Your Spiritual Makeover
1Now that you’ve been raised from spiritual death to live with Christ, start looking for what heaven has to offer. That’s where you’ll find Christ, sitting at God’s right hand, in the seat of highest honor. 2Let your mind spend time thinking about your spiritual life. Don’t waste your time overthinking your life here on earth. 3The old you, born for this world, is dead and gone. The new you, born again, is safely hidden, protected by Christ. [1]4Christ, the source of your spiritual life, is coming back. When he does, you get to stand with him in the spotlight of his glory. 5So go ahead and bury the dead part of you that wants to hang on to this world, with its sex sins, dirty behavior, lust, and the feelings you know are wrong. Let’s not forget greed; it’s as bad as worshiping other gods. 6God is going to come down hard on disobedient people who commit these sins. 7The old you belonged to that sinful world, and you lived like it.
The New You
8But now, the new you needs to get rid of all that nastiness: anger, temper tantrums, spite, insults, and spitting dirty talk out of your mouth. 9And come on, stop lying to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the old you who behaved like a stinker. 10You’re wearing a new you now. And you know what, you’re looking more and more like the Creator. I can see the family resemblance. 11In this new life of ours here on earth, it doesn’t matter if we’re Jew or Greek, circumcised or not, slave or free, barbaric foreigner or Scythian savage. [2] This new life isn’t about who we are. It’s about who Christ is. This is the same Christ who lives in every one of us. 12You are God’s handpicked people. He dearly loves you. And I know that you are absolutely devoted to him. So show it in the way you dress. Clothe yourselves with these virtues: tenderhearted compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.13Cut each other some slack. If you get into an argument, forgive each other. Remember, the Lord forgave you. 14Drape all of those virtues with love. It’s the glue that holds everything else together, perfectly.
15Now let the peace of Christ run your heart. That’s what you’re called to do as part of this body, the church. Be glad about that. 16Keep the stories and teachings of Jesus alive in your life—vibrantly alive. Draw from them wisely as you teach each other and as you correct each other when necessary. You’ll also find help by singing psalms, hymns, and other spiritual songs. Sing them all with gratitude in your heart for what God has done. 17Whatever you say when you open your mouth and whatever you do wherever you go, do it all as a representative of the Lord Jesus. Thank God through Jesus for this privilege.
Family Counseling
18Wives, follow your husband’s lead. It’s the right thing for the Lord’s people to do.19Husbands, love your wives. Don’t give bitterness a chance to grow and drive you apart.
20Children, always obey your parents. This makes the Lord happy.
21Fathers, don’t antagonize your kids. That can spiral them down into a depression.
22Slaves, do what your earthly masters tell you to do. Don’t put on a fake show, trying to impress them like you’re some kind of a people pleaser. Instead, do the work sincerely out of respect for the Lord.
23Whatever you do, put your whole heart into it. Think of yourself as working for the Lord, not for any human being. 24He’s going to pay you for that. He has an inheritance waiting for you. You work for Christ the Lord. 25People who make the wrong choices in life are going to get paid, too. They’re going to get what’s coming to them. It doesn’t matter who they are, there’s no favoritism when it comes to the payback.
