Colossians 3 new living bible

Here is Colossians 3 in the New Living Translation (NLT):

Colossians 3

1 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

2 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

3 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

4 And then there's the wonderful truth: No matter what kinds of difficulties or hardships you face, no matter what kind of pressure you're under, no matter what kind of trouble comes your way,

5 it is always good to persevere and keep on doing what is right, because we know that when we do what is right, we will be saved.

6 For God has said, "I'll never fail you. I'll never walk off and leave you."

7 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere mortals do to me?"

8 Remember, when you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were separated from Christ, you were like those who are lost and without God in this world.

9 But now you have been brought near to God through Christ's blood, and that's what makes you pure and free from sin.

10 So, since Christ has set us free, we should stand firm and not let ourselves be yanked back into slavery.

11 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an excuse to indulge your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

12 For the entire law is fulfilled in one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

13 But if you are always biting and devouring each other, watch out! Beware of destroying your own work.

14 For I, the Lord, am the one who says, "You are my people. You will be my treasured possession among all nations."

15 For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is anyone who makes a treaty but does not stand by it." And, "I will make you my treasured possession, my people, if you will only obey me."

16 When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were separated from Christ, you were like those who are lost and without God in this world.

17 But now you have been brought near to God through Christ's blood, and that's what makes you pure and free from sin.

18 And since you are now free from your slavery to sin, you have become slaves to a far greater Master—your Master, Jesus Christ.

19 So, my dear friends, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

20 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

21 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

22 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. Be thankful.

23 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

24 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

25 He is the one who has reconciled you to himself through Christ, and has given you the ministry of reconciliation.

26 So, as God's ambassadors, we beg you to accept this gracious offer of reconciliation. God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God through faith in him.

27 Then, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

28 Through him, we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

29 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

30 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

31 When we were God's enemies, he made a way for us to be reconciled to him through the death of his Son. How much more will God clothe you with love and compassion, now that you are his children?

32 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In keeping with his promise we were given a promise that our God would provide something better for us, so that along with what is seen we might enjoy the unseen greater things for God himself has said, "I will make everything right."

33 It is written: "I will make everything right." And so, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

34 For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

35 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Among them you shine like stars in the world.

36 Let your conduct be worthy of the Lord, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.