How do you put Colossians 3:5 into practice? (put to death the deeds of the flesh?)
5Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
The Apostle Paul actually describes how to go about this in this chapter.
How to put to death? Start by putting aside.
8But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Choose in your will to no longer see such things as good, but evil. They are sin. They are the kinds of sins that our Lord and Savior had to suffer and die for. How could we continue to walk in sins that cause death, sins that we were supposed to die for, our sins that Jesus had to die for in order to save us?
Repent. Change your mind. See things differently. No longer live in the old way, live in the new way.
9Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Clothe yourself with godliness. So that you bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive others.
13Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Put on love.
14And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. Be thankful. Have an “attitude of gratitude.”
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
Let the Word dwell within you. No longer let the flesh, the demonic, and the ways of the world be the mechanisms that guide your life. Rather, let the Word of God, of Christ, the Bible, and the living word, guide your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Love your life as a “living sacrifice” to God. No longer living for yourself, but living for Him. By doing this you die and the new you lives. You put to death the old you.
17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
