Living a Resurrected Life: Putting on the New Self

As followers of Christ, we are often called to a higher standard of living—not based on rules or appearance, but on the transformation that begins in the heart. In Colossians 3:1–11, Paul invites the church to imagine what it means to live as if we are already raised with Christ. His message is one of both challenge and encouragement: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (v. 2, NRSV).

This passage comes on the heels of Paul’s warning against hollow rituals and human-made religion in chapter 2. Instead of focusing on legalism, Paul shifts the attention to identity. In Christ, we have died to the old way of life, and we are now hidden with Christ in God (v. 3). This is resurrection language—bold and personal. Paul isn't speaking only about future resurrection; he is calling the believers to live as people who are already being made new right now.

A Call to Transformation

Theologians have long recognized Colossians 3 as a turning point in the letter, where doctrine gives way to discipleship. According to The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, this chapter introduces the "moral implications of the believers' new life in Christ" and challenges the Colossians to "become what they are"—raised people (NIB, Vol. XI, p. 622).

This new identity requires putting to death the old ways of living: sexual immorality, greed, anger, and slander. The list in verses 5–9 is not exhaustive, but it paints a picture of what must be stripped away for the new self to emerge. These are behaviors rooted in self-centeredness and broken relationships.

John Wesley echoes this call to transformation in his understanding of sanctification. He believed that “putting off the old self” and “putting on the new self” was not a one-time event but the ongoing work of God’s grace in the believer’s life. In The Wesley One Volume Commentary, the authors note that "this passage emphasizes the continual ethical transformation expected of believers who share in the resurrection life of Christ" (Wesley One Volume, p. 867).

Unity in the New Self

Perhaps the most powerful verse in this passage is Colossians 3:11: “In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

This verse captures the radical unity that Christ brings. In a world full of divisions—social, economic, ethnic, and religious—Paul declares that none of these barriers have a place in the new creation. Christ breaks them all down. As the UMC Social Principles affirm, “We recognize racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons” (Book of Discipline, ¶162.A). Paul’s declaration in Colossians aligns with this conviction: the church is a new humanity, where all are equal in Christ.

This vision is not only spiritual; it is practical. When we put on the new self, we begin to live differently in community. We embody humility, kindness, and forgiveness. We refuse to let anger divide us or let pride elevate one person over another.

So What Does This Mean for Us?

In our churches today, Paul’s words remain just as urgent. It’s easy to get caught up in the appearance of religion—attending, tithing, doing good things—without allowing our hearts to be transformed. Colossians 3 reminds us that Christianity is not about performance; it's about identity.

We are not who we used to be. By the grace of God, we are being remade. This means asking ourselves:

• What parts of my life still cling to the old self?

• What habits, thoughts, or attitudes need to be surrendered to Christ?

• How can I better reflect the image of God in how I treat others—especially those different from me?

We are called to live as resurrection people. And in doing so, we shine the light of Christ into a world desperate for healing, hope, and unity.

Bibliography

• Bassler, Jouette M. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. XI. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.

• Carter, Warren, and Christopher L. Carter. The Wesley One Volume Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2020.

• The United Methodist Church. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016.

• United Methodist Church. Social Principles: The Nurturing Community. https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-nurturing-community