Living Out Our New Life in Christ

Sep 08, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: New Life in Christ: Raised and Made Alive

When someone places their faith in Jesus, they are not simply making a decision or joining a group—they are spiritually raised with Christ, made alive from a state of spiritual death, and set free from the power of sin. This new life is not something earned by effort or good works, but is a gift from God, accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The chains of the old self are broken, and the believer is no longer powerless over sin, but empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom and hope. This is the foundation for all growth and transformation in the Christian life. [47:24]

Colossians 2:11-14 (ESV)
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you still feel powerless or chained to your old self, and how might remembering that you have been raised with Christ change the way you approach it today?

Day 2: Set Your Mind on Things Above

The Christian life is not primarily about trying harder to avoid sin, but about intentionally setting your mind and heart on Christ—seeking the things that are above, where He is. Just as a dog can resist temptation by keeping its eyes on its master, so too can believers endure and overcome temptation by focusing on Jesus. This is not a passive act, but a daily, active pursuit of knowing Christ, thinking about His ways, and letting His presence and truth fill your mind. As you do this, the power to resist sin and grow in holiness flows naturally from your relationship with Him. [51:13]

Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally set your mind on Christ today, especially in a moment when you feel tempted or distracted?

Day 3: Transformation by the Renewal of Your Mind

True and lasting change does not come from sheer willpower or external discipline, but from the inside out—by the renewal of your mind through God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit. While discipline and accountability tools have their place, they cannot change the heart. As you devote yourself to reading, understanding, and applying Scripture, God transforms your desires, thoughts, and actions. This is not about cold, begrudging obedience, but about glad-hearted transformation as you encounter the living God in His Word. [54:04]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: Is there a specific area where you have relied on self-discipline or external rules to fight sin? How can you invite God to renew your mind in that area through His Word this week?

Day 4: Study What You Struggle With

One of the most practical ways to grow in Christ is to bring your real struggles to God’s Word—studying what you are struggling with, searching the Scriptures for God’s wisdom, and seeking out trustworthy resources that help you understand and apply biblical truth to your life. God has provided an abundance of wisdom through His Word and through the insights of others, and He invites you to dig deep, ask honest questions, and let His truth shape your heart and actions. Don’t be intimidated; the riches of God’s Word are available to all who seek Him. [01:04:17]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one struggle or question you are facing right now? Take time today to search God’s Word or a trusted resource for His wisdom on that specific issue.

Day 5: Glad-Hearted Obedience and Putting on the New Self

God calls His people not just to put off sin, but to put on the new self—embracing compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. This is not a checklist to perform, but the fruit of a heart transformed by Christ and filled with His Spirit. As you let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, and as you live in community with others, you are empowered to walk in glad-hearted obedience, experiencing the peace and harmony that comes from living out your new identity in Christ. [01:07:56]

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: Which one of these “new self” qualities do you most need to put on today, and what is one step you can take to practice it in your relationships or circumstances?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a celebration of new life, both in the waters of baptism and in the daily walk of faith. We rejoiced with Jag as he publicly declared his faith in Christ, reminding us that baptism is not a means of salvation but a powerful outward sign of an inward reality: we have died to our old selves and have been raised to new life in Jesus. This new life is not something we earn or achieve by our own effort, but a gift received through faith, secured by Christ’s finished work.

The heart of our time together centered on Colossians 3 and the question: How do we put sin to death and live in the new life we’ve been given? The answer is not found in white-knuckled discipline or self-made religion, but in setting our minds on Christ. Paul’s call is clear: “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is.” The Christian life is a paradox—we are called to become who we already are in Christ. Our position before God is secure, but we are invited to live out that reality in our daily conduct.

We explored the futility of trying to overcome sin by sheer willpower or external measures alone. True transformation comes as we renew our minds with God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the heart-changing work we cannot do ourselves. Discipline and accountability tools have their place, but they are powerless without a heart preoccupied with Jesus. The more we fix our gaze on Him, the more sin loses its grip and grows strangely dim.

Practical encouragement was given to make growing in the knowledge of God a normal part of life—not just for pastors or leaders, but for every believer. Resources abound, and the riches of God’s Word are available to all who seek. Whether you feel stagnant, stuck in sin, or simply hungry for more, the invitation is the same: set your mind on Christ, study what you’re struggling with, and let God’s Spirit transform you from the inside out. For those who have not yet received this new life, the door remains open—don’t waste another day in the old self when abundant life is offered in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism is a Public Declaration, Not a Means of Salvation Baptism powerfully symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ, but it does not save us. It is an outward display of an inward reality—a proclamation that we belong to Jesus and are walking in newness of life. Our salvation is by faith alone, and baptism is a joyful act of obedience that points to what God has already done in us. [13:21]
2. Become Who You Already Are in Christ The Christian life is not about striving to earn God’s love or approval, but about living out the new identity we have received. We are already declared righteous, forgiven, and made new in Christ; sanctification is the process of practicing what is already true. This perspective frees us from performance-based faith and invites us into glad-hearted obedience rooted in our secure position before God. [32:15]
3. Self-Discipline Alone Cannot Defeat Sin While discipline and accountability have value, they are powerless to change the heart or break the power of sin on their own. Paul warns against self-made religion and extreme measures that appear wise but lack true power. Real victory over sin comes not from external effort, but from the inward transformation that happens as we set our minds on Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to renew us. [54:04]
4. Transformation Flows from a Mind Set on Christ Setting our minds on things above is not a passive suggestion, but an active pursuit. As we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, meditate on His character, and seek His wisdom, the Spirit works in us to change our desires and actions. The holiest lives are not those obsessed with their own holiness, but those preoccupied with Jesus—His beauty, His ways, and His presence. [57:19]
5. Practical Growth Means Studying What You Struggle With Spiritual growth is not reserved for pastors or the spiritually elite; every believer is invited to dig deep into God’s Word. When facing a particular struggle, study what Scripture says about it, use trustworthy resources, and let God speak directly into your situation. The riches of God’s wisdom are available to all who seek, and transformation comes as we engage honestly and persistently with His truth. [63:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Prayer for Pastor Reagan and Family
[04:10] - Baptism Introduction
[07:30] - Jag’s Testimony and Baptism
[13:21] - Meaning of Baptism Explained
[17:00] - Remembering Bev Gould
[19:00] - Introduction to Colossians 3
[24:30] - The Paradox of Christian Identity
[32:15] - Sanctification: Becoming Who You Are
[38:09] - Our Pre-Salvation Condition
[42:15] - The Need for Salvation and the Work of Christ
[47:24] - Freedom from Sin’s Power
[51:13] - The Limits of Self-Discipline
[54:04] - True Transformation and Setting Your Mind on Christ
[59:20] - The Riches of God’s Word for All
[63:32] - Studying What You Struggle With
[67:56] - Application: Stagnation and Next Steps
[71:16] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[79:15] - Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: New Life in Christ (Colossians 3)

Bible Reading

Colossians 3:1-5 (ESV)
> If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Observation Questions

According to Colossians 3:1-2, what are believers told to seek and set their minds on?
In the sermon, what did the pastor say baptism represents, and what does it not accomplish? [[13:21]]
What does Paul say has happened to our old self if we are in Christ?
Before Paul lists sins to put to death, what does he instruct believers to do first? [[47:24]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon described the Christian life as “becoming who you already are in Christ.” What does this mean, and how does it change the way we think about spiritual growth? [[32:15]]
Why is self-discipline alone not enough to defeat sin, according to both Colossians 2:23 and the sermon? [[54:04]]
What does it look like practically to “set your mind on things above”? How is this different from just trying harder to be good? [[49:33]]
The pastor said that true transformation comes from the Holy Spirit working in us as we focus on Jesus. How does this process work, and what is our part in it? [[57:19]]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that baptism is a public declaration, not a means of salvation. If you have been baptized, how did that experience impact your faith journey? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about it? [[13:21]]
The idea of “becoming who you already are in Christ” can be freeing. Are there areas in your life where you still feel like you have to earn God’s love or approval? How might your daily life look different if you truly believed your position in Christ is secure? [[32:15]]
The pastor shared that self-discipline and accountability tools are helpful but powerless without a heart preoccupied with Jesus. Are there areas where you’ve been relying on your own willpower to fight sin? What would it look like to shift your focus to Jesus instead? [[54:04]]
“Setting your mind on things above” was described as an active pursuit. What are some practical ways you can do this in your daily routine? Is there a specific time, place, or method that helps you focus on Christ? [[49:33]]
The sermon encouraged everyone—not just pastors—to make growing in the knowledge of God a normal part of life. What is one step you can take this week to dig deeper into God’s Word or learn more about an area you’re struggling with? [[59:20]]
The pastor suggested studying what you struggle with in Scripture and using trustworthy resources. Is there a particular sin, doubt, or question you’re facing right now? How could you use this approach to seek God’s wisdom about it? [[01:03:32]]
For those who feel stagnant or stuck, the invitation was to set your mind on Christ and let God’s Spirit transform you. What is one area where you feel stuck, and what is a small, specific step you can take this week to invite God into that struggle? [[01:07:56]]

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group set their minds on Christ this week, to experience the freedom of new life, and to be transformed by His Spirit from the inside out.

Sermon Clips

“This is such a healthy and biblical way to consider pursuing holiness or killing sin in your life, which is kind of the subject of what we're going to talk about today. We just went through our first John series. If you stuck with me through that during Pastor Reagan's sabbatical, it talked about over and over the importance of killing sin, and it's just part of the Christian life. It's something you should desire to do as a Christian. Not perfectly, but it is a thing. We'll unpack a little bit more why it makes no sense to not be slaying our sin if we have indeed agreed with God that our sin is wrong and we have submitted to him as the Lord of our lives. But we will read today what having new life in Christ means and how it affects our walk in this way.”

“Salvation, I've heard the Bible described in this way, broken apart in three parts. First is paradise created, paradise lost, and paradise restored. So paradise created, God created mankind in a perfect relationship with him. Beautiful, beautiful, perfect relationship. This is Genesis 1 and 2. And then you see paradise lost, mankind rebelled against God, breaking the relationship between God and man. God is perfectly just, and he must punish sin. It's in his nature to do so. So the Bible says that the just punishment for sin is death and eternal separation from God for all of eternity. So at this point, the wrath of God is on mankind. For our sin, the wrath of God is on mankind, and we need to be saved from that wrath. But God, while absolutely being perfectly just, God is also merciful and he loves you. And this is where we see paradise restored. God, while we were yet sinners, provided us a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin for us so that we could be reconciled is the word, reconciled to him, that our relationship with God would be restored. And this is why Jesus is so crucial is because without him, we have no hope.”

“It's not that we're any better than anybody or that we're so smart that we get it. It's that God in his miraculous grace has given us understanding, has opened our eyes and given us life to understand what is taking place here. And so Paul here is describing this horrific and sad condition all formerly were in. But what he's getting at is saying, this isn't you. If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you are no longer plagued with a darker in mind, hardened heart. You are not stuck in sin. You are not incapable of seeing eternal value. This is not you if you have placed your faith in Jesus.”

“If you have been raised with Christ, or in other words, given new life as you placed your faith in the work of Jesus on the cross, dying the debt that you deserve, paying the sin debt, you are no longer powerless over sin. You have life. That's why we sing, my chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. That's a beautiful statement for those who know they have life, because it is not something we do. We can't shake ourselves out of sin. It is by the power of God that we are overcomers.”

“You cannot work hard enough to free yourself of sin, especially since you're dead in your trespasses and sins before Christ. So we must be raised with Christ. And I will talk about at the end how to do that. But so if you have been raised with Christ, if you have new life through faith in Jesus, then what? Work hard to stop sinning? Not really.”

“Notice how he doesn't say, try really hard to be sinless. So he's about to tell us, he's about to tell us a load of stuff to put to death, sin-wise. That's totally true. So this is an active part. But before he gets to that in verse 5, before he gets to any of that, he starts here. Set your mind on Christ. And this is so key.”

“As long as Barrett's eyes were on his masters, he had the strength to endure the temptation, but the moment his eyes strayed to the temptation itself, he was done for. In the same way, this is a truth that Paul shows us over and over that is so true of the Christian life. When people are struggling with sin, when they are fighting sin in their lives, it's always interesting to me what the typical, is that this mic that's clicking? Okay, so it's always interesting to me how people's response to this is, the first thing they'll say is, are you reading your Bible and praying, right? Which is a good thing to ask, right? That is a good thing to ask, but it's like, I've heard people ask this like almost dismissively, like where it's like, well, are you reading your Bible and praying? I'm like, well, yeah, I am. Well, it's like, are you doing it right though? And it's like, I get so frustrated, you know, I get kind of angry when someone would suggest to me that I wasn't, let's switch to this, the baptism mic.”

“Discipline is good in that with it, we are positioning ourselves to be changed by God through his power and his spirit and his word. But it's more than just checking off a box in the morning, reading a chunk of scripture before you go to work. It's not about making sure you don't have any idle time. It's not about just trying harder to not engage in sin.”

“Just putting covenant eyes on your phone or any of these softwares, accountability software. I have it. I love it. I definitely tell people to get accountability software on your phone. I ain't going down like that. But at the same time, it's not what is going to change your heart. It's not what is going to change your heart. It's not about making sure you don't have idle time or just trying hard enough to not engage in sin.”

“Colossians 2:23 says, these have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Asceticism, if you don't know, is like an extreme self-discipline-based cult in Paul's day that taught extreme discipline was the path to righteousness. And so working harder has no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. So then how do we? So he says, set your minds on things above. Seek the things that are above.”

“The only people who can truly kill their sin are those who are preoccupied with Jesus. J.I. Packer said this, the holiest Christians are not those most concerned about holiness as such, but those whose minds and hearts and goals and purposes and love and hope are most fully focused on our Lord Jesus Christ. As we think about the Lord, as we consider his words, his ways, his greatness, his glory, literally anything about him, the Holy Spirit is at that moment working in our hearts, doing this changing, transforming work that we cannot do ourselves.”

“Are you exhausted? Are you frustrated with the sin that has been plaguing you for far too long? His yoke is easy and his burden is light. You need to go where the power is. You need to go where the power is. Set your mind on things above. Make growing in your understanding of scripture a normal thing in your life. A normal thing.”

“The deeper things, the riches of the knowledge that Paul prays for several times for several different churches, he wants you to be rich in the knowledge of God. He prayed that for everyone in the church, not just their leadership, and so, like, to the idea that that is only reserved, that treasure is only reserved for a select few infuriates me, and it's why, what I love so much about Christianity, where other religions are like, oh, no, we have the answers. You need to listen to us, and Christianity is like, hey, we can help you navigate this. We've, like, spent a lot of time, got a lot of classes on how to read the Bible, but ultimately, like, you need to be interacting with God through this.”

“You have every ability. You have the same Holy Spirit in you that I have in me, and you have every ability to navigate this word of God. Now, if you want to learn how to do word studies and fun stuff like that, I would love to nerd out with you. With that, I'm getting way ahead. I've completely left my notes, but that's totally okay. Go to where the power is. Make growing in your understanding of scripture a normal thing.”

“If you have been raised with Christ, if you have new life, set your mind on the things above where Christ is. Renew your mind with the wisdom and understanding in God's word. As you do so, the Holy Spirit's going to change your heart. Has to change your heart, and this is the path not begrudging submission. I've watched a lot of people really struggle with sin, and I called it white-knuckled obedience. Like, where you're like, oh, I don't want to move, or like, just like, where you're really aggressively trying to hold on to something. But God here is offering you glad-hearted obedience. Glad-hearted obedience. Let him do the heart change. It's not cold, dead religion orthodoxy at that point. It's beautiful relationship where you were changed.”

“Study what you're struggling with. What a concept. Like, what I might suggest is that you set your mind on Christ by studying the remainder of this passage on your own or with your family. Maybe look at the things Paul says to put to death and ask honestly, do any of these things exist in my heart? Do word studies on them. Really unpack. What did he mean by those words?”

“If you want to know how to study or to dive deeper into God's word, don't be intimidated. You don't have to look far to unearth beautiful truths in the pages of God's word. But the depths of the riches to be found in every individual word are limitless for those who are willing to grow in the skill to navigate it.”

“We cannot change ourselves, but rather we are being transformed by the renewal of our mind as we engage with God's word and pray for his spirit to move in us. We are made more and more like him.”

“Maybe you've been stagnant. You haven't felt God change you much lately and you're not sure why. Maybe you've been stuck in sin and no matter how hard you try, you can't stop. Maybe you're losing your motivation. It happens. There's an ebb and flow to this, but what do you do? Set your mind on Christ. Study what you're struggling with. Pour over the pages of scripture and let God speak to you.”

“You would be blown away how literally almost every day God speaks directly into an oddly specific situation I'm going through in a Bible plan, in a Bible in a year plan. Like it's incredible. Like this is legitimate. He does this. In the craziest, most esoteric situations I'm in, God will, I'll open up my Bible into Leviticus 12 and where nobody expects to come up with a great golden nugget. And out of it, I think it was Leviticus 10 where it was about Jesus being our high priest. And then my next part of my reading was John 17 that day where Jesus, with Jesus's high priestly prayer. That was a game. I stayed in, I stayed in Bible study for like an hour and a half just because it was, I had other stuff to do. And it was like incredible. I was needing that specific answer that day. It happens all the time like that.”

“Maybe you need to set your mind or seek the things that are above. The other option is that maybe through all of this, you realize that you do not have eternal life to begin with. You've never personally placed your faith in the work of Jesus for your salvation. If that's something you would like to do, please don't hesitate. I would love to talk you through it either during the last song or after service, no worries. But regardless, don't waste another day in the old self. Don't waste another day chained to a sin that God has already set you free from. You have new and abundant life waiting for you in the things that are above where Christ is.”

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