Dead to Sin

View daily reading plan: Colossians 3.5-8

Verse 5 of our chapter today reminds us that we must give no "stay of execution" to sinful desires. We must kill off everything connected to our old way of life before we were saved - sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever we want, and grasping after whatever attracted our attention. In Romans 6.12 Paul says, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts" (NKJV). God's anger is kindled by this sinful behaviour. He judged Sodom for their immorality and His wrath will come upon the children of disobedience.

Verse 8 tells us to take off certain things that would mark us as those not pleasing God. The language Paul uses means these sins have to be removed like you would take off dirty clothes. Everyone will agree that the evil sins of v.5 would have to go, but it is interesting that God outlines other sins here too. Is it more likely that these could be present in our lives - bitterness, losing our tempers, gossip, meanness, slander, bad language, and dirty talk?

It is important that we remember we are no longer slaves to sin. Our old way of living and talking should be finished with and it should be obvious by our actions that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be putting off sinful deeds and be increasing in Christlikeness.

Thursday, 19 June, 2025