“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” — Colossians 3:5-10, NIV.
“Put to death.”
Well, Paul really cuts right to the chase, doesn’t he? This is some pretty strong language. He doesn’t just encourage believers to avoid sin or try to keep it under control. He says put it to death.
The Greek word nekrōsate (νεκρώσατε), translated as “put to death,” means to render lifeless or make dead. The language is intentional and decisive. Consider the difference between fully uprooting weeds instead of continually trimming them back when they surface, or cutting off a deadly infection rather than trying to stop it from spreading. Paul is calling believers to confront sin at its root rather than learn to live comfortably alongside it.
To fully understand the weight of the instruction, we need to look at the larger context of his letter to the church at Colossae. Paul was writing to believers whose understanding of the Gospel was being challenged by false teachings and competing influences (sounds familiar). Throughout the letter, he emphasizes Christ's supremacy and sufficiency and reminds them of the new identity they received through him.
In fact, he begins Chapter 3 with this reminder:
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3, NIV).
Paul isn’t telling them to put their sinful nature to death so that they can earn a new identity. He’s telling them to live according to the identity they have already received through Christ. He reminds them where to direct their hearts and minds so they can live differently from the culture around them.
Romans 6:6 reinforces this truth, teaching that our old self was crucified with Christ so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV). More powerful language—crucified. Our old self can be seen right up on the cross with our Savior. Except, unlike Jesus, they didn’t walk out of the tomb! When he rose, he left all of that in the grave, and through salvation, we were given new identities in Christ.
How often do we continue entertaining the very things that belong to the life we have supposedly left behind? If we are honest, we can be pretty good at just managing sin rather than confronting it.
Take a look at Paul’s list—sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry; anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying. These aren’t merely suggestions for becoming “better” people. Paul highlights practices incompatible with the new life we have received in Christ.
He doesn’t just strongly urge us to get rid of them; he tells us we have put on the new self, which is “being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:10, NIV).
The Greek word anakainoumenon (ἀνακαινούμενον) (wacky, I know), translated as “being renewed,” describes an ongoing process. Our new identity in Christ is already established, but our transformation into His likeness continues throughout our lives.
Some of you, like me, have been walking with Jesus basically since you could walk (and I am so grateful for that). It may feel like you lack a dramatic testimony of turning from death to life, of going from a “wretched sinner” to someone saved by grace and radically transformed into a new person. You may not always feel you relate to the picture of the “old self” quite as vividly as someone who came to know Christ later in life.
Well, friends, you don’t have to have a Paul-like conversion encounter to experience radical transformation! Just because you have followed Jesus most of your life doesn’t mean you have any less need for sanctification.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV, emphasis added).
Day by day! We may have been “made new” in Christ years ago, but there are still sinful attitudes, desires, and habits that need to be put to death today. Sometimes the things God is calling us to turn away from aren’t remnants of a life we lived decades ago—they’re the things we said, thought, or did yesterday.
That is why this process of renewal is so important, regardless of how long we’ve been following Jesus. It is the work of sanctification! As we grow in our knowledge of God, his Word, and his character, the Holy Spirit continues to expose the things in our lives that do not reflect him and transforms us increasingly into his likeness.
We are definitely called to take sin seriously and actively turn from it, but we cannot accomplish this transformation by our own willpower. I mean, let’s be real, most of us can’t even stick to a New Year’s “resolution” past January…
“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13, NIV).
We are called to put sin to death by the Spirit. Our responsibility to confront sin is real, but the power to overcome it is from God.
It’s also important we keep reading! Paul goes on to describe what should characterize the new life:
“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NIV).
So we can see we don’t just eliminate sinful behaviors. This is a transformation that reaches our hearts, minds, desires, and even the ways we relate to one another. We are being renewed to reflect the character of Christ.
Do you need to examine whether you’ve become content to manage sin in some areas of your life rather than genuinely repent and turn from it? Are you still making room for attitudes, habits, or desires that belong to the “old” nature? Have you been more concerned with keeping certain things under control than allowing God to confront the condition of your heart?
We have been given new life in Christ. We ought not continue protecting the things that belong to the old one.
Paul’s language is strong because sin is serious. But his instruction is grounded in the extraordinary reality of what Christ has accomplished. As believers, we are no longer enslaved to sin, and through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, we are renewed day by day in the image of our Creator.
After all, a death sentence isn’t supposed to come with the possibility of parole.
bytaylormcgee
