Putting Off and Putting On — Colossians 3:9–10
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Colossians 3:9–10 ESV
In modern English, we have numerous phrases that use the idioms “put off” and “put on.” Phrases like, “I was really put off by that person,” “I’m putting this off until later,” or “That distraction really put me off my game.” We also say things like, “putting on the ritz” (a 1980s classic that I’m old enough to remember), or “He’s just putting on airs.” However, when Paul uses the phrases “put off” and “put on” in his letter to the church at Colossae he had a different meaning in mind.
The Church at Colossae was made up primarily of Gentile believers who were facing challenges with some doctrinal issues that Paul, via this letter, intended to help set right. A main issue that needed correcting was the reminder of the centrality of the Lordship of Christ. Christ is to be Lord of their lives because of His forgiveness, deliverance from punishment, and adoption by the Father. Verses nine and ten of chapter 3 are part of the section of the letter in which Paul applied this doctrine in order to call the Colossians to live their lives in a manner worthy of Christ, ridding themselves of their old way of life and putting on a life lived for Christ. Paul used the phrases “put off” and “put on” to call to mind the removal and donning of a garment.
The verses immediately preceding verse 9 give a description of the old, sinful life that is to be “put off” — sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, greed, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander and filthy language (v.5–8 HCSB). Verses nine and ten then provide a hinge point for the passage when it states that since the old man has already been put off and the new man already put on, here are the ways that believers ought to be living, putting into practice the sovereignty of Christ and His Lordship over their lives.
The Greek word translated “put off” is the word used for taking off clothes. Here, when referring to the old man or the sinful life, it implies the removal of dirty clothes at the end of the day. This then leads to the phrase “put on” the new man, indicating putting on fresh, clean clothes after removing dirty ones, especially since verse ten concludes with the phrase “according to the image of his Creator.” The Message describes the old man as a set of “ill-fitting clothes,” while the new man is like “a new wardrobe” (implying that it is not just one article of clothing or one small part of our lives, but the entirety). The MacArthur Study Bible states, “Because the old man died in Christ, and the new man lives in Christ…believers must put off remaining sinful deeds and be [in the process of] being continually renewed into the Christlikeness to which they are called.” The verb tenses used for “put off” and “put on” describe actions that have already taken place, even though our humanity (or “flesh”) continues to cause us to stumble. We must be constantly remolded into a more perfect likeness of Christ our Maker.
I think there is strong application for corporate worship in these verses and the surrounding ones. Verse nine begins by saying, “Do not lie to one another…” which I believe calls Christ-followers to be honest with one another about who and what we really are. We should be willing to acknowledge to others that we are imperfect sinners and are not “happy all the time” or that we are leading some kind of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest perfect lives. We are called to be open, honest and not phony with each other. Because we have already put off the old man and put on the new man, we can continue to grow together to become more like Christ.
I think the passage also calls us to a sense of corporate, continual renewal. The process of our becoming remolded into the image of Christ is an ongoing process that is only strengthened and enhanced by coming together corporately in worship, praising God for His forgiveness and serving one another and the world in His name. As individuals, we are to live lives characterized by the fruit of the Spirit and by a likeness to Christ which in turn benefits the entire church body as we live in community together.
Recently I heard a modern illustration regarding the putting off of the old and putting on the new man. The comparison was made, not just to the removal of clothing, but to the process of tattoo removal. The point was that removing a tattoo is something that takes more than one treatment, just as the putting off of the old sinful habits is something ongoing. Also, the tattoo removal process is often painful. As we repeatedly put off the old man and its sinful habits, we experience the pain of our sinful choices. However, as we daily put on the new man by choosing Christ-like actions, and as we are continually being renewed into the image of Christ, we are being spiritually formed as individuals. Then, as individuals come together with the larger corporate body to worship, serve, and grow, (from all different backgrounds, with no division, as verse eleven states), we are all together being spiritually formed into the image of Christ, our Creator.
