Daily Reading: Colossians 3:1-5
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.”
In Colossians 3, Paul tells us some remarkable things about our life in Christ.
A believer’s life in Christ is:
1) new
2) blessed
3) dedicated to God
In fact, your old life is dead and your new life is hidden and Christ is your life (Colossians 3:3-4).
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” While the Greek word here can be translated as put to death (nekroō)– in the context of verse 3 that you died, it doesn’t make sense to tell someone to put to death what is already dead. Instead, the word (nekroō)– can also be translated as an impotent old man- as in to deprive of power, destroy the strength of. So, I believe what Paul is saying here is that your old self is as good as dead (you died), deprive it of power. Don’t try and revive your old sinful flesh.
“Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5-6 NIV).
The NIV has chopped off some important words at the end of verse 6. New King James Version standard says:
“…because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6, NKJV).
Remember, disobedience in the new covenant is not “breaking the rules.” Disobedience means disbelief. It’s being unpersuaded about the goodness of God. But God’s wrath is not coming on the children of disobedience because they are doing bad things. It’s coming on account of their unbelief.
Colossians 3 adds some more details about a believer’s life that is new, blessed, dedicated to God, he/she is a chosen person, holy, and dearly loved (Colossians 3:1,12). If you know what your relationship status with Christ is all of the above then you can clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.