(a) Outline the features of the New Life in Christ as stated by Paul in Colossians. (b) State three practices which can have negative effect on Christian Co...

(a) Features of the New Life in Christ as stated by Paul in Colossians (Colossians 3:1-17)

Paul taught that those raised with Christ have entered a new life, whose features are:

• They should seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and set their minds on things above, not on things on earth, for they have died and their life is hidden with Christ in God.
• They must put to death what is earthly in them: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry, for on account of these the wrath of God comes.
• They must put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, foul talk and lying, having put off the old nature with its practices.
• They have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
• As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, they must put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience.
• They should forbear one another and forgive each other, as the Lord forgave them.
• Above all they must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• The peace of Christ should rule in their hearts, and they should be thankful.
• The word of Christ should dwell in them richly, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
• Whatever they do in word or deed, they should do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(b) Three practices which can have a negative effect on the Christian community

• Immorality and sexual impurity such as fornication and adultery.
• Anger, malice, slander, backbiting and quarrelling among members.
• Covetousness, greed, dishonesty and lying.