How to Live a Holy Life, Part I

This is the first part of a series entitled, “How to Live a Holy Life,” in which I will examine scripture from the New Testament and provide biblical examples how followers of Christ should live their lives.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  (Colossians 3:1-4, NASB)

How should you live as a follower of Christ?  None of us are perfect and our corruptible bodies still have a sin nature, even after we’re saved.  Being saved does not give one a free pass to live in sin, however.  Our God-given conscience gives us the inherent ability to tell right from wrong, even as desires of the flesh tug at our hearts and our minds.  I get so disturbed sometimes when a vehicle with a Christian emblem on the bumper speeds past me on the highway or cuts off someone in traffic.  As followers of Christ, we are the salt and light of the world and we are to set an example of how a Christian should live.  In his letter to the Colossians, Paul outlines the rules for holy living.  I’ll be quoting from Colossians chapter three.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you also, put them all aside:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is for all, and in all.  (Colossians 3:5-11, NASB)

So what is Paul telling us here?  You should consider yourself dead of desires of this world — immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed — and put all sins aside.  Don’t lie.  Don’t be angry.  Don’t express wrath and don’t slander one another.  Don’t use abusive speech.  For those who are saved are being renewed to a true knowledge of the One who created them.  Prejudices should be cast aside, as Christ can save all who ask it of Him.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  (Colossians 3:12-15, NASB)

After Paul outlined the sins we should cast from our earthly bodies, he gave us instructions on the types of behaviors that are expected from us.  Be compassionate and kind.  Demonstrate humility and gentleness and patience.  Bear with others and forgive each other.  Love one another, let peace rule in your hearts and be thankful.  And until next week, Paul’s letter to the Colossians provides us a great starting point on our journey to living a holy life.