Observation and Interpretation:
vv. 1-3: If we are born again (dead to self, and raised to a new life with/in Christ), we are responsible to keep our focus on Christ, His spiritual kingdom, and the life to come (in Heaven with Him) and not on the temporary things of this earth. The word “seek” in verse 1, and the phrase “set your minds” in verse 2 both imply action on our part, as if this is an ongoing choice we must make.
vv. 5-9: These verses describe the old self that needs to be put off. Here is a list of things to be “put to death” or “put...away:”
- “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:”
- sexual immorality: fornication, harlotry, adultery, incest, idolatry
- impurity: physical or moral uncleanness
- passion: inordinate affection, lust
- evil desire: depraved, bad, injurious, harmful, ill, noisome, and/or wicked longing(s)
- covetousness: fraudulence, extortion, extreme greediness
- “put them all away”
- anger: violent passion, ire, justifiable abhorrence, indignation, vengeance, wrath
- wrath: passion, fierceness, indignation
- malice: badness, depravity, active malignity, passive trouble, naughtiness, wickedness
- slander (KJV: blasphemy): vilification, evil speaking, railing
- obscene (KJV: filthy) talk from your mouth: vile conversation, filthy conversation
- “Do not lie to one another”
- “put off the old self with its practices
vv 10-11: These verses tell us to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” and that we are all one in Christ.
vv 12-14: These verses describe the new self that needs to be put on:
- “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved:”
- compassion: pity, sympathy, inward affection plus tender mercy
- kindness: usefulness, moral excellence, gentleness
- humility: modesty, humbleness
- meekness: gentleness, humility
- patience: forbearance, fortitude, longsuffering
- Bearing with one another
- Forgiving each other (“as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
- “Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”
vv 15-17: These verses describe the fruit of putting on the new self (the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts) and how to continue to walk in this new identity:
- be thankful
- “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
- teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom
- singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
- with thankfulness in your hearts to God
- And whatever you do, in word (including thought) and deed, do in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to the Father
Application:
I must keep my focus on Jesus, and walk out what He teaches me. (And remember He will never tell me to do anything contrary to what is written in His Word). I need to put off the old self by not doing the things that are on the list to “put off” and by walking and living truthfully, and I need to put on the new self. I find it easy to see how compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness can all be bound together by love (I think they are all natural expressions of Agape (Godly) love). A fruit of walking this out will be peace in my heart. And then how do I keep walking in that new self? Thankfulness. Meditating on and memorizing Scripture. Praise and worship. Fellowship with other believers so that iron can sharpen iron and we can teach and admonish one another in wisdom. And doing everything (including in my thought life) in the name of Jesus with an attitude of thanksgiving.
That’s a lot. May I say, I am SO glad that it’s not my strength I must rely on to do this but Christ’s strength, which is perfect, full, and complete!
So, the big question that I’ve been pondering for days now as I’ve been studying this passage...what does loving others LOOK like in day to day life?
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