(a) Outline the features of the New Life in Christ as stated by Paul in Colossians. (b) Identify three practices which can have a negative effect in any Chr...

(a) Features of the New Life in Christ (Colossians 3)

Paul teaches that those who have been raised with Christ must live a transformed life:

• Seek things that are above. Believers should set their minds on heavenly things, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, not on earthly things.
• Put to death the earthly nature. They must renounce fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• Put away vices of speech and conduct. They should get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander and foul talk, and not lie to one another, having put off the old self with its practices.
• Put on the new self. They are renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, but Christ is all in all.
• Clothe themselves with Christian virtues. They should put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, patience, forbearance and forgiveness, as the Lord has forgiven them.
• Above all, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, and let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.
• Let the word of Christ dwell in them richly, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving.

(b) Three practices with a negative effect on a Christian community

1. Immorality and impurity such as fornication and indecent living, which defile the fellowship.
2. Slander, lying and malicious gossip, which destroy trust and breed division.
3. Anger, quarrelling and unforgiveness, which disrupt peace and harmony among believers.