Start with a few age defying nips and tucks. Change the impact of one's presentation with a new hair style. Select new makeup. Top it all off with several new outfits and you have the ingredients for a total makeover. Although this type of change is cosmetic, there is another total makeover which fundamentally reorders lives. The spiritual surgery Christ performs involves a transformation from being dead to being made alive. Colossians 2:11-13 It includes the change in status from being alienated from God to being reconciled. Colossians 1:21-22
From Paul's letter of Colossians we learn that there is more to Christ's complete makeover plan then Jesus simply bestowing life and hope upon those who receive him. Rather, they are to deliberately clothe themselves to fit their "new me." Through such phrases as "died with Christ" and "raised with Christ," (Colossians 2:12,20; 3:1) Paul pointed back to their time of transformation to teach that the clothing of the old self such as impurity, evil desires, greed, anger, malice, slander and lying had to be left behind while the characteristics of our new self were put on. Colossians 3:5-14
One of the fundamental characteristics of Christ's makeover plan is for God's people to forgive others in the same manner in which they have been forgiven. Just as grace has released them from their sin, God's people are to graciously let go of any grievances they might hold against others. Colossians 3:13
Sure there are practical reasons to forgive such as:
1) Jesus did not mince words when he taught that unless we are willing to let go of what we have against other people, God will not forgive us. Matthew 6:14-15 It can be sobering to realize that Jesus did not put any conditions upon this such as "this is true for only small things." Jesus simply taught that failure to forgive others means you won't be forgiven.2) Failure to let go of our grievances toward others can result in ruining our own lives. Grudges are like cancer. They can grow and gnaw at you until they consume you. Even the wisdom of self-preservation tells us we ought to forgive.
However, it is the Surgeon's work in transforming us from our old self which explains why Christians must forgive. "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2
In choosing to serve Christ we submit ourselves to Christ's makeover plan. He gives us life and we are to live in accordance with our new self which is created in him.
Barry Newton © 2001
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