We want to do good, but seem to keep on doing bad. What can we do to be better people?
"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices. And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator." Colossians 3: 10.
SINCE YOU HAVE...
When we come to God through faith in Christ, some things happen. First, we receive eternal life and a relationship with The Father, and, among other things, we begin a new life, which means we must progressively choose to put off our old way of life and put on a new one. It is more than just putting away bad habits and developing new, better ones; it is so complete that it is like putting off your old you and putting on a new you.
BEING...
This is stated as a fact that something is actually happening in the life of the believer- a true believer in Jesus is growing, and if there is not a progression of positive change in his life, there is a question whether his faith is genuine.
RENEWED...
The past tense of this word points out that things have happened and are ongoing. This ongoing thing is a change from death to life. When we come to faith, we are brought from death to life, but we are also in the process of becoming more alive, more like Jesus.
Renewal is a process, so it is not done in one go. Our struggle with the sinfulness inside us is an expression of the ongoing progress.
KNOWLEDGE...
One of God's purposes is that we know God. We were made for Him and we are fulfilled in Him, to this end we must know Him. There is more than one kind of knowledge; some knowledge you get from books, but the best comes from experiencing something. God wants us to experience Him.
IMAGE...
To know God, we must be like him in some way to relate to him, and God made us in His image for that purpose. Man's sin has tarnished the image of God in us, and to fully know God, we need renewal and restoration.
PUT ON...
Choose to put on the new self that God has given us in Christ, and reject the old self, and you will be able to have fellowship with the Father and live a life that pleases Him and you.
In practical terms, you may want to identify those old ways and turn from them and think about the good you would do instead, but we must do this in Christ. Express in prayer to Christ that you, by faith, put off the old you and receive the new you by faith.
Then go out and do good to those you meet.
To learn more about coming to God, see my other blog.