What does "put to death" in Colossians 3:5 mean for daily life? Grasping the command “Therefore put to death the parts of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) • “Put to death” is not poetic exaggeration; it is a literal directive to do away with sin’s sway. • The verb (Greek: νεκρώσατε) is decisive, urgent, and continuous—keep killing whatever rebels against Christ. Why such drastic language? • Sin is not a pet to tame; it is a cancer to excise (Romans 8:13). • We have already “died with Christ” positionally (Colossians 3:3). Now, practically, we align our behavior with that spiritual reality. Daily life: practical outworking 1. Identify the enemy – Keep a running list of attitudes and habits that fall under Paul’s five categories. – Ask the Spirit to spotlight hidden pockets of compromise (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Declare zero-tolerance – No negotiating with lustful images, sketchy websites, flirtations, or greedy impulses. – Jesus taught radical amputation: “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (Matthew 5:30). 3. Replace, don’t just remove – Put off impurity; put on “compassion, kindness, humility…” (Colossians 3:12). – Starve evil desires; feed new desires by “setting your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). 4. Utilize God-given means – Scripture saturation (Psalm 119:11). – Prayerful dependence (Ephesians 6:18). – Accountability with believers (Hebrews 3:13). – Fleeing tempting environments (2 Timothy 2:22). The ongoing battle • Victory is possible but never passive—“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh…” (Galatians 5:24). • Every deliberate renunciation of sin showcases the risen life of Christ in us (2 Corinthians 4:10-11). Living the resurrection today • Treat sinful impulses as intruders, not roommates. • Choose daily to side with your new identity, thanking the Lord that His power makes the command doable (Philippians 2:13). • Celebrate each small win as evidence that the old self truly is dying and the new self is shining through. |
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