Colossians 3:6

For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Colossians 3:6 (KJV)

Context

Paul wrote to the Colossian believers to encourage them in their new life in Christ. In this chapter, he urges them to set their minds on heavenly things and to put off the practices of the old nature. Verse 6 follows a list of sins in verse 5—fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness—and declares the consequence for those who live in such ways.

Meaning

The phrase “which things” points directly back to those sins. God’s wrath is not a capricious outburst but His righteous, just response to persistent rebellion. The “children of disobedience” are those who willfully continue in sin and reject the gospel of Christ. For them, God’s wrath is both a present reality and a future certainty.

Biblical connections

This warning echoes the broader biblical teaching that God is holy and cannot overlook sin. The only deliverance from this wrath is through Jesus Christ, who bore God’s judgment on the cross for all who repent and believe.

Application

For believers, this verse is a sober reminder of sin’s seriousness. We are called to put to death the deeds of the flesh and to walk in holiness by the Spirit. It also moves us to share the gospel, knowing that Christ offers forgiveness and salvation to all who turn to Him.

• God’s grace and salvation: While the verse highlights wrath, God’s ultimate desire is reconciliation. Through Jesus, believers are saved from wrath and called to proclaim this redemption to others.

Reflection

Colossians 3:6 invites us to examine our own lives. Have we truly turned from the sins that provoke God’s judgment? It also fills us with gratitude, for in Christ we have been rescued from the wrath we deserved.