In With The New Self (Part 2) Series

Message Outlines

Week 1: Colossians 3:1-4 Focused on What’s Above

Week 2: Colossians 3:5-11 Out With the Old Self

Week 3: Colossians 3:12-17 In With the New Self (Part 1)

Week 4: Colossians 3:12-17 In With the New Self (Part 2)

Series: Colossians

Week: Four

Passage: Colossians 3:12-17

Title: In With the New Self (Part 2)

Focus: Eternal Embracing (Virtues)

Opening Week: To Set and Seek What is Above

1. Seek: The External Action

2. Set: The Internal Action

3. Secure: Safety in Christ

Second Week: Cautions (Material Abandonment)

1. Avoid Immorality (Fornication)

2. Avoid Impurity (Uncleanness)

3. Avoid Worldly Passions (Lust/Excessive Affection)

4. Avoid Evil Desires (Illicit Cravings)

5. Avoid Greed (Covetousness)

Last Week: Four Virtues (Part 1)

1. Compassionate Hearts

2. Actions of Kindness

3. Humility

4. Meekness

Introduction: As believers we called and commanded to “clothe ourselves” or conform to the image of Christ. Paul gives the believer’s virtues, or ways of practicing Christ’s actions so that God can continue to mature us and Christ’s peace will rule our hearts. If the Word of God is going to dwell richly there must be application and action on not only knowing Christ but doing what He commands.

In our applications and actions the “new self” is put on through appropriate attributes and attitudes.

Virtue #5: Have Patience (Endure/Slow to Avenge)

• Explanation: Patience is the action of being self-discipline or practicing self-control when faced with aggravation, frustration, or being annoyed. Paul stated earlier in Colossians that “you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might” when enduring these hardship so that your attitude of joy will increase. (1:11). I have some questions when it comes to patience…

o To whom must we be patient?

• Be patient with God

• Psalm 75:2 “I will judge with equity.” (Let God judge!)

• Be patient with each other

• Ephesians 4:2 “Bearing with one another in love.” (you sin just as much as he does!)

o Why must we be patient?

• Patience is valuable (It’s worth it)

• Proverbs 25:15 “A soft tongue will break a bone.”

• Patience is better than pride

• Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Patient in Spirit is better than the proud in Spirit.”

• Patience demonstrates love

• 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love does not envy or boast.”

• Patience is evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives

• Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is…”

• Illustration: The Story of Towzer as a puppy.

• Application: We were less than patient with Towzer as a puppy. However, he bore our immature grumpiness with a massive amount of patience. He never once retaliated. There are so many times when I wish I could have our dog’s mentality. If we could have a patience that overlooks a multitude of offenses.

o Patience overlooks the offense.

o Patience bears with human frailty and failure.

o Patience shows mercy and kindness to those who exasperate us.

o Patience gives control over our souls to God and allows Him to do His work.

• Questions:

o How do you react when others aggravate you?

o Do you respond with humility, meekness, and patience or do you respond with intolerance and indignation?

Virtue #6: Bare With One Another (Forbearing [key word]/Sustain/Endure)

• Explanation: Bearing with one another (or forbearing) means that we “put up with each other” (sometimes easy, sometimes hard). The basic definition of forbearance is "refraining from the enforcement of something." In the church world we call this “grace”. Grace is an act of “undeserved favor”.

o Forbearance refers to God's patience expressed in God's willingness to hold back judgment for a time.

• Romans 2:4 “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”

• Romans 3:25 “In his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

o So what?

• Forbearance Gives Opportunities for Repentance: God's forbearance does not mean that God disregards or overlooks sin, but yet God gives His people an opportunity for repentance.

• Forbearance Gives Grace: If God is able to maintain His reputation as a just judge we also are to exercise this grace in the lives of others.

• Forbearance Advances the Kingdom: This is not only love, it is the act in which we “bear with one another” so that the kingdom of God can advance.

• Illustration: Joel Gregory tells the story of a seminary prof who taught the forbearance for forty years until he retired. One day he poured a new concrete driveway to his house. Finished, he went into his house to rest. Returning later he discovered that the neighborhood kids were putting their footprints all in the wet concrete. The angry professor chased the kids down in a rage and beat the tar out of the ones he could catch. Hearing the commotion, the professor’s wife rushed into the yard, saw the angry professor thrashing the kids, and began to reprimand him: "What a shame," she said. "For forty years you have taught love, forgiveness and forbearance. Now look at you! You’ve lost your testimony."