Ephesians 6:10-11; We stand firm when we put on the new self and its virtuous heart, part 2.

Class Outline:

The verb “put on” is used in reference to the Holy Spirit (LUK 24:49); armor of light (ROM 13:12); Christ (ROM 13:14; GAL 3:27); new self (EPH 4:24; COL 3:10); virtuous heart (COL 3:12); breastplate of faith and love and helmet of salvation (1TH 5:8).

 

“Put on TLJC” is contrasted with an immoral life and associated with making no provision for the flesh (ROM 13:8-14).

 

In Paul’s epistle to the Colossians we find a detailed description of being faithful to Christ’s word.

 

COL 3:1-4

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

It is not a life hidden from you but is not yet as visible as it will be at the return of Christ. For now the spiritual life is within. Christ clothes our hearts. From within we stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Sometimes the inner spiritual life will be manifested to others, but other times they won’t see it.

 

COL 3:5-8

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead [command] to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside [command]: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

 

“Consider dead” is only used here and in two other passages to describe Abraham’s understanding of his own ability to produce an heir with Sarah at 99 years old.

 

As in Rom 13 we find a categorization of animal lusts of immorality and passion and diabolical lust greed, anger, abusive speech, etc. Sin is the reason for the wrath of God to come. The world is not going to become righteous someday. God’s wrath never comes upon a believer, because every believer is righteous having been imputed with the righteousness of Christ. Still, sometime in the past we walked in those realms, but now that we are free from them, what sort of people should we be? We lay aside the old self.

 

GAL 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

 

GAL 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

By faith we wrap our souls in the person of Christ - His way and manner; His thoughts and desires; His love and service.

 

COL 3:9-11

Do not lie to one another [command], since you laid aside [aorist middle part] the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on [aorist middle part] the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

 

Any believer can be renewed to a true knowledge according to God. All believers are in Christ and He is in them.

 

The new self is in the image of Christ, but God reveals that we retain our individual personality and that our born-again self is a new creation.

 

If we are told to put on Christ only we might think that our personalities are absorbed into Him. It is true that in some way they are, but our personalities are not lost. If we lost our individuality we would lose our memory, our selves, and it would be as if this life on earth never happened. The Bible and its history, the gospels, are the eternal word of God. This life will not be lost to the believer in Christ. We are brand new creatures, having individual personalities but are a part of the body, fitted perfectly together, and united to the Head forever.

 

The new self is the inner-person and is holy; so we are to be holy.

 

COL 3:12-17

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on [command] a heart [Greek: bowels] of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity [Greek: completeness]. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts [command], to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful [command]. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you [command], with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God [belt of truth]. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed [breastplate of righteousness], do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

Resisting sin and doing good both demand strength. “Be strong” is passive in voice; it comes from God to us when we have faith to be faithful.

 

Notice the nouns that are attributive of this heart in vv. 12-13. We have seen what we not to do in the categories of animal lust (immorality, carousing, sexual promiscuity, drunkenness) and diabolical lust (jealousy, strife, monetary lust and power lust) and emphasized, make no provision (premeditated) for the flesh.

 

In Col 3, Paul emphasizes a heart that has divine love for others.

 

Here we see what we are to do: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, love, and peace while being thankful to God for our lives right now. We are to admonish or encourage one another joyously with God’s word (psalms and hymns) while singing with joy (grace, thankfulness) to God. A believer may boast of avoiding immorality but who doesn’t pursue what he is supposed to actively do. Resisting sin and doing good both demand strength. If we will diligently do both (the one can’t be done without the other) then God promises us the strength to accomplish it. On our part the question is how strong is our faith.