Colossians 3: Put To Death Fornication, Uncleanness, Passions, & Evil Desires

Details
Parent Category: Division 6. Letters-Paul
Category: Colossians
  1. Overview
  2. Chapter & Audio
  3. Q&A

Overview

Colossians 3: Put To Death Fornication, Uncleanness, Passions, & Evil Desires

Colossians chapter 3, provides practical instructions for believers, based on the Godly principles established in the earlier chapters.

It emphasizes the believer's new identity in Christ, and how this should be worked out, in their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Bible Study/Commentary & Verses

Verses 1-4: Setting Your Mind on Things Above

Here, Paul calls believers, to focus their thoughts on heavenly things, because they have been raised up with Christ.

He assures them that when Christ who is their life appears, they also will appear with Him in glory.

Verses 5-11: Put to Death What is Worldly

Paul lists various sinful behaviors, that the Colossians must now put to death, including sexual immorality, impurity,evil desires, lust, and greed.

He reminds them that they have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of their Creator.

Verses 12-17: Put on the New Self

In contrast to the virtues that they must put off, Paul tells them what virtues to put on as God's chosen people: This includes, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love.

He also encourages them to let the peace of Christ, rule in their hearts, and to let the word of Christ, dwell in them richly, and to do everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Verses 18-21: Instructions for a Believers Home

Paul gives instructions for a believer's home. He addresses, husbands, fathers, wives and children.

A husband is to love his wife, and to not be bitter toward her. A wife is to submit to her husband, which is fitting in the Lord.

Children are to obey their parents in all things, because this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers are not to provoke their children, because that would discourage them.

Verses 22-25: Instructions for Slaves That Are Believers

Paul gives instructions to slaves, to obey their earthly masters in everything, not just when their masters are watching.

He reminds them, that they serve the Lord Christ, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Overall Summary

Colossians chapter 3 builds on the spiritual foundations, of the earlier chapters.

It emphasizes the transformation that comes, from being in Christ.

It emphasizes the believer's new identity in Christ, and how this should be worked out, in their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.

And that leads to a shift in focus, from earthly things, to heavenly realities, and includes changes in behavior, and the development of Godly virtues.

Colossians  3

Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Q&A

  1. a. If you were raised with Christ, what are you to seek? 3:1
    b. Where is Christ sitting right now? 3:1
    c. What are you to set your mind on? 3:2
    • 1 If then you were raised with Christ,
      seek those things which are above,
      where Christ is,
      sitting at the right hand of God.
    • 2 Set your mind on things above,
      not on things on the earth.
  2. a. Since you have died, who is your life hidden with? 3:3
    b. When Christ appears, how will you appear with Him? 3:4
    • 3 For you died, and
      your life is hidden with Christ in God.
    • 4 When Christ who is our life appears,
      then you also
      will appear with Him
      in glory.
  3. a. What are we to put to death? 3:5
    b. Who is the wrath of God coming upon? 3:6
    c. What did you once walk in? 3:7
    • 5 Therefore put to death
      your members which are on the earth:
      fornication,
      uncleanness,
      passion,
      evil desire, and
      covetousness (greed), which is idolatry.
    • 6 Because of these things
      the wrath of God is coming
      upon the sons of disobedience,
    • 7 in which you yourselves
      once walked
      when you lived in them.
  4. a. What are we to put off? 3:8
    b. Why are we not to lie to each other? 3:9
    c. According to what is the new man renewed? 3:10
    d. What is there no more? 3:11
    • 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these:
      anger, wrath,
      malice, blasphemy,
      filthy language out of your mouth.
    • 9 Do not lie to one another,
      since you have put off
      the old man with his deeds,
    • 10 and have put on
      the new man
      who is renewed
      in knowledge
      according to
      the image of Him
      who created him,
    • 11 where there is neither
      Greek nor Jew,
      circumcised nor uncircumcised,
      barbarian, Scythian,
      slave nor free,
      but Christ is all and in all.
  5. a. As the elect of God, what are we to put on? 3:12
    b. How are we to bear with one another? 3:13
    c. Who must you also forgive? 3:13
    • 12 Therefore, as the elect of God,
      holy and beloved,
      put on
      tender mercies,
      kindness, humility,
      meekness, longsuffering;
    • 13 bearing with one another,
      and forgiving one another,
      if anyone has a complaint against another;
      even as Christ forgave you,
      so you also must do.
  6. a. Above all these, what are we to put on? 3:14
    b. What is the bond of perfection? 3:14
    c. What are we to let rule in our hearts? 3:15
    d. How many "Bodies of Christ," were we called into? 3:15
    • 14 But above all these things
      put on love,
      which is
      the bond of perfection.
    • 15 And let the peace of God
      rule in your hearts,
      to which also you were called
      in one body;
      and be thankful.
  7. a. What are we to let dwell in us richly? 3:16
    b. How are we to teach and admonish (warn) each other? 3:16
    c. What are we to do in His Name? 3:17
    • 16 Let the word of Christ
      dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
      teaching and admonish (warn)
      one another
      in psalms and hymns and
      spiritual songs,
      singing with grace
      in your hearts to the Lord.
    • 17 And whatever you do
      in word or deed,
      do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
      giving thanks
      to God the Father
      through Him.
  8. a. Who are wives to submit to? 3:18
    b. How are husbands to treat their wife? 3:19
    c. What are husbands not to do? 3:19
    • 18 Wives,
      submit to your own husbands,
      as is fitting in the Lord.
      19 Husbands, love your wives
      and
      do not be bitter toward them.
  9. a. Why are children to obey their parents in all things? 3:20
    b. Why are fathers not to provoke their children? 3:21
    • 20 Children, obey your parents in all things,
      for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
      21 Fathers, do not provoke your children,
      lest they become discouraged.
  10. a. How are bondservants to obey their masters? 3:22
    b. How are we to do whatever we do? 3:23
    c. What will we receive from the Lord? 3:24
    d. Who are you serving? 3:24
    e. What will happen to everyone who does wrong? 3:25
    • 22 Bondservants, obey in all things
      your masters according to the flesh,
      not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
      but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
    • 23 And whatever you do,
      do it heartily, as to the Lord
      and not to men,
    • 24 knowing that from the Lord
      you will receive the reward
      of the inheritance;
      for you serve
      the Lord Christ.
    • 25 But he who does wrong
      will be repaid for what he has done,
      and there is no partiality.