Put to Death

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." Colossians 3:5-6

- We must put to death our old sinful nature. Die to/rid yourselves of: sexual immorality/fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed/covetousness. Anything we place above God and/or relentlessly pursue instead of God is idolatry. Let us pray to be delivered from things of the world, fleshly desires, selfish ambition, and any form of idolatry.
- God's wrath refers to God's judgment. God is holy and just; He has to punish evil/sin. "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy." (James 4:12a) "The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." (Romans 1:18) "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." (John 3:36) "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. God will repay each person according to what they have done." (Romans 2:5-6) "They tell how you turned to God from idols to serving the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, Whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, Who rescues us from the coming wrath." (1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10) God's wrath does not negate God's love; it rather confirms His love, grace, and mercy. "For without justice, mercy loses its meaning." (~Tasker) Because of God's great love for us, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us in order to rescue us from His wrath!
- Doctrine is the basis for ethics. What we believe determines how we act. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1) "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)