How to Find Your Life, Part II

GETTING STARTED

Biblical passages make the most sense when understood in their full context. In Colossians, Paul teaches that believers have died with Christ and are raised with him to new life. We have a new identity in Christ, and from now on, our life is found not in earthly pursuits, but in him. So, to find life, we must find Christ. And where is Christ? He’s seated next to God the Father. We should be seeking him and focusing on the things above, where he is. How do we do this? How do we live as a new creation? That’s what today’s passage is all about.

  • In what ways do you feel the tension of seeking the things above while still living on this earth?

READ THE WORD: COLOSSIANS 3:5-11 (ESV)

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. How do we find our life in Christ? First, we have to put some things to death. What are they(vss. 5, 8-9)?
  2. What is our part in finding our life in Christ? What is God’s part in our new life (vs. 10)?
  3. For whom is this new life in Christ available (vs. 11)? What do you learn about the heart and character of God from this?
  4. Where do you try to find life? Is there anything you need to put to death that is hindering your life in Christ?

RESPOND TO GOD

The earthly practices that Paul lists are representative of our sin. Sin is the act of trying to find life where there is no life. And that’s the bitter rub, right there, because sin never brings life, peace, or freedom. Sin steals, kills, and destroys; it gets in the way of our new life. So, how do we find our life? By faith, we must put sin to death continually and reorient our hearts and minds to seek Christ. He offers us so much more than the world. We have died with Christ to our sin and, therefore, we now have his resurrection power to put our old ways to death. This is how we begin to find true, real, new life.

  • Ask God to unleash his resurrection power to help you put your sin to death.
  • Thank him that he is renewing you in his image.