Col 3:5
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Dead to these grievous sins.

But watch what the Word says next.

We are to do something else…

Col 3:8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

We are to put these aside…
anger
malice
slander
abusive speech from the mouth

We as believers have the power to put them aside.

Note that they are not “automatically removed”.

When we are saved, the Lord does not “magically” remove all temptation to sin.
We are tempted.
We can choose to sin or not.
A mystery? Yes.

The Lord calls us and empowers us to put these things aside.

Looks like the tongue is involved with them…?

The “abusive speech” in interesting.
We should say nothing that is abusive in any way.
No lies.
No “white lies”.
No truth spoken with the heart of malice and hatred.

Eph 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

I know…folk often speak of “just having fun”, yet, such speech is used by the enemy.

Why not just speak as the Lord directs?
Speak in love.
Speak the truth.
Speak with the total benefit of the other in mind.

Col 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.