A note from the desk of our Pastor:

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

Colossians 3:10

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In Colossians 3:9, the Apostle Paul gives us a very practical command: ‘Lie not one to another.’ He isn’t just giving us a rule to follow; he is reminding us of a finished reality. By grace, we have ‘put off the old man with his deeds’ and have ‘put on the new man.’ It isn’t just a fresh coat of paint on our old lives; it is a brand-new identity in Christ. But while our position in Him is settled, our daily experience is still a work in progress. That is why verse 10 is so vital for us today. It tells us that this new man is ‘renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.’ For our study this week, I want us to look closely at this process of renewal—the daily, life-giving transformation that aligns our minds and hearts with our Creator.

The original Greek the Apostle used in this verse provides insight into its meaning. The word ‘renewal’ is translated from the Greek word ‘anakainoumenon,’ a present passive participle. We are not going to dig into a grammar lesson in this study, but the tense of this word tells us two things. First, the renewal is an ongoing, continuous process, and second, it is something God performs within us, not something we do ourselves. The knowledge referenced in this verse is not acquired from external sources but is supplied internally by the Holy Spirit. 

The knowledge is an internal understanding of God, renewed daily. The understanding is not ‘head knowledge’ that can be gained from study or listening to preaching. The knowledge is experiential — it is deep, personal, and relational. It is knowing God through presence and a shared life, the way a child knows their parent. It points us back to the Old Testament phrase of ‘waiting on God’ as in being intertwined with him in such a way as to gain strength. Reminding us that as we strive each day to live with God, He renews our knowledge of him that strengthens the soul. 

The Apostle taught these same concepts in other letters that he wrote to groups of believers. In the Ephesian letter, he wrote, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24) The Apostle reminds us in that writing that the new man is a creation and it is in the image of God. The continual renewal refreshes the new man to reflect the image of God. In Corinthians, the Apostle tells us that the ‘outward man’ is decaying each day, but the ‘inward man’ is renewed by the things of God. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

As we walk in discipleship, let us be aware and receptive to the renewal of knowledge taking place. This renewal might come during times of prayer or worship, but those are not necessary items for renewal. The requirement for renewal is to seek the presence of God in our daily lives.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah