What does "put to death" reveal about obedience to God’s commands? Setting the Scene: Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” What the Phrase “Put to Death” Conveys • A decisive command, not a suggestion • An immediate action, not a gradual preference • A picture of finality—sin is not to be coddled, managed, or negotiated with Obedience Highlighted by the Command 1. Whole-hearted allegiance • God calls for absolute surrender, leaving no room for half-measures. • Anything contrary to His holiness is treated as an enemy to be executed. 2. Active participation • Believers are not passive spectators; we engage the fight. • Romans 8:13 — “If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” • The Spirit empowers; we still pull the trigger. 3. Continuous vigilance • The verb tense in Greek implies an ongoing stance: keep on putting to death. • Galatians 5:24 — “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” 4. Root-level repentance • Obedience is not merely behavior modification; it reaches motives and desires. • Matthew 5:29 — “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.” Jesus presses for radical removal, not surface trimming. Motives Fueling Such Obedience • Union with Christ: Colossians 3:3 — “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” • Anticipation of glory: Colossians 3:4 — “Christ, who is your life, will appear… you also will appear with Him in glory.” • Protection from idolatry: Greed and lust are labeled “idolatry,” underscoring the worship war at stake. Practical Outworking Today • Identify recurring sins; name them as enemies. • Remove access points—devices, relationships, media—that feed those sins. • Replace them with Spirit-led practices: Scripture intake, fellowship, service. • Keep short accounts with God; immediate confession maintains the kill-zone. Supporting Passages for Reinforcement • 1 Peter 2:11 — “Abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” • James 4:7 — “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” • 2 Corinthians 7:1 — “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” In a Sentence “Put to death” reveals that obedience to God’s commands is uncompromising, Spirit-empowered, and aimed at eradicating sin at its roots so that Christ alone rules the heart. |
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