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In much of today’s Christianity there is a lack of true conversion and transformation in the lives of those who are attempting to follow Christ. Many are being seduced by a watered down version of Christianity that doesn’t challenge people to put off the old nature by being crucified to the world and to put on the new nature which is being created by Christ.
The two lessons below are from the Book of Colossians where the apostle Paul deals with this important issue.
This is just a sample abbreviated outline.
Click on the links below for the complete outlines.
A New Pattern for Living Study
1. Putting Off the Old Nature - PDF - Word
2. Putting On the New Nature - PDF - Word
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The Foundation of Change – Colossians 3:1-4.
In this passage of Scripture the apostle Paul is dealing with the character of the new man that is being formed in every Christian who has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving power. Paul is making a transition from theological statements to practical precepts in Christ. He has laid a strong doctrinal foundation in the preceding chapters on Who Christ is and now his attention turns to how Christians should live their lives.
In these verses Paul lays the foundation for effective change in our lives. Because our lives have been raised with Christ, our lives are to be different. They are to reflect a new pattern of life.
Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.
The operative word here is “Set.” We are set our mind and affections on things that are above – the realities of heaven. If we are to see true and lasting change in our lives, it means setting all of our affection on Christ and His kingdom. The person who has been raised with Christ sees things from the eternal perspective, which should result in having their whole pattern of life on earth being dominated by this perspective.
We once walked according to the world, but now God has raised us up together in His likeness and made us to sit in heavenly places with Christ.
Ephesians 2:5-6 (even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Carnality does not produce faith but rather unbelief and defeat. Think of the ten spies who came back with a bad report after being sent out by Moses to spy out the land. They came back with a defeated report based on unbelief, because they were not seeing things through God’s perspective. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb came back full of faith with a good report because they new where they were seated. They had set their minds on the realities of heaven. They knew where they were seated.
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