New Way of Thinking
* Read Colossians 3:1-4. Since the believer has a new position in Christ, he/she is supposed to have new attitudes and actions.

1. According to verses 1-4, what is the believer's position? What is true of the believer in the past, present, and future?

* Considering these facts, Paul says to believers, "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things". (3:1-2)

2. What do you think it means to "set our hearts on things above" and "set our minds on things above"? What is the difference between "things above" and "earthly things"?

3. How can we set our hearts and minds on things above? What must we do?

Putting Off the Old
* Since the believer has a new position in Christ, he/she needs to "put off" old, bad attitudes and actions, and "put on" new, good attitudes and actions. Read Colossians 3:5-11.

4. Believers are to "put to death" whatever belongs to their earthly nature. As examples, what must believers "put to death" according to verse 5?

* Paul says "greed" (or "covetousness") is "idolatry". This attitude is idolatry because it puts some object or desire in the place that God should occupy in peoples' hearts. This attitude values "earthly things" more than "things above".

5. What reasons does Paul give for "putting to death" whatever belongs to the earthly nature? (3:6-7)

* Paul contrasts the believer's old life with the new life (3:7). He says, "you have taken off your old self…and have put on the new self" (3:9-10). This is the language of changing clothes. As a person takes off old, dirty clothes, and puts on new, clean clothes, the believer is to put off the attitudes and actions of the old self, and put on the proper attitudes and actions of the new self.

6. What additional attitudes and actions must believers get rid of, according to verses 8-9?

* While the believer has a new position in Christ, he/she is not completely new. The new self is "being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (3:10, emphasis mine). Renewal is a process. Believers continue to grow in their knowledge of God, and they continue to grow in their likeness to Christ, who is "the image of the invisible God" (1:15).

* The "new self" is part of a new humanity. Read Colossians 3:11. There are many distinctions among human beings, including ethnicity, nationality, cultural differences, educational level, social class, etc. When people become Christians, these distinctions do not suddenly disappear, but they should no longer divide people who are truly united in Christ.

Putting On the New
* After telling believers what to "put off" (3:5-11), Paul tells them what to "put on" (3:12-17). "Putting on" is the subject of "The New You, Part Two" (Lesson 8).

Reflection/Application
† Do you desire a new life? Newness of life is found in Christ. Do you need to receive him?

† If you are a true believer, you have already died with Christ, and been raised with Christ. You have a new life! Is your heart and mind set on things above, or earthly things? What attitudes and actions of the old self are still present in your life? Identify particular attitudes and actions that you need to "put off. Ask God to help you to get rid of them, and do it by God's grace.