Colossians 3

Exhortations to Seek the Things Above

3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your1 life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth:2 sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion,3 evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.4 3:7 You also lived your lives5 in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things6 as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man7 that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave8 or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Exhortation to Unity and Love

3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy,9 kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving10 one another, if someone happens to have11 a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.12 3:14 And to all these13 virtues14 add15 love, which is the perfect bond.16 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body17 to this peace), and be thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ18 dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace19 in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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