Paul reminds the church what being in Christ means. Chiefly it means imitating Christ, who put to death our bondage to sin and gave us a new life. Paul writes that we are given a new self when we put on Christ: “This new self is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (v 10).

We are new and alive in Christ, so why would we persist in the old ways? But we do. This list of things to put off with the old self is convicting. Try not to read it legalistically. Ask: do I do that? Why do I do that? Let the Holy Spirit convict you.

Our sin reveals where we do not give Christ lordship over our lives–where we believe lies (I.e., when I believe that God is holding out on me, I respond in anger.) What practical steps would it take to put these things to death in us?

The hope of the Gospel is here too: “Christ is all, and in all.” (v 11) This is our focus—Christ who enables us to put to death the old self and put on the new. He is our all, and He is in all believers. There is no place for “us versus them” divisions in the body of Christ. There is no distinction among believers based on our own worthiness or social status, As Billy Graham said, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

What a wonderful unity we are made a part of in Christ who is all our focus, all our love, all worthy of our worship, and in all who call Him Lord!

[Colossians 3.5-11]

3.5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What are followers of Christ called to put to death? Why does Paul call this “what is earthly in you”? [v 5]

+ What does the practice of these things lead to? [v 6]

+ What other things are Christians called to put away? How do these behaviors impact our relationships with others? [v 7-9]

+ What is the goal of the new self? [v 10]

+ List the distinctions Paul lists and explain why they are not important in the sense of the way the body of Christ interacts with one another. [v 11]

+ What does this passage reveal about Christ and his heart for people?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Take stock of this list honestly. What lies are at the root of the sins that you need to put to death? Do you believe that Christ is better?

+ What practical steps can you take to put these to death?

+ Do you make distinctions among Christians based on their socio-economic status or race or sex or Christian practice? How can you see the people of the body of Christ as equal in Christ?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Is there a place to talk this week with someone about putting to death the old self and old ways and putting on the new self that is given in grace to us by Christ?