Put off the old, put on the new

When you were pagans you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 1 You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven. 2

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 3 Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 4

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 5 Now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips 6 Rid yourselves of all deceit, hypocrisy, envy. 7

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. 8 As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 9

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. 10

 

1 1Cor 12.2 2 1Th 1.9-10 3 1Pet 4.3-5 4 Eph 4.22-24 5 Gen 35.2 6 Col 3.8 7 1Pet 2.1 8 Rom 13.14 9 Col 3.12, 14 10 Rom 13.12