Putting Off the Old Self: A Daily Devotional on Colossians 3:9

The Call to Integrity and Transformation in Christ

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” — Colossians 3:9 (UASV)

In Colossians 3:9, the apostle Paul delivers a command rooted in spiritual identity: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” This verse is not isolated moral advice. It is part of a larger exhortation where Paul outlines the implications of the believer’s union with Christ—namely, that having died with Christ and been raised with Him (Col. 3:1–3), the believer must now live in accordance with that new identity. The practical result of this transformation is the removal of the old self and its corrupt behaviors, including deceit, which Paul singles out in this verse.

This daily devotional explores the theological significance of Paul’s instruction, the nature of the “old self,” the danger and pervasiveness of lying, and how the believer is to actively live out truth in the community of faith. It is a call to integrity rooted not in human effort, but in the radical change wrought by Christ’s redemptive work. The Christian is not who he once was—and therefore must not live as he once did.

The Broader Context: Life in the Risen Christ

Colossians 3 begins with the exhortation, “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” The chapter moves from doctrinal foundation (union with Christ in His death and resurrection) to practical application. Paul describes the Christian life as one of continual putting off and putting on: “Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you” (Col. 3:5), followed by “put on the new self” (Col. 3:10).

Within this framework, verse 9 commands believers to stop lying—a sin that is not just behavioral but reveals something deeper about one’s spiritual condition. The Christian’s life is no longer defined by deception, manipulation, and the falsehoods of the old self. He has been spiritually transformed, and his conduct must reflect that change.

“Do Not Lie to One Another”: The Sin of Deceit

Lying is not merely a social offense—it is a direct violation of God’s character and commands. The ninth commandment states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16), and throughout Scripture, lying is portrayed as antithetical to the truth of God. Proverbs 12:22 declares, “Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah,” and Jesus taught that Satan “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

In Colossians 3:9, Paul directs this command to “one another,” emphasizing the damage deceit causes within the body of Christ. The community of believers is to be marked by love, unity, and mutual edification (Eph. 4:25). Lying erodes trust, creates division, and contradicts the very nature of God, who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).

The verb “lie” in the Greek (pseudesthe, ψεύδεσθε) is in the present imperative, indicating an ongoing action to be abandoned. Paul assumes that believers must decisively renounce this behavior. Deception is incompatible with the regenerate life. It is not a minor offense; it is evidence of clinging to the old self—a self that has no place in the kingdom of God.

“Since You Have Put Off the Old Self with Its Practices”

Paul gives the reason for this command: the believer has already “put off the old self.” The verb “put off” (apekdysamenoi, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι) is a vivid term that implies stripping off garments. It denotes complete removal, not mere modification. The “old self” (palaios anthrōpos, παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος) is the unregenerate nature—the person one was before conversion, dominated by sin, self, and rebellion against God.

This is not a process the believer initiates. It occurs at salvation. When a person comes to faith in Christ, the old man is crucified with Him (Rom. 6:6). The believer is united with Christ in His death and resurrection, breaking the dominion of sin and inaugurating new life (Rom. 6:4–11). The “old self” is thus decisively put off, and the “new self” is being renewed in the image of the Creator (Col. 3:10).

The phrase “with its practices” points to the behaviors, habits, and patterns that characterize life apart from God. Lying is one of many such practices, but it is singled out here because it strikes at the heart of community and holiness. The new self walks in truth, because the Spirit who indwells the believer is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).

The New Identity Demands New Conduct

Paul’s teaching in Colossians is clear: identity precedes behavior. The command to stop lying is grounded in what has already occurred at conversion. Christians are not told to earn a new identity by moral reform—they are called to live consistently with the new identity they already possess. This is why Paul uses the indicative to describe the putting off of the old man (“you have put off”), followed by the imperative to stop lying.

This pattern is seen elsewhere in Paul’s writings. In Ephesians 4:22–25, he writes, “In reference to your former way of life, you are to lay aside the old self… and put on the new self… Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.” The order matters. First comes regeneration; then sanctification. First comes the new creation; then the call to live as new creatures.

To continue lying is to live contrary to one’s spiritual reality. It is to walk in the shadows when one has been brought into the light. It is to deny, by action, the truth that has set us free.

Theological Implications: Union with Christ and Ethical Renewal

This verse is more than ethical instruction—it is rooted in the doctrine of union with Christ. The believer’s life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). Therefore, everything the believer does must reflect this union. Lying is incompatible with being united to the One who is the truth (John 14:6).

Paul’s words also underscore the irreversible break from the old life. The old self is not something to be reformed; it is something to be put off—permanently. This demands a radical reorientation of speech, conduct, and desire. Sanctification is not behavioral modification; it is the lived-out expression of a new spiritual condition.

This doctrine also guards against legalism. The believer does not pursue truthfulness to earn favor with God but because he has already been made new. He does not strive to remove the old self; it has already been removed in Christ. His task now is to live accordingly—to stop lying, because the lie no longer defines him.

Application: Integrity in the Body of Christ

In practical terms, Colossians 3:9 calls every Christian to personal and communal integrity. Truthfulness must characterize every aspect of the believer’s life—at home, at work, in the church, and in private. Dishonesty is not limited to overt falsehoods; it includes exaggeration, deceitful omissions, hypocrisy, and any form of speech that distorts reality.

In the body of Christ, this call is especially urgent. A community of truth is a powerful testimony to the world. When believers are known for honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency, the gospel is adorned. But when lies enter the church—whether through gossip, slander, flattery, or doctrinal compromise—the body is weakened, and the name of Christ is dishonored.

Every believer must examine himself: Am I living as one who has put off the old self? Is my speech marked by truth? Do I represent myself honestly, or do I pretend to be what I am not? Do I value truth even when it is costly?

A Final Word: Live in the Truth Because You Belong to the Truth

Colossians 3:9 is a sober reminder and a gracious encouragement. It calls the believer to reject the practices of the old life, not in order to become a new person, but because he already is one. It calls for speech that reflects the reality of Christ’s transforming work.

Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice” (John 18:37). If you belong to Christ, you belong to the truth. Therefore, let falsehood be far from you. Let your words be sincere, your life be transparent, and your relationships be built on integrity.

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” You have been made new. Live like it.

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