1 You have been raised up with Christ. So think about things that are in heaven. That is where Christ is. He is sitting at God's right hand.
2 Think about things that are in heaven. Don't think about things that are on earth.
3 You died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 Christ is your life. When he appears again, you also will appear with him in heaven's glory.
5 So put to death anything that belongs to your earthly nature. Get rid of your sexual sins and unclean acts. Don't let your feelings get out of control. Remove from your life all evil longings. Stop always wanting more and more. You might as well be worshiping statues of gods.
6 God's anger is going to come because of those things.
7 That's the way you lived at one time in your life.
8 But now here are the kinds of things you must get rid of. You must put away anger, rage, hate and lies. Let no dirty words come out of your mouths.
9 Don't lie to each other. You have gotten rid of your old way of life and its habits.
10 You have started living a new life. It is being made new so that what you know has the Creator's likeness.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew. There is no difference between those who are circumcised and those who are not. There is no rude outsider, or even a Scythian. There is no slave or free person. But Christ is everything. And he is in everything.
12 You are God's chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don't be proud. Be gentle and patient.
13 Put up with each other. Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all of those good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
15 Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful.
16 Let Christ's word live in you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with thanks in your hearts to God.
17 Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ.
18 Wives, follow the lead of your husbands. That's what the Lord wants you to do.
19 Husbands, love your wives. Don't be mean to them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything. That pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don't make your children bitter. If you do, they will lose hope.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Don't do it just to please them when they are watching you. Obey them with an honest heart. Do it out of respect for the Lord.
23 Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.
24 Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have. You are serving the Lord Christ.