Today's post is inspired by one of my all time favorite authors and Christian Thinkers. I know, I know, I always say "Quote Scripture, not man," but sometimes what we say is inspired by God, though not entirely scripture: " "The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call 'ourselves.'" " -C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity We're so busy nowadays trying to "find ourselves," that we forget that our self is what got us in to the predicament that caused our need for a savior to begin with! My "self" is lustful, murdering, coniving, greedy, slanderous, and so many other things besides, that I thank God daily, and weep near daily, that I sent my savior to die for myself. Is it any wonder that Jesus says in order for us to see the Kingdom, we must be born again (John 3)? The Majority of the epistles of the New Testament tell us to "put on the new self" (See below). I can't put on the new self with the old one still around my waist. I need to give it up entirely to put on the Christ-like self, the man surrendered and soled completely out to Christ. I can't have it both ways, either I live the old life, or live the new. Jesus said " 14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” We need to put on the new, and let the old die. We need to be born again. We need to put on Christ. Colossians 3 English Standard Version
Put On the New Self
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is youra life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:b sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming.c 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old selfd with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,f not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Footnotes: a 4 Some manuscripts our b 5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth c 6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience d 9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10 e 11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see >Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22 f 22 Or your masters according to the flesh
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