Bible

Colossians 3:1-25 (MSG)

Topics in Book | Outline of Book | Facts About Book | Commentary | Parallel Verse

NET | AMP | NIV | NIV-2010 | NASB | TNIV | NIRV | ESV | KJV | ASV | RSV | Good News | NLT | CEV | Basic | MSG | Spanish | French

Previous Chapter | Previous Verse | Whole Chapter | Next Verse | Next Chapter

¹ So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. ² Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. ³ Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life. ⁴ When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. ⁵ And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings ins ⁶ It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. ⁷ It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. ⁸ But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. ⁹ Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. ¹⁰ Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. ¹¹ Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. ¹² So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. ¹³ Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. ¹⁴ And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. ¹⁶ Let the Word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! ¹⁷ Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ¹⁸ Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master. ¹⁹ Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them. ²⁰ Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end. ²¹ Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits. ²² Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. ²³ Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, ²⁴ confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. ²⁵ The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 1) Focus - Set your mind on things above
(v. 2) Focus - Set your mind on things above
(v. 3) Focus - Set your mind on things above
(v. 5) Self-Denial / Sacrifice - Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature
(v. 8) Hatred - Get rid of anger and rage
(v. 9) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Do not lie to each other
(v. 12) Kindness - Clothe yourself with kindness
(v. 12) Eagerness / Diligence / Seeking / Readiness - Clothe yourself with the fruits of the spirit
(v. 12) Humility - Clothe yourself with humility
(v. 12) Gentleness - Clothe yourself with gentleness
(v. 12) Patience / Perseverance / Standing Firm - Clothe yourself with patience
(v. 12) Compassion / Concern - Clothe yourself with compassion
(v. 13) Forgiveness / Mercy / Atonement - Forgive as the Lord forgave you
(v. 13) Forgiveness / Mercy / Atonement - Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another
(v. 15) Peace - Let Christ's peace rule in your hearts
(v. 15) Singing - Sing with gratitude
(v. 16) Word of God / Teaching / Knowledge - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
(v. 16) Singing - Sing with gratitude
(v. 19) Family / Marriage / Husband / Wife - Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them
(v. 20) Obedience - Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord
(v. 23) Laziness - Do it with all of your heart (as working for the Lord)
(v. 23) Heart - Do it with all of your heart (as working for the Lord)
(v. 23) Zeal / Boldness / Radicalness - Do it with all of your heart (as working for the Lord)

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 1) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 1) Mission - First the Kingdom (2010-12-03)
(v. 1) First the Kingdom - Guarding Against Heart Disease (2010-01-01)
(v. 1) Day 8 - The Hope of Glory (2011-12-11)
(v. 2) Mission - First the Kingdom (2010-12-03)
(v. 2) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 2) Day 8 - The Hope of Glory (2011-12-11)
(v. 3) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 3) Day 8 - The Hope of Glory (2011-12-11)
(v. 4) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 4) Day 8 - The Hope of Glory (2011-12-11)
(v. 4) Mind of Christ - Relationship with God (part IV) (2011-07-03)
(v. 5) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 6) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 7) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 8) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 9) NT Commands (part III) (2011-03-10)
(v. 9) One Another (part II) (2011-03-16)
(v. 9) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 10) NT Commands (part III) (2011-03-10)
(v. 10) Getting Started (part II) (2011-11-20)
(v. 10) Mind of Christ - Relationship with God (part VI) (2011-07-05)
(v. 12) Followup: Humility I (part I) (2011-09-08)
(v. 13) One Another (part III) (2011-03-17)
(v. 13) One Another (part I) (2011-03-15)
(v. 13) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 2) (2010-02-22)
(v. 15) NT Commands (part III) (2011-03-10)
(v. 15) Be Still My Soul - Praise (2008-03-29)
(v. 16) One Another (part I) (2011-03-15)
(v. 16) One Another - Teaching One Another (2009-10-04)
(v. 16) One Another (part V) (2011-03-19)
(v. 17) Power of Gratitude - Is your Job Sacred or Secular? (2008-03-05)
(v. 21) Loss of Heart (2014-02-11)
(v. 22) Fearing God - Determines how we live (part I) (2011-05-27)
(v. 22) Power of Gratitude - Is your Job Sacred or Secular? (2008-03-05)
(v. 23) 30 Days at the Cross - Lasting Impact (2008-08-13)
(v. 23) Purpose Driven Life - Real Servants (part 2) (2008-07-02)
(v. 23) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Money - Root of All Evil?, part 2 (2008-05-10)
(v. 23) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Ambition: from God or Satan (2008-05-08)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 1) Sermon: Pleasing the Lord? (2004-01-18)
(v. 13) Sermon: Free the prisoners (2013-04-28)
(v. 23) Devotional: Servanthood (2008-12-12)
(v. 24) Devotional: Servanthood (2008-12-12)