Put to Death, Therefore, the Members of Your Earthly Nature

Colossians 3:5

Nov 13, 2026

(Photo by Sergi Ferrete on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the members of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

The term “put to death” is a decisive, commanding phrase. It means to put something to death or deprive it of power. It means to make a decisive break with sin and stop practicing these things. It does not mean to manage or moderate them, but to put them away completely.

Our flesh, or sinful nature, is inclined toward these sinful habits, desires, and practices associated with our old life.

Let’s go through each one.

“Sexual immorality” means sexual activity outside God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman. It includes premarital sex, adultery, homosexual sexual behavior, and pornography. It also includes cultivating lustful desires in our thoughts and hearts.

“Impurity” refers to moral uncleanness. This includes sinful thoughts, desires, and imaginations that are contrary to God’s holiness.

“Lust” refers to disordered or uncontrolled desires that lead us away from God’s will. It is an inward craving that seeks to satisfy our own passions rather than honor God.

“Evil desires” are sinful longings for things that God has prohibited. When we continue to entertain and pursue these desires, we allow them to draw us away from obedience to God.

“Greed, which is idolatry” means having an insatiable appetite for possessions, pleasure, or power. Greed is idolatry because it gives something other than God the place He deserves in our lives. It is making possessions or personal desires more important than God and allowing them to become the focus of our hearts.

We do not put these things to death in order to receive salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When you put your faith in Christ, you are born again, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. He empowers you to put sinful desires to death and live in obedience to God.

God knows how powerful our sinful desires can be and how easily they can lead us into sin. That is why this command is so strong. Do not make peace with sin or allow it to dominate your life. Put these sinful desires to death by the power of the Holy Spirit and pursue a life that honors God. ~ Jeff M Newman

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