UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Thursday, May 29, 2025

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Put It to Death: A Devotional on Colossians 3:5

Killing Sin Before It Kills You

In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul urges Christians to set their minds on things above, not on the things of the earth. This exhortation is not poetic sentiment, but a directive rooted in doctrine. The believer, having died to sin and been raised with Christ through baptism (Colossians 2:12), is to now live a life that reflects that reality. It is not merely about avoiding obvious sins, but about taking radical action against the sinful nature. This is the context in which Paul writes:

“Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion, hurtful desire, and greediness, which is idolatry.” — Colossians 3:5

This verse presents one of the most direct commands in the New Testament about sanctification: to put to death the sins that arise from the flesh. Paul identifies five specific categories that were especially relevant in the Greco-Roman world—and remain equally destructive today. He calls the believer not to manage sin, not to restrain it, but to slay it.

“Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth…”

The opening command uses the Greek verb νεκρώσατε (nekrōsate), meaning put to death, deprive of power, or render inactive. This is not passive. It is deliberate, active, and forceful. The believer must not negotiate with sin. He must treat it as a deadly enemy.

The “body members that are on the earth” refer not to physical limbs as the root of evil, but to the human faculties through which sin expresses itself—the body as an instrument of either righteousness or unrighteousness (cf. Romans 6:13). These “members” become instruments of sin when governed by the fallen nature, which Paul commands believers to execute.

This is not asceticism or bodily abuse. Paul does not call for physical mutilation (Colossians 2:23), but moral purification. The body is good in itself, created by God, but must be brought under submission through the Spirit (Romans 8:13). The believer must “deaden” sinful impulses, refusing to let them reign.

“…as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion, hurtful desire, and greediness…”

Paul then lists five sinful categories, progressing from outward acts to inward corruption. These are not merely external behaviors—they represent desires and patterns that must be put to death within the heart.

Sexual immorality (πορνεία, porneia)
This term refers to all unlawful sexual conduct—whether fornication, adultery, prostitution, or any violation of God’s standard. It is broad and inclusive, covering every sexual act outside of marriage between one man and one woman. In a culture of sexual permissiveness, Paul draws a clear line: put it to death.
Uncleanness (ἀκαθαρσία, akatharsia)
This refers to moral impurity, often associated with impure thoughts, fantasies, or degrading behavior. It includes the defilement that taints one’s heart and mind, whether visible or not. Even if unexpressed, uncleanness is sin before God.
Uncontrolled sexual passion (πάθος, pathos)
This word describes burning emotion—not merely desire, but passion that overwhelms reason and godliness. Paul is not condemning natural affection, but distorted, unrestrained lust that drives people to sin against their own bodies and others.
Hurtful desire (ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, epithymian kakēn)
The term epithymia means intense longing, and when modified by kakēn (evil), it refers to wicked cravings, not only sexual but all corrupt desires—envy, jealousy, obsession. These desires come from within and defile a person (Mark 7:21–23).
Greediness (πλεονεξία, pleonexia)
This is covetousness, a grasping, self-centered appetite for more—whether wealth, power, pleasure, or recognition. It never satisfies and always demands more. Greed places the self at the center, dethroning God.

Paul climaxes the list with greed because it reveals the heart of all sin: idolatry.

“…which is idolatry.”

Here Paul makes an explicit identification: greediness is idolatry. Not metaphorically, but actually. Idolatry is not limited to bowing before statues. It is placing anything in the position of supremacy that belongs only to Jehovah. When one lives for pleasure, money, approval, or any earthly thing, that thing becomes a false god—even if unacknowledged.

This diagnosis strikes at the core. Sin is not a behavior problem; it is a worship problem. When the human heart covets what God forbids, it is no longer loyal. It is giving devotion to another master (Matthew 6:24). Paul’s use of the phrase “which is idolatry” reminds believers that these sins are not trivial—they are spiritual treason.

The Foundation: Identity in Christ

Colossians 3:5 does not stand alone. It flows from verses 1–4, where Paul affirms the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
“For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Christ in God.” — Colossians 3:3

Because the believer has died with Christ (Colossians 2:20), he must also put to death sin. This is not optional. The spiritual reality must be translated into ethical behavior. Just as Christ was raised to glory, the believer must rise to holiness.

Thus, verse 5 is both a command and a consequence. The command: slay sin. The consequence: because you are no longer of this world, do not live as though you were. What once dominated you no longer has dominion—if you walk by the Spirit and in truth.

Practical Application: How to Deaden Sin

Paul’s instruction is clear: put these things to death. But how?

Recognize sin’s true nature
Sin is not weakness; it is evil, deadly, and God-hating. It must be treated as such. Until a believer sees sin for what it is, he will not make war against it.
Starve the flesh
Do not feed sinful desires through entertainment, environment, or unguarded habits. What you plant grows. What you allow in your thoughts will soon live in your actions (James 1:14–15).
Strengthen the inner man
Fill your mind with Scripture. Dwell on what is holy (Philippians 4:8). Pray constantly. Surround yourself with fellow believers who walk in the light (Hebrews 10:24–25).
Be radical
Jesus taught, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (Matthew 5:30). He was not calling for mutilation, but for decisive action. Remove the cause. Burn the bridge. Deny access. Do whatever is needed to kill sin before it kills you.
Remember who you are
You are dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). You are hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3). You were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You are not your own—therefore, glorify God in your body.

Conclusion: Kill What God Has Condemned

Colossians 3:5 is a battle cry for holiness. It does not coddle the believer. It calls for action: deaden sin. Not negotiate, not minimize, not delay—kill it. Every believer must walk this road. Salvation is not the end of conflict but the beginning of sanctification.

The world feeds the flesh. But the Spirit leads us to crucify it (Galatians 5:24). Paul does not suggest this. He commands it. And in doing so, he calls every believer to follow Christ not only in belief—but in behavior, purity, and obedience.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).