Colossians 3:5-10                                                     Changing Your Style

 Kowloon International Baptist Church Kowloon Tong

Harry Lucenay, Pastor                                                         21 May 2006

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:5-10

Christians are constantly putting off self-centeredness and putting on Christ-centeredness.

1. Clean Up Your Act

Several lists of vices appear in the New Testament. Some of these are found in Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9, 10; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; and Titus 3:3.

The first list in today’s study addresses sexual misconduct.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. Colossians 3:5-7

Remembering who you are in Christ should affect what you do in life.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit whom you have received from God. You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

The Law of the Lord is a lamp and its teachings shine brightly. Correction and self-control will lead you through life. They will protect you from the flattering words of someone else’s wife. Don’t let yourself be attracted by the charm and lovely eyes of someone like that. ..if you carry burning coals, you burn your clothes; if you step on hot coals, you burn your feet. And if you go to bed with another man’s wife you pay a price. Proverbs 6:23-25, 27-29 (Contemporary English Version)

2. Clean Up Your Attitude

The second list addresses temper and interpersonal relationships.

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other… Colossians 3:8-9

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19, 20

3. Clean Up Your Agreement

Since you have taken off your old self with its practices have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9, 10

Take off the old ways of living like you take off dirty, worn-out clothes. Put on Christ like you put on new clothes (Colossians 3:12 ff).

William Barclay: Put to death every part of your self and personality which is against God, and which keeps you from fulfilling the will of God.

When you gave your heart to Jesus, you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Savior and Lord. Learning to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ takes a lifetime.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil…Come near to God…Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts.

James 4:7, 8

The New International Version of the Bible is used unless otherwise stated.