It Starts Small

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Colossians 3:5-11

Put to death

Our lives have been radically transformed! We have embraced a powerful new identity in Christ, and we are reborn! So let us live in vibrant truth! We must not allow our bodies or minds to be instruments of sin that gratify our own flesh. These sins are rampant among those who dwell on this earth. Yet, we are called to repent and forge a bold new path! Each of these sins is a form of idolatry. When we indulge in them, we declare our fleeting pleasures as more significant. They become more important than the sacred commands of God. In that moment, we are shamefully allowing a revolting sin to occupy our hearts. This space belongs to God alone!

the wrath of God is coming.

Paul passionately emphasizes that it is these very actions that ignite God’s fury. The rebellious “sons of disobedience” indulge in these sins and will certainly face the consequences. Consider the term “sons of disobedience.” Would you label a child who embodies obedience, joy, and politeness as such? If they stumble occasionally, would that curse them with this title? Absolutely not! You would reserve that term for a wild, unruly child whose disobedience is a constant presence. An obedient child might falter occasionally. Similarly, a rebellious child can display moments of sweetness. These exceptions do not redefine their true nature. A believer stands like a determined soldier, eyes fixed on the goal, bravely maneuvering through life’s pitfalls and snares. Though focused on the mission, they may occasionally trip, but their commitment remains unwavering.

The individual who wholeheartedly embraces these principles shall stand before the judgment of God with fervent conviction.

 You used to walk in these ways

We all come from the same boat, united in our struggles and redemption! Every believer, at one point, grappled with the weight of sin before embracing the rebirth of faith. Each of us desperately needed to be born again! Paul uses the past tense for a reason: that old lifestyle must be buried deep behind us! Just like the prodigal son, who once led a reckless and hedonistic life, we too can change our old ways. We have the power to leave them behind. Have you truly cast aside your sinful habits, rising into the light of a transformed life?

rid yourselves

As fervent believers, we must vigorously reject our former lifestyle and the sins that accompany it! Verse 8 shines a light on some of the most pervasive sins of the tongue. Our tongue is undeniably one of the most challenging parts of our body to govern. It often reveals the true nature of our thoughts and the condition of our hearts. In the blink of an eye, our words spill forth. We have little time to filter them. Our tongue frequently becomes an unfiltered reflection of our innermost selves. To emerge victorious, we must undergo a profound transformation from within!

Do not lie to one another

This command is undeniably crystal clear! Lying is an ancient practice of the old self. We must wholeheartedly abandon it when we place our trust in Christ. Sure, lying can seem convenient, even beneficial at times, and it may feel like everyone around us is doing it. But let’s be honest—none of these reasons justify our deceit! It’s fascinating to note that the Bible offers no exceptions when it comes to telling lies. Do you think God would have revealed if lying was ever acceptable? Instead, lying is repeatedly portrayed as a part of the old self, a wicked practice we are called to forsake!

put on the new self,

Putting on the new self is a thrilling daily commitment! Here, we discover that this transformative new self requires constant renewal. I am continually in awe of how God intricately designed our earthly bodies. He fashioned them to be miraculous self-healers! Just take a moment to envision a world where our bodies couldn’t mend or bounce back from injuries. Without God’s genius in creating my body to heal itself, I would truly be nothing short of a walking disaster! And just as our physical forms are designed for restoration, our spiritual selves crave renewal as well!

To sum up Paul’s plea: You are transformed, act like it!

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Cross-References

• Proverbs 26:11
• Psalms 119:10
• John 3:3

Discussion Questions

• Based on verse 5, what does Paul mean by “earthly?”
• How can we put these things to death?
• What connection does this passage have with the first section?
• What warning does Paul give in verse 6?
• What verb does Paul use in verse 7? Why? What assumption does he make?
• Which of the sins in verse 8 are more difficult for you to put away? Why?
• What steps do you need to take to be victorious in this area?
• What reason is given for the command not to lie to one another?
• Is there any exception given for this command?
• What about telling a lie if it is convenient or beneficial to you or the other party?
• What is happening to the new self? How can it be renewed?

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