New life in Christ; put off the old, put on the new

Because believers have died and been raised with Christ, they must live in a way that matches that new reality. Paul calls them to put sin to death, put on the character that fits God’s renewed people, and order their shared life under Christ’s peace, Christ’s word, and Christ’s name.

Paul now turns from the false, man-made spirituality of chapter 2 to the kind of life that truly fits those who belong to Christ. When he says, “if you have been raised with Christ,” he is not expressing doubt. He assumes this is true and makes it the basis for his commands. Since believers share in Christ’s resurrection life, they must seek the things above and set their minds on them. This is not a call to escape ordinary life or drift into vague spirituality. “Above” is defined by Christ himself—he is there, seated at the right hand of God. Paul is calling believers to live under the rule of the risen and reigning Christ.

This rests on two great truths. Believers have died, so their old life in the old realm no longer defines them. And their life is now hidden with Christ in God. Their truest life is real and secure in union with Christ, even though it is not yet fully visible. But it will not remain hidden forever. When Christ, who is their life, appears, they also will appear with him in glory. Present conduct, then, must be shaped by future hope.

Because this is true, Paul says to put to death whatever belongs to the earthly order. This is strong language. It calls for decisive action against sin, not physical self-harm or bodily harshness. The first list centers on corrupt desire: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed. Greed is not a small fault. Paul says it is idolatry because it gives created things the place that belongs to God.

Paul then adds a real warning: because of these things, the wrath of God is coming. This is not a harmless aside about other people only. These sins belong to the realm of divine judgment, and therefore they must not characterize those who are in Christ. The Colossians once walked in these things, but that former way of life must no longer define them.

Next Paul turns to sins that damage relationships, especially through anger and speech: anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language, and lying. These are not minor faults. They poison fellowship and contradict the new humanity God is forming in Christ. Believers have put off the old man with its practices and have put on the new man. This means more than a change in private feelings. It speaks of a new identity and a new way of life. The old man refers to the old sinful mode of existence; the new man refers to the new humanity God is creating in Christ. This new man is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator, likely echoing God’s creation of humanity in his image.

Verse 11 shows the corporate force of this renewal. In this new humanity, old status markers no longer govern worth or standing in the church: Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free. Paul is not saying that every distinction disappears in every sense. His point is that such distinctions no longer determine privilege, identity, or value among God’s people. Christ is the decisive reality—he is all and in all.

Because believers are God’s chosen, holy, and dearly loved people, they must clothe themselves with virtues that fit that identity: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These virtues become visible as believers bear with one another and forgive one another when complaints arise. Forgiveness is not to be controlled by pride, resentment, or power. The measure is the Lord’s prior action: just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all these things, believers are to put on love. Love is the perfect bond because it binds the other virtues together in mature unity. It does not replace them, but completes them.

Paul closes with three broad commands for the shared life of the church. First, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. This is not merely private calm, because believers were called to this peace in one body. Christ’s peace is to govern the community. Second, let the word of Christ dwell richly among you. Christ’s word is to be at home in the church in abundance through teaching, admonishing, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness to God. Congregational singing, then, is one means by which Christ’s word fills the church, not mere atmosphere or performance. Third, whatever believers do in word or deed, they are to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus—that is, under his authority, for his honor, and in dependence on him.

Thanksgiving runs through this whole closing section. It is not decorative, but part of the normal life of a people living under Christ’s lordship. True spirituality is not found in self-made religion. It is found in living out union with the risen Christ through decisive rejection of sin, growth in holy character, and a shared life shaped by Christ’s peace, Christ’s word, and continual thanks to God the Father through him.

Key Truths: - Seeking the things above means living under the rule of the exalted Christ, not escaping ordinary life. - Believers’ true life is hidden with Christ now and will be openly revealed when he appears. - Sin must be put to death because it belongs to the old order that stands under God’s wrath. - Greed is idolatry because it gives created things the place that belongs to God. - The old man/new man language includes personal transformation but also the formation of a renewed people in Christ. - The new man is being renewed according to the image of the Creator. - In the church, status markers do not determine worth or standing; Christ does. - Forgiveness among believers must be shaped by the Lord’s forgiveness of them. - Christ’s peace, Christ’s word, and thanksgiving are meant to shape the church’s shared life. - Everything believers say and do is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, with thanks to God the Father through him.