Feb 17, 2019
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-15
Colossians 3:12-17 is the ‘addition’ side of the glory of salvation. The ‘subtraction’ side of the glory of salvation is Colossians 3:5-11. What happened in conversion, positionally, we labor to put into practice, in our living. We are called on in this section to “put to death“ sinful thoughts and actions and to “put on righteousness.”
It is not enough to simply put to death old, sinful ways. That would leave a void which would be filled with other sins. What is necessary in our spiritual growth is to replace the old ways with new ways. The Puritans called this the "the power of a superior satisfaction." It is the glorious reality that holiness is more pleasurable and satisfying than sin.
So in Colossians 3:12-17, we are reminded, in detail, of what holiness looks like in life ... compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, peace. In this paragraph it is significant to notice that there is an individual aspect of holiness and a corporate aspect of holiness. Righteousness is seen in us individually and it is seen in the way we interact with each other. Notice the repeated references to "one another" in verses 12-17.
Most importantly, the key to putting off the old self and putting on the new self is to truly know the reality that Christ is all (Col 3:11). When Christ is all for us, then the taste of righteousness is sweet and satisfying and the taste of sin is bitter and repulsive.