Colossians 3:1-11 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
V1 “ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” Raised with Christ carries the idea of “If you are truly Christians.” The Greek word for “seek” is (G2212) ζητέω zētéō, which means a diligent searching for in many types. See John 5:44, Romans 2:7, Matthew 12:47, and John 7:25. Things above refer to God and His kingdom, so the knowledge of God, the character traits God wishes for us, His worldview, His lifestyle, and His rules. The location of the Lord Jesus now is in the third heaven (outside the universe) where He sits at the right hand of God (the prince, heir apparent, firstborn, and every other honor).
V2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Greek word for “set” is (G5426) φρονέω phronéō, which means set the mind on, opinion, thinking about as a priority. We need to set our minds (attitude and will) to heavenly things. God doesn’t expect us to stop enjoying the physical things He has given, but more importantly, enjoy heavenly things (Matthew 6:19-21). Heavenly things would include our witness of the who God is and Gospel of Jesus Christ, to praise Him, to serve Him, to live according to the Law of Christ (showing all the greatness of a society who lives with God’s approved values), etc.
V3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” The flesh is in the process of dying, but the spiritually dead soul and spirit are now gone, and God recreated the new. Our life is hidden with Christ refers to He knows us and protects us. We may face sufferings but God will not abandon us.
V4 “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” The hope and surety of the Rapture (if we are alive) or resurrection if we are not alive on earth. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NKJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
V5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” These are things (according to the Law of Christ) we must not do. God gives us assisting grace (1 Corinthians 10:13) during times of temptation. The process of temptation is written in James 1:13-16. Fornication is any type of sexual sin before marriage. Uncleanness is the Greek word (G167) ἀκαθαρσία akatharsia, which means moral impurities (Romans 1:24 and 1 Thessalonians 4:7). Passion is (G3806) πάθος páthos, which means “These are lusts that dishonor those who indulge in them. Páthos is the soul’s diseased condition out of which the various lusts spring”~Word Study Dictionary. Evil desire is wicked (G2556) desire (G1939) ἐπιθυμία epithumía, which means strong desire, lust, and passion. Passion for your spouse is good; passion for others is wrong. Covetousness is the intense longing for what others have as power, money, influence, etc. This was Paul’s sin that the Holy Spirit convicted him (Romans 7:7-11).
V6 “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience…” What brings about God’s wrath? Sin, disbelief, rebellion against God. All people are born being children of disobedience, rebelling and doing what God states is wrong. God’s wrath does not come upon the Children of Obedience–believers in Jesus Christ. God’s wrath and sin and the world system is coming. We can read about it in the book of Revelation in particular the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowel judgments. There is accountability and punishment.
V7 “…in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Paul mentions that you did these very things before you believed. Walked = living your life.
V8 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Not only those things must be avoided but also this 5 things, which are most often verbal. Anger is irritation; wrath is boiling anger; malice is anger with intent to hurt; blasphemy is anger and words against God; filthy language is God unacceptable words (the F word, etc.).
V9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds…” Verse 9 teaches more of the Laws of Christ. We must not lie. Truth is very important to God (Psalm 51:6, Psalm 25:10, Proverbs 12:22, and Exodus 34:6 (NKJV) “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth”). The old man = the sin nature. Deeds are the thoughts, desires, words, and actions committed.
V10 “…and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…” Put on is like putting on clean clothes. When we put on the new man, our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are holy and God honoring. Renew is to renovate. It is to gut the house and rebuild it. We need God the Holy Spirit, who guides us in His school of spiritual learning to learn which leads us through the progressive sanctification of this life. We were created in the image of God, now we are being recreated into the image of Christ (character traits, etc.).
V11 “…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” We are all Christians brothers and sisters in one family–believers in the Lord Jesus.