During a Tsunami there are sometimes three waves; first one is surprising and shocking. However specialist say the second and the third one causes the devastation and is more destructing that the first one.
Even in our spiritual life, sin can prevail like this and destroy our lives. We may have overcome the first wave, but the second and third one can cause much damage.
I believe Paul saw the sins as three waves.
First one is more applicable to unsaved people but the second one and the third one can be prevalent in many Christians and the third specifically can be even rampant in people who follow Jesus closely.
(Colossians Chapter 3 NIV)
Col 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Col 3:7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
Col 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
The first wave is
Vs 5 “earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry”
Here Paul says (vs 7) “you used to” and “Life you once lived” meaning prior to salvation
Second wave is
Vs 8 “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Here he uses the term (Vs 8) “You must also” meaning people who are saved but continue to have these problems
Third Wave is
Vs 9 “Do not lie to each other”
Here he continues by saying (Vs 9) “Since you have taken off your old self” meaning you are saved and you are born again with a completely new self. However still you have the “spirit of lying” within you. He uses “each other” meaning within God’s family.
A lie is a lie and there is nothing confusing about it. You may think “white lies” are okay, well it is not. You may think lying for the progression of the gospel is okay, but it is not. You may think lying to avoid hurting another person is okay, well it is not. Lying is a child of the Devil who was called the “Father of Lies” by Jesus (John 8:44).
We need to destroy this habit.
Joh 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Beware of the third wave!
As you can see there are three waves here. The first one you may have overcome with Salvation. But there are two more waves which can be within a saved person which has to be destroyed completely.
Finally Paul ends with;
Vs 10 “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
We have to put “ON” our new self, meaning practice our new “born again life” and renew ourselves in the word of Knowledge.
Hence next time any of the above spirits start surfacing, pray with the Blood of Jesus and practice our new life and put on our new self and move ahead with triumph by his Grace and Mercy.
God Bless you.
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