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Scripture • World English Bible
Colossians 3:5–11
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
Paul speaks plainly: believers are called to put to death the behaviors and attitudes of the old life—sexual immorality, impurity, depraved passions, evil desires, and covetousness—because these are idolatrous and bring God’s judgment. He reminds us that this was once our way of life and therefore urges us to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speech. This is a summons to serious repentance and tangible change, not merely surface adjustments. At the same time Paul anchors our hope in Christ: we have put off the old self and put on the new, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator. That renewal is ongoing and depends on Christ living in us and the Spirit’s transforming work; it calls us to daily reliance on him rather than promising instant perfection. Paul’s closing word overturns every divider—ethnic, religious, and social—to declare that in Christ those categories no longer determine our identity: Christ is all and in all. A necessary ethical corollary: the household and social categories named in the text must never be used to justify harshness, coercion, abuse, or exploitation. Masters and those in authority alike answer to a Master in heaven, and our conduct must reflect Christ’s compassion, justice, and the unity he creates.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Seriously repent from specific sinful behaviors named in the passage (confess and renounce sexual immorality, impurity, sinful desires, covetousness, anger, malice, slander, and lying).
- Take one practical, accountable step this week to put a particular sin to death—invite a trusted believer to pray with you and check in twice this week about progress and struggles (no shame or coercion, only mutual support).
- Do one concrete act that reflects the new self and unity in Christ: reach out to someone different from you (culturally, socially, or economically) with an intentional gesture of service or reconciliation, and pray together or share a meal to practice oneness in Christ.
Prayer
Father, we confess the sins of our old life and ask for your grace and the Spirit’s power as we seek to put them to death. Renew us in knowledge after the image of our Creator and shape our words, tempers, and desires to reflect Christ. Give us patience with ourselves and others as you work in us, and steady our hope in your ongoing sanctifying work. Help us to rely on Jesus and the Spirit, not on our own strength, as we grow in compassion, humility, and love. Unite us as one body for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse
Colossians 3:10 — and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, (WEB)
“and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,”
Bible Context
Read all of Colossians 3
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Bible Context
Read all of Colossians 3
Colossians 3
World English Bible • WEB
1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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