Col 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him:
In studying this scripture this morning I began to look at the Greek manuscript. In clarifying the text the word man is added but in reality the preceding scripture Col 3:9 refers to the word anthropos
Not lying to one another is mentioned also in Col 3:9
The definition of lying here is
ψεῦδος pseudos
Pseudos means false. To give a false impression would also qualify as lying. Anything that is defined as pseudos means false or something that appears to be true and even has the appearance of truth but is indeed not the real thing when closely examined.
In Jesus Christ we no longer do and say the things we used to do before we came to Him.
How do we do this?
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Yet we have to wonder how is my mind renewed? How can my mind be transformed? Is it done automatically? Lets look to the scripture for another text that has out answer:
First of all, we have to give some of our own effort or self will over to Jesus in this matter.
The Bible says to put off lying and anger. These are choice we make every day. We have the choice to sin or not to sin. Knowing the consequences of sin as a Christian we need to make the
Biblical choice. There is not excuse the Bible says we sin when we are drawn away by our own lusts.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Prov 17:27; Eccl 5:2;
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
We have some things we need to put in order that we might match up to the life the Word is calling us to. Yes, the Holy Ghost changes us but we also have to give our will over to obey the will of the Lord.
Look at these scriptures Titus 3:2-5
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. Phil 4:5;
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Secondly, the scripture speaks of the Renewing of the Holy Ghost. We have given a new life by the Spirit of the Lord.
Here is what 2Peter chapter 1 has to say about it:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. I
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge;6 And to
knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
What example does the Bible give of a servant who knows the Lord's will yet does not apply it to his life?
Luke 12:47-48
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself , neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes .
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes . For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
These are some things to think about today. I hope this helps you along your path of
living for Jesus Christ.
In Jesus,
Dana Klein
