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Colossians 3:8-10
8 But [de] now [nuni] ye [humeis] also [kai] put off [apotithemi] all these; [pas] anger, [orge] wrath, [thumos] malice, [kakia] blasphemy, [blasphemia] filthy communication [aischrologia] out of [ek] your [humon] mouth. [stoma]
9 Lie [pseudomai] not [me] one to another [eis], [allelon] seeing that ye have put off [apekduomai] the old [palaios] man [anthropos] with [sun] his [autos] deeds; [praxis]
10 And [kai] have put on [enduo] the new [neos] man, which [ho] is renewed [anakainoo] in [eis] knowledge [epignosis] after [kata] the image of him [eikon] that created [ktizo] him: [autos] KJV-Interlinear
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him NASB
‘But now,’ identifies a dramatic transition. A transition from the old self to a new self.
When you were born physically into this world, you entered into a transition from a nothing existence, to human life.
The transition was accompanied with a dramatic change in their respective existences. From nothing to something is dramatic and should be obvious. And the change in existence requires a change in ones pattern of life. That should be obvious. You cannot continue the lifestyle of a fetus, in your life after being born.
Likewise, when you first believed in Christ, then you were reborn. You experienced a rebirth, accomplished by God, not you, and now you have yet another dramatic transition from an old life (old self), to a new life (new self).
But still once you have been saved, you retain a little of the old self (the old sin nature) within you.
In order to separate yourself from that sin nature, God gave you the fellowship principle, wherein you confess your sins on a regular and daily basis, in order to receive formal forgiveness and restoration into fellowship.
Once in fellowship, then you are in the spiritually functioning sphere which God designed for you. The new self, is accomplish within this sphere, and comes through daily Bible study, which is Christ, the written word.
Bible doctrine is the mind of Christ. Truth is the thinking of Christ. So, when you transfer doctrine into your soul, then your thinking is transformed, and you take on His character and mind set. A mind set of truth and of a new self.
Being reborn demands a new character and life, not a hanging on, to the character of the old self.
The sins listed here (sins of the tongue), are a continuation of the sin list from verse five. This is not an exclusive list, but serves as more examples of a much broader mental or overt attitude that can come from the sin nature.
Eph. 4:22-24
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. NASB
In order to accomplish that completeness that Paul has already mentioned, then you need to change your life’s habits, and more specifically, change your thinking habits, which obviously will change your beliefs, your motivations, your desires, your actions and so forth.
The objective of the spiritual life is to bring your life into conformance with Christ, and not with this world.
You were born an empty vessel, and your goal, actually Gods goal for you, is to advance you to a ‘complete’ status. And there is only one way to accomplish that, which is through your daily study and application of the word of God. This daily activity produces knowledge and wisdom, called here ‘epignosis,’ which is possessed knowledge, or usable, or applicable wisdom, as opposed to simply having a head filled up with facts and details.
You cannot sit back on your backside and expect everything to come to you. It won’t happen. There is still a component of responsibility contained within the spiritual life. Neither can you play both sides of life (carnal and spiritual) and expect to get by.
God never compromises righteousness and justice, both of which combine to make holiness. And that is what is expected of you. Set aside the old self, the carnal self, the carnal habits, the carnal lifestyle, and reinvent your life in conformity with Gods standards, which is truth.
If you were broke, would you work for nothing? No. How else could you pay your bills or even be responsible in life?
Pursue lies and you will lose. Pursue truth and you will win. The difference, between the rewards of truth and lies, is infinite. And the reward is your paycheck for pursuing whichever lifestyle you choose.
Prosperity or destitution is always your choice. The fool of course will choose the latter.
