3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. ⁵ Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷  among whom you also once walked, when you were living  among these (people). ⁸ But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its practices, ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renovated to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— ¹¹ in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all (Col3:1-11).

Context

I have headed this post “Sons of Disobedience”, not because it is the central theme of this passage, but because it most impinges upon the broader benign providence I have been presenting. Paul’s primary teaching here is the need for the Christian to show consideration for other believers in the exercise of his freedom, and this will come into play in the argument being presented. That pertains to who exactly are the “sons of disobedience” to whom Paul refers in the context of God’s impending wrath (v6)?

Who are they?

Google the phrase and you are likely to be told that the “sons of disobedience” refers to everyone who is not a Christian. Think through the implications, a prime example being that less than 10% of people within Asian countries and territories are Christian^[1] – and that figure pertains to nominal Christians. The reality is, a relatively small proportion of those who regard themselves as Christian are likely to be “the elect of God”. As Jesus indicated in Revelation, relatively few within the churches will be found worthy to inherit the promises of Christ (cf. Rev3:4) – being those who “overcome”.

As to what is to be overcome, it is referred to in our passage – that which Paul refers to as the “old self” (v9). As he also indicates, the true disciple of Christ has died to the world (v3), no longer lives for the things of the world, but for the rewards stored in the heavens (v2). To attain to what Paul elsewhere refers to as “the prize of the high calling of God” disciples of Christ, aided by grace, must master their bodies such that they ride above the sinful passions that living in the current world incites (v10).

Unintended aspersions on God’s nature

 In terms of who makes such a broad-scale classification concerning “sons of disobedience”, it is most likely to be Evangelicals. For most (like myself in the past) earnestly believe that the souls of all who are not Christian believers are condemned to hell. The providential implications, with its aspersions concerning the incomprehensibly harsh nature of God’s character, the limited scope of His Son’s saving work and the depth of human depravity are surely as Satan, man’s Adversary would wish rather than “the Good News of God”, i.e. the gospel. Thanks be to God, the Evangelicals’ unavoidable insinuations are far from the truth, especially with respect to God’s providential intentions towards those He has made in His own image.

Sons of disobedience inhabited by Satan

 A clearer reference to what Paul means by “sons of disobedience” is to be found in Ephesians:  “And being dead by reason of  your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked in accordance with the age pertaining to this world , according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience”. (Eph2:1-2). Note, the “sons of disobedience” are inhabited by Satan. This is assuredly not the case for all non-Christians, but it is the case for some – the theologically eluded category threes, the “ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ” (1Jn3:12) of whom Cain, rather than Adam was the archetype. An earlier post refers.

Whom or what is being disobeyed?

Consider also the description: sons of disobedience. One can only be obedient or disobedient to what is known and understood. That is assuredly not a faithful rendition of the gospel of Jesus Christ on planet Earth in 2025 – not for the vast majority, even in countries such as mine (England) that are ostensibly Christian. That in turn is due to Church divisions/apostacy, but above all historical cultural formation and religious proliferation, that (be assured) will have been in accordance with God’s sovereign will and plan for humanity.

Conscience – the ultimate criterion of judgement

 In that context, consider the issue of conscience. What, for example, is a faithful Muslim supposed to do other than serve the one true God in accordance with the tradition he/she has grown up with? To do otherwise is an offence to conscience – now that IS something that is possessed and known by all, and although not infallible must be obeyed. Paul makes this clear (although seemingly few have thought through the implications) in his teaching on whether or not the Christian should eat food offered to idols (1Cor8).

In that passage, the apostle makes clear that it was ok to do so: “Now food will not bring us closer to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (v8). But this followed his proviso in v7:  “However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled”. More shockingly (for some), Paul goes on to say that as a result of that believer’s failure to respond to his conscience on the matter he is brought to utter ruin (v11).

Commentaries I have seen try to tone this down, speaking of a Christian losing a sense of peace or suchlike. Not so, ruin (or alternatively a state of lostness) are  the most apt translations of ἀπόλλυμι^G622 . You can examine for yourself how that word is utilized in the rest of the New Testament HERE, particularly noticing that the unsaved are described as being on the broad road that leads to ἀπόλλυμι (Mt7:13). As I have explained elsewhere, that is not referring to damnation but a state of lostness in terms of one’s current relationship with God – the point being that such a person cannot be said to be “saved” in the gospel sense.

Yet what had this believer done wrong in Paul’s example? He had eaten meat that he was permitted to eat, or more likely today, he had drunk alcohol that he was at liberty to drink. Yet he was brought to a state of ruin. Why? – because he had defied his (albeit misinformed) conscience and thereby defiled it. Note, even biblical truth and his trust in Christ were not the criteria of judgement (he was fine on both scores), it was his wounded conscience that led to his downfall. And that pertains to what conscience is and to Whom it relates (cf. Jn 1:9 strictly KJV) – a further post may enlighten.

Conscience – God’s universal revelation to humanity

 The point we might all agree about the human’s conscience is that it is innate and universal. As Paul closes our featured Col3 passage, Christ is all and in all – and that is the light of Christ in the conscience. On the other hand, to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as wholesale Saviour is not ours to obtain. What? Did you not know that no one can come to Christ except the Father draw him (Jn6:44)? Paul says as much in his frequent references to predestination/election/calling; likewise Peter, John and Luke (in Acts). Yet once the true nature of what the New Testament refers to as “salvation” has been grasped, everything will be seen to be right and thoroughly equitable.

Conclusion

So in terms of the “sons of disobedience”, it is those who wilfully and continually defy what they know to be right and true – some to the point that their conscience ceases to function altogether (cf. 1Tim4:2). Their related trait being that they are devoid of compassion (Mt25 “goats”) and truth (Jn8:44). And no wonder, for they, like Cain have become the children of the devil, as Jesus describes certain Pharisees in that verse . The resultant three soteriological categories and the far more benevolent providential outcomes that derive from them are corroborated from scripture as a whole in The Little Book of Providence.

NOTE

[1] Approximated from Wikipedia table: –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Asia