1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians is a letter that was written by Paul (and Timothy) to the people of Colossae.
The main themes in this book:
Jesus is supreme and sufficient, over all things and all people. Paul reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus and to remember who we are because of Christ.
Colossians 3:1-17
Paul says our focus should be on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. This means seeking God’s kingdom first, prioritizing our relationship with Him, and pursuing His will above all else. Practically, this can involve spending time in prayer and meditation on Scripture, attending church and fellowship with other believers, serving others, and living a life that honors God. It means aligning our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions with God’s truth and seeking to glorify Him in all that we do. Ultimately, the only way we can set our hearts on things above is by relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform us from the inside out.
2. Why is it important to put behaviours to death? V6-8 How do you put something to death? V5
Because we are now alive in Christ, we have “died” to our old selves. Putting these behaviours to death means choosing to turn away from them, rejecting them, and refusing to allow them to have any power over us. This requires a daily decision to follow Christ and to resist temptation. Putting our earthly nature to death is a continual process of surrendering ourselves to God, seeking His strength and guidance, and faithfully walking in obedience to His Word.
3. What does Paul mean by “putting on the new self”?
Paul tells believers to “put off” the old self and “put on” the new self. He is telling believers to reject their old way of life which was following sin and to embrace a new way of life which is righteous and holy. This requires a complete change of heart and mind, which only comes through faith in Christ. As believers, we are to constantly “put off” any behaviour or mindset that is not in line with God’s will, and “put on” behaviour and attitudes that reflect Christ’s character. This is an ongoing and daily commitment to seeking God’s will for our lives. When we put on the new self, we become more like Christ.
4. List what Paul says we should clothe ourselves with v12-14
5. How can we start to change? V15-17
We can start to change by dwelling on the message of Christ, reminding yourself of what Christ has done for you. and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. But remember, we can do this because we have the Holy Spirit who guides and transforms us.
Paul says our focus should be on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. This means seeking God’s kingdom first, prioritizing our relationship with Him, and pursuing His will above all else. Practically, this can involve spending time in prayer and meditation on Scripture, attending church and fellowship with other believers, serving others, and living a life that honors God. It means aligning our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions with God’s truth and seeking to glorify Him in all that we do. Ultimately, the only way we can set our hearts on things above is by relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform us from the inside out.
2.Why is it important to put behaviours to death? V6-8 How do you put something to death? V5
Because we are now alive in Christ, we have “died” to our old selves. Putting these behaviours to death means choosing to turn away from them, rejecting them, and refusing to allow them to have any power over us. This requires a daily decision to follow Christ and to resist temptation. Putting our earthly nature to death is a continual process of surrendering ourselves to God, seeking His strength and guidance, and faithfully walking in obedience to His Word.
3. What does Paul mean by “putting on the new self”?
Paul tells believers to “put off” the old self and “put on” the new self. He is telling believers to reject their old way of life which was following sin and to embrace a new way of life which is righteous and holy. This requires a complete change of heart and mind, which only comes through faith in Christ. As believers, we are to constantly “put off” any behaviour or mindset that is not in line with God’s will, and “put on” behaviour and attitudes that reflect Christ’s character. This is an ongoing and daily commitment to seeking God’s will for our lives. When we put on the new self, we become more like Christ.
4. What do you need to “put to death”? V5-9
This will be different for all of us. Maybe you struggle with gossiping or maybe you can be selfish? Ask God to reveal your sin to you and ask him to help as you say no to sin and yes to godliness.
5. What kind of relationship do we have with God? How should it affect our relationships with others? V12-13
We are his chosen people! We are dearly loved!
If we clothe ourselves with these things v12, then our relationship with others will be a kind and loving one. V13 tells us to forgive one another. Our relationship with others will reflect our love for the Lord and our relationship with him.
6.How can we let the word of Christ dwell in us richly? V16
By reading and meditating on the Bible both alone and with others. When we allow the Word of God to dwell in us richly, it affects not only our thinking and behavior, but also our relationships with others.
7. What does it mean to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus? How can this change the way you approach daily tasks? V17
It means to have Christ at the center of our hearts and minds, and to seek His guidance and direction in everything we do, whether it’s in our work, relationships, or activities. Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus changes the way we approach daily tasks by giving us a new perspective. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we focus on the one who created us and loves us.
