JULY 15, 2026 – OLD MAN AND NEW MAN

READ: Col. 3:5–10: “… Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth …”

In the preceding verses Paul pointed out that one must not bind oneself to earthly matters apart from Christ, but this does not apply to God’s commandments. On the contrary, they belong to the following of Christ. In His life He explained for us the law of the Ten Commandments in its deepest meaning in the Sermon on the Mount, and He also kept them all perfectly as our example (Matt. 5:18–20). For the believer this law is not a means to earn anything whatsoever, but solely a matter of gratitude flowing from being one with Christ.

You have become His possession as a church member, and as church you have become His body. Everything in your life must be governed by Him. He is your life (3:4), already now on earth. The conclusion is verse 5: Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earthly, fleshly, sinful side—that is, your sinful nature with its sinful deeds, your old nature. In Rom. 7 Paul also referred to his old man with its deeds as his “members,” waging war against his converted heart (see Rom. 7:14–20).

This “putting to death” means that you struggle against sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. Paul mentions several here in verses 5, 8, and 9. This requires daily struggle, one that in this life does not yet come to an end. Yet the Lord desires to see that struggle, and He will also strengthen you in it through His Word and Spirit (Eph. 6). For this old man, as it existed before your conversion (v. 7), was nevertheless put off at your conversion. That is the work of the Spirit of Christ.

Yet remnants still remain as sin that has remained in us against our will (see the Form for the Lord’s Supper). Therefore, the Lord requires a continual struggle: the remaining members must be put to death, laid aside.

At the same time, we may continually put on the new man as often as the Holy Spirit renews our heart. That new man is not yet perfect, but in a believer there is progress from strength to strength, despite falling and rising again. Thus, we are increasingly renewed after the image of Christ.

The question we must ask ourselves is: what do we see of this in ourselves? And how do we go with this to Christ?

Against which sins is it difficult to struggle?
Singing: Ps. 101:3–6