Your New Identity in Christ: Discard the Old Self

The Symbolism of New Clothes

When we put on new clothes, we often admire our new look. Our old clothes were torn and ragged; they couldn't impress anyone. They were nothing other people would have admired. No one would want them.

Colossians 3’s Portrait of the Old Self

Colossians 3 tells us, as Christians, what our old clothes looked like. For some, their old clothes were, figuratively speaking, "sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed" (Colossians 3:5). That old self, the one before Christ, was prone to sinful behaviors that had to be removed from us such as "...anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lies" (Colossians 3:8-9).

Clothed with Christ: Our New Identity

That old outfit belonged to someone enslaved to sin. Now, as holy people, we put on our new clothes, because we are clothed with Christ. Our new master is righteousness. These new clothes will include compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love (Colossians 3:12-14). We will have the peace of Christ in our hearts, and we will be thankful for all His blessings and grace towards us.

The Lurking Temptation of the Past

But sometimes, we look in our closet and see those old clothes, pushed way to the back, but still there because we never completely got rid of them. We start to remember, "Oh, that dress, I remember how much fun I had when I wore it." Or, "That shirt looked good when I went to the bars."

The old thoughts come back. The old ways start to look good again. We see past the dirt, the holes, and the slovenliness and are fooled.

Resisting the Pull of Sin

Because we are human we will experience temptation. Sin will still call to us. A friend once told me the pull to drink again was sometimes overwhelming, but when he considered the cost to his soul, he was able to say no. Have you ever felt that pull? Do you think my friend felt envious of those who drank too much?

Why We’re Warned Not to Envy Evil

Proverbs 24:1-2 tells us, "Do not be envious of evil men." Psalm 37:1 repeats this admonition, "Be not envious of wrongdoers!" Why would the Bible have to remind us not to envy evil people? Because in this world evil is often rewarded. Murderers become internet sensations, sexual immorality is rewarded, liars advance in their careers, and greedy people often become extremely wealthy. But these people are slaves to their sins.

From Slavery to Sin to Slavery to Righteousness

In John 8:34, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin." When sin is our master, it desires obedience. We gradually lose the ability to say no. We become addicted to our sin, whether it is anger, using profanity, lying, or whatever. The Holy Spirit frees us from being mastered by sin.

When we follow Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the ability to say no to sin. Instead of a slave to sin, we have become a slave to Christ and God's will. We no longer "practice sin." Paul says in Romans 6:18 that we have become "slaves to righteousness."

Forgiveness When We Fall Short

As we grow in righteousness, we will have an increasing ability to resist sin. But when we fail and give in to sin, 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins Jesus will be faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from them. Our relationship can be restored.

The Seriousness of Sin and the Gift of Grace

Remember that forgiveness does not give us a license to sin. We do not have a cheap grace but a costly grace. A high price was paid by our Savior for our forgiveness. Until repentance and forgiveness happen, though, sin damages our relationship to God. It causes a separation. Without Christ that separation can lead to death.

God's free gift to us is eternal life but the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The old wardrobe had to be paid for. Wages have to be earned, gifts do not. Our new identity, our new clothes so to speak, is not earned but freely granted.

Choosing Life and Its Rewards

Since God is life, by choosing sin, we have chosen the opposite of life. Death will come to us all; but to those who know Jesus, death is the beginning of life everlasting with God. For those who have chosen sin, their wages are separation from God for all eternity. Sin causes pain on this earth and results in eternal pain. Choosing life brings rewards.

What rewards do we have in this life for following Christ? These garments don’t just look different—they carry the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor. 2:15) and bear the fruit of the Spirit: peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, self control, faithfulness, and gentleness. What a beautiful life these words describe. This is not a life lived in chaos because chaos is not of God.

We have hope because of Christ. So many people live miserable lives because they have lost all hope. They see no meaning in their life. We have God's blessing and promise to provide for our needs. And eternally, we can't imagine what joys await when we go to be with our Savior.

The One Who Walks with Us

As Christians, we are not promised an easy life, nor a carefree life. We aren't promised riches or constant health. But we do have a promised One who is closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). The One who loves us and always wants what is best for us. We may have to sacrifice to do His will, but we will do so happily knowing what He gave up for us.

The Deception of the Enemy

So why would we ever look back at that old life and want to return? Why would we want to wear those old clothes again? The Devil is a liar. He whispers lies to us, tempting us to return, telling us he can bring us true happiness when he cannot. He tries to make us believe that God doesn't really love us, or that if He did, He would let us have 'fun'. Satan wants us to fit in with the world. He certainly doesn't want us to fear the Lord.

Your New Identity in Christ: Discard the Old Self

Proverbs 8:13 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil." If we are staying close to God, praying, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with other Christians, and hearing His Word preached, we will have the tools we need to resist the Devil. We will hate evil. The Holy Spirit within us empowers us to hate evil and resist temptation, He convicts us of sin, guides us to what is right, and gives us a desire to be more like Christ. When temptation strikes, remember your new identity in Christ and discard the old self every day.

Hating Even the 'Small' Sins

Psalm 97:10 declares, "O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked." We may die at the hands of evil people in this life but ultimately we will be preserved and delivered. Do we truly hate evil? Do we tolerate it in our own lives because we think our sin is so small it doesn't matter?

We have to hate our small sins as much as our big ones. It is easy to hate murder, lying, or adultery. But do we hate sloth? It might seem harmless to sleep in a few mornings, but what may God want us to accomplish with those extra hours of rest. How about gluttony? Are we physically harming ourselves with that extra burger or slice of cake?

Do we hate gossip? Do we hate the pride we have in our own accomplishments? In so many ways the evil one tempts us to think that those sins don't matter so much. He tempts us to believe that God will just look the other way when we indulge in the so-called small sins.

The Call to Holiness and Obedience

But it is God who tells us, "Be holy for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). Those are high expectations! To do so we have to be aware spiritually and mentally. We have to have self control. In a world that emphasizes expressing yourself freely, that is an unpopular concept.

1 Peter 1:14 reminds us to be obedient children, not living in our ignorant old ways, being enticed by sin. Like Proverbs and Psalms said, don't be envious of sin! He goes on to say in 1 Peter 1:22, that we should love each other. And not just a little bit, but "fervently" Peter says.

Be Doers

Finally, Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us to figure out what pleases God and do it! We don't just pretend, we don't just talk; we do. James 1:22 reiterates this by emphasizing action over words. He says, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." As faithful Christians we must resist the Devil's deception and our own self-deception.

A Final Encouragement to Stay Clothed in Christ

So when we put on our new clothes for Christ, let us pray that we are more than mere words. Pray that the Holy Spirit empowers us and fills us with our new life in Christ so that we will never go back in the closet hunting for those old clothes from that old life. God bless us all.