1 I f then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God.

If then you have been raised with Christ, aim at and seek the that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 K eep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

3 Y ou are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 C hrist is our life. When He comes again, you will also be with Him to share His shining-greatness. The Old Person Put Aside

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 D estroy the desires to sin that are in you. These desires are: sex sins, anything that is not clean, a desire for sex sins, and wanting something someone else has. This is worshiping a god.

So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).

6 I t is because of these sins that the anger of God comes down on those who do not obey Him.

It is on account of these that the anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),

7 Y ou used to do these sins when you lived that kind of life.

Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to.

8 P ut out of your life these things also: anger, bad temper, bad feelings toward others, talk that hurts people, speaking against God, and dirty talk.

But now put away and rid yourselves of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!

9 D o not lie to each other. You have put out of your life your old ways.

Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,

10 Y ou have now become a new person and are always learning more about Christ. You are being made more like Christ. He is the One Who made you.

And have clothed yourselves with the new, which is renewed and remolded into '> knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

11 T here is no difference in men in this new life. Greeks and Jews are the same. The man who has gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew and the one who has not are the same. There is no difference between nations. Men who are servants and those who are free are the same. Christ is everything. He is in all of us.

There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarians or Scythians '> who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all '> everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].

12 G od has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others.

Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), purified and holy and well-beloved tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, patience.

13 T ry to understand other people. Forgive each other. If you have something against someone, forgive him. That is the way the Lord forgave you.

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also.

14 A nd to all these things, you must add love. Love holds everything and everybody together and makes all these good things perfect.

And above all these love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness.

15 L et the peace of Christ have power over your hearts. You were chosen as a part of His body. Always be thankful.

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts to which as one body you were also called. And be thankful (appreciative),.

16 L et the teaching of Christ and His words keep on living in you. These make your lives rich and full of wisdom. Keep on teaching and helping each other. Sing the Songs of David and the church songs and the songs of heaven with hearts full of thanks to God.

Let the word Christ (the Messiah) have its home and dwell in you in richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.

17 W hatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus. How Families Should Live

And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

18 W ives, obey your husbands. This is what the Lord wants you to do.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.

19 H usbands, love your wives. Do not hold hard feelings against them.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.

20 C hildren, obey your parents in everything. The Lord is pleased when you do.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

21 F athers, do not be so hard on your children that they will give up trying to do what is right.

Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children, lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated.

22 Y ou who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Work for them as you would for the Lord because you honor God.

Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.

23 W hatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as for the Lord and not for men,

24 R emember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ.

Knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. you are actually serving the Lord Christ (the Messiah).

25 I f anyone does wrong, he will suffer for it. God does not respect one person more than another.

For he who deals wrongfully will be punished for his wrongdoing. And there is no partiality.