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Colossians 3:10 - Putting On The New Nature.

Colossians 3:10 (NLT) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Colossians 3:10 (CWB) You're a new people now and every day God is renewing you as the process of His redemption continues to make you more and more like His Son.

INTRODUCTION

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ and put on our new nature, we begin the process of being renewed. We desire to follow the example of Jesus, growing to love him and others more and more. But this doesn't happen immediately. At first it is especially hard to resist the temptation to fall back into the sinful habits we had adopted before conversion. Therefore, we must be very intentional about ridding ourselves of all evil practices and immorality. We cannot be fully committed to what Christ teaches when we are regularly falling back into our sinful ways. Here Paul is appealing to the commitment the believers had made to live for Christ and is urging them to remain true to their confession of faith. They were to rid themselves of the old life and "put on" the new nature given by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. If you have made such a commitment to Christ, are you remaining true to it? [Life Application SB 2019]

   What does it mean to "put on your new nature"? It means that our conduct should match our faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like it. Being a Christian means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means being filled with godly love, which produces godly actions. This straightforward step is like putting on new clothes that demonstrate the new kind of person you have become. You must take off the old clothes of sinful habits and choices and throw them away. Then you will wear only your clothes of righteousness and love for others that Christ has given to you. Have you rid your life of the "old clothes" of your past?
   In our lifelong growing process, Christians have a continuing education program. The more we know of Christ and his work, the more he changes us to be like him. We cannot just drift along; instead, we must seek the rich treasures of growing in him. We need patience, practice, concentration, and ongoing review to keep in line with his will. [Life Application SB 2019]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   "The Shaggy Bark Hickory is finally dropping its leaves," my husband said as he sipped his morning coffee, surveying other signs of spring's arrival: yellow daffodils, purple phlox, red tulips.
   Unlike the barren trees surrounding it, the hickory does not shed its leaves in the fall. Instead, the tree holds on stubbornly through the blustery winter. In the spring, new buds form on its branches, forcing the shaggy bark to release its brown, crusty foliage. The dead leaves and the new leaves cannot occupy the same space.
   Looking at the tree, I couldn't help but think about my own life. What dead leaves am I holding on to far past the season? An unrealized dream, an emotional wound, a loved one who passed too soon. I sometimes wonder, When will my winter end? In reality, it may be time for a new season to arrive, but here I am, still clinging to old leaves. New life tries to sprout, but there's no room on my heavy branches.
   Like me, Jesus endured emotional wounds on earth. His closest companions betrayed and abandoned Him. He lost loved ones too. In His sorrow, Jesus modeled how we can become like Him. He prayed, "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34) and "Not my will, but yours" (Luke 22:42).
   I joined my husband at the kitchen window. A spattering of dead leaves circled the hickory's trunk. Little nubs poked out along its branches. I, too, am ready to let go and welcome renewal. Karen Sargent
   Faith Step: Have you been clinging to a past hurt for too long? Ask a trusted friend to pray with you and walk into a new season with Jesus. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

COMMENTARY

   Sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.
   With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God's government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.
   Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory. DA37-38

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY

Colossians 3:9-10 - Putting On The New Nature.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250324-1440.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/