SINCE YOU DIED WITH CHRIST

 

Since you Died with Christ

To the Elemental Spiritual Forces of this World,

Why, as though you still belong to the World,

Do you submit to its Rules:

DO NOT HANDLE! DO NOT TASTE! DO NOT TOUCH!

These Rules, which have to do with things

That are all Destined to Perish with Use,

Are Based on Merely Human Commands and Teachings.

Such Regulations

Indeed have an Appearance of Wisdom,

With their Self-imposed Worship,

Their False Humility

And their Harsh Treatment of the Body,

But they Lack any Value in Restraining Sensual Indulgence.

Since you have been Raised with Christ,

SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE,

Where Christ is Seated at the Right Hand of God.

SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE,

Not on Earthy Things.

FOR YOU DIED,

And your Life is now Hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is your Life, Appears,

Then you also will Appear with Him in Glory.

PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE,

What ever belongs to your Earthly Nature:

Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Lust, Evil Desires and Greed,

WHICH IS IDOLATRY.

Because of these, the Wrath of God is Coming.

You used to Walk in these Ways,

In the life you once lived.

But now you Must also Rid yourselves

Of All Such Things as these:

Anger, Rage, Malice, Slander, and Filthy Language

From your Lips.

Do not Lie to each other,

Since you have Taken Off your Old Self with its Practices

And have Put On the New Self,

Which is being Renewed in Knowledge

In the Image of its Creator.

Here there is not Gentile or Jew,

Circumcised or Uncircumcised,

Barbarian, Scythiian, Slave or Free,

BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IS IN ALL.

(Colossians 2: 20-23; 3:1-11, NIV)