What is the meaning of Colossians 3:6? Because of these Paul has just listed sins believers must “put to death” (Colossians 3:5)—“sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” These are the “these” that stir divine anger. Scripture never treats such actions as harmless mistakes: • Ephesians 5:5-6 echoes, “Because of such things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.” • Romans 1:18 says God’s wrath “is revealed…against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” The verse reminds us that sin always has consequences. God’s moral universe is not neutral; His holiness responds to willful rebellion. the wrath of God This is not a loss of temper but God’s righteous, measured response to sin. • Nahum 1:2 calls Him “a jealous and avenging God.” • John 3:36 warns, “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” God’s wrath highlights His love for what is pure; He refuses to coexist with evil. The same holiness that sent Christ to the cross also opposes the very sins Jesus died to remove (Isaiah 53:5). is coming The verb points to both a present reality and a future certainty. • Romans 1:18 speaks of wrath already “revealed,” while Romans 2:5 warns of a day when it will be fully “revealed in righteous judgment.” • Revelation 6:16-17 shows that final outpouring: “the great day of their wrath has come.” Wrath is not merely a distant threat; it is already on its way, steadily advancing toward the unrepentant. on the sons of disobedience This phrase identifies those whose lives are marked by rebellion. They are: • Unregenerate—still “dead in trespasses” (Ephesians 2:1-2). • Characterized by persistent disobedience, not an occasional stumble (1 John 3:10). Believers were once in that category, but faith in Christ delivers us (Ephesians 2:3-5). Therefore, Paul’s warning doubles as a motivation for holy living: why embrace the very sins that bring judgment on the lost? summary Colossians 3:6 teaches that ongoing, willful sin provokes God’s righteous wrath, a wrath already on its way and destined to fall on those who persist in disobedience. Because these sins once defined us but now grieve the Father who saved us, we refuse them, choosing instead the new life Christ purchased at the cost of His own blood. |
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