Berean Study Bible Put On the New SelfUnion with Christ in His death and resurrection gives believers a new standing and a new life. Having been raised with Him, they are no longer defined by their former sinful condition but belong to the risen Lord. Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him… strive for the things above, Believers are to direct their desires, decisions, and conduct toward the realities of God’s kingdom rather than the passing values and sinful patterns of the world. Their earthly lives are to reflect their new identity in Christ. Mat 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,… where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Christ’s place at God’s right hand declares His authority, honor, and completed sacrificial work. He reigns as the exalted Lord and represents His people before the Father. Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory… Set your minds on things above, Believers are to direct their thoughts, desires, and priorities toward Christ and the realities of God’s kingdom. Because Christ is seated at God’s right hand, His authority and the coming inheritance of His people are certain. This heavenly focus reflects the new life given to those united with Him. Mat 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,… not on earthly things. Earthly concerns such as possessions, status, self-made religion, and human wisdom are temporary and cannot produce spiritual life. Paul warns against allowing the values and practices of the fallen world to govern the believer’s mind. Life in Christ calls for an eternal perspective shaped by His rule rather than by passing desires. Php 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly,… For you died, Believers have decisively died to their former life under sin and the rule of earthly desires. Through union with Christ, their old way of life has been set aside. Rom 6:2-8 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin… and your life is now hidden Their true life is secure and not yet fully revealed in the present world. Its fullness will be seen when Christ appears. 1Pe 1:4-5 and into an inheritance that is imperishable,… with Christ Believers share in Christ’s death, resurrection life, and inheritance. Their identity is no longer defined by the world but by their relationship to Him. Jhn 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back… in God. Their life is held safely in the Father, who preserves His people and guarantees their future with Christ. 1Jn 4:15-16 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,… When Christ, who is your life, Believers possess new life because they are united with the risen Christ. Their identity, purpose, and hope are no longer defined by their former earthly condition but by Him. Php 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. appears, Christ will visibly return in power and majesty, bringing history to its appointed fulfillment. His coming will openly reveal the authority He now possesses. 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God… then you also will appear with Him Those who belong to Christ will be raised and gathered to Him. Their present hidden life in Him will be openly displayed before all creation. Rom 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation… in glory. Believers will share in Christ’s glory, the divine radiance and majesty of God’s presence, through complete redemption of body and soul. They will be transformed to reflect His righteous character and will dwell with Him eternally. 2Th 1:10 on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints… Put to death, therefore, Because believers have been raised with Christ, they must make a decisive break with sins belonging to their former life. These practices are not to be tolerated or managed but rejected. Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;… the components of your earthly nature: Paul identifies sinful impulses and behaviors rooted in fallen human life. The body is not evil, but its capacities must be brought under Christ’s rule. Rom 7:5 For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful… sexual immorality, Sexual conduct outside God’s design for marriage between a man and a woman was common in the Roman world, yet the church was called to holiness in both public and private life. 1Co 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin… impurity, Sin also corrupts thoughts, motives, and desires. God’s standard reaches beyond outward behavior to the condition of the heart. Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. lust, Uncontrolled passion seeks satisfaction apart from God’s will and treats others as objects for personal desire. Mat 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman… evil desires, The warning extends beyond sexual sin to cravings for power, pleasure, revenge, or gain that oppose God’s purposes. Rom 13:14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,… and greed, Greed is the restless pursuit of wealth, possessions, or advantage as a source of security and significance. Luk 12:15 And he said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves… which is idolatry. When material desires rule the heart, created things take the place that belongs to God alone. Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure,… Because of these, Because of these sins, God’s wrath is coming. They reveal rebellion against God’s created order and moral will, as sexual immorality, corrupt desires, and greed place created things in the place of the Creator. Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure,… the wrath of God The wrath of God is His holy and just judgment against evil. God does not overlook sin or treat it as insignificant; His righteousness requires that wrongdoing be answered. Rom 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven… is coming This phrase points to the certain day when God will judge the world. His patience allows time for repentance, but judgment remains certain. 2Th 1:6-9 After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction… on the sons of disobedience. Those marked by continual rebellion against God stand under this judgment. Paul contrasts their way of life with the new life believers have received in Christ, calling God’s people to reject the practices of their former existence. Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words,… When you lived among them, Before coming to Christ, the Colossian believers shared in the sinful patterns of the world around them. Their former lives were shaped by the same idolatry, immorality, and disobedience that marked pagan society. 1Pe 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past… you also used to walk Their conduct had once been a settled way of life, not isolated acts. Conversion brought a real break with that former manner of living and began a new life under Christ’s rule. Eph 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,… in these ways. The sins listed above—sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire, and greed—belonged to their old life. Having been raised with Christ, they were no longer to live according to practices that brought God’s judgment. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality… But now you must put aside all such things as these: Having been raised with Christ, believers are to abandon the practices that belonged to their former way of life. The command calls for a deliberate break with attitudes and actions that contradict their new identity. Eph 4:22 put off your former way of life, your old self… anger, Deep resentment must not be allowed to settle in the heart, where it can corrupt judgment and relationships. Eph 4:26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set… rage, Violent outbursts reveal a loss of self-control and often bring harm to others. Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… malice, The desire to injure, retaliate against, or secretly rejoice in another’s trouble has no place among God’s people. 1Pe 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice… slander, Damaging another person’s name through false, careless, or malicious speech violates truth and love. Psa 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,… and filthy language from your lips. Obscene, abusive, and degrading speech must be removed. A transformed heart should produce words that are pure, truthful, and beneficial to others. Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,… Do not lie to one another, Falsehood has no place among those united in Christ. Truthfulness preserves trust within the church and bears witness to the God of truth. In a world often hostile to the early Christians, honest conduct strengthened their testimony before both believers and outsiders. Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood… since you have taken off the old self Conversion marks a decisive break with the former life ruled by sin. Like discarding worn clothing, believers are to leave behind the identity and patterns that belonged to their life before Christ. Their new standing calls for conduct consistent with the new life God has given them. Eph 4:22 put off your former way of life, your old self… with its practices, The former life included sinful habits such as sexual immorality, greed, anger, slander, and deceit. These are not to be carried into the Christian life. God’s work of renewal reaches the heart and produces a life increasingly shaped by holiness and obedience. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality… and have put on the new self, Believers have received a new identity through union with Christ, leaving behind the patterns and desires of their former sinful life. Like changing garments, the image depicts a decisive break with the old way of life and the beginning of a life marked by obedience to God. Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God… which is being renewed in knowledge This new life continues to grow as believers come to know God more fully and conform their thoughts, attitudes, and conduct to His revealed will. The renewal is ongoing, accomplished by God as He matures His people in truth and holiness. Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed… in the image of its Creator. Humanity was created to reflect God’s moral character, though sin corrupted that likeness. In Christ, believers are being restored to reflect the righteousness, holiness, and love of the One who made them, until they increasingly resemble Christ, the perfect image of God. Gen 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,… Here there is no Greek or Jew, In Christ, ethnic identity does not determine standing before God. Jews possessed the covenants and promises, while Greeks represented the Gentile nations, yet believers from both backgrounds belong equally to the same people of God. Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek… circumcised or uncircumcised, Circumcision marked Israel’s covenant identity under the law of Moses. Under the new covenant, physical marks and religious heritage do not establish acceptance with God; all who belong to Christ share the same new life. Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision…… barbarian, Scythian, Greeks commonly regarded non-Greek-speaking peoples as barbarians, and Scythians were especially associated with remote and uncivilized regions. The gospel gathers even those society considered culturally inferior into full fellowship with other believers. Rom 1:14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,… slave, or free, Roman society was sharply divided by legal and social rank. Within the church, slaves and free persons possessed equal worth before God and were received as brothers and sisters in Christ. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free… but Christ is all and is in all. Christ is the supreme identity and sufficient Savior of His people. His presence in every believer unites those once separated by race, culture, religion, and social status. Eph 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, Believers belong to God by His gracious choice, as Israel had been set apart among the nations. In Christ, this chosen people is called to reflect the purpose for which God has redeemed them. Rom 8:33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?… holy and beloved, They are set apart for God and remain the objects of His faithful love, not because of their own merit but because they are His. Deu 7:6-8 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.… clothe yourselves Their new identity must be expressed in visible conduct, replacing the patterns of the old life with qualities that mark those united to Christ. Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God… with hearts of compassion, They are to respond to the needs and suffering of others with genuine mercy. 1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic,… kindness, Their actions should bring help, encouragement, and good rather than harm or indifference. Eph 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another,… humility, They must reject self-exaltation and regard others with the same self-giving attitude displayed by Christ. 1Pe 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves… gentleness, Strength is to be governed by restraint, especially in correcting, serving, and dealing with conflict. Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience,… and patience. They are to endure difficulties and the weaknesses of others without resentment, remembering God’s longsuffering toward them. 1Th 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly… Bear with one another Believers in the early church came from Jewish, Gentile, and other backgrounds, bringing differing customs and expectations into one body. Unity required humility, patience, and a willingness to endure personal differences without division. Christ Himself dealt patiently with weak, confused, and failing people, providing the pattern for His followers. Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience,… and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Churches faced real offenses, misunderstandings, and conflicts. Rather than allowing resentment to spread, believers were to release personal grievances and seek peace within the congregation. Forgiveness protected the fellowship from bitterness and preserved the unity Christ established among His people. Mrk 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything… Forgive as the Lord forgave you. God’s forgiveness rests on Christ’s sacrifice, through which sinners are pardoned and reconciled to Him. Those who have received such mercy are called to extend it to others. The measure is not the seriousness of the offense or the worthiness of the offender, but the grace the Lord has shown. Eph 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another,… And over all these virtues Love stands above compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and the other qualities Paul has named. These virtues are necessary in the life of the church, but love gives them their proper purpose and expression. 1Pe 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers… put on love, Believers are to make love a deliberate part of their daily conduct. Christian love reflects Christ’s self-giving care and governs how believers treat one another. 1Th 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,… which is the bond of perfect unity. Love holds God’s people together in a complete and harmonious unity. In congregations facing division, differing backgrounds, and false teaching, love preserves fellowship by binding every other virtue into a unified life. Eph 4:3 and with diligence to preserve the unity… Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, Christ gives His people a settled peace grounded in His saving work and His presence among them. This peace is more than freedom from outward trouble; it brings wholeness and directs believers when tensions, disagreements, and competing desires arise. In Colossae, where false teaching threatened the church’s unity, Christ’s peace was to govern their conduct and preserve harmony. Jhn 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.… for to this you were called God’s call brings believers into a life marked by reconciliation with Him and with one another. Peace is therefore part of their shared calling, requiring humility, forgiveness, and submission to Christ. 1Co 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go.… as members of one body. The church is one body composed of believers with differing backgrounds and gifts. Jews and Gentiles alike had been joined to Christ, making division inconsistent with their common life in Him. Each member’s actions affect the health and unity of the whole body. 1Co 12:12-13 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts… And be thankful. Gratitude recognizes God as the source of salvation, provision, and peace. A thankful church is less inclined toward complaint and division and more prepared to live in contentment and unity. 1Th 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is… Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you Christ’s message, preserved in Scripture, is to take deep and lasting residence in the believer’s mind and heart. It is not to remain occasional instruction but to shape convictions, conduct, worship, and relationships. Jhn 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,… as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, The gathered church is responsible for instructing believers in truth and correcting one another when needed. Such care requires godly wisdom, humility, and faithfulness to Christ’s teaching rather than personal opinion. Rom 15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves… and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs Congregational singing was a regular part of early Christian worship. Psalms drew from Israel’s Scriptures, while hymns and spiritual songs expressed praise, doctrine, and thanksgiving centered on Christ. Singing joined instruction with worship and strengthened the unity of the church. Eph 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns… with gratitude in your hearts to God. Christian worship is to arise from sincere thankfulness to God for His grace, salvation, and ongoing care. Gratitude directs praise toward God and marks the inward life of those who belong to Christ. 1Th 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is… And whatever you do, in word or deed, Christian obedience extends to every part of life. Speech, work, relationships, and ordinary responsibilities are not divided into sacred and secular realms. Paul wrote to a church made up of Jewish and Gentile believers living within a pagan city, where public and private life was often shaped by idolatry. Their conduct was to show that they belonged to Christ in every setting. 1Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, Believers are to act in the name of Christ, under His authority and in a way that reflects His character and commands. Jesus is Lord over all of life, not merely religious gatherings or private devotion. His people represent Him before others, and their words and actions should honor the name they bear. Jhn 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in My name… giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Gratitude recognizes God as the source of every good gift and acknowledges the Father’s grace given through His Son. Through Christ, believers have access to God and offer Him thanks with confidence. In a culture marked by fear-driven attempts to appease false gods, Christian thanksgiving reflected trust in the sovereign and gracious Father. Eph 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…
Christian HouseholdsChristian wives are called to honor their husbands’ God-given leadership within marriage. In a first-century world shaped by patriarchal customs, Christ’s teaching directed marriage toward faithful order, mutual honor, and sacrificial love rather than selfish rule or degradation. Eph 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. as is fitting in the Lord. Such submission belongs to a wife’s obedience to Christ and must never require disobedience to God. Marriage is to reflect the Lord’s character, with each spouse fulfilling responsibilities that honor Him. Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Husbands, love your wives In a society where husbands held broad legal and social authority, Christian marriage required a different pattern: devoted, self-giving care rather than control. A husband’s leadership was to reflect Christ’s sacrificial love for His people, seeking his wife’s good with faithfulness, patience, and honor. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved… and do not be harsh with them. Authority was not permission for bitterness, cruelty, or resentment. Harsh treatment damages the unity and security of marriage, while gentleness recognizes a wife as a fellow heir of God’s grace and a partner in the covenant of marriage. Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… Children, Children were regarded as gifts from God and were raised in households where parents bore primary responsibility for their instruction and discipline. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go,… obey your parents “Obey your parents” recognizes the authority God has placed within the family and calls children to honor that authority in daily life. Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. in everything, “In everything” extends this obedience to the ordinary responsibilities and decisions of household life, except where obeying parents would require disobedience to God. 2Co 2:9 My purpose in writing you was to see if you would… for this is pleasing to the Lord. Such obedience reflects God’s order for the family and is received as service rendered to Him. Eph 5:10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord. Fathers, Fathers bear God-given responsibility for the direction and care of their households. In a culture where a father’s authority could be absolute, Christian fathers were called to use that authority for the good of their children. 1Th 2:11-12 For you know that we treated each of you as a father… do not provoke your children, Fathers must not govern through harshness, unreasonable demands, constant criticism, or treatment that breeds resentment. Discipline is necessary, but it must be joined with patience, fairness, and genuine concern. Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath… so they will not become discouraged. Repeated harsh treatment can crush a child’s spirit and weaken confidence, initiative, and trust. A father’s leadership should strengthen his children rather than leave them fearful or hopeless. 1Th 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly…
Serving with HonorSlavery formed part of Roman household and economic life, and many early Christians lived under masters who held legal authority over them. Paul addresses believers within that condition, directing them to fulfill lawful duties faithfully rather than using the gospel as a reason for disorder or rebellion. Tit 2:9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything… not only to please them while they are watching, Their work was not to depend on supervision or the desire for human approval. A servant’s conduct was to remain consistent whether or not a master was present. Eph 6:6 And do this not only to please them while they are watching,… but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. Faithful service was to arise from an undivided heart and reverence for God. Though earthly masters held temporary authority, the Lord was the believer’s highest authority, and ordinary labor could therefore be performed as service to Him. 1Sa 12:24 Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully… Whatever you do, Christ’s lordship reaches into every part of life, including ordinary duties and unnoticed responsibilities. No task lies outside the believer’s obligation to honor God. 1Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do… work at it with your whole being, Labor is to be marked by sincerity, diligence, and full effort. Many Christians in Colossae served in difficult social conditions, including slavery, yet their work still held meaning because it was offered in obedience to Christ. Ecc 9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it… as for the Lord Earthly work becomes service rendered to Christ, who sees motives as well as actions. He is the true Master over every believer, regardless of position or circumstance. Eph 6:7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, and not for men, Human praise, advancement, and approval must not govern the believer’s conduct. Faithfulness to Christ gives lasting purpose to work that may receive little recognition from others. Eph 6:6 And do this not only to please them while they are watching,… because you know Believers serve with settled confidence in God’s revealed promise, trusting Christ rather than earthly circumstances. Heb 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted… that you will receive Faithful service will be answered in the future when Christ brings His people into the fullness of His kingdom. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial… an inheritance Israel’s inheritance was tied to the land promised by God; for those in Christ, the inheritance is eternal life and a permanent place in God’s kingdom. Act 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace,… from the Lord The reward comes from God Himself, not from human masters or earthly recognition. Eph 6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one… as your reward. This inheritance is God’s gracious gift, while also honoring the faithfulness of those who serve Him. Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward… It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Though written to believers in the setting of household service, the command applies to all Christian work: Christ is the true Master, and every duty is to be carried out under His authority. Eph 6:7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, Whoever does wrong Wrongdoing brings personal accountability before God, regardless of status, background, or position within the church. Sin is rebellion against God’s commands and cannot be excused by social standing or religious privilege. Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked.… will be repaid for his wrong, God’s judgment is righteous and corresponds to what each person has done. Paul warns that conduct matters, including in relationships where earthly authority might conceal injustice. Rom 2:6 God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” and there is no favoritism. God does not judge by ethnicity, wealth, rank, or influence. Jew and Gentile, slave and free, master and servant alike stand under the same holy standard. Rom 2:11 For God does not show favoritism. This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
    |