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Summary

Colossians 3:1–4 – Seek the Things Above

What happens: Since believers are raised with Christ, they must seek the things above where Christ is. Their life is hidden with Christ in God and will appear with Him in glory.

What it means: Identity and destiny are in Christ. God calls us to a new focus and hope. Present choices flow from future glory.

Colossians 3:5–11 – Put to Death the Old Self

What happens: They must put to death sexual sin, greed, and angry, filthy talk. They once walked in these, but now they put off the old self and put on the new self being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. In Christ there is no barrier of race or class; Christ is all and in all.

What it means: God renews His image in us. Sin must be named and dropped. The new community reflects God’s justice and unity.

Colossians 3:12–17 – Put On Christlike Virtues

What happens: As God’s chosen, holy, and loved, they must put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiving hearts. Above all, put on love. Let Christ’s peace rule, His word dwell richly, and do everything in the name of the Lord with thanks.

What it means: God’s love reshapes character and speech. Peace and Scripture govern the church’s life. Worship fills ordinary work.

Colossians 3:18–25 – Households Under the Lord

What happens: Wives submit to husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands love and do not be harsh. Children obey, fathers do not provoke. Bondservants obey sincerely as to the Lord, knowing from the Lord they will receive reward.

What it means: Jesus is Lord over the home and work. Love, justice, and responsibility reflect God’s character. All service becomes worship when done for Christ.

Application

  • Aim your mind and heart where Christ is and live from that hope.
  • Put sin to death and put on Christlike virtues in daily life.
  • Let Christ’s peace rule and His word dwell richly in you.
  • Honor Christ in family and work with love, fairness, and sincerity.

Bible

1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16Let 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.

17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

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