Greek: di' a erchetai (3SPMI) e orge tou theou [epi tous huious tes apeitheias];

Amplified: It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will), (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Barclay: and because of these things the wrath of God comes upon those who are disobedient.
Lightfoot: Do not deceive yourselves. For all these things God’s wrath will surely come.
NLT: God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: It is because of these very things that the holy anger of God falls upon those who refuse to obey him. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: because of which things there comes the wrath of God (Erdmans) 
Young's Literal: because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,

FOR IT IS ON ACCOUNT OF THESE THINGS: dia:

What things? The sins Paul has just mentioned.

Guzik adds that

The sins mentioned previously are part of the way the world lives, not the way Jesus lives. Every Christian is faced with a question: "Who will identify with, the world or Jesus?

Mt Henry adds that it is necessary to

mortify sins because, if we do not kill them, they will kill us.

Paul will now explain why we should mortify our members. “The wrath of God” is coming and will come on sin. Don't be deceived thinking you can live habitually in one of these sins and "get away with it" (see the end of the story Revelation 21:8 [see note]).

Remember that in Genesis 6-8 God destroyed the antediluvian world with a flood because the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). And then in Genesis 18-19 God rained fire and brimstone from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their unbridled lusts and insatiable passions.

In the New Testament, God's warning of coming wrath is for all those who continually practice sins like...

envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice (present tense = as their lifestyle) such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (See notes Galatians 5:21) (Comment: What they will "inherit" is God's just, holy wrath!)

Lightfoot adds that

The false doctrine of the Gnostics had failed to check sensual indulgence (see note Colossians 2:23). The true doctrine of the apostle has power to kill the whole carnal man. The substitution of a comprehensive principle for special precepts—of the heavenly life in Christ for a code of minute ordinances—at length attains the end after which the Gnostic teachers have striven, and striven in vain.

John Gill writes that...

 There have been already instances of God's displeasure at sin, his indignation against it, and his judgments on account of it: Hs wrath is revealed from heaven, and it will come down from thence on disobedient and rebellious sinners, and that suddenly, and with great power, like a mighty torrent, that there will be no standing before it. This is a reason why such who have life in Christ should mortify, repress, and abstain from the above sins; for though this regards sinners, and ungodly persons, yet the effects of God's wrath on such show how much such sins are displeasing to him, and detested by him, and therefore to be avoided by the saints.

THAT THE WRATH OF GOD WILL COME: erchetai (3SPMI) hê orgê tou theou: (Mt 3:7, Ro 1:18; Ep 5:6; Jn 3:36, Ro 2:2,5, 8,5:9,12:19,Ep 2:3, 1Th 1:10,5:9, 2Th 1:7-9, Rev 11:18, 14:10, 16:19,19:15 20:15, Anger of God) (Eph 2:2; Isa 57:4;1Pet 1:14; 2Pet 2:14; Ro 11:30;32 Heb 4:6, 11)  (See Torrey's Topic "Anger of God")

The wrath of God is one of the "attributes" of God which although less popular to discuss is just as valid and sure as His love, faithfulness, etc. (see discussion of His Wrath).

In his introduction to the epistle to the Romans, Paul writes that ...

The wrath of God is (present tense, passive voice = literally "is continually being) revealed  from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (see note Romans 1:18)

Wrath (3709) (orge) (Click in depth study of orge) is derived from the idea of something which teems or swells until it becomes so swollen that it bursts forth which gives a perfect picture of God's holy "orge" which is His settled indignation and controlled passionate feeling against sin. Orge applies not to a petulant outburst like humans are so prone to but to an anger that proceeds from God's settled nature. Men make themselves the object of God's Orge when they sin and become a part of the destructiveness of evil. The concept of wrath includes God’s present displeasure with evil as well as the ultimate confinement and defeat of all evil in eternal hell (Mt 8:12).

Wrath is as much a part of the character of God as is love. A God who does not exercise wrath against injustice is an immoral God. A universe in which evil exists unchallenged and ultimately unvanquished is inconceivable and could not be ruled by a good God of holy love. Essential to a good God of love is His wrath against evil.

John Gill makes an excellent point regarding God's wrath writing that the reality of His wrath

is a reason why such who have life in Christ should mortify, repress, and abstain from the above sins; for though this regards sinners, and ungodly persons, yet the effects of God's wrath on such show how much such sins are displeasing to him, and detested by him, and therefore to be avoided by the saints.

NKJV and KJV add sons of disobedience but this phrase is not present in the most modern Greek texts. He uses this phrase in Ephesians where it is present in the more modern Greek texts...

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (see notes Ephesians 2:1; 2:2)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (see note Ephesians 5:6)

Will come denotes the certainty of this future event,  and his use of the present tense (instead of the future tense as one might expect) literally means " it is coming" or it is already on its way, so to speak thus picturing the wrath as already on its way.

Marvin Vincent agrees writing that

The present tense denotes the certainty of the future event, as (the verb "coming") in (Mt 17:11; Jn 4:21)

This wrath will come not only upon flagrant unbelievers, but also those in the Colossian congregation who professed to believe in Christ but who in truth were unbelievers as revealed by their evil actions. In other words, their conduct never matched their creed. Paul wrote this epistle to dissuade some who might delude themselves with alleged visions of glory through mystic encounters or self effort of any type.

Why mention the coming wrath at this point? Would not this reminder of the certainty of God's wrath motivate his hearers to obey the command to mortify their members? On one side, the certainty of God's wrath on these sins should cause one who is "unable" to stop these practices to consider "Who" they really belong to (1Co 6:19,20, see note Titus 2:14)? Are they children of the living God or the lying devil (1Jn 3:8, 3:9)? If they continue in these sins with no power whatsoever to cast them off, then they are surely destined for the Lake of fire (see note Revelation 21:8). On the other hand for the genuine believer who occasionally "slips into" one of these sins, a recollection and pondering on what it is that God's rich mercy and great grace has saved him from should motivate a heart attitude of gratitude that seeks to work out his salvation in fear and trembling (see notes Philippians 2:12; 13) and walk in a manner worthy of and pleasing to the Lord (cp Heb 12:28,29).

Wrath is coming upon those who arrogantly willfully refuse the only remedy for overcoming the power of sin: Christ's atoning sacrifice. Jesus Who was the Sacrifice, warned that...
 

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36).

As John explained...
 

He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:12)

The wrath or orge of God is a necessary result of the holiness and the love of God Who hates that which corrupts and destroys His creatures. Rather than evolving away from the wrath of God, the unbelieving world is rapidly devolving toward its consummation. God's word predicts scoffers and mockers in the last days (see note 2 Peter 3:3), so was not surprised by the bumper sticker I saw recently that said "When the Rapture occurs can I have your car?" Judgment will come on this world because it is made up of people who do not seek God, but instead seek to gratify the desires of their fallen, evil flesh. As Jesus declared...
 

And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  (John 3:19, 20)

The wrath of God is simply the rule of the universe that a man will sow what he reaps (Gal 6:6,7) and that no one ever escapes the consequences of his sin for as Moses wrote "be sure your sin will find you out" (Nu 32:23).

God’s wrath is
 

His eternal detestation of all unrighteousness. It is the displeasure and indignation of Divine equity against evil. It is the holiness of God stirred into activity against sin” (Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God, p83).

Wrath is God’s constant, invariable reaction to sin.

Although as believers we have been delivered “from the wrath to come” (see note 1Thessalonians 1:10), "for God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (see note 1Thessalonians 5:9), Paul is not warning us that if we sin we will feel the furious wrath of God. Rather he is saying that those who are no longer their own but now belong to Christ and are in covenant union with Him and are motivated by their love for Him should certainly not wish to participate in the kinds of behavior characteristic of those who hate Him and will feel His eternal wrath. Simply put, the children of God should not want to act like the children of wrath. (see note Ephesians 2:3)

John MacArthur gives us a sobering reminder that

Amplified: Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Barclay: It was amongst these things that you once spent your lives, when you lived among them;
Lightfoot: In these sins you, like other Gentiles, indulged in times past, when your life was spent among them.
NLT:  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: And never forget that you had your part in those dreadful things when you lived that old life. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: in the sphere of which things also you ordered your behavior at one time when you lived in them. (Erdmans) 
Young's Literal: in which also ye—ye did walk once, when ye lived in them

AND IN THEM YOU ALSO ONCE WALKED: en ois kai humeis periepatesate (2PAAI) pote: (Col 2:13; Ro 6:19,20; 7:5; 1 Co 6:11; Eph 2:2; Titus 3:3; 1Pe 4:3,4)

When were we in them? In them describes our position as non-believers, when we were in Adam (1Cor 15:22). All their prior thoughts, words, and deeds were ensphered in an atmosphere of sin when they were in Adam. Not one of their acts ever got outside the circle of sin -- their previous manner of walking is a description of what is often termed total depravity.  Now they are have redeemed and regenerated and are in Christ, a new position which calls for a new practice. Conduct should always be commensurate with creed.

Walked (4043) (peripateo from peri =around + pateo = walk) (Click here for an in depth word study of peripateo) so literally to walk around and metaphorically referring to one's course of life or their conduct in their previous unregenerate Adamic state.

The aorist tense expresses a past completed action and sums up their whole disobedient lifestyle in the past. In other words, Paul gives a panoramic view and looks at the entire life while unsaved as nothing but sin. Contrast this picture with how born again ones are to walk now (Gal 5:25 Ro 6:12-14,19) Now all of what transpired in Colossians 2 regarding our circumcision removing our body of flesh and our burial and resurrection with Christ begins to become very practical.

In the figurative sense, peripateo refers to one's habitual way or direction of life, and so to their life-style. For example, in a good sense, Luke describes Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, as being

Harry Ironside wrote that

"The old man is more than the old nature. It is the man I used to be before I knew Christ as Savior and Lord. In other words, the old man is all that I once was as an unsaved person. I am through with that man; he has disappeared in the cross of Christ. But if I make this profession of faith, let me be sure that I do not walk in the old man’s ways. Sometimes those who make the loudest professions of the truth of the new creation are the poorest performers of the truth; they give the lie to what they say by what they do. We could borrow the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson and say to them, “What you are thunders so that I cannot hear what you say.”

WHEN YOU WERE LIVING IN THEM: hote ezete (2PIAI) en toutois:

Spurgeon comments that...

This was true of the Colossians, and it was true of almost all those to whom Paul wrote, for these gross evils were scarcely regarded as sins in his time, so polluted had the nations become. I hope that, in the case of many now living, they have been preserved by Christian training from having walked even for a time in such sins.

But now you do not live in them. You are dead to them. If it should ever come to pass that you fall into any of these things, you will loathe yourself with bitterest repentance that you could find comfort, satisfaction, life in them. You are dead to them.

Living (zao) (Click for for in depth study of related noun zoe)

The fact that we formerly lived in sin is a good argument why we should now forsake it. We have walked in by-paths, therefore now let us choose to walk on the highway of holiness. Peter also exhorts his reader's to make a clean break with their past lifestyle writing

"As obedient children (adopted by God into His family by grace and proven by one's obedience to be in His family), do not be conformed to (modeled or shaped into an outward expression which does not come from one's inner being as a child of God and is not representative of it) the former lusts (passionate desires that governed you and) which were yours in your ignorance (when you did not know the requirements of the gospel or have the power to obey them), but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (see note 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

We at least had an excuse of sorts prior to being made children of God, but now such sins are quite presumptuous so stop doing them now. We all need an attitude like Job who said

"Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more." (Job 34:32 Net Bible).

The transforming power of the gospel of Christ shines through Paul’s words this verse . The Colossians had walked in the pagan vices, had even lived in them, but now they were new creations in Christ and

"if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2Cor 5:17)

Spurgeon commenting on Romans 6:6 (see exposition) where Paul teaches "that henceforth we should not serve sin" asks,

"Christian, what hast thou to do with sin?
Hath it not cost thee enough already?

Burnt child, wilt thou play with the fire? What! when thou hast already been between the jaws of the lion, wilt thou step a second time into his den? Hast thou not had enough of the old serpent? Did he not poison all thy veins once, and wilt thou play upon the hole of the asp, and put thy hand upon the cockatrice’s den a second time? Oh, be not so mad! so foolish! Did sin ever yield thee real pleasure? Didst thou find solid satisfaction in it? If so, go back to thine old drudgery, and wear the chain again, if it delight thee. But inasmuch as sin did never give thee what it promised to bestow, but deluded thee with lies, be not a second time snared by the old fowler—be free, and let the remembrance of thy ancient bondage forbid thee to enter the net again! It is contrary to the designs of eternal love, which all have an eye to thy purity and holiness; therefore run not counter to the purposes of thy Lord. Another thought should restrain thee from sin.

Christians can never sin cheaply.
They pay a heavy price for iniquity.

Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul; therefore be not the serf and bondman of sin. There is yet a higher argument: each time you "serve sin" you have "Crucified the Lord afresh, and put Him to an open shame." Can you bear that thought? Oh! if you have fallen into any special sin during this day, it may be my Master has sent this admonition this evening, to bring you back before you have backslidden very far. Turn thee to Jesus anew; He has not forgotten His love to thee; His grace is still the same. With weeping and repentance, come thou to His footstool, and thou shalt be once more received into His heart; thou shalt be set upon a rock again, and thy goings shall be established." (Evening by Evening)

Why would anyone who has been made rich return to the slums to live in poverty? How can a new creature act like an old one (cf. 2Co 5:17)?