Metaphors for Sanctification

In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul provides several metaphors for the believer’s growth in holiness. As a result of the believer’s union with Christ, they are to put some things to death, put off some things that they used to wear, and put on new things that resemble the new humanity. Let’s see what these things are with John MacArthur’s notes on this passage in the MacArthur Study Bible (NIV).

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. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.”

Colossians 3:5–7

Put to death. See Ro 8:13; cf. Zec 4:6; Eph 5:18; 6:17; 1Jn 2:14. This refers to a conscious effort to slay the remaining sin in our flesh. immorality. This refers to any form of sexual sin (see Gal 5:19; cf. 1Th 4:3). impurity. This term goes beyond sexual acts of sin to encompass evil thoughts and intentions as well (cf. Mt 5:28; Mk 7:21, 22; 1Th 4:7). lust, evil desires. Similar terms that refer to sexual passion. “Lust” is the physical side of that vice, and “evil desires” is the mental side (see Ro 1:26; cf. Jas 1:15). greed. Lit. this term means “to have more.” It is the insatiable desire to gain more, especially of things that are forbidden (cf. Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21; Jas 4:2). which is idolatry. When people engage in either greed or the sexual sins Paul has cataloged, they follow their desires rather than God’s, in essence worshiping themselves—which is idolatry (Nu 25:1–3; Eph 5:3–5).

Wrath of God. His constant, invariable reaction against sin (see Jn 3:36; Ro 1:18; Rev 11:18).

You used to walk in these ways. Before their conversion (cf. Eph 2:1–5; Titus 3:3, 4).

Put Off Your Dirty Clothes

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Colossians 3:8

Rid yourselves. A Gr. word used for taking off clothes (cf. Ac 7:58; Ro 13:12–14; 1Pe 2:1). Like one who removes his dirty clothes at day’s end, believers must discard the filthy garments of their old, sinful lives. anger. A deep, smoldering bitterness; the settled heart attitude of an angry person (cf. Eph 4:31; Jas 1:19, 20). rage. Unlike God’s settled and righteous rage (see Ro 1:18), this is a sudden outburst of sinful anger, usually the eruption that flows out of “anger” (see Gal 5:20; cf. Lk 4:28; Ac 19:28; Eph 4:31). malice. From the Gr. term that denotes general moral evil. Here it probably refers to the damage caused by evil speech. slander. The normal translation when this word refers to God is “blasphemy.” But here, since it refers to people, it is better translated “slander.” To slander people, however, is to blaspheme God (cf. Mt 5:22; Jas 3:9–10).

Put On the New Man

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Colossians 3:9–10

Taken off . . . put on. See v. 8; Eph 4:24, 25. These words are the basis for the command of v. 8. Because the old man died in Christ, and the new man lives in Christ—because that is the fact of new creation or regeneration (2Co 5:17)—believers must put off remaining sinful deeds and be continually renewed into the Christlikeness to which they are called.

Old self. The old, unregenerate self, originating in Adam (see Ro 5:12–14; 6:6; cf. Eph 4:22).

New self. The new, regenerate self, which replaces the old self; this is the essence of what believers are in Christ (cf. Eph 4:17; 5:1, 8, 15). The reason believers still sin is their unredeemed flesh (see Ro 6:6, 12; 7:5). renewed. See 2Co 4:16; cf. Ro 12:2; 2Co 3:18. This Gr. verb contains a sense of contrast with the former reality. It describes a new quality of life that never before existed. Just like a baby is born complete but immature, the new self is complete, but has the capacity to grow. knowledge. See 1:9. A deep, thorough knowledge, without which there can be no spiritual growth or renewal (2Ti 3:16, 17; 1Pe 2:2). image of its Creator. It is God’s plan that believers become progressively more like Jesus Christ, the one who made them (cf. Ro 8:29; 1Co 15:49; 1Jn 3:2). See Php 3:12–14, 19, 20.

Clothe Yourselves

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Colossians 3:12

Therefore. In view of what God has done through Jesus Christ for the believer, Paul describes the behavior and attitude God expects in response (vv. 12–17). God’s chosen people. This designates true Christians as those who have been chosen by God. No one is converted solely by his own choice, but only in response to God’s effectual, free, uninfluenced, and sovereign grace (see Jn 15:16; Ro 8:29; 9:14–23; Eph 1:4; 2Th 2:13, 14; 2Ti 1:8, 9; 1Pe 1:1, 2; cf. Ac 13:46–48; Ro 11:4, 5). dearly loved. Election means believers are the objects of God’s incomprehensible special love (cf. Jn 13:1; Eph 1:4, 5). clothe yourselves. See vv. 9, 10. compassion. Lit. “internal organs of compassion.” It is a Hebraism that connotes the internal organs of the human body as used figuratively to describe the seat of the emotions (cf. Mt 9:36; Lk 6:36; Jas 5:11). kindness. Refers to a goodness toward others that pervades the entire person, mellowing all harsh aspects (cf. Mt 11:29, 30; Lk 10:25–37). humility. See Ro 12:3, 10; Php 2:3; cf. Mt 18:4; Jn 13:14–16; Jas 4:6, 10. This is the perfect antidote to the self-love that poisons human relationships. gentleness. See Mt 5:5, Gal 5:23. Sometimes translated “meekness,” it is the willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than to inflict such hurts. patience. See 1:11; cf. Ro 2:4. It is also translated “longsuffering,” the opposite of quick anger, resentment, or revenge and thus epitomizes Jesus Christ (1Ti 1:16; cf. 2Pe 3:15). It endures injustice and troublesome circumstances with hope for coming relief.

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