Why God Recreated You

April 23rd, 2024
by Matthew Allen

Ephesians 4:20-24 and Colossians 3:1-17 reveal the process of spiritual rebirth and renewal. Here, we learn about God’s intent for our holiness and righteousness and guide us on living out the divine expectation in everyday life.

Ephesians 4:20-24: A Call to Righteousness and Holiness
What Paul teaches here is foundational in understanding God’s purpose in recreating us. Specifically, verse 24 pictures the transformation God envisions, linking it back to Genesis 1:26-27, where humanity is created in God’s image. From the outset, it is clear that God desires us to live in righteousness and holiness. This is a fundamental aspect of our new identity in Christ.

Living Out Our New Identity

Paul emphasizes the necessity of putting our old selves away—the behaviors and thoughts tied to our former way of life—described in Ephesians 4:22. Instead, we are to "put on the new self," which has been recreated in the likeness of God, filled with true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). This is further explained through the rebirth of baptism: just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too are called to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Our new identity requires active participation. Romans 6:6 and 6:11 speak to this, urging us to consider ourselves "dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." The shift from a deceived mind to a renewed mind, as noted in Ephesians 4:22-23, is crucial. It marks a departure from past corruptions and an embrace of divine truth and purity.

Colossians 3:1-17: Embracing the New Life in Christ

Colossians 3 extends and deepens the discourse on our sanctification. Beginning with a heavenly perspective (Colossians 3:1-2), Paul reminds us of our death to the old sinful nature and our new life hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). This new existence is characterized by the absence of immorality, impurity, and evil desires—elements that are described as spiritual idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

What the Renewed Life Looks Like

The latter verses of Colossians 3:8-17 describe the new, God-intended life. It is a life where virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience replace vices such as anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech. It is about avoiding sin and actively pursuing godliness through practices like forgiveness and love, which bind everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14).

Making the Connection Between Worship and Daily Living

True worship of God is inseparably linked to how we live. Worship is not confined to church attendance; it encompasses our entire being and every aspect of our lives. The act of worship and daily living reflecting God's nature must be consistent and continuous. Disconnecting our lifestyle from our worship leads to a fundamental misunderstanding of both.

Ultimately, it is only through God’s creative act—our rebirth in Christ—that we can truly fulfill our calling to live as reflections of God’s holiness and righteousness. This transformation is both a gift and a responsibility that demands our wholehearted engagement to embody the virtues of the divine nature in every moment of our lives. As we continue to grow and mature in our faith, let us remember that we are called to be the visible expression of God’s love and righteousness in a world that desperately needs both.

Posted in obedience