Book Study · Week 4 of 6

Put On the New Self

Colossians 3:5-17

Spiritual clothing and transformation

Main Point

Conversion is not just being forgiven for the past — it's being remade for the future, putting off old patterns and putting on Christ's character.

Application Ideas

Paul gives specific practices: put to death greed, rage, and gossip; clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience. Choose one 'old self' characteristic to put off and one 'new self' characteristic to cultivate this week. Notice how it changes your relationships.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'put off' sin and 'put on' Christ's character? Why does Paul use the metaphor of clothing? How does understanding your union with Christ motivate obedience?

Detailed Sermon Outline

Primary Text: Colossians 3:5-17

Supporting Texts: Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:25-32; Titus 2:11-14

Big Idea: Put off sinful patterns and clothe yourself with Christ's character—love, patience, forgiveness, peace.

Target Length: 35-40 minutes

Introduction

Paul makes explicit what's been implicit: your old nature is dead, but you must actively choose to live like it. Put off the old garments, put on the new.

This is not passive spirituality. Salvation is accomplished, but sanctification requires our active cooperation with the Spirit.

The main point: Intentionally put off sinful patterns and deliberately put on Christ's character.

I. Put to Death the Old Self (Colossians 3:5-11)

Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

Sexual immorality reflects making the body god rather than a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Greed is idolatry. When you make money or status your ultimate aim, you're replacing God. Greed never satisfies.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. This is natural consequence of pursuing idols, not arbitrary punishment.

You must actively put to death these patterns through decisive action—recognizing you've died to them and refusing control.

II. Put On the New (Colossians 3:12-14)

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Paul shifts from negative to positive.

Compassion: Suffering with others. You've experienced God's compassion. Now extend it.
Kindness, humility, gentleness, patience: Not weakness—the strength of Christ. Require more power than anger or pride.
Bear with each other and forgive. The motivation is Christ's forgiveness of you. Since He forgave you completely, who are you to withhold forgiveness?

Over all virtues put on love, which binds them in perfect unity. Love holds the church together.

III. Let Peace Rule; Let Word Dwell (Colossians 3:15-17)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Make it the umpire, the decision-maker. Does this choice create or destroy peace?

Let Christ's message dwell richly among you. Teach and admonish one another. This is communal growth.
Whatever you do, do it in the name of Jesus, giving thanks through Him. Everything—work, relationships, conversations—done with Christ as motivation.
This is the summary of Christian life.

You cannot do this through guilt or willpower. Only through remembering: you've died with Christ, risen with Christ, your identity is hidden with Christ.

Conclusion & Appeal

Paul's vision is comprehensive. Not just belief, but living like Christ. Not avoiding evil, but pursuing good.

This week, choose one area to apply this. Put off one pattern. Put on one virtue. Let peace guide one decision. Then repeat.

This is sanctification—gradual conformity to Christ's image.