When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4

Recurrent Truth 

The Christ Life is the mysterious essence of God that miraculously comes in one who believes and receives. It is evidenced by the practical living of Christ-devoted followers (John 1;12; Colossians 2:6; Rom. 10:9-13).

When a believer come to the Knowledge of God through the reception of Christ Jesus the Lord, he begins a journey that is wonderful and exciting. The Believer Walk is a journey of liberation from the power of sin, and accords them (believers) the privilege of walking in the power of the Spirit. When Adam, and Eve the federal Parents of human beings sinned, they became sinful in nature, and this state became one for all human beings. Romans 5:12 says “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” This nature of sin, which is called by various names—such as adamic nature, the old man, old nature, sinful flesh, sinful principle—remains as part of human beings’ existence until when Christ shall come and mortality shall put on immortality (1 Cor. 15: 53-54). 

This old nature is so distinct and powerful. We all know its work; we have lived with it since we were born. This sinful principle or old nature in humans has an active outward operation and produces behaviors that are repulsive and demeaning (3:5). We should Know that the results of the sinful principle in man are met by divine wrath (3:6). God has promised judgment on the effects of the sinful nature: Know that the wrath of revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Romans 1:18

When Jesus came and died on behalf of human beings, he unleashed another principle that totally negates all the power of the sinful flesh. This Principle is called the spirit of life, the new man, spiritual nature, the Christ life, the new life etc. In essence the believer has a twofold moral nature. There is in him the old man—the sinful principle; and there is in him also the new—the God-like, spiritual nature and Christ’s Life.  You will notice, that the sinful principle in man is inconsistent with the new life he has in Christ. 

Chapter 3 of Colossians gives us some Principles of how to navigate between these two Principles at work in our moral being: The Old Man & the New Man. Notice that Chapter 3 is indeed a clear divide and Paul shifts from the Doctrinal to the Application emphasis in his writings. In Chapter One he emphasized the Supremacy of Christ; while in Chapter Two he dealt with the heresies of Human Philosophies, Legalism, Mysticism, and Asceticism. From Chapter three to four he deals with the subjects of Submission to Power of Jesus Christ. In Chapter three in particular he deals with Living the Christ Life which is built on the foundation of the truth of Christ

Colossians Chapter 3, is really a short version of Paul’s expose on the differences of the Old and New Natures and how to live with them in this present age. It gives us the explanations of how to continuously live victoriously above the old nature that continues to fight within us. The new spiritual life in the believer is in ceaseless antagonism with the old nature and scriptures show that the constant duty of the believer is to subdue and destroy the sinful principle. 

Chapter Three is full of the truths of Jesus Christ and how it applies to victorious Christian living. It is also a powerful exposition in how to practically overcome sin of all kinds. This text is a gold mine but I just intend to look at the big thoughts that are revealed in it. I want to deal with Three Essential Truths in relation to living diligently and powerfully the Christ Life that courses in us.

1. Always Know the Essential Truths About Your Position in Christ
   Every believer must learn to think clearly about their Positional Identity in Christ. Search the Truth. Know Truth and regularly Ponder on the truth of Your Position in Christ. Here are Several Spiritual Realities: You died, You were Raised, Your Life is Hidden in Christ; You will come with Christ when he comes (3:1-4)
   • These are spiritual positional truths. They are truths you are called to Identify with
   • Know You died to Your dead self:  the whole script was buried and died. You demonstrated this publicly in the baptism ceremony. That is why Paul state that you must “Reckon Yourself dead to sin” (Rom. 6:11)
   • Know You are Alive. Raised with Christ (3:1). We are alive by the Resurrection.
   • You are not in-between. You have to be dead and alive (Wanted Dead & Alive)
   • This is not just words. It is a fact and truth already accomplished by Christ. The concept of Adoption makes these truths very powerful. To God it is finished I am dead, I am raised, my life is hidden in Christ, etc
2. Always Live Out Your Biblical Positional Truths  
   Act Decisively and Practice Your Positional Realities in Your life
   • We need to move from something in our mind until it becomes in our heart and eventually to our feet and hands (Actions)
   • There is always a level of Self Control and discipline to living and practicing the Christ Life in us. There is a level of responsibility in breaking bad habits; similarly, there is a level of discipline in building great Character 
   • Remember always that: Your choices produce Your habits and when habits are consistently followed, they produce addictions, your addictions, what you do routinely, consistently, becomes your life style, Your Character: Wire and script our minds by consistency routine habits.
   • This is where Wisdom, the application of Knowledge, demands that you do well. Apply it in decisions that improves our lives.
   • Notice the Level of Responsibilities you are called to demonstrate: If you are raised with Christ then Seeking things on things above and Set Your minds on things above: These are imperative and continuous active verbs: Seek, continue seeking; Set and keep on setting (Ch. 3: 1-2)
   • Notice also the practical demand on You to be conscious of how to win over sin and live victorious: The Chapter uses two phrases: Put off (v 8) and Put on (v 10)
   • Notice that we are called to make real that which Christ did: Put to Death
   • When Christ died, you died with him. But now regularly, in your life put to death acts of sinful flesh. 
   • God’s answer is always the cross: One has to die. Remember how Jesus gave the analogy of Cut off your hand that leads to sin? Mathew 5: 30. This is not actual amputation. What he is calling for is to deal radically with sin. Cut off the opportunity of temptations. Paul wrote to timothy and admonished him to Flee Youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). Joseph ran away. Many times to overcome sin you have to Get up and get out
   • Notice the Two Lists of Sins that the text references. These are actually habit-forming sinful acts and if you are not careful, they become bad habits and strong addictions
     Chapter 3: 5: These are sins that you Feel and Do. Perverted Love, Sensual Sins Sensual overload. These sins is what we are exposed to
     Chapter 3: 8: These are sinful acts You Say; Perverted hate, Social Sins
   • Child of God,  sinful principle in man, and all its activities, must be wholly renounced and deliberately mortified or put to death. Notice this forceful language“But now ye also put off all these” (3:8). “Mortify, therefore, your members” (3:5). Elsewhere, the Scriptures states the same truth “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom 8:13) 
   • Put on the New self: that is Renewed in the Knowledge after the Image of its creator
     We must understand that the possession of the new spiritual nature implies a complete change of the whole man: “Seeing that ye have put off the old man, with his deeds, and have put on the new man” (3:9-10).  There is a great difference between the new life and the old. Everything in our lives changes: Our thoughts, feelings, Character, conduct, company, our pursuits, our Influence.
   • The new spiritual nature, which is fashioned after the Image of Christ, is ever advancing to a higher knowledge of Christ. It thrives and is renewed on the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Col. 3:10). The strength and the depth of the operation of the new life is bounded by the amount and character of the knowledge of Christ one possesses, and by the clearness and tenacity with which that knowledge is appropriated and maintained.
   • Put off the grave clothes, Put on glory clothes. The best way to deprive the old nature is to nurture the new nature. 
   • Elsewhere the Scriptures states that You Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5:22 You will not gratify sinful flesh. It is essential to understand that to live a victorious life, it must be in relation to your Walk in the Spirit
3. Always Discern the Power and Influence of Others 
   Live Accountably with One another Verse 13) 
   • Live in the presence and be accountable to others. 
   • Everyone has and is struggling with something such as a bad habit. Thus, the potential of helps, support we find in one-another
   • Some habits are so deeply engrained and they need the help of others. Addiction and besetting sins need accountability.
   • Confessing helps to loosen the hold of bad habit in us (James 5; 14)
   • Notice the Result of breaking away from sinful habits is the Peace of God (3:15)

Conclusion

• Know Who You are 
• Act What You are 
• Discern Others on Your Journey