What is the meaning of Colossians 3:9? Do not lie to one another Lying contradicts God’s very character, for “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Christ calls His people to live in truth because He Himself is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). When Paul commands, “Do not lie to one another,” he is protecting the unity and witness of the church. • Exodus 20:16 forbids bearing false witness, showing this isn’t a new standard. • Proverbs 12:22 tells us, “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD.” • Jesus traced lying back to the devil, “the father of lies” (John 8:44). • Ephesians 4:25 echoes the same appeal: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.” Deceit fractures relationships; truth builds trust. The body of Christ thrives on honesty because believers are members of one another (Romans 12:5). since you have taken off the old self Paul roots the command in identity, not mere moralism. At conversion we “have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and are now “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The picture is of removing a filthy garment: • Romans 6:6 says our old self was crucified so that we should no longer be slaves to sin. • Ephesians 4:22–24 calls believers to “put off your former way of life” and “put on the new self.” • Colossians 2:11 speaks of “the putting off of the body of flesh.” Because the old self is gone in God’s sight, living in falsehood would be like digging up a corpse we’ve already buried. with its practices The “practices” are the habitual sins that once marked us. Paul lists many just a few verses earlier—sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire, greed, anger, slander (Colossians 3:5–8). • Titus 3:3 reminds us we “once were foolish, disobedient, deceived.” • Galatians 5:19–21 catalogs “the works of the flesh,” emphasizing their incompatibility with life in the Spirit. • Ephesians 5:8–11 urges, “Walk as children of light… Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness.” Rejecting lies is one tangible way to show that the old wardrobe no longer fits. Truth-telling displays the new nature Christ has given us. summary Colossians 3:9 calls believers to abandon every form of deceit because lying belongs to a life that died with Christ. Having stripped off the old self and its sinful habits, we now clothe ourselves in truth that reflects our new identity, strengthens fellowship, and honors the God who is truth Himself. |
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