memories stitched into them\u2014and a casual, worn T-shirt. Nothing fancy. I hadn\u2019t shaved. I wasn\u2019t dressed to impress. I was completely unkept and off the radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, Lori had been nudging me a little\u2014encouraging me to go out to dinner. But she didn\u2019t say much about where<\/em>, so I figured it was just a relaxed night out. No big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the phone rang. It was one of our staff members, calling in a panic.
\u201cI\u2019ve broken down. I need help.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately, I was ready to respond. The plan changed: let\u2019s go help, and then we\u2019ll grab dinner afterwards. Lori gently suggested I might want to at least change my shirt before we left\u2014so I did. But I kept the shorts and tennis shoes on. Again, I thought we were just grabbing something casual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what I didn\u2019t realize was\u2026 everything was a setup<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we pulled into the destination\u2014still thinking I was just helping a stranded staff member\u2014I walked through the doors and into a room full of hundreds<\/em> of people from all seasons of my life. Friends. Church members. Leaders. People from ministry, college, and beyond\u2014gathered together for a formal dinner\u2026 celebrating me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there I was\u2026 in old tennis shoes and those infamous shorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now listen\u2014I was grateful. Honored. Deeply moved. But I was also mortified.
Because what I was wearing didn\u2019t match the moment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t dressed for the occasion.
I didn\u2019t look like someone being celebrated.
I looked like someone who had no idea<\/em> what was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in Colossians 3, Paul essentially says the same thing to us spiritually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

You\u2019ve been raised with Christ. You\u2019ve been given a new identity.
You belong to a new kingdom. You\u2019re headed toward eternal glory.
So\u2026 why are you still wearing the old clothes?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s not talking about fashion. He\u2019s talking about the spiritual wardrobe<\/strong> of our lives\u2014our character, our choices, our speech, our relationships. And he says plainly:
Take off the old self. Put on the new.<\/em>
Not because you\u2019re trying to earn God\u2019s love\u2014but because you already have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t live holy to earn celebration\u2014you live holy because you\u2019ve been raised with Christ.<\/strong> You\u2019ve been given new life\u2014so live like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s open the Word and see what it means to \u201cdress\u201d like someone who belongs to Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colossians 3:1\u201317 (NIV)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

1<\/strong> 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<\/strong> Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3<\/strong> For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4<\/strong> When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5<\/strong> Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6<\/strong> Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7<\/strong> You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8<\/strong> But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9<\/strong> Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10<\/strong> and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11<\/strong> Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12<\/strong> Therefore, as God\u2019s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13<\/strong> Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14<\/strong> And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15<\/strong> Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16<\/strong> 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<\/strong> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul begins this section by reminding us not just what we\u2019re called to do\u2014but who we are<\/em>. If you\u2019ve been raised with Christ, your heart, mind, and life must reflect that new reality.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

1. Set Your Mind Where You Belong (vv. 1\u20134)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u201cSet your hearts on things above\u2026 Set your minds on things above\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Paul begins with identity: You\u2019ve been raised with Christ.<\/em>
You\u2019re not who you used to be\u2014and you don\u2019t live where you used to live. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does he say next? \u201cSet your heart\u2026 Set your mind\u2026\u201d<\/em>
It\u2019s an intentional redirection\u2014a daily, conscious refocusing of your priorities, your desires, and your thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Set your heart<\/strong> \u2013 your passions, your pursuits, your longings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Set your mind<\/strong> \u2013 your reasoning, your habits of thought, your worldview.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    You don\u2019t set your mind once and walk away. This is an ongoing posture. Like adjusting the compass when you drift\u2014Paul is saying: Recalibrate your focus toward heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why? Because Christ is not just your future\u2014He\u2019s your life<\/strong> (v. 4). And when you belong to Him, eternity isn\u2019t something you wait for\u2014it\u2019s something that shapes you now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pilots are taught to \u201cfly by their instruments,\u201d especially when visibility is limited. The horizon can play tricks on your senses. Your body may feel like it\u2019s flying level when it\u2019s actually banking into danger. The same thing happens to us spiritually. Culture, emotions, and circumstances can skew our sense of direction. That\u2019s why Paul says: set your instruments.<\/strong> Look up. Trust what\u2019s true, not just what feels right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Application:<\/strong> What has captured your mind lately? Where has your heart been focused? Have you been consumed by earthly worries\u2014or captivated by eternal truth? The Christian life isn\u2019t lived in neutral. You must aim your life at Christ\u2014or you\u2019ll drift somewhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But setting your mind on Christ isn\u2019t passive. It leads to action\u2014specifically, putting to death what doesn\u2019t belong in your new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Kill What Doesn\u2019t Belong to the New You (vv. 5\u201311)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    \u201cPut to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Now Paul moves from mindset to morality. He uses brutal<\/em> language here: \u201cPut to death.\u201d<\/em> Not minimize. Not manage. Not excuse. Kill it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why so harsh? Because sin is not a bad habit\u2014it\u2019s spiritual cancer.<\/strong>
    You can\u2019t coddle cancer. You can\u2019t negotiate with it. You kill it\u2014or it kills you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paul lists two clusters of sins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A. Sins of appetite and desire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sexual immorality<\/strong> \u2013 the Greek word porneia<\/em>, referring to any sexual activity outside God\u2019s design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Impurity<\/strong> \u2013 impure thoughts and intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lust and evil desires<\/strong> \u2013 cravings that take root in the imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Greed<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 a consuming desire for more, which Paul calls\u00a0idolatry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    B. Sins of attitude and speech:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Anger and rage<\/strong> \u2013 unchecked emotions that explode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Malice and slander<\/strong> \u2013 using your mouth to injure others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Filthy language and lying<\/strong> \u2013 degrading speech and deceptive behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paul isn\u2019t just describing \u201cbig sins\u201d\u2014he\u2019s describing heart issues<\/strong> that still affect many believers. These are the \u201cclothes\u201d of the old self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And here\u2019s the key: \u201cYou used to walk in these ways\u2026\u201d (v. 7).<\/em> That\u2019s not who you are anymore. You\u2019ve taken off the old wardrobe. Don\u2019t go digging it out of the laundry basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Have you ever tried to wear a shirt that no longer fits? Maybe it\u2019s from another era\u2014outdated, uncomfortable, just\u2026 wrong. That\u2019s what it\u2019s like when a Christian walks in their old nature. It doesn\u2019t match your new identity. It doesn\u2019t fit your calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Application:<\/strong> What parts of the old self have you kept around?
    Is there a sin you\u2019ve tolerated that God is calling you to crucify?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Take off the old. Don\u2019t polish it. Don\u2019t patch it. Kill it.
    Because you\u2019ve been raised with Christ\u2014and the old life doesn\u2019t belong to the new you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But Paul doesn\u2019t just call us to put off the old\u2014he calls us to put on<\/strong> something better. The Christian life is about more than saying no to sin\u2014it\u2019s about saying yes to Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Dress Yourself in Christlike Character (vv. 12\u201314)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cClothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After putting off the old, Paul now says: Put on the new.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just like you wouldn\u2019t walk out the door physically unclothed\u2014you shouldn\u2019t walk into your day spiritually unprepared. Paul gives a wardrobe list of virtues that reflect Christ\u2019s nature in us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Compassion<\/strong> \u2013 feeling deeply for others, especially those who hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kindness<\/strong> \u2013 acting gently and generously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Humility<\/strong> \u2013 not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gentleness<\/strong> \u2013 strength under control, like a bridle on a strong horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Patience<\/strong> \u2013 enduring inconvenience or offense without complaint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But it doesn\u2019t stop there. Paul says: \u201cForgive each other, just as the Lord forgave you.\u201d<\/em>
    Forgiveness isn\u2019t a suggestion\u2014it\u2019s a command rooted in grace.
    And then the clincher: \u201cOver all these virtues, put on love.\u201d<\/em>
    Love is the overcoat. It binds everything else together in harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Picture a sports team. Each player has a specific jersey\u2014but they all wear the same team colors. That\u2019s love. Love is what identifies us to the world as belonging to Christ. Without it, all the other virtues unravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Application:<\/strong> Are you dressed for the life Christ has called you to live?
    Are you patient with others, or reactive?
    Do you offer compassion\u2014or quick judgment?
    Are you bearing with the weaknesses of others\u2014or growing resentful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Every day, you put something on. Let it be Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And finally, Paul brings the message home\u2014not 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Let the Peace, Word, and Name of Christ Lead You (vv. 15\u201317)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cLet the peace of Christ rule\u2026 Let the message of Christ dwell\u2026 Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paul closes with a vision of a\u00a0Christ-centered community<\/strong>\u2014a church and life where the presence of Jesus is not peripheral, but\u00a0central<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A. Let the\u00a0peace of Christ<\/strong>\u00a0rule in your heart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The word \u201crule\u201d<\/em> is like an umpire\u2014let peace call the shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t let anxiety or conflict lead you\u2014let Christ\u2019s peace take control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    B. Let the\u00a0Word of Christ<\/strong>\u00a0dwell richly among you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not a surface-level visit\u2014but a deep indwelling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Teach, admonish, worship, and encourage each other in the Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    C. Do\u00a0everything in His name<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Whether in word<\/strong> (what you say) or deed<\/strong> (what you do), let it all reflect Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Imagine hosting someone important in your home. They don\u2019t just visit the living room\u2014they move in. They shape how you use the space, what music you play, what conversations you have. That\u2019s what it means for the Word to dwell richly<\/strong>\u2014it permeates everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Application:<\/strong> Does peace rule in your heart\u2014or is fear in charge? Does the Word dwell in you\u2014or is it a guest you visit on Sundays? Are you living in His name\u2014or just using it? Let peace lead. Let the Word guide. Let the name of Jesus mark every action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t compartmentalize your faith. Let Christ reign in everything.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conclusion:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The Christian life is not about adding a little Jesus to your old life. It\u2019s about dying to who you were\u2014and living as who you now are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ve been raised with Christ.
    You\u2019ve been rescued from the old life.
    You\u2019ve been given a new heart, a new wardrobe, a new calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So don\u2019t live like the old you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Put off the anger. The lust. The pride.
    Put on love. Forgiveness. Humility. Patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let your speech change.
    Let your attitude shift.
    Let your life reflect who you belong to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ve been invited to the table of grace. Don\u2019t show up in your old clothes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Live like you\u2019re raised.
    Love like you\u2019ve been forgiven.
    Dress like someone who bears the name of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Christ has raised you\u2014now live like it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Closing Prayer:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Heavenly Father, thank You that we\u2019ve been raised with You\u2014that 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\u2019ve reached back for the old self. Forgive us for tolerating sins You died to set us free from. Today, we take off what doesn\u2019t belong\u2014and 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\u2019 name we pray, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Put on the New Self Colossians 3:1\u201317 (NIV) Introduction: I\u2019ll never forget the night of my 40th birthday. Not because I planned it\u2014because I had …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1852","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1852"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2705,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1852\/revisions\/2705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}