Main Points

The sermon is structured around the central theme of a believer’s identity in Christ and the practical implications of that identity for daily living.

1. Spiritual Identity and Heavenly Focus:
   The core question presented is, “Who are you in relation to God?” The answer is that a believer is someone who has been “risen with Christ.” Consequently, their focus, desires, and “affections” should be set on heavenly things rather than earthly things. This requires a conscious decision to align one’s life with God’s will, not personal wants.
2. Putting Off the “Old Man”:
   A significant part of the message is the call to “mortify” or put to death the sinful aspects of one’s earthly nature. This involves actively renouncing specific behaviors listed in the text, such as sexual immorality, impurity, greed (which is described as idolatry), anger, malice, filthy language, and lying. The sermon emphasizes that these are characteristics of the world, not of a child of God.
3. Putting On the “New Man”:
   In place of the old self, believers are instructed to “put on” a new self, which is being continually renewed in the image of Christ. This new identity is defined by a set of virtues that should be evident in a believer’s life:
   • Mercy
   • Kindness
   • Humility
   • Meekness
   • Patience (long-suffering)
   • Forgiveness
   • Love (charity), which is called “the bond of perfectness.”
4. The Christian as a Full-Time Ambassador:
   The Christian life is portrayed not as a part-time activity for Sundays but as a “seven day a week job.” Believers are described as God’s “workmanship,” created in Christ to do good works. This means they are to act as constant ambassadors for Christ, allowing others to see His character in them through their daily actions and conduct.
5. The Foundation of Forgiveness and Thankfulness:
   The sermon heavily underscores the importance of forgiveness, using Christ’s forgiveness of believers as the ultimate model. Just as Christ forgave them, they must forgive one another. This life of forgiveness and love should be rooted in a spirit of thankfulness, letting the “peace of God rule” in their hearts.

Scriptures Referenced

The sermon is primarily an exposition of a single chapter, with other verses used for support or further reading.

• Primary Text: Colossians 3:1-15 is the foundational passage, read and explained throughout the sermon.
• Supporting Texts:
  • Ephesians 2:6, 10: Quoted to affirm that believers are raised to sit in heavenly places with Christ and are His “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”
  • Ephesians 4:26: Alluded to with the phrase, “be ye angry, and sin not.”
• Additional Scriptures Provided for Study:
  • Ephesians 1:23
  • Romans 13:8
  • Galatians 5:22
  • Philippians 2:1
  • Philippians 4:6
  • John 8:12

Overall Message

The overall message is a call for believers to fully embrace their new identity in Christ. This requires a deliberate and continuous transformation, moving away from a life governed by earthly desires and sinful habits (the “old man”) and toward a life that reflects the character of Christ (the “new man”). The ultimate purpose of this transformation is to live as faithful, full-time ambassadors for God, demonstrating His love, mercy, and forgiveness to the world so that others might be drawn to Him.