Colossians 3:7
“You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;”
What does Colossians 3:7 mean?
Paul is reminding the Colossians that they weren't always living as followers of Jesus, and that's okay. Before they knew Christ, they were deeply embedded in the destructive patterns he'd just listed (anger, malice, sexual immorality, and other things that damage both ourselves and others). He's not shaming them for their past, but rather helping them see how far they've come and why they need to keep moving forward. This matters because it acknowledges that none of us started out knowing better. We all have a past we're not proud of, and that doesn't disqualify us from transformation. By naming what they "once walked in," Paul is saying: you used to be trapped in those patterns, but you're not anymore, so don't go back. It's both compassionate and clarifying, helping people understand that change is possible because it's already happening in their lives.