Lesson 20: Sanctification
Since you have been raised, set your hearts on things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father. Set your minds on spiritual things, not on earthly things, for you have died and your life is now hidden in Christ with God. We will one day share in his glory by virtue of our union with him. So then, put to death whatever pertains to your earthly nature. Put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust and covetousness, shameful desires, greed, and idolatry, for the wrath of God is coming upon such things as this. You used to walk in these paths in the life you once lived but now put aside these things; put aside also anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and don’t lie to one another. Put away the old self with its practices and put on the new self, growing in knowledge in the image of the Creator.
As Christians we have special standing before God, but this doesn’t dull our human responsibility; we must strive all the more to live lives in the image of Christ; we need to put into daily practice what we already are in our status before God. So then, clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness, humility, sensitivity and patience, forgiving one another as you have been forgiven and binding it together with love. Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts and let his word dwell richly within you, so that you might admonish one another with spiritual understanding and wisdom. Whatever you say and whatever you do, say it and do it in the name of Christ, giving thanks to God. Wives obey your husbands; husbands don’t be harsh with your wives, children obey your parents, and parents don’t provoke your children. Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as though working for the Lord, and he will give you an inheritance as your reward. Let your speech be filled with wisdom and grace so that you will be prepared to give an answer to anyone at any time.