“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”

Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

An excellent Christian is required to be a model of righteous living who manifests their biblical convictions in every area of life. A biblical message paired with an ungodly lifestyle is nothing but blatant hypocrisy. People will tend to follow how a Christian lives far more than what they teach. On the other hand, a godly life brings power and authority to a Christian’s message.

Paul’s point in Colossians is that as Christians, we have not simply changed our minds. We have totally changed our citizenship. We belong to God’s new creation in Christ, and therefore the ideas and desires of our old nature no longer should control our lives.

Take Off the Graveclothes

The simplest illustration of this great truth is found in John 11, the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus had been in the grave four days when Jesus and His disciples arrived at Bethany. The Jewish custom taught that only Father God could raise a life four days in the grave. Even Martha admitted that by then the decaying body would smell (John 11:39). But Jesus spoke the word and Lazarus came forth alive, an illustration of His divinity.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24 NASB).

Notice what Jesus said next: “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44). Take off the graveclothes! Lazarus no longer belonged to the old dominion of death, for he was now alive. Why go about still wearing graveclothes? Take off the old and put on the new!

This is Paul’s argument: you no longer belong to the old corruption of sin. You belong to the new creation in Christ. Take off the graveclothes. The question is, how do we do this?

“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23 NASB). Conversion is a crisis that leads to a process. Through Christ, once and for all, we have been given a new position in His new creation. But day by day, we must by faith appropriate what He has given us. The Word of God renews the mind as we surrender our all to Him (Romans 12:1). He sanctifies us. “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17).

As the mind understands the truth of God’s Word, it is gradually transformed by the Spirit, and this renewal leads to a changed life. Physically, you are what you eat, but spiritually, you are what you think. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). This is why it is important for us as Christians to spend time daily meditating on His Word and fellowshipping with Him.

Speech That Reflects the Heart

When a Christian is in the public eye, their speech reflects what is in their heart. Nothing more surely reveals a sinful soul or more swiftly destroys our credibility than lies. Paul addresses this directly in his letter to the Ephesians: “Rejecting all falsehood, whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, or spreading rumors, speak truth to each one with your neighbor, for we are all parts of one another and we are all parts of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:25 AMP).

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth to each one of you with your neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25 NASB). And alongside that: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29 NASB).

The Greek word for speech here is logos, which means to speak intelligently. Logos does not mean merely a word in the grammatical sense, the simple name of a thing. The Greek language has other words for that. Logos refers to the total expression of a thought, the complete concept behind what is spoken. When one has spoken the sum total of their thoughts concerning something, they have given their hearer a total concept of that thing. Logos is a word uttered by a human voice that embodies an underlying concept or idea. It conveys the word as the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known.

This is why Paul uses this word for Christian speech. He is not calling us simply to use correct words. He is calling us to express thoughts that are true, complete, and grace-giving. Thoughts that build up rather than tear down. Thoughts that reflect the mind of Christ living in us.

“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12 NASB).

The Process of Transformation

Conversion is a crisis that leads to a process. Through Christ, once and for all, we have been given a new position in His new creation. But day by day, we must by faith appropriate what He has given us.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1 NIV). “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17). As the mind gradually understands the truth of God’s Word, it is transformed by the Spirit, and this renewal leads to a changed life. Physically, you are what you eat, but spiritually, you are what you think. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).

Lazarus walked out of that tomb alive, but he was still wrapped in graveclothes. Jesus had to tell those around him to loose him and let him go. Many of us have been made alive in Christ and yet are still shuffling around in the graveclothes of the old life: old patterns of thinking, old habits of speech, old ways of relating to the world. The command still stands: take them off. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. The graveclothes do not belong to you any longer. You are alive. Walk like it.