In Colossians 3:5-11, Put to death earthly members—immorality and covetous idolatry—and put away anger and lies; having put off the old self and put on the new renewed after the Creator’s image, where Christ is all and in all Paul writes to the saints—and to us—so that the church would hold to Christ as Head and walk worthy of Him. Listen to the text: “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the…”
The old self’s vices must be put to death and put away; the new self is renewed after the Creator’s image. In Christ social and ethnic barriers lose ultimate power—He is all and in all.
Raised with Christ, believers seek things above; they put to death earthly members and put on the new self where Christ is all; they clothe themselves with compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, and the word of Christ; then Paul applies Christ to household relationships—wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, and masters—centering work as service to the Lord Christ. This passage belongs in that movement: Colossians 3:5-11 is not an isolated saying but a step in Paul’s Spirit-given pastoral argument. Colossians exalts the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ against every rival spirituality.
A pastoral word for today: Put to death one named vice and put on one new-self practice that honors Christ’s image in community.
Notice the pastoral urgency beneath Paul’s teaching. He is not stacking slogans; he is shepherding real saints toward fullness in Christ, freedom from shadows, and a life clothed for love. Colossians trains threatened people to become rooted, thankful people.
As you sit with Colossians 3:5-11, ask what it shows you about Christ’s supremacy, your fullness in Him, and a life that walks as you received Him. Colossians is not a thin supplement to the gospel; it is living Scripture for people tempted to add to Jesus. Let the text search you, steady you, and send you into thankful obedience.