*Colossians 3:1-17
Paul instructs Christians to set their focus on heavenly things, let go of sinful desires, and live out their new identity in Christ through love, forgiveness, and thankfulness.
- Life as the Risen with Christ:
- Paul begins by urging the Colossians to set their hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things, because they have been raised with Christ.
- This focus is grounded in the belief that Christ is seated at the right hand of God and that the believers’ real life is hidden with Christ in God.
- Putting to Death Earthly Nature:
- Believers are instructed to put to death whatever belongs to their earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- A warning is issued about God’s coming wrath on those who engage in such practices.
- Putting Off the Old Self:
- Paul calls for discarding the old self with its practices, including anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.
- Lying to one another is specifically condemned, as believers have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Unity in the New Self:
- In the new self, there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Embracing Virtues of the New Life:
- Believers are encouraged to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- They are to bear with each other and forgive one another; if any have a grievance against someone, they should forgive as the Lord forgave them.
- Above all, they are instructed to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
- Peace and Thankfulness:
- The peace of Christ is to rule in their hearts, to which they were called in one body, and they are to be thankful.
- The word of Christ should dwell in them richly, as they teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in their hearts.
- Doing Everything in the Name of Jesus:
- Finally, whatever they do, whether in word or deed, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.