The House You're Building

[17] Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. [19] They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. [20] But that is not the way you learned Christ!—[21] assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22] to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   [25] Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go...

What an encouragement this book is!   So much truth about who and what Christ is to us and my prayer is that this week’s study will give you even more to lean on…   The first chapter tells about who Christ is and the work He has done on our behalf.   In chapter 2 we read about our identity-who we are in Him.   Chapter 3 is very practical and essential for day to day living; in verse 4 it calls Christ “our life.”   The first part of chapter 3 describes how you can live as a new man, one saved and changed forever by the transforming work of Jesus.     This week we will cover the first 17 verses of Colossians chapter 3.     1.        There are two selves described in this passage.   One being the old man, one being the new.   The old man was your self before Jesus resided in you through the presence of the Holy Spirit on the basis of faith.   Cross reference the word self (which ...