5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:5–6 (ESV)
The Word of God is not silent concerning the holiness of the believer in Christ. No matter who we are, of what we do for the kingdom of God and the church, the Lord calls each Christian to put to death what is earthly in their lives. God calls believers to be holy (I Peter 3:13-16).
The phrase put to death (νεκρόω; nekroo) is an aorist active imperative verb. It is in the plural form. This means to actively and obediently stop and completely cease a behavior and perspective of life and living. What each believer in Christ must resolve to completely cease is what is earthly (γῆ; ge) in them. The earthly is what is in harmony with the philosophy of the fallen world system of thought and action in believers’ minds, emotions and wills. This is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:15-17).
The Apostle Paul briefly outlined what earthly living and desire looks like for the believer in Christ. It is gratifying sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which the apostle calls idolatry. These desires are not just outside of us, but rather still remain within us. These are contrary to holiness and must be killed.
“We are not yet perfectly holy in practice, and passages like Colossians 3:5–8 that call us to put sin to death exist because disobedience is a reality for us. Still, the Bible defines Christians as already holy, “sanctified . . . in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). In Christ we have made a decisive break with unholiness. Our Creator declares us holy in His Son — we are saints of God Most High, and He sees us as pure through Jesus’ blood (Col. 1:2; Heb. 9:13–14),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
What happens if we do not put sin to death, as God commands? The Scriptures give us ample warning and examples of the tragic wake of disobedience and compromise.
“Adam compromised God’s law and lost paradise (Genesis 3:6, 22–24). Abraham compromised the truth, lied about Sarah’s relationship to him, and nearly lost his wife (Genesis 12:10–20). Moses compromised God’s command and lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7–12). Samson compromised his devotion as a Nazarite and lost his strength, his eyesight, and his life (Judges 16:4–6, 16–31). Israel compromised the commands of the Lord and lost the Ark of God (1 Samuel 4:11). Israel also compromised the law of God with idolatry and lost her land (2 Chronicles 36:14–17). Saul compromised God’s divine word by not slaying all of the animals of his enemy and lost his kingdom (1 Samuel 15:3, 20–28). David compromised God’s standard, committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered Uriah, and lost an infant son (2 Samuel 11:1–12:23). Solomon compromised his convictions, married foreign wives, and ultimately caused the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 11:1–8),” warns Dr. John MacArthur.
How do we go about putting sin to death? Dr. Sinclair Ferguson has some suggestions.
- “Learn to admit sin for what it really is. Call a spade a spade—call it “sexual immorality,” not “I’m being tempted a little”; call it “impurity,” not “I’m struggling with my thought life”; call it “evil desire, which is idolatry,” not “I think I need to order my priorities a bit better.”
- “See sin for what your sin really is in God’s presence. “On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (Col. 3:6). The masters of the spiritual life spoke of dragging our lusts (kicking and screaming, though they be) to the cross, to a wrath-bearing Christ. My sin leads to—not lasting pleasure—but holy divine displeasure. See the true nature of your sin in the light of its punishment.”
- “Recognize the inconsistency of your sin. You put off the “old man,” and have put on the “new man” (Col. 3:9–10). You are no longer the “old man.” The identity you had “in Adam” is gone. The old man was “crucified with him [Christ] in order that the body of sin [probably ‘life in the body dominated by sin’] might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Rom. 6:6). New men live new lives. Anything less than this is a contradiction of who I am “in Christ.”
- Put sin to death (Col. 3:5). It is as “simple” as that. Refuse it, starve it, and reject it. You cannot “mortify” sin without the pain of the kill. There is no other way!
This is every Christian’s battle. The question is whether or not God finds us faithful to His call to holiness. Are you ready, willing and serious about putting your sin to death and being holy in practice before humankind what you are in position before God?
Soli deo Gloria!
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