Colossians 3:5-8 - "Put Them All Away..."

Today, Friday June 11 “Put Them All Away…” Colossians 3:5-8 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. In the final two chapters of Colossians, Paul moved into the practical application of the doctrines he had been teaching. After all, it does little good if Christians declare and defend the truth, but fail to demonstrate it in their lives. "They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). The Christian faith brought a whole new concept into pagan society: what we believe has a very definite connection with how we behave! After all, faith in Christ means being united to Christ; and if we share His life, we must follow His example. He cannot live in us by His Spirit and permit us to live in sin. To do this we must first seek that which is from above, the heavenly. In verses 1-4, the emphasis is on our relationship with Christ! “We died with Christ” (v. 3a). The fullest explanation of this wonderful truth is found in Romans 6-8. We live in Christ (v. 4a). Christ is our life. Eternal life is not some heavenly substance that God imparts when we, as sinners, trust the Savior. Eternal life is Jesus Christ Himself. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). We are dead and alive at the same time—dead to sin and alive in Christ. We are raised with Christ (v. 1a)  Our exalted position in Christ is not a hypothetical thing, or a goal for which we strive. It is an accomplished feat. We are hidden in Christ (v. 3b). We no longer belong to the world, but to Christ; and the sources of life that we enjoy come only from Him. "Hidden in Christ" means security and satisfaction. We are glorified in Christ (v. 4b).  Not only in the future but even now we can enjoy and experience the glory of Jesus Christ in our lives! Now we are ready to “put to death” and “put off or put away the old man.” God bless!