Wed 7.3 – Renewed in Image

Today’s Readings: Colossians 3.10-16; I Corinthians 12.13; Galatians 3.28; 2 Corinthians 4.16;

We talked yesterday about the “newness” of life. If you were not able to be a part of that study, please return to 7.2 and check it out so that you will have a better reference for today’s study.

I want to take yesterday a step further today. The fact that we have been raised to NEWNESS of life is very true! Please do not hear me saying anything different than that today. However, that is not the full extent of the truth of our LIFE IN CHRIST (Col 3.4).

Notice how God describes that new man in Colossians 3.10, he is RENEWED in knowledge after the IMAGE of him that created him. Now let’s look into that for a moment today.

Did you realize that when you were saved, it was not simply that you transitioned from a child of darkness to a child of light? Our salvation is more than a COMING to God, our salvation is a RETURNING to God. Here’s a little summary breakdown of the GOSPEL truth:

• GOD made man perfect and sinless to fellowship with Him and worship Him as the sons of God.
• SIN enters the picture with man’s seeking of self rather than seeking God and causes a separation between God and man.
• CHRIST, the gospel, comes to bridge the gap between man and God to bring sons of God back to Himself.
• FAITH is the agent by which men partake of Christ and receive their salvation unto life everlasting in Him.

Now, as we read the book of Genesis, we see that man was ORIGINALLY created in a perfect way with God. The Scriptures said that man was made in the IMAGE of God (Genesis 1.27), but notice a MAJOR CHANGE when sin enters the picture, now men are no longer in the image of God, but in the image of Adam (Genesis 5.1-3). Man LOST the image of God which allowed the fellowship with God and the reproduction of other sons of God. Adam was a son of God (Luke 3.38)but since sin, all men are the sons of Adam (I Corinthians 15.45-49 – with special emphasis on verse 49!)

So, when we are RAISED to walk in NEWNESS of life, we are actually being raised to walk in ORIGINAL life, the way God intended it before sin entered the picture and brought death. God says in Colossians 3 that we are “RENEWED” and that our renewal is after the “IMAGE” of the One who “CREATED” the new man…(Colossians 1.16-17)

Folks, remember today, we are not simply walking in a new way. It is just new to us, in God’s eyes it is ORIGINAL! God is in the RESTORING business. He wants sons of Adam to become the sons of God (John 1.12-14) and thus be renewed and alive-again to the original walk He wanted for us.

This truth leaves us needing to evaluate how we approach our walk with Him…is it simply to keep the list of things the NEW MAN should do and to avoid the list of things the OLD MAN would? Or is it in passionate thanksgiving for our restoration to His family as sons of God? And also, how are we doing at helping others find the RENEWAL their souls so desperately need?

May God awaken us to the reality of who we are in Him as sons of God! Amen.

1.2 – Walking Worthy

Yesterday, God established (through Paul) His desire that we be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Sounds simple enough right? (if only it was)

Today, in Col 1.10, He adds a second degree to the “Christ-identity” that God has predestined we should develop into (Rom 8.29), we are told to WALK WORTHY. Now, that seems to be simple enough doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is. There are 2 other portions of scripture I want us to look at this morning and I think this will explain what God is saying simply, clearly, and at the same time challenge us like never before.

Before we get to those passages, let’s remind ourselves of what God says in Col 1.10. Read it in your Bible now.

So, we see the desire and prayer for the believer here is to WALK WORTHY in a way that is PLEASING and FRUITFUL in those GOOD WORKS. Alright, now what we are going to do is simply take the WORD OF GOD and figure out what He means by selecting those words to describe this WALK that is considered WORTHY. (remember, one of the greatest mistakes is to read something like this in scripture and then walk away making up our own conclusions and decisions about what the passage means, defining the terms our own way and therefore miss what God was trying to say to begin with.)

The first thing that He says is for this WALK to be PLEASING. How can I know what pleases God? How can I be sure that something does (or doesn’t) PLEASE Him? Take just a second and look up Heb 11.6 to answer that question, then settle in your head, what it is that allows us to please God. OK, what’s the answer? Now keep that in the front of your mind…
Next question, What is required for salvation? How do we “receive” Jesus Christ? (You can check our Eph 2.8-9 here for a Biblical answer if you do not know already). So, now what we can see is that the one thing that pleases God, and the thing that is necessary for SALVATION and receiving Christ, are the same thing…FAITH! Ok, with that in mind, check out what God says just one chapter later in the book of Colossians in 2.6. How did we get into this walk? Right, FAITH. And how are we to continue this walk? Right again, FAITH. It is that FAITH that is going to allow us to please God. It is that FAITH that comes from God and glorifies Him, so of course it pleases Him.

Ok, now the second passage. Remember that WORTHY WALK is to be one that is PLEASING, and also what? FRUITFUL. It is almost like God knew that we would be prone to stumble at this truth that FAITH is the NECESSARY thing if we want to be PLEASING to Him. So what He does is add the explanation of being FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK. I know most of you probably have this verse memorized, but look it up anyway. James 2.17, 18, & 22 clarify this reality for us. God says that FAITH without the presence of WORKS  is what kind of FAITH? DEAD! So, if our FAITH is dead, will it be able to PLEASE God? I doubt it. However, if our FAITH is alive and proving itself by our WORKS, then that is a vibrant faith that will PLEASE God. Check out how He concludes the thoughts in James 2.22! You see, the FAITH and believing was always what mattered, but the simple truth is that true, LIVING FAITH will always be accompanied by WORKS.

How is your walk? Is it WORTHY? Are you still living the Christian life based upon the same FAITH that brought you into it (Col 2.6)? What areas of your life are lacking in FAITH and therefore not PLEASING to the Father? Are there any areas where your FAITH and your WORKS do not seem to match up? Let today be the day that God’s children recognize their WALK before Him by FAITH and become fruitful in every GOOD WORK in Jesus name!