This section of Colossians 3, ‘Put On the New Self’ can be broken down into a command, why, what and how—a great passage to journal through.
Command [vs 1,2]:
If we have been raised with Christ, we are to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Why? [vs 3-4]:
We have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God—allowing the word of Christ to dwell in us richly.
What? [vs 5-11]:
We are to put to death what is “earthly” in us. Examples are listed in order for us to examine ourselves of what is still “earthly” about us. We are to put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self which is being daily renewed after the image of our Creator.
How? [vs 12-17]:
After we put off earthly things, we are to put on things that are above or things of God; compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Examples are listed in order for us to find things in ourselves to remove and replace with the things of God. Forgiving and putting on love, teaching and admonishing, singing with thankfulness and letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him. --- If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
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. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-17 ESV
