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Colossians 3 — New identity, old habits, and what it looks like to actually change
6 min read
has spent the first two chapters of this letter making sure the believers in know exactly who is — the image of the invisible God, the one who holds everything together, the fullness of God in human form. He's dismantled the false teaching that was creeping into their — all the extra rules, the mystical requirements, the "you need Jesus plus this other stuff" philosophy that was pulling people away from the real thing.
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Now he shifts. If all of that is true — if really is everything — then what does your actual life look like on Monday morning? This chapter is where theology meets your daily routine, and Paul doesn't leave anything vague.
opened with a massive "if-then" statement. Not a hypothetical — more like a logical consequence. If this thing has happened to you, then here's what follows:
"If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above — not on things that are on earth. Because here's the reality: you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ — who IS your life — appears, then you will appear with him in glory."
Think about that phrase: "your life is hidden with in God." Your deepest identity isn't visible on your profile. It's not your job title, your relationship status, your follower count, or the version of yourself you present to the world. The truest thing about you is tucked away in God, and it hasn't fully been revealed yet. That's either terrifying or deeply freeing — depending on how much of your identity you've built on things people can see.
Paul isn't saying "stop thinking about real life." He's saying stop letting the temporary stuff set your compass. Your real life is anchored somewhere else entirely.
Here's where got specific. He didn't just say "be better." He named names. And the language is startlingly direct — not "manage" or "keep an eye on." Put to :
"Put to death what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passion, evil desires, and greed — which is really just another form of idolatry. God's judgment is coming because of these things. You used to live in all of that. That was your old life.
But now? Put it all away. Every bit of it. Anger, rage, cruelty, slander, filthy language — get rid of it. Don't lie to each other. You've taken off the old self and everything that came with it. You've put on the new self — which is being renewed, reshaped into the image of the one who created you.
And in this new reality, the old labels don't apply anymore. There is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, outsider, foreigner, slave, free. Christ is all, and in all."
Two lists here, and they're worth looking at side by side. The first list — sexual immorality, impurity, greed — that's the stuff you hide. The private browsing history of the soul. The second list — anger, slander, cruelty, lying — that's what leaks out in how you treat people. Paul wants both gone. Not managed. Not moderated. Put to death. It's the language of a surgeon, not a life coach.
And then that final line levels every hierarchy the ancient world cared about. Ethnicity, religious status, social class — none of it defines you anymore. In , those walls come down. Not because differences don't exist, but because they no longer determine who's in and who's out.
didn't just tell them what to strip away. He told them what to wear instead. And notice how he set it up — this isn't about earning your way in. It's about living from what's already true:
"As God's chosen ones — holy and deeply loved — put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another. If someone has a grievance against someone else, forgive — just as the Lord forgave you. That's the standard.
And over everything else, put on love. Love is what holds it all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ be the deciding voice in your hearts. You were called to that peace as one body. Be thankful. Let the word of Christ live in you richly — teach one another, encourage one another with wisdom, sing together with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do — whether it's something you say or something you do — do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Here's what's easy to miss: Paul called them "chosen, holy, and beloved" before he told them to do a single thing. The identity comes first. The behavior flows from it. You don't put on compassion to become loved by God. You put on compassion because you already are.
And that list — compassion, kindness, , gentleness, patience — it sounds soft. Almost too soft for a world that rewards the loud and the aggressive. But read it again. Every one of those requires enormous strength. Patience when someone keeps failing. Gentleness when you have every right to be sharp. when the wound is still fresh. This isn't weakness dressed up. It's what strength actually looks like when is running through it.
The part about letting "rule" in your hearts? That word "rule" is an umpire's call. When you're torn, when two impulses are competing, when the decision could go either way — let peace make the call. If it doesn't bring peace, pay attention to that.
This is a section that requires some honest framing. gave instructions to households — and these are words that have been quoted in healthy ways and weaponized in unhealthy ones. Here's what he actually said:
"Wives, defer to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they will become discouraged."
What stands out is the balance. Every instruction goes both ways. Wives, defer — but husbands, don't you dare use that as a license for harshness. Children, obey — but , don't crush their spirit. In a culture where the head of household had nearly absolute authority, Paul was putting limits on power, not just affirming it. The person with more authority in each pairing gets the harder command. , not harshness. Leadership, not provocation.
These are four short sentences, but they've shaped centuries of conversation about family dynamics. The goal isn't hierarchy for its own sake — it's a household where everyone is seen, respected, and pointing toward .
closed the chapter by speaking to workers — in his context, servants and enslaved people. The principle underneath applies far more broadly:
"Whatever your work situation, give your full effort — not just when someone's watching, not just to make a good impression, but with sincerity, out of reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly, as though you're working for the Lord and not just for people. Because you know this: it's from the Lord that you'll receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
And the person who does wrong will be repaid for what they've done. There is no favoritism."
This reframes every boring task, every thankless assignment, every job where no one seems to notice. Paul didn't say your work has to be glamorous. He said your work has an audience of one — and that audience sees everything. The boss who overlooks you, the credit that goes to someone else, the effort nobody acknowledges — none of it is wasted, because the person you're ultimately working for never misses a thing.
That last line is a reminder too: is impartial. God doesn't play favorites. Whether you're at the top of the org chart or the bottom, the same standard applies. And that's either a warning or a comfort — depending on how you've been living.