The Christian life is pretty straightforward. It’s not about the days or foods or legalism, “do this, don’t do that.” It’s a relationship with God, a mindset, and actions that flow from love. This is what happened: You were dead in sin, lost in transgression, bound for Hell, wrath, and punishment. In His grace and mercy, you are born again. He forgave you your sins through Christ. Christ paid your debt and set you free. You are saved and now you are a new creature, with a new life, new future, a new story. The old has passed away, the new has come. You are running a new race, with a new destination – someday, heaven.
What does your life look like on this race? Paul explains in Colossians 3, “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Our minds are set on heavenly things. We have new desires and we have Christ, our greatest treasure. As great as the blessings of this world are, they don’t last. This world has nothing for you; you are bound for greater things. Glory is coming.
So, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Being a Christian is to get rid of the old, and we are to work hard at that, but what takes its place?
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing 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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” That is the Christian life.