Scripture
Living the New Life
1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your[1] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[2] 7You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[3] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[4] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Translation notes (4)
- 3:4 Some manuscripts read our.
- 3:6 Some manuscripts read is coming on all who disobey him.
- 3:11a Greek a Greek.
- 3:11b Greek Barbarian, Scythian.
13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we can receive here on earth. When someone chooses to forgive us, even when we have hurt them, we are given a gift that we don’t deserve. At its core, forgiveness is a picture of what Christ offers to everyone who places their faith in Him. It’s true; we have all been given the gift of forgiveness if we turn to Christ and place our faith in Him. As a result of His example, we are also called to extend forgiveness, even in the middle of conflict.
We talked yesterday in our study about the importance of apologizing, acknowledging others when we are wrong, and saying, “I’m sorry.” Forgiving is just as critical. The apostle Paul talked about the importance of forgiving in Colossians 3. He spoke a lot about how followers of Christ are to treat others in this chapter. As he taught, he instructed readers, “Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you” (verse 13a). Notice the strong language in this verse: “forgive anyone who offends you.” This includes everyone. There is no person who we do not have to forgive. With this call to forgiving came a reminder. Paul wrote, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (verse 13b). Just think about how much you have been forgiven from sin, shame, guilt, hurt, and so much more. In light of God’s extravagant forgiveness, we have to extend that same kindness to others.
Are you struggling to forgive? Maybe someone has hurt you, and it seems impossible to extend forgiveness. It’s true that people hurt us and let us down. We have also let people down. We have let God down. The greater truth is that God has extended great forgiveness to us, and He calls us to forgive. Let’s be people who are ready and willing to forgive.
Moving Toward Action
Who do you need to forgive today? Maybe you have been harboring frustration and feelings of unforgiveness against your spouse, a friend, or a family member. Whoever that person is, choose to forgive them today. This does not mean you accept or tolerate unacceptable behavior, but that you are willing to forgive even though you have been hurt. It is a sign to them that you are willing to take steps in restoring that relationship with them. It also points them to the love and forgiveness Christ offers to them.
Going Deeper
Colossians 3:1-17 (NLT)
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