Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 28

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers to Put Off their Old Man and to Put On the New Man Part 1

Colossians 3:7-8 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. KJV

The desire of the natural man or the man without Jesus Christ, that is, without a personal union or relationship with Christ is always and only geared toward that which satisfies the appetites or cravings of the fleshly body and the corrupt nature born inside every sinner as Paul said to the Corinthian beleivers with these words, "But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept {or} welcome {or} admit into his heart the gifts {and} teachings {and} revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned {and} estimated {and} appreciated." (1 Corinthians 2:14) (Amplified Bible), therefore, Paul reminds these believers in Colosse and we believers today that this is no longer our condition becuase of our regeneration and new birth by God the Holy Spirit as he says with these words to them and us, "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." (Colossians 3:7) (KJV).

However, we do now recognize and understand the teachings and revelations demonstrated to us by internal promptings, pricks, and proddings from the Word of God being made real to us and powerful to us as we read and study it prayerfully as Paul made known to the Galatian believers with these words, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites {and} desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]" (Galatians 5:24-25) (Amplified Bible), also we must be like Job when he spoke these words concerning himself and his sin, "Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more? Should [God's] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion." (Job 34:32-33) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now comes to his urging and persuading these Colossian believers and we believers today to heed the promptings of God the Holy Spirit and walk or live in and under His control by saying, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3:8) (KJV). The English phrase 'put off' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word apotithemi meaning to put away (literally or figuratively): - cast off, lay aside, lay down), put (off). The Englsih word 'anger' is translated by the Greek word orge meaning properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment: indignation or vengeance. The English word 'wrath' is translated by the Greek word thumos meaning passion (as if breathing hard): - fierceness; intense anger (usually on an epic scale); belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong. The English word 'malice' is translated by the Greek word kakia meaning badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble: - evil, maliciousness, naughtiness, wickedness, that is, feeling a need to see others suffer. The English word 'blasphemy' is translated by the Greek word blasphemia meaning vilification (especially against God): - blasphemy, evil speaking, railing. The English phrase 'filthy communication' is translated by one Greek word aischrologia (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning vile or base conversation; profanity, that is, vulgar or irreverent speech or action.

Therefore, putting all of this together we find Paul saying to these Colossian believers and we believers today that we must treat this behavior like a dirty or sweaty clothing garment one has on, but it makes them so uncomfortable due to the sweat, dirt, and filth that it must be taken off soon and replaced with a dry clean garment of clothing which makes the wearer feel much better, likewise, we are to be uncomfortable or feel spiritual discomfort embracing any of these behaviors, therefore, like an unclean or dirty garment is taken off by a person, so must we 'put away' 'cast off' or 'lay aside' all of this spiritual dirt or filth in order that we keep our inner man or inner woman from contamination which will lead to doing outwardly something regretful, reprehensible, and wrong to some other person, even another believer, but instead we must heed these words from the Psalmist King David, "Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing." (Psalms 37:8) (Amplified Bible) and these words written by the Apostle James, "For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]." (James 1:20) (Amplified Bible).

"The use of profanity is common place in our society today and ever since man was thrown out of the Garden of Eden by God, but the profane words spoken by men and women flippingly with no regard of the consequences is just a reflection of their disconnection to the Divine Loving Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who said this of idle words spoken by men and women, 'But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified {and} acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned {and} sentenced.' (Matthew 12:36-37) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions: But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the Gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The Gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted and deliberate; it is anger heightened and settled. And, as the corrupt principles in the heart must be cut off, so the product of them in the tongue; as blasphemy, which seems there to mean, not so much speaking ill of God as speaking ill of men, giving ill language to them, or raising ill reports of them, and injuring their good name by any evil arts, - filthy communication, that is, all lewd and wanton discourse, which comes from a polluted mind in the speaker and propagates the same defilements in the hearers." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…