“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.” Colossians 3:9.

In the prior studies we were told to put to death our members which consisted of, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.

After this the apostle gave us the next step, which is to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language.

We now continue with the above verse, “Do not lie to one another”, what a refreshing thought, if everyone stopped lying to one another, both Christians and unbelievers.

Everyone lies today, whether it is government, business, or in daily relationships. When I say everyone I mean everyone, far more than in the past.

The practice of lying is a miserable abomination to God and it will bring punishment down on corporations, governments, and individuals.

“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19.

Twice lying is mentioned in the above passage, three times since lies sow discord among brethren. You may know of some politicians who fulfill all seven of these things that God hates. They will, and do bring a curse upon the entire nation.

“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs12:22.

“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.

There are many legitimate questions in life which take tact to answer honestly, such as; “Dear, does this dress make me look fat?” or “Do you like my new hairdo?” Men are good at this too; “I painted our bedroom purple, do you like it?”

Loving tact is the most difficult of all the arts, may we, everyone, become one of the great masters.

Lying is a tough habit to break, but if we continue willfully in it, we put ourselves in agreement with the father of them all.

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44.

If we have “…put off the old man with his deeds”, it is now necessary to put on the new man.

“…and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…” Colossians 3:10.

The old man is who we were before accepting Christ as savior; the new man is who we have become within through the operation of the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The difficulty is that the old man is constantly with us and has to be reckoned dead as the theme of the last few verses has shown. In Colossians 2:20 we are told the following.

“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations…” Colossians 2:20.

And, Colossians 3:1a and 3:3 make these statements.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is…” Colossians 3:1a.

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3.

And finally:

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth…” Colossians 3:5a.

Probably the simplest advice anyone can give for reckoning the old man dead is this: You can starve the flesh (do not engage in the desires of the old man) and feed the spirit (the new man); or you can starve the spirit (by neglecting the things of God) and feed the flesh.

Much easier said than done; one thing that will make it easier is to read your Bible on a regular basis, pray, church attendance, and association with other Christians.

When you do these things regularly, the things of the world become less interesting as you go along.

“…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification [building up], that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor [loud quarreling], and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.” Ephesians 4: 22-32.

We are not only told to put on the new man, but Colossians 3:10 goes on to tell us that the new man is, “…renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”

This renewal of knowledge can have many facets. For instance when the Christian is first saved, their entire world is turned upside down.

The things they believed are slowly rejected and the things they were taught are now seen to be lies when put alongside the truth of the Scriptures.

The renewal in knowledge can also be experiential in the things a Christian goes through in a lifetime, whether suffering or joy, it all changes our perspective on life, until we become more like Christ on this earth.

With Bible study, and a habit of reading it, the Christian is also renewed in knowledge being able to discern the subtlest differences between right and wrong.

Armed with that knowledge the believer can avoid many of the pitfalls in life, and help others along the way.

But this knowledge “according to the image of Him who created him” Colossians 3:10b also suggests an intimate relationship with the Creator of all things.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.

“…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11.

In Christ, in the kingdom of heaven, even right now, there is no difference. There is neither Greek (Gentile) or Jew.

“But now in Christ Jesus you [Gentiles] who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:13-18.

In Christ, there is neither circumcised nor uncircumcised. It is not ritual or birth which makes us children of Abraham but faith in Christ.

There is neither barbarian nor Scythian. Barbarians were to the Romans those who did not speak their language, and to the Greeks those who were not Greek.

The Scythians were the lowest most vulgar form of barbarians, nomadic tribes who settled north of the Black and Caspian Seas and eastward into inner Asia, southern Russia. But all are precious in the sight of Jesus and none out of His reach.

One such Scythian named Anacharsis who was reproached by a Greek for being a Scythian replied in this manner. “My country is a reproach to me, but thou art a reproach to thy country.” Our dear Father has such a heart for lowly souls like these.

God does not regard riches or position, He is the Creator after all, and over all; He will not be bribed, flattered, cheated or lied to.

And in His kingdom all will have entered by the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, so there will be a level playing field and then as it is now, there will not be, “slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering…” Colossians 3:12.

As the elect, part of God’s family and no longer of the world; holiness has been imputed to us in Christ, making us holy. Holiness that is given to us brings with it a responsibility to be holy.

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:13-16.

The Christian, as a child of God, is beloved. You must believe that whether you think it is true of yourself or not, because God says it is so.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7-10.

Since we are beloved of God, we as children should put on tender mercies.

Tender mercies, which is called bowels of mercy in the King James, is a heartfelt sympathy for others in distress, weeping with those who weep and suffering with those who suffer. It is a true compassion for those in distress that is without hypocrisy or deceit.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15.

Kindness is an outward response to the tender mercies within; visiting the sick, feeding the poor, helping with clothing, gas money for the one seeking work; sometimes simple things, sometimes quite difficult, such as helping someone to move.

“…distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” Romans 12:13.

Humbleness of mind is a truly difficult state to be in, for we all have a tendency to feel superior to someone at times. Outwardly it is simple to have the appearance of humility, for a time at least, but the inward heart will often betray a person.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3.

Pride can enter the heart secretly and become a serious problem. Even the Apostle Paul might have been lifted up in pride because of all the things God revealed to him. But God had a remedy for that as the apostle states in the following verse.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7.

It is better to have humbleness of mind by not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to, rather than having it forced upon you externally.

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5.

Though He is Lord of all, our God is a humble God, and He expects His children to be of the same mind.

Meekness is very similar to humility and has an aspect of gentleness, mildness; the meek submit to the will of God no matter what difficulties are incurred. The meek rejoice with others without envy, a sincere heart.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness [meekness], with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3.

“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility [meekness] to all men.” Titus 3:1-2.

Look at how verse 2 above is translated in the old King James Version.

“…to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” Titus 3:2.

The believer is to be longsuffering, which is patience, forbearance, and slowness in avenging wrong. To endure wrong suffered at the hands of another believer, with forgiveness.

Quoting again from Ephesians 4 to show the emphasis on the thought of longsuffering:

“…with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2b-3.

Anger and division is Satan’s specialty for dividing the body of Christ, which consists of the local church. Longsuffering short circuits many of his attempts at confusion among the brethren, and many of his lies, along with jealousy which he foments at every opportunity.

Suffer long my friends at least until you have found the reason for some slander or gossip, and then seek a way of healing the rift, not making things worse.

“…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:13.

Forbearance and forgiveness are all part of longsuffering, keeping in mind that Jesus gave Himself for you, so that you could be forgiven as well as those who sin against you.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3.

Colossians 3:9-13 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 2-14-14, updated on 4-20-20.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.