Colossians 3

Put On the New Self// Ephesians 4:17–32

¹Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

• COL 3:1[NOTABLE]You were raised with Christ, so live like it. Where your mind goes, your life follows. This does not mean ignore life down here. It means let heaven set your priorities on earth.
• COL 3:1[ALLUDES TO]Refers to ← PS 110:1
• COL 3:4[PROPHECY]When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory → STILL TO COME

⁵Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. ⁷When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. ⁸But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

• COL 3:5[DEMONIC]Put to death greed, which is idolatry

⁹Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

¹²Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

• COL 3:15[HEART]Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

• COL 3:16[HEART]Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Christian Households// Ephesians 6:1–4

¹⁸Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

• COL 3:18[NOTE]HOME RULES. See the Ephesians 5:21 note, on mutual submission, and 5:25: husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church.

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

²¹Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

Serving with Honor// Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2

²²Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

• COL 3:22[HEART]Work with a sincere heart, not just when the boss is watching.
• COL 3:22[NOTE]SLAVES. See the Ephesians 6:5 note, for the honest context. Masters are told to be fair, 4:1, and Onesimus, a slave, is called a faithful and beloved brother, 4:9.

²³Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

• COL 3:23[NOTABLE]Paul first said this to slaves, so it covers every job. Your real boss is the Lord, and He pays in an inheritance. The King James says do it heartily. Work done for Him is worship, so the shop, the office and the kitchen count as ministry. See The Church Is Not a Building in Ephesians.