Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify means to kill or put to death. We are to cast down and kill sin in our life. We must put to death sexual sins and evil lusts. What is the most difficult of the above listed sins? If a sin is left out, I think that covetousness would cover it. Paul then adds to this list: Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Paul tells the Colossians that these sins had been part of their lives before they had followed Christ. He tells them to put them to death, to put them off. But how?

The word ‘therefore’ is a key word here. Verse 5 follows verses 1-4 of chapter three. If our affection is on Christ and His kingdom we will have His overcoming power in our lives.

Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We will not have victory over sin if we do not have a close relationship with Christ and His church. ‘Therefore,’ because Christ is our life, we are to put off and put to death sin in our life. If God tells us to do something, He empowers us to do it. Also, if our meditation in on Christ and His kingdom, our sinful imaginations will diminish on that which is evil. This list of sins is not just preceded by meditative verses, but it is followed by some wonderful verses, that if followed will help us overcome sin in our life. Can you see how a love for hearing the Word of God and singing hymns in church can help you overcome sin?

Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I’ve seen many students try to overcome a debilitating sin in their life on their own. They thought they could have victory without maintaining a relationship with Christ and His church. They tried to fix it themselves. They usually fail or replace one sin with another. And I’ve also seen people truly become overcomers and experience life changing victory over sin when they experience Christ in their lives and desire to be in our fellowship. When you love Christ, you will hate sin and love His people and fellowship in the Word of God. We need both the inner presence of Christ and the outer presence of preaching, singing, teaching and fellowship. These are gifts of God to give us victory over sin and a satisfaction with the life that Christ has given us.

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry.