This morning, I’m hovering over Colossians 3:1-11. In particular, I’m chewing on a truth that already is and yet is still becoming. A dynamic that is present in the life of every follower of Jesus, though our participation impacts its progress. Not sure I can put into words exactly what it looks like, yet confident that we know it when we see it. As those who have died with Christ, been raised with Christ, are hidden with Christ, and who will appear with Christ, we are also those who are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of Christ.

You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

(Colossians 3:10b CSB)

In context, Paul’s getting practical with the Colossians as he enters the “to dos” and the “to don’ts” part of his letter. Seek the things above, he says. Set your minds on things above, he exhorts. Why? Because you have been raised with Christ who is above. So, live like someone from above. Don’t live like the old guy used to, instead live like the One who lives in you — “put on the new self.”

And the engine which powers living like we should? At least in part, it seems its being renewed in knowledge. So, what does that mean?

Looking at different translations, the most helpful for me was Wuest’s literal translation:

. . . constantly being renewed, with a resulting advanced and perfect experiential knowledge which is according to the image of the One who created him;

(Colossians 3:10b WNT)

The renewal is a constant renewal. An on-going growth, the realization of new strength and vigor as we are changed into a new kind of life. It’s growing up, it’s maturing, it’s being more of what we were born again to be today than we were yesterday. God began the work and God will complete the work (Php. 1:6), but for sure we are to participate in the work (Php. 2:12). And that, through a holy determination to live into who we are in Christ and not keep going back to the ways of who we were before being in Christ.

And when we do that, the result is an advanced and perfect experiential knowledge. Book knowledge, and especially “The Book” knowledge, has it’s place — after all, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12:2). But our transformation happens not only through what we believe but also through how we behave in light of what we believe. We are being renewed according to experiential knowledge. Nothing draws us into wanting to follow Jesus like actually following Jesus. Nothing testifies that we really are Spirit-occupied and Spirit-enabled than seeing we’re actually desiring things and doing things that only the Spirit could lead us to desire and to do. The more we walk after Jesus the more we want to walk with Jesus.

And in that constant renewal, in that acquisition of experiential knowledge, we find ourselves practically becoming the image bearers of God we were created to be. Flourishing (even when it doesn’t feel like flourishing) in season and out of season as in every season we’re being renewed in knowledge.

Not yet perfect, but always in progress.

Not because of our grit, but only because of His grace.

Not to boast in our greatness, but wanting simply to live for His glory.

Amen?