All this month we’re studying Colossians 3:1-17 in a series called Renewed: Putting on the New Self. Today we continue by looking at verses 5 – 7:
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.”
At first glance, this looks like a pretty straightforward checklist for Christian living. “Put to death” is strong language. It means not simply suppressing or controlling but to wipe out, completely. If you’ve ever dealt with sin in your life, tried to eradicate a bad habit, kick an addiction, or live up to the law (James 2:10), you know these three verses sum up exactly how much we need a savior!
From the Beginning
Earlier in Colossians 1, Paul wrote that everything was created through and for Jesus (Col 1:15-16), and it was good (Genesis 1:31). Sin came into the world, marring that goodness, and the earthly desires of humanity took precedence in the heart of humankind, separating us from God (Romans 5:14 and 6:23).
Sin’s desires are the opposite of the abundant life we long for and sin leads to death (Romans 6:21).
the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
We cannot master the sin nature on our own. But Jesus did conquer it. He put to death the earthly desires freeing us from their grip.
“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” (Romans 6:10-12)
Jesus Paid It All…
“On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”
The Greek word for “wrath” is “orge” which means “anger expressed in punishment.” Romans says the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and when Jesus died on the cross, he paid that debt.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36
Like what Ali said in her post, A Life Hidden in Christ, “when God looks at me, He sees Jesus in my heart.” Our sin is covered by his blood and the wrath of God is satisfied.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. – Isaiah 53:4-6
We can because He did…
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them”
As believers, we are no longer slaves to sin but free to live according to the Spirit, the way Jesus did. We can choose life because Jesus chose death. He didn’t wait until our act was cleaned up.
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
Bible scholars Jameson, Fausset & Brown wrote, “Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian’s rule” Because Jesus was put to death, we can live in freedom, reconciled to God. Because He conquered the grave, we live renewed.
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