Colossians 3:1-25
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality
There is a work that only Christ has done and is doing in the raising us up from a required death for our sins. What He has raised us from, though, is an obligation to do those things that reap the wrath of God. His raising does not change what God considers to be disobedience and worthy of judgment. It just changes our bondage to those things. We are still capable of putting on those old things and encountering the repercussions of doing so. Ultimately it is appearing with Him that may be denied, according to the fourth verse. The setting of our mind and putting on godly things isn’t an accomplishment of the cross, but is yet presented to us as a choice we must make. The walk of new life is made up of steps that are consistently chosen. This is especially demonstrated in those relationships that are nearest and most consistently experienced. Having a mind that is set above, on those things that have been freely given to us in Christ, will result in love choices that disallow condemning actions. So grateful for the grace that takes care of the past, but am so much more focused on that grace that makes way for the purpose of the cross in a life liberated from unrighteousness and its ramifications. There are yet consequences for wickedness, and they will come without partiality towards those who have formerly chosen Him in some manner.