Daily Devotional Colossians 3:9 — Putting Away the Old Man and Living in Truth

The apostle Paul’s command at Colossians 3:9, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practices,” is not a suggestion for improved social behavior but a binding moral directive rooted in the reality of Christian conversion. Paul grounds ethical conduct in ontological change. The Christian no longer belongs to the realm of the old man, the Adamic pattern of life characterized by deception, corruption, and rebellion against Jehovah. Lying is not merely a social fault; it is a manifestation of the fallen disposition inherited from Adam. When Paul commands believers to stop lying, he is calling them to live consistently with what they already are in Christ, new persons created according to God’s righteous standards.

The phrase “put off the old man” draws from the imagery of removing a filthy garment. Conversion is not cosmetic; it is a decisive break with the former manner of life. Paul uses similar language elsewhere when he states, “You were taught to put away your former way of life, the old man that is being corrupted according to deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). Deceit is native to the old man because it originates with Satan, whom Jesus identified as “a liar and the father of the lie” (John 8:44). To lie, therefore, is to align oneself with the moral character of the Devil rather than with Jehovah, who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Truthfulness is not optional for the Christian because truthfulness reflects the nature of God Himself.

Paul’s instruction also underscores the communal dimension of Christian living. “Do not lie to one another” emphasizes that deceit fractures the unity of the congregation. The Christian congregation is not a collection of autonomous individuals but a unified body under Christ. Lies erode trust, poison relationships, and undermine spiritual growth. Proverbs 12:22 declares, “Lying lips are detestable to Jehovah, but those who act faithfully are His delight.” When Christians speak truthfully, they promote peace, clarity, and mutual edification within the body. Falsehood, by contrast, introduces disorder and spiritual instability.

This command presupposes the renewing work of the Spirit-inspired Word, not an internal mystical indwelling. Paul immediately connects the putting off of the old man with the putting on of the new, “which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Colossians 3:10). Renewal occurs through accurate knowledge, not subjective impressions. The Scriptures, produced under the direction of the Holy Spirit, reshape thinking, motives, and speech. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). As the mind is trained by Scripture, the mouth follows, and truthful speech becomes the natural expression of a renewed heart.

Colossians 3:9 confronts every Christian daily with a choice. The old man continually seeks expression through habit, pressure, and fear, but he has no rightful authority. The Christian is obligated to resist deceit in all forms, whether exaggeration, half-truths, or silence intended to mislead. Speaking truth honors Jehovah, reflects the character of Christ, and confirms that the old life truly has been set aside.

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