What does "you once walked" reveal about transformation in Christ? Setting the Scene Colossians 3:7 sits in the middle of a section where Paul contrasts the believer’s former life with the new life hidden with Christ in God. He has just listed sinful behaviors (v. 5-6) that invite God’s wrath. Then he reminds the Colossians: “When you lived among them, you also once walked in these ways.” That simple phrase, “you once walked,” is loaded with truth about the dramatic transformation Christ brings. What “You Once Walked” Communicates • “Walked” (Greek peripateō) pictures steady, habitual movement—daily conduct, not an occasional misstep. • “Once” fixes the time squarely in the past for believers. The behaviors Paul named are no longer their defining pattern. • Together, the words underline a clean break. The sin-ruled lifestyle belongs to a closed chapter. Before-and-After Snapshot Scripture consistently paints this two-part story: • Ephesians 2:1-3—“You were dead in your trespasses… we all lived among them.” • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11—“Such were some of you. But you were washed…” • 1 Peter 4:3—“For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the desires of the pagans.” In each case, the past tense underscores permanent change. Conversion is not a mere tune-up; it is a resurrection from death to life. Rooted in Union with Christ • Colossians 3:1—“Since you have been raised with Christ…” • 2 Corinthians 5:17—“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Because believers died and rose with Christ, the old “walk” can no longer dominate. Identity drives behavior; the new position in Christ produces a new practice on earth. Practical Outworking: Stepping into the New Paul moves from past tense to present imperatives, showing how the break with sin becomes visible: • Put to death what belongs to the earthly nature (Colossians 3:5). • Put off anger, malice, slander (Colossians 3:8). • Put on compassion, kindness, humility (Colossians 3:12-14). • Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). • Walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Motivations for Ongoing Growth • The wrath of God against the old ways (Colossians 3:6) fuels holy fear. • The renewal “in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:10) stirs hope. • Christ is “all and in all” (Colossians 3:11); intimacy with Him compels obedience. • The grace that saved also trains us “to live sensibly, righteously, and godly” (Titus 2:11-12). Takeaway “You once walked” is a concise reminder that the believer’s former habits are truly past. In Christ, an irreversible transfer has occurred—from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13). The old walk is history; the new walk is our calling, privilege, and joyful responsibility. |
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