Colossians 3:10-1610and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
This is not a guilt trip by Paul trying to get the Colossians and us to just try harder and not sin. Putting off the old self and putting on the new self is down to being “renewed in knowledge after the image of it’s (our) creator”. It’s Jesus making us more like Him through us knowing more of Him (see part 1). It’s not about desperately trying to not lie so that Jesus will be impressed with us. Instead, it’s recognising our dependence on Him and that he walks with us, helping us to live a life not dominated by lying.
We need to take these lists of what to "put off" and what to "put on" seriously, and allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us through them. But we shouldn't turn them into legalism or religion, thinking “I’ve got to do this to be accepted by Jesus”. You are already accepted and forgiven. Paul explains it in v12, describing them/us as "God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved”. So as we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, we should ... This is a lot different from "to be God’s chosen ones, you need to do ...". We are loved by God. We’re not trying to do these things so that God will love us, we’re doing them because He loves us.