Chapters 1-2 cover doctrine, who Christ is, and who we are because of who Christ is and what He did when He died on the cross for our sin, and now that He is alive, when we die to self by confessing our sin, and asking Him to forgive us, believers in Jesus are dead to sin and now alive with Christ in God. Since this transformation has happened, Christians are to do two things. The first is we take off all the stuff that belongs to our earthly nature like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. The second is we are to put on things like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness with love being the virtue that ties it all together. Verse 17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Then Paul speaks about how various relationship are to work in Christ. Wives are to submit to their husbands, which is a placing oneself under the authority of another so it is arranged in an orderly fashion. Husbands are to love their wives and not be harsh with them. Children are to obey both their parents. Fathers are not to exasperate their children so they will not be bitter. Slaves are to obey their masters, and Masters are to be fair and right to their slaves, because we all have a Master in heaven, our Lord Jesus, to whom we all will give an account.
