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Colossians 3:1-11 moves from the warning against false teaching into the practical outworking of life in Christ. Since believers have been raised with Christ, we are called to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. The Christian life begins with a changed position, and then calls for a changed direction of mind and heart.
This message explains that our life is hidden with Christ in God, and that when Christ who is our life appears, we also will appear with Him in glory. Because of that future hope and present union with Christ, Paul tells believers to put to death the earthly members: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. He also calls us to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying.
The study uses the picture of taking off an old coat and putting on the new. We do not put off sin merely to look religious. We do so because the old man belongs to the life that died with Christ, and the new man is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the Creator. This is a call to repentance, obedience, and hope, as the Lord teaches us to say no to the flesh and yes to Christ.