Colossians 3:1–17
Put Off, Put On
The big idea
Christian change is described as changing clothes — and the wardrobe is chosen on the basis of who you already are.
Context you need before you preach it
Colossians is written against a mixture of asceticism, angel worship and false wisdom. Paul's answer is not more rules — he explicitly says such regulations are of no value against indulgence — but a new identity in Christ.
The imperative in verse 1 rests on an indicative: "if then you were raised". The command follows from an accomplished fact rather than aiming at one.
The outline
Seek the things above — because you were raised
vv. 1–4Identity first. "Your life is hidden with Christ in God" is the ground of everything that follows.
Put to death what is earthly
vv. 5–9Strong language, and note that the second list is entirely about speech and relationships — anger, wrath, malice, slander, lying.
Put on the new self
vv. 10–14Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness — and over all of it, love, "the bond of perfection".
Let the peace and word of Christ rule and dwell
vv. 15–17Corporate: teaching one another, singing together, and doing everything in his name with thanks.
Application
- You dress according to who you are. The commands follow the identity rather than establishing it.
- Notice how much of both lists is about speech. Most Christian transformation is audible.
- Verse 17 gives the widest possible application: everything, in word or deed, in his name.
Where preachers go wrong on this text
- Preaching the lists without verses 1–4, which produces exactly the rule-keeping Colossians opposes.
- Making it purely individual when verses 15–17 are plainly corporate.
- Rushing the clothing metaphor. It repays being made concrete.
Other ways to structure it
The outline above is one defensible reading, not the only one. If it does not fit the congregation in front of you, these are legitimate alternatives:
- Preach it as a two-point sermon: take off, put on.
- Preach verses 12–14 as a sermon on how a church treats one another.
- Preach verse 17 alone as a sermon on ordinary work.
Illustrations that fit this text
Frequently asked questions
How is "put off, put on" different from just trying harder?
The commands rest on verses 1–4: you were raised with Christ and your life is hidden with him. Paul is telling people to dress in accordance with an identity they already have, not to earn one — which is why Colossians elsewhere dismisses regulations as powerless against indulgence.
You have preached this passage before
Probably more than once, and the earlier version had a line in it you would want back. Transcribe your sermons and every text you have ever preached becomes searchable by reference — $19/month for as many as you preach, and the first one is free.
More from Colossians
Preaching resources for Colossians — themes, famous chapters, and background for the whole book.