Ye have put off the old man with his deeds

Today’s reading falls neatly into three sections: putting off what belongs to pre-conversion days, putting on what belongs to our new life, and learning the supreme value of submission in the Christian life and its relationships.

The presence of the characteristic Pauline use of ‘therefore’ focuses our thoughts on the implications of the foregoing doctrines on the practicalities of daily living. The new life in Christ mentioned in the earlier part of the Epistle is not just a theory. It has to be lived out. What kind of things, then, marked the old godless life? It displayed a devotion to unclean things, a grasping for self-gratification, and a violation of decent regard for others in act and word. Self is at the heart of thinking in this old way of life, and it calls down the wrath of God. This ‘old man’ is marked by disobedience to God. The rejection of the authority of God leads to corruption, perversion, and strife. And such, basically, were we all. Verse 11 may even suggest that our loyalties, racial, social, or religious, if followed without Christ, are a mere manifestation of our need of new birth.

But now, in Christ, all that marked us is changed, for Christ is all, and in all. This is a strong basis for the uniting of diverse characters. A first result of the change is that we consider the needs and feelings of others. We forgive, for we remember how we need forgiveness. We acknowledge that we are united with believers in one body, a basis for peace. We unite in praising God, as the ‘word of Christ’, v. 16, makes us conscious of the blessings which demand joyful expression. This leads to thankfulness as the atmosphere in which we conduct our daily lives. Do we recognize ourselves as we meditate on this teaching?

In contexts where authority is involved in our relationships Paul uses submission as a key concept. He teaches that in marriage the husband has the role of leader, the wife of follower. But there is a balance - he is not a dictator. Children are expected to obey parents, but the parents need to show them consideration. Slaves should obey masters (and in doing so serve the Lord Christ), but the masters need to remember that they are bondsmen of the Lord. Such is orderly, Christian society.