Colossians 3:5-11 “Killing the Flesh”
“Killing the Flesh” is a sermon preached from Colossians 3:5-11, by Michael Beatty, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in New Berlin, Wisconsin – a confessional Reformed Baptist church subscribing to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
Introduction
Let’s turn to Matthew 16:13–20.
“When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ Then He strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.”
We see here in this passage the foundation of the church, the construction of the church, and the perpetuity of the church.
The Foundation of the Church
Jesus Christ Himself is the foundation stone. But the church is also built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. In this text, Peter is singled out. The church is built upon the truth of the apostolic confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Peter made that confession because God the Father revealed it to him. Christ said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” That is true of every believer—our faith is not the result of our own intellect or merit, but of God’s gracious revelation.
The Construction of the Church
Jesus declared, “I will build My church.” Notice that He did not say, “You will build My church,” but “I will build.” Christ Himself is the builder. He builds through His Word, by His Spirit, and through the ministry of His apostles and prophets, and later pastors and teachers.
The church is not a human invention. It is not sustained by mere human effort. Christ Himself is its architect and builder.
Scripture Reading
I invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to the book of Colossians, chapter 3.
We’re considering verses 5 to 11 this morning.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Thus far the reading of God’s Word. Please join me as we ask His blessing upon it.
Prayer: Father, we ask that You would once again grant that we might, by Your Spirit, hear the voice of Christ. We ask that You would meet with us this morning, and that You would, by Your Spirit, help us to receive those things which we need. For we know that there are many struggles here present among us, and we ask that You would cause us to hear from Your Word those things we most need. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Introduction: A War We Cannot Ignore
This week I normally send the bulletin to Nikki on Wednesday—or at least that’s what I try to do. In doing that, I prepare the verses and hymns that are before you. I don’t often consider changing them once I’ve sent them out. But at times there are things that happen in the world around us that do make me reconsider.
By God’s providence, I believe that the things that have happened in our midst—if we’ve been paying attention to the world around us in the last few days—are addressed by the hymns we’ve sung, the reading of the law in Deuteronomy 5, and also here in Colossians 3. These passages speak to us in great detail about matters that we as Christians particularly need to hear.
Ultimately, what we are doing here this morning is declaring, “Thus says the Lord.” This is what He says from this particular text, and this is what is binding upon us as His people. What shall we do with these things? How shall we respond?
John Owen once said of sin: “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” The war in which we find ourselves is real. If we are unaware, let us now be aware: we are living in a war, and each and every person here is an active participant in it. Furthermore, we are all on the front lines—not in support roles (though support roles are valuable)—but on the front lines.
The war we wage as soldiers of Christ is not primarily against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil. And as we will see this morning, the primary battle is against sin that lives very close to us—in our own hearts.
Sin often begins small. You engage in it once, and it grows. You repeat it, and it grows further. Before long, it has become a great tree, bringing forth its fruit in abundance. And the sure, final outcome of sin is death.
Therefore, either we are actively engaged in killing sin in our own lives for the glory of Christ, for our good, and for the good of our neighbor—or we are allowing sin to kill us.
In Colossians 3:1–4, we saw that something has changed for the Christian: we are now alive in Christ. Our life is hidden with Him, and we wait for the day when He returns to reveal it in glory. We have received our inheritance in promise, though it is not yet fully in our possession. This creates tension. Christ will judge the world with equity—but He has not yet done so in its fullness. That is good news, because He is still bringing sinners to Himself. Yet we feel the tension of living in this “already and not yet.”
So how shall we respond as those alive in Him?
Paul tells us: we must put to death our old life. We are dead to the world and its elementary principles (Colossians 2:20–23). Our old life is gone. Like Noah and his family entering the ark, they could not return to their old life. They were shut in. So also, our lives are hidden with Christ.
Furthermore, we have now been raised with Him. That means we, by the Spirit, have the ability to put sin to death. Our neighbors apart from Christ do not. They may be restrained—by parents, by laws, by social norms—but they cannot kill sin. Only the Christian, by the Spirit, can do this.
That, brothers and sisters, is where we find ourselves this morning. As those who died with Christ, we are called to kill the flesh while being renewed in His likeness.
I want to look at this text under three points:
- Kill lust.
- Kill wrath.
- Kill division.
1. Killing Lust
We see here in verses 5 and following the first exhortation that Paul gives. Depending on your translation, it may read differently. Some translations say “put on,” but I think the ESV has it right: “put to death”—or we could say, “be killing.” Be killing sin, all manner of lust.
Paul lays these out for us in two groupings:
- Outer lusts — sins that are outwardly obvious and easily seen.
- Inner lusts — sins that may be hidden, even from ourselves.
And we are called to kill both.
Outer Lusts: Sexual Immorality and Impurity
First, under outer lusts, Paul names sexual immorality and impurity.
Sexual immorality includes every manner of sexual sin. You name it—it is contained in this word. The egregious sins that cry out against God, such as homosexuality, transgenderism, fornication, and adultery, are included here. But also the sins the world calls “old-fashioned” are included. If it is sin expressed through sexuality outside God’s design, it belongs under this word. And Paul says: put it to death.
Secondly, impurity—being unclean. This is not speaking of ceremonial uncleanness from the Old Testament law, which Paul already told us in Colossians 2:20–23 was nailed to the cross. Rather, this is moral impurity. Anything that renders one unwashed, impure before God. Any expression of lust not already captured by the word “sexual immorality” falls here.
Together, these two outer lusts warn us against external sins that are often obvious to others. But remember: the problem with lust is that we want what is not ours. “You desire and do not have, so you covet” (James 4:2).
Think of David and Bathsheba. David did not go to war one summer as he should have. From his rooftop, he saw Bathsheba. He wanted her. He inquired about her. He took her. When she was found with child, he arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. That whole chain of events sprang from lust.
And Paul says: put it to death.
Inner Lusts: Passion, Evil Desire, and Covetousness
Next, Paul addresses inner lusts: passion, evil desire, and covetousness.
These are harder to spot. Our culture often celebrates external lust, making it easy to condemn. But the inner lusts lurk closer to home.
- Passion: This refers to sinful movements of our emotions. A flare-up of desire for something God has not given us, whether acted upon or not. It can be sudden, fleeting, inward—but it is still sin.
- Evil desire: Any craving for what belongs to another. That’s why the tenth commandment forbids coveting your neighbor’s spouse, house, or possessions. Every commandment, in fact, underscores that certain things belong to God or to others, and we are not to take them.
- Covetousness, which is idolatry: Here Paul seals the matter. Coveting is worshiping created things instead of the Creator. To set our hearts on what God has not given is to bow before an idol.
This grouping covers everything from sexual lust to greed. In short, lust is desiring what is not ours. And Paul says: kill it.
The Necessity of Putting Lust to Death
Notice Paul doesn’t say, “manage your sin” or “keep it under control.” He says, “put it to death.” No negotiating. No saying, “I know I have this sin and I shouldn’t, but…” No excuses.
Sin is not to be tolerated—it must be killed. For if we don’t kill it, it will kill us.
Christ has given us His Spirit, and by that Spirit we are able to kill sin. Imagine if the Christian life were simply waiting until heaven, with no help in fighting sin now. How hopeless that would be! But Christ is alive in us. He puts sin to death in us by His Spirit.
So while the world may celebrate lust, and even call some forms of it “wholesome” or “old-fashioned,” we must discern rightly. Paul says: put it to death. Not merely the outward sins, but also the inward desires of the heart.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees for being like whitewashed tombs: outwardly beautiful, but inwardly full of death (Matthew 23:27). That’s a vivid warning. External purity is not enough. We must kill lust at the root—within.
2. Killing Wrath
Paul moves next to wrath. Notice in verse 8:
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Here again we see two groupings, parallel to the lust section:
- Inner wrath: anger, wrath, malice.
- Outer wrath: slander and obscene talk.
Paul exhorts Christians to put to death all wrath.
Inner Wrath: Anger, Wrath, Malice
First, anger. Now, not all anger is sin. Jesus Himself showed righteous anger when He drove out the moneychangers from the temple. But sinful anger is condemned. James tells us: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
Second, wrath. This is anger that boils over, unrestrained, without regard for consequences. We sometimes say, “I saw red.” It is destructive, reckless, and godless.
Third, malice. This is the settled disposition of ill will toward another. Even if not expressed outwardly, it poisons the heart. And Paul says: put it to death.
We must not imagine that as long as we keep it bottled up, we are fine. Christ redeems us body and soul, and He is putting to death every stronghold of sin within us.
Outer Wrath: Slander and Obscene Talk
Next come the more outward expressions of wrath.
- Slander (or blasphemy): This word can refer both to speech that dishonors God and to speech that destroys our neighbor’s reputation. Both are forbidden. God’s name is holy, and so are the lives of His image-bearers.
- Obscene talk: Filthy, evil, destructive speech. Paul says this too must be put to death.
Think of the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 tells us: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Words have the power to wound deeply or to give life. Many of us still remember words spoken years ago—either words that built us up, or words that crushed us. And often our own words have done the same to others.
Paul includes sins of speech alongside murder because both can destroy life. To speak evil of our neighbor is to rob him of dignity, to strip him of what God has given him. God values life highly—so much so that even our words must be brought into submission to Him.
Why Wrath Must Be Put to Death
When wrath grows unchecked, it leads to death. Few people begin with murder, but the path often begins with anger, nurtured and practiced over time.
Think of verse 7: “In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.” Paul reminds us that once we practiced sin like a skill—refining it, getting better at it. Even children display anger in clumsy, obvious ways, but as adults, sin becomes more refined, more concealed, more dangerous.
Now, in Christ, we are no longer walking in these things. But Paul still tells us: “put them all away.” We are no longer to live in them, yet we still battle them daily.
The Christian cannot say, “I’ll fight sin everywhere except here.” No—wherever wrath appears, it must be killed.
That is why we confess our sins each week, reading God’s law, searching our hearts. Because sin still clings closely. There is always more to put to death.
Wrath in Our Present World
This week, we have seen in the world around us the fruits of wrath—anger leading to violence, even to the death of the innocent.
But my concern as your pastor is not only what happens outside these walls, but what happens among us. How do we respond?
It is easy to let anger consume us—even anger that begins as righteous indignation. But Paul warns us: don’t let wrath take root. Don’t let malice settle in your heart. Don’t use your lips to wound your neighbor. Even our enemies are to be prayed for, because Christ died for us while we were His enemies.
Therefore, we must put wrath to death. Both inward wrath and outward wrath. Both the heart that festers and the lips that destroy.
Christ calls us to follow Him in love—even to love those who hate us. This is impossible apart from His Spirit. But with His Spirit, it is what He is working in us.
3. Killing Division
Paul turns next to the issue of division in verses 9–11:
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Sin Destroys Community
Wrath and lust tend to destroy fellowship. If we covet what belongs to our brother, how can we love him? If we slander one another or let malice reign, how can we have unity? Paul shows that these sins tear apart the body of Christ.
So he calls us to put them to death and walk as one in Him.
Every time we come to the Lord’s Table, we declare that we are one body in Christ. Therefore, we must put away whatever would divide us.
The Unity We Have in Christ
Paul uses several pairs to emphasize this:
- Greek and Jew: In the Old Covenant, the Jews were the initial recipients of God’s promises. But now, in Christ, Gentiles are brought near. There is no longer division based on lineage.
- Circumcised and uncircumcised: Ritual distinctions are abolished in Christ.
- Barbarian and Scythian: These were regarded as outsiders, even the lowest of the low. Yet in Christ, even they are made one with the saints.
- Slave and free: Social status does not divide those who belong to Christ.
In other words, every earthly distinction fades before this reality: Christ is all, and in all.
The only question that matters in the church is this: Is Christ in you?
The Danger of Partial Obedience
Some churches emphasize killing lust but neglect the sins of wrath. Others emphasize gracious speech but compromise on God’s standard for sexual purity. Both approaches fail, because Paul calls us to kill both.
Unity comes not from tolerating sin, but from putting sin to death—lust, wrath, and everything that breeds division.
There are no “specialists” in the Christian life, where one believer excels at killing one sin and another excels at killing a different sin. We are all called to kill all sin, without partiality.
A Call to Look to Christ
Paul is speaking to believers. He reminds us of our duty, but also of our dependence on Christ.
If you are struggling with sin this morning, look to Christ. He is the One who was righteous when you were not. By His Spirit, He gives you power to put sin to death.
If you are puffed up and think yourself without sin, look to Christ for humility. Confess your pride. Ask Him to grant repentance.
For in Christ we are not cast off. He disciplines us as beloved children, but never forsakes us.
Therefore, look to Him. Pray for grace to kill sin daily. Seek His Spirit’s help. And as a congregation, let us pursue unity in Christ, making much of Him, so that others may see and glorify God.
Conclusion
Paul calls us here to kill lust, kill wrath, and kill division.
“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
We cannot do this in our own strength. But Christ has given us His Spirit, and by His Spirit we are able.
So let us not grow weary in doing good. Let us put sin to death, pursue love for one another, and wait with hope for the day when Christ will return and make all things new.
Closing Prayer
Father, we ask that You would help us, for in coming to this text this morning we marvel at Your providential care for us—not having known even last week what things we would have seen this week, but that in Your care for us, You brought us to this passage, to this reading of the law, and You reminded us of the way in which Christ has redeemed us from the curses of the law, the way in which Christ redeemed us while we were yet enemies. And now You are pleased to call us Your beloved children for His sake.
We ask this morning that You would help us, that we might be conformed to the image of Your Son. We ask that You would help us, that we might be salt and light in this present evil age, and that You would keep us from the sin which clings ever close to us. Cause us to greatly desire to put to death those things which do not bring You glory, those things which act against the good of our neighbor, and those things which act against the unity of the brethren.
We know that You are capable of providing all these things to us. Indeed, You have told us simply to ask—and so we do, asking that You would provide to us richly according to our need.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
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