Living the New Life: Christ at the Center

Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Living with Christ

Lesson 11 - Thursday 

 Living the New Life

Read Colossians 3:16–17

The Christian life is not simply about believing in Christ—it is about allowing Him to guide every part of our lives. In these verses, Paul the Apostle explains how believers can live in a way that reflects their new life in Christ. He points to two powerful influences that help Christ remain at the center of our lives: His Word dwelling within us and praise expressed through music.

Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” This means that God’s Word is not meant to be something we visit occasionally; it is meant to live within us. When Scripture fills our minds and hearts, it shapes the way we think, speak, and act. The more deeply the teachings of Christ take root within us, the more naturally His will guides our decisions.

Paul also highlights the role of music in the life of believers. He speaks of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, sung with gratitude to God. Music has a unique ability to carry truth into the heart. Through worship, believers encourage one another, remind themselves of God’s promises, and lift their thoughts toward heaven. A song of praise can calm a troubled heart, strengthen faith, and help us focus on God rather than on our worries or frustrations.

After pointing to these influences, Paul gives a sweeping command: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This statement reaches into every corner of life. Our work, our conversations, our attitudes, and even our private thoughts are meant to reflect the character of Christ. To act in His name means to represent Him—to behave in a way that honors Him and aligns with His will.

This instruction leads to an important personal question: Can we truly say that everything we do is done in the name of the Lord Jesus? Most of us would have to admit that there are areas where this is not yet true. Sometimes our habits, entertainment, speech, or attitudes do not reflect the One we claim to follow.

Living the new life often requires letting go of things that cannot be done in Christ’s name. It may mean giving up words that harm others, attitudes that breed resentment, or activities that dull our spiritual sensitivity. When we remove those things and fill our lives with God’s Word, gratitude, and praise, Christ increasingly takes control of our lives.

The goal is not perfection achieved by our own strength, but a heart surrendered to Christ. As His Word fills us and His praise rises from our lips, our lives begin to reflect the One we serve.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the new life You have given me through Christ. Help Your Word dwell richly in my heart and guide my thoughts and actions. Fill my life with gratitude and praise so that I may always remember Your goodness. Show me anything in my life that does not honor You, and give me the courage to let it go. Help me live each day so that everything I say and do is done in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Character of the New Life: Dressed in Christlike Character

 Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Living with Christ

Lesson 11 - Wednesday 

Character of the New Life
Read Colossians 3:12–14

When we accept Christ and are raised to new life in Him, our character begins to change. In this passage, the apostle Paul the Apostle describes believers with powerful words: “God’s chosen people, holy and beloved.” These descriptions remind us that our identity in Christ is not based on our past failures or personal achievements, but on God’s gracious calling and love.

Because believers are chosen and loved, they are called to reflect that new identity. Paul says we must “put on” certain qualities—much like putting on clothing. These qualities include compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. They are not random virtues; they are the very character traits that Jesus Himself displayed. Ultimately, Paul says that above all these we must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.

This imagery of putting on new garments is significant. When someone comes to Christ, the old life—marked by selfishness, anger, and pride—is meant to be set aside. In its place, the believer intentionally chooses attitudes that reflect Christ’s character. The Christian life is not merely about avoiding wrong behavior; it is about actively cultivating Christlike virtues.

One of the clearest tests of this new life appears in how we treat difficult people. It is easy to be patient and kind with those who treat us well. The real challenge comes when someone is rude, unfair, or unkind. At that moment, our response reveals whether we are truly wearing the “new garments” Paul describes. Jesus did not only show love to those who loved Him; He showed grace even to those who opposed Him.

When we respond with patience instead of anger, forgiveness instead of bitterness, and kindness instead of retaliation, we represent Christ to the world. People often see the gospel not first through sermons but through the way believers treat others. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to reflect the love of Jesus.

Of course, none of us does this perfectly. We all have moments when our old nature shows itself. Yet the good news is that God continues His work in us. As we stay close to Christ—through prayer, Scripture, and surrender—His Spirit shapes our character more and more into His likeness.

The question we must ask ourselves is simple but searching: How well am I representing Jesus in the way I treat others, especially those who are unkind to me? The answer to that question reveals much about whether we are truly living out the new life we have received.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for calling me Your chosen, holy, and beloved child. Help me to put on the character of Christ each day—compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness. Teach me to respond with love even when others treat me poorly. Transform my heart so that my words and actions reflect Jesus to everyone I meet. Let Your love guide my thoughts, my attitudes, and my relationships. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Renewed in Knowledge: Transformed Through Knowing Christ

 Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Living with Christ

Lesson 11 - Tuesday 

Renewed in Knowledge

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:6–11; Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22–24

Paul continues his powerful call to spiritual transformation in Colossians 3:6–11 by reminding believers why earthly sins must be put away. These behaviors—anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying—belong to a former way of life. They are part of the life lived apart from Christ. Paul explains that such things bring the judgment of God, and he reminds believers that they once walked in these ways before coming to faith.

But something has changed.

Paul describes that change with a vivid contrast: the “old man” and the “new man.” The “old man” represents our former nature—the person we were before Christ transformed us. It is the life dominated by sinful habits, selfish desires, and attitudes shaped by the world. In Romans 6:6, Paul writes that “our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.” When we come to Christ, our old life is no longer meant to rule us. Its power is broken through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Yet the Christian life is not only about removing sin; it is about becoming something new.

Paul urges believers to “put off the old man with his deeds” and to “put on the new man” (Col. 3:9–10). The imagery is like taking off filthy garments and clothing oneself in clean, new ones. In Ephesians 4:22–24, Paul describes this transformation in similar terms: believers are to put off the old self, be renewed in the spirit of their mind, and put on the new self, which is created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.

Notice an important phrase in Colossians: the new man is “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” This renewal is not superficial. It is an ongoing process where our thinking, values, and understanding are reshaped by knowing Christ more deeply. As we grow in knowledge of God’s character, His Word, and His will, we become more like Him.

This renewal restores something that was lost when sin entered the world. Humanity was originally created in the image of God, but sin distorted that image. Through Christ, that image is being restored. The more we know Him, the more our character begins to reflect His.

Paul also emphasizes that this transformation unites believers. In Christ, the barriers that once separated people lose their significance: “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:11). The gospel creates a new humanity centered entirely on Christ. Social status, nationality, and cultural differences no longer define a person’s worth—Christ does.

So what does this mean for our daily lives?

Renewal in knowledge requires intentional growth. It comes through studying Scripture, prayer, reflection, and walking with Christ day by day. As we fill our minds with God’s truth, the Spirit reshapes our thoughts and desires. Gradually, the attitudes of the old life fade, and the character of Christ becomes visible.

This transformation is not instant. It is a lifelong journey. Yet every step we take in knowing Christ more deeply brings us closer to the person God created us to be.

The old life belonged to sin.
The new life belongs to Christ.
And every day we choose which one we will wear.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the new life You have given us through Jesus Christ. Help us to put away the old ways that once controlled us and to put on the new self that You are creating within us. Renew our minds with Your truth and deepen our knowledge of You each day. Shape our character so that we reflect the image of Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. May our lives show that Christ is truly all and in all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

End Earthliness: Dying to Earthly Desires

Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Living with Christ

Lesson 11 - Monday  

End Earthliness

Read Epistle to the Colossians 3:5–6; see also Epistle to the Romans 6:1–7

The Christian life involves a decisive break with the old way of living. In Colossians 3:5, the apostle Paul the Apostle gives a strong command: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” The word mortify means to put to death. Paul is not speaking about harming the body but about decisively rejecting sinful desires and habits that belong to our old, earthly nature. These include immorality, impurity, greed, and other attitudes that draw our hearts away from God.

Why is such a strong command necessary? Because the old life centered on self cannot coexist with the new life centered on Christ. Paul reminds believers that these sins once characterized their lives, but now they belong to a different kingdom. Because of such things, he says, “the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience” (Col. 3:6). Earthly-minded living leads away from God, while the life of Christ leads upward toward holiness and eternal life.

So how do we experience being dead to self and alive to the things above? Paul explains this beautifully in Romans 6:1–7. When we accept Christ, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. Symbolized in baptism, the old self is considered crucified with Christ so that the power of sin no longer rules over us. This does not mean temptation disappears, but it means we now have a new identity and a new power to resist it.

To “mortify” the earthly nature is therefore both a choice and a daily process. First, it begins with surrender—acknowledging that our old ways lead only to spiritual death. Second, it requires replacing earthly thoughts with heavenly ones. Earlier in Colossians 3, Paul urges believers to “set your affection on things above.” When our minds dwell on Christ, His character, and His promises, the pull of sinful desires weakens. What fills the mind shapes the life.

Practical steps also matter. Mortifying sin often means removing influences that strengthen temptation—habits, environments, or forms of entertainment that feed the old nature. It also means cultivating spiritual habits that strengthen the new life: prayer, Scripture reading, service to others, and fellowship with believers. As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, the old self loses its hold, and Christ’s life grows stronger within us.

Ending earthliness is not about grim self-denial for its own sake. It is about freedom. The things we put to death are the very things that enslave us. In their place, Christ gives peace, purity, and a heart focused on eternal realities. When we remember that we have died with Christ and risen with Him, our perspective changes. Earthly desires lose their dominance because our true life is now “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

Every day presents a choice: to live according to the old self or according to the new life in Christ. The more we surrender to Him, the more our hearts rise above the temporary things of earth and focus on the eternal things of heaven.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the new life You have given through Christ. Help me to put to death the sinful habits and desires that belong to my old nature. Turn my thoughts toward the things above and strengthen me through Your Spirit to live a life that honors You. Teach me to walk daily in the freedom of being dead to sin and alive in Christ. Amen.

Heavenly-Mindedness:

 Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Living with Christ

Lesson 11 - Sunday 

Heavenly-Mindedness

Based on Colossians 3:1–4

The apostle Paul begins this passage with a powerful statement: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). According to Paul, the condition necessary for heavenly-mindedness is that we have been raised with Christ. This refers to the spiritual transformation that occurs when we accept Christ by faith. Through His death and resurrection, the believer leaves behind the old life of sin and begins a new life centered in Him.

Because we have been raised with Christ, Paul urges us to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). To be heavenly-minded does not mean ignoring earthly responsibilities or withdrawing from the world. Rather, it means that our priorities, values, and hopes are shaped by heaven. Christ becomes the center of our thoughts and decisions. We begin to see life from God’s perspective instead of being consumed by temporary things such as pride, wealth, pleasure, or worldly success.

Paul explains the reason for this change: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). When we accept Christ, our old self—our former identity dominated by sin—dies. Our true life is now bound up with Christ. The world may not always recognize this new life, but it is secure because it is “hidden with Christ in God.” Our identity is no longer defined by earthly standards but by our relationship with Him.

The passage concludes with a wonderful promise: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4). Heavenly-mindedness is fueled by hope. We know that Christ will return, and those who belong to Him will share in His glory. This future reality gives meaning to the present and motivates us to live faithfully.

A good question for self-examination is: Where are my thoughts most of the time—above or below? Many of us would admit that our minds often drift toward earthly concerns. We worry about finances, success, recognition, or the daily pressures of life. While these matters are real, they can easily dominate our thinking and crowd out spiritual focus.

If our thoughts tend to stay “below,” how can we redirect them “above”? First, we must intentionally fill our minds with God’s Word. Scripture lifts our perspective and reminds us of eternal truths. Second, prayer keeps our hearts connected with Christ throughout the day. Third, focusing on service and love toward others reflects the character of heaven in our daily lives. Finally, remembering Christ’s return helps us keep earthly things in their proper place.

Heavenly-mindedness does not happen automatically. It requires a daily decision to look upward—to Christ, to His promises, and to the eternal kingdom that awaits His people. As our hearts dwell more on these realities, our lives here on earth begin to reflect the values of heaven.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for raising us to new life through Jesus Christ. Help us to set our minds on things above and not be consumed by the temporary things of this world. Turn our thoughts toward Christ and His kingdom. Fill our hearts with Your Word, guide our actions by Your Spirit, and help us live in the hope of Christ’s return. May our lives reflect the values of heaven in everything we do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.