Christ Is All – Colossians 3
‘And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.’ — Colossians 3:10–11
All of us are defined in some way by society: our culture, our nationality, our political views, our social class, our financial resources, etc. The world’s answers to these boundaries and barriers are insufficient. The world may attempt to throw off all constraints, but it just imposes another set on mankind that may be less helpful.
Yet, God, through Christ, wants to raise us out of earthly identities and gives those who believe on a Christ a new heavenly identity. He makes those who believe on Christ totally new. Notices how this new identity is described in Colossians 3:
- v.1 risen with Christ
- v.3 ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God
- v.4 Christ, who is our life
- v.10 a new man…created [by God]
- v.11 Christ is all, and in all
- v.12 elect of God
The identity of the child of God has been replaced by the identity of Christ. Christ becomes all and is in all.
Everything about our lives must then be rethought and reprogrammed. We should…
- v.1 seek those things which are above
- v.2 set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth
- v.5 mortify [our] members which are upon earth
- v.8-9 put off…anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, [lies]
- v.10 put on the new man
- v.12-14 put on…[compassion], kindness, [humility], [patience], [and love]
- v.15 let the peace of God rule in [our] hearts
- v.16 let the word of Christ well in [us] richly
- v.17 do all in the name of the Lord Jesus
Is Christ all to us? Is He everything to us? Do we live in light of our new identity? Or do we continue living as if we are not raised, as if we are not dead with Christ, and as if nothing has changed?
The truth is that, for those of us who are believers, everything about our identity as changed. And so, to live like the old man and to do the deeds of the old man is not consistent with who we are in Christ. Let us renew our minds with the truth of God’s Word and live out who we are in Christ.