Colossians 3:1-11

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

1) You as a believer are identified with Christ. Jesus is an example to us, a model, and also a challenge. Paul is telling us to be careful to act like Christians, to put away the the acts of the natural man. Even Paul struggled (see Roman 7:14-21).

2)You are responsible for your condition before God. He provides the opportunity for relationship and He holds us in that relationship, but we are responsible for taking off the old man and putting on the new.
[tags]sunday sermons[/tag]