Living the New Life

Mortification Message 5

Colossians 3:5–7 (NCV) — 5 So put all evil things out of your life: sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed. This is really serving a false god. 6 These things make God angry. 7 In your past, evil life you also did these things.

 

  1. Toothache
    1. There isn’t anything worse.
      1. What’s a home remedy that you use?
      2. _______________________________
    2. The ultimate cure
      1. Pull the tooth.
      2. Root canal
      3. Neither of the things are pleasant.
    3. Put to death!
      1. “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.” (NLT)
      2. Like a decaying tooth that we would pull out God wants us to remove sin from our lives.
  2. The prison of sin.
    1. Top 10 Addictions
      1. Do you struggle with addiction?
    2. The sins that enslave us.
      1. "Sexual immorality, impurity, lust"
      2. This this sin has plagued humanity from the beginning of time.
      3. "Evil desires and greed"
        1. “letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed”
        2. These sins are rooted in selfishness.
        3. Quote: Greed, in particular, is equated with idolatry, emphasizing the seriousness of prioritizing material wealth over God.
      4. Here’s the point – sin is a prison.
      5. Colossians 3:6 (NLT) — 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
      6. But God has given us the power to overcome its grip.
  3. Three powerful realities
    1. Our New Identity in Christ.
      1. Paul's command to put to death the old self implies a radical transformation.
      2. This happens when accept Christ as our savior.
      3. We are no longer slaves to sin but are now children of God.
      4. Your identity is not your past failures.
    2. The Power of the Cross
      1. The cross is not just a symbol.
      2. It is the power that removes the stain of our sins.
    3. Live as a resurrected people
      1. Colossians 3:1
      2. The power of the resurrection has the power over sin.
  4. Make it practical.
    1. Regular self-examination.
      1. Take the time and reflect: Am I living as God would have me live?
      2. What has come between you and God?
      3. Self-examination, confession and repentance is the key to spiritual growth.
    2. Pursue holiness in relationships.
      1. Sexual purity is not just an individual matter but extends to our relationships.
      2. How we treat others and honor God in our relationships is a reflection of our commitment to holiness.
    3. Guard against greed.
      1. Proverbs 4:23

In a world obsessed with material gain, believers are called to a different standard.