If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
We must pursue, seek and strive after the things of Heaven. Our minds must be set not on the things of the earth but on the things of Heaven until the mind of Christ is formed in us (Philippians 4:8). This calls for a dying to self and a putting off of the old nature (Romans 8:5-8). We please God by living according to the new nature.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Colossians 3:5-7
4) Crucify Sin
We have to put to death our members, our fallen nature’s fruit. As Christians, why do we still operate in the old nature? We have to make a decision to put to death the sin in our lives. We must crucify the old self. We can’t serve God through the old nature. We must put it to death in order to live according to Heaven. We can do it because we have died and our lives are now hidden with Christ in God.
To crucify means to not suppress and to get rid of completely. We must not continue to feed the old nature. We must not pray about it, we must do it. We have the power to get rid of the old nature through our new life in Christ (Ephesians 4:22). The former life must not be the present life.
We are in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection (Romans 6:5-7). We who have died are freed from sin. If we died with Him, we have risen with Him in newness of life. We are freed from sin and we are no longer slaves to it. It seems as though we perform a resurrection everyday, we don’t take up sin and put it away. We are now dead to sin and we must crucify the old nature that still wants to sin. Sin is a habit, but we must habitually strive to live like Christ. We must crucify the old memories of the sinful nature. We don’t have to sin! We choose to go back to that which we have put away because of memories. No devil can cause us to sin, we choose to sin. We can rise above the memories and not sin. We have the power of choice. We can either choose to sin or to allow the Holy Spirit to rule.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. Colossians 3:8-9
5) Put away bad habits
Malice is the root of wickedness where one plans to do something evil to someone. Blasphemy is slander, evil and malicious speaking, gossip and verbal abuse. Lies are deceitful and untrue. These are all attitudes of the old nature. We must be busy killing and putting away these things in order to live according to heaven. It is our responsibility to deal with them as the Holy Spirit shows us so that we can become stronger in the new nature.
We must not make excuses for the old nature and say this is me, get rid of that old nature fast! If you have gotten rid of something, don’t go back! Whatever the situation is, deal with it in the new nature. Don’t let the old nature arise. Deal with your brothers and sisters in the new nature, bless them and not curse them (Romans 12:14-21). Don’t borrow from the old nature in order to make a decision when faced with situations. It is like going to the grave, to a dead man for an answer. As we operate in the new nature, answers will come.
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:10-15
6) Embrace the things of heaven
The new nature is created in Christ Jesus. It is created to know God and to embrace Heaven. The new nature is hungry to know God and to please God. The image of God is being formed in us and it can only be formed in the new nature. The seed of God is in us and we can look like Him (1 John 3:9).
The new nature must rule our soul and body. It is more glorious and more powerful than the old nature. As we submit and let go of the old nature, Christ will be formed in us and we would be able to live above sin (Galatians 4:19). When Christ is fully formed in us, we mature and grow. This calls for work and dedication. We are no longer of the dust, but as we are from heaven we will bear the image of the heavenly Man (1 Corinthians 15:47-48).
We have to feed the new nature with the things of Heaven (Colossians 3:16). We will allow the word to dwell in us richly and in abundance. We will be filled with all the fullness of Jesus. When we are filled, we will release words and see things happen. We will not speak what we feel or from our own intellect, but the word of God will come forth. It will come forth from a place of abundance and obedience. We can get there, but it’s up to us. Let’s make a decision today to do it!
