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 ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

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

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

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

For ye died, and your life is hid 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, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested 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.

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

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

for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

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

wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;

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 do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:

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

lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

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 put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

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.

where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

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.

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

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.

forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

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 things put on love, which is 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 of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.

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 of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

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 whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

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

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

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

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in 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, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

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 all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

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

whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto 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 from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.

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

For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.