How You Get Dressed Affects Your Whole Day!
Colossians 3:8-14
A husband and his wife woke up one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church. It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn’t moved a finger toward getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, “Why aren’t you getting dressed for church?” He said, “Cause I don’t want to go.” She asked, “Do you have any reasons?” He said, “Yes, I have three good reasons. First the congregation is cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don’t want to go.” The wife replied, wisely, “Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And third, you’re the pastor! So get dressed!”
I don’t know about you but getting dressed is one of my least favorite things to do in the morning!!! I like my lounge around time!!!
Starting the process of getting dressed means you have surrendered the idea of staying home!!!
Some of you get right up and get dressed…and then there are those like me who wait til the last minute.
But, this morning we’re not talking about getting our body dressed…we’re talking about our spiritual clothing…
And how we dress ourselves spiritually can mean the difference between a live lived in victory…and a life lived in wanting!!!
Colossians 3:8 - 15 (NKJV) 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Did you notice something strange in this scripture???
As we get spiritually ready for each day, there are first of all some things that have to be taken off!!!
1. In fact, there are six sins that are to be stripped off. Note: all six have to do with either deep-seated emotions or else the tongue—reactions and feelings against another person.
a. There is the sin of anger (orgen): the believer is to strip away the garment of anger. Men do become angry: note that Scripture recognizes this. There are times when anger is called for, but we are to guard against sinning when we become angry.
Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV) 26“Be angry, and do not sin”:£ do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
b. There is the sin of wrath (thumon): (see note, pt.10—•Galatians 5:19-21 for discussion).
Wrath (thumoi PWS: 4460): bursts of anger; indignation; a violent, explosive temper; quick-tempered explosive reactions that arise from stirred and boiling emotions. But it is anger which fades away just as quickly as it arose. It is not anger that lasts.
c. There is the sin of malice (kakian): deep-seated feelings against a person, hatred that lasts on an on, intense and long-lasting bitterness against a person.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephes. 4:31).
Folks there is absolutely nothing good that comes out of harboring ill will toward anyone, much less a brother or sister in christ.
As a matter of fact, it is impossible for you to experience a life of joy if you are guilty of harboring a grudge…God’s word says…let it go…
d. There is the sin of blasphemy (blasphemia): speech that slanders, insults, hurts, injures, and shows contempt. It is railing at someone.
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming" (Acts 13:45).
e. There is the sin of filthy communication (aischrologian PWS: 1496) (see note, pt.1—•Ephes. 5:4 for discussion).
f. There is the sin of lying (pseudesthe PWS: 2337): (see note—•Ephes. 4:25 for discussion).
2. There are three strong reasons as to why we are to strip off the sins of the emotions and tongue.
a. We have put off the old man (see Deeper Study #1, Old Man—Ephes. 4:22 for discussion).
Old Man: the "old man" refers to what a man is before he accepts Christ. It is the very nature of man, the natural, corruptible seed which is passed on from generation to generation and leads to death. It is what is called the nature of Adam. (See note, Natural Man—• 1 Cor. 2:14 for a much more detailed discussion.)
Three things are taught about the old man in the Scriptures.
1. The believer's old man has already been put to death. It was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). When the believer received Christ, God began immediately to count him buried with Christ and united with Christ in the very likeness of His death. This is the meaning symbolized in baptism.
2. The deeds of the old man have been put off from the believer (Col. 3:9). The power of evil deeds has been broken and the believer is no longer in bondage to them.
3. In this passage, the believer himself is exhorted to put off the old man. He is told to exercise his own will in putting off the old man. He so wills by realizing and acting upon three truths.
a. The old man, from God's perspective, is counted dead. Therefore, the believer counts his old man as already being dead.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11).
b. The old man is recognized as being very much alive. The old man is tempted to look, taste, feel, think—to experience sin. But the believer rejects the temptation. He refuses to participate in sin. He puts off the old man as he walks day by day.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:12-13).
c. The old man (including all creation) is seen aging and dying day by day. The believer realizes that this world and all that is within it, including his old man, is in a constant process of dying. He knows that all is dying because the evil desires of nature are deceitful, and deceit disturbs and destroys relationships—the very nature of things (Ephes. 4:22). Such destruction deteriorates and corrupts; it eats away at life and at the balance of things until all things become nothing but decayed matter. Therefore the believer puts off the old man and puts on the new man—by faith in the love of God. When a person believes in the love of God, God responds by loving him so much that He makes a permanent man out of him, a new man who is to live eternally and become a citizen of the new heavens and earth.
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
b. We have put on the new man
New Man (kainon anthrōpon PWS: 2661): a man regenerated, renewed, born again who has become spiritually minded. It is a new man created by Christ; he has been given a holy nature and an incorruptible life. It is opposed to the old man with a corrupt nature. It is a man who is...
• in fellowship with God.
• obedient to God's will.
• devoted to God's service.
There are two Greek words translated by the English word new. There is the word neos which refers to something new that has just been made, but there are already many others existing just like it. There is the word kainos which refers to something new, something just made and there is nothing like it in existence. Kainos is the word used here. Jesus Christ makes a new man entirely—a creation unlike any other creation existing. The Gentile believer is not made into a Jew; neither is a Jewish believer made into a Gentile. Each, through the Lord Jesus Christ, is made into a new kind of person—a new man in God. Every person can begin life all over again; every person can have a new beginning, a new life by coming to Jesus Christ.
How is this possible? By the power of God. When a person believes in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—really believes and entrusts his life into the hands of Jesus Christ—God creates the spirit of the person in righteousness and true holiness. God takes the faith of the person and credits it as the righteousness of Jesus Christ. God actually credits the person's faith as the perfect righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the person stands before God in the righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ.
c. We are all one body in Christ (Col. 3:11). Christ has made it possible for us to be adopted as children, sons and daughters, of God. We are all—everyone of us—children of God. We belong to the same family—the family of God. Therefore, there is no place for reacting against each other, no place for...
• anger
• wrath
• malice
• lying • blasphemous, insulting, hurting talk
• filthy talk
Note how Scripture covers everything that could possibly cause feelings and divisions between us:
⇒ race and birth (Greek nor Jew)
⇒ religion and ritual (circumcision nor uncircumcision)
⇒ education and culture (Barbarian nor Scythian)
⇒ social class and wealth and property (bond and free)
But if I take off all that stuff I’ll be naked…and unarmed!!!
Now that we have stripped off the old, it’s time to put on the new…it’s time to get dressed…Note this…the new clothing won’t fit over the old…
You can’t put on the new until the old has been removed…AND…which suit you wear is TOTALLY up to you…
It’s why you see some Christians walking around looking like they were weaned on a sour pickle…
1. (3:12-14) New Life: the clothing of the elect. Believers are the "elect of God." They are the persons whom God has chosen to be His holy and beloved people.
⇒ Believers have been elected to be holy. The word "holy" (hagios) means separated or set apart. God called believers out of the world and away from the old life it offered, the old life of sin and death. He called believers to be separated and set apart unto Himself and the new life He offers, the new life of righteous-ness and eternity.
⇒ Believers have been elected to be the beloved of God. God has called believers to turn away from the old life that showed hatred toward God, the old life that rejected, rebelled, ignored, denied, and was constantly cursing in the face of God. God has called believers to be the beloved of God, the persons who receive His love in Christ Jesus and who allow Him to shower His love upon them.
The point is this: the elect of God, holy and beloved, are those who have really believed and trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is these persons, the believers, who now have a new life in Christ. Therefore, this passage is for the believer. Note one other thing: in Verse 12, the command "put on" (enduō). This is the picture of putting on clothing; the believer is to clothe the new man. The new man must not be left naked; he must be clothed. What are the garments to be put on? There are eight garments of clothing for the new man.
2. (3:12) Mercy: the believer must put on the garment of mercy. Mercy (oiktirmou PWS: 2566) means compassion, pity, tenderheartedness. God has had so much mercy upon us, the one thing we should do is to show mercy to others. Compassion and pity should flood our hearts for the...
• lost
• wayward
• lonely
• homeless
• hungry
• aged • hurting
• diseased
• poor
• empty
• unclothed
• orphaned
Of course, the list could go on and on. The point is that the believer no longer has the right to overlook the needy of the world. He is now a new man, a part of the clothing of the new man is the garment of mercy. The believer is to be clothed with mercy. He is to have compassion and reach out to meet the needs of the world—reach out with all he is and has, holding back nothing so long as a single need exists.
Isaiah 58:7 (NLT) 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
3. (3:12) Kindness: the believer must put on the garment of kindness. it is being kind and good, useful and helpful, gentle and sweet, considerate and gracious through all situations no matter the circumstances. A person who is gentle does not act...
• hard
• indifferent
• harsh • unconcerned
• too busy
• bitter
4. (3:12) Humility: the believer must put on the garment of humility. (See note—•Phil. 2:3 and Deeper Study #1, Humility—Phil. 2:3 for discussion.)
5. (3:12) Meekness: the believer must put on the garment of meekness. it means to be gentle, tender, humble, mild, considerate, but strongly so. Meekness has the strength to control and discipline, and it does so at the right time.
Meekness has a humble state of mind. But this does not mean the person is weak, cowardly, and bowing. The meek person simply loves people and loves peace; therefore, he walks humbly among men regardless of their status and circumstance in life. Associating with the poor and lowly of this earth does not bother the meek person. He desires to be a friend to all and to help all as much as possible.
6. (3:12) Longsuffering or Patience: the believer must put on the garment of longsuffering.
patience, bearing and suffering a long time, perseverance, being constant, stedfast, and enduring. Long-suffering never gives in; it is never broken no matter what attacks it.
⇒ Pressure and hard work may fall upon us, but the Spirit of God helps us suffer long under it all.
⇒ Disease or accident or old age may afflict us, but the Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it.
⇒ Discouragement and disappointment may attack us, but the Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it.
⇒ Men may do us wrong, abuse, slander, and injure us; but the Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it all.
Two significant things need to be noted about longsuffering.
a. Longsuffering never strikes back. Common sense tells us that a person who is attacked by others could strike back and retaliate. But the Christian believer is given the power of longsuffering—the power to suffer the situation or person for a long, long time.
b. Longsuffering is one of the great traits of God. As pointed out in this verse, it is a fruit of God's very own Spirit, a fruit that is to be in the life of the believer.
7. (3:13) Forbearance: the believer must put on the garment of forbearing or forbearance. Forbearing (anechomenoi PWS: 1569) means to hold back; to put up with; to refrain; to bear with; to control.
Something is often forgotten: there are many things about everyone of us that people have to forbear. People have to put up with a great deal of things when dealing with us. Everyone of us is guilty of...
• some weakness
• some unattractive behavior
• some wrong behavior
• some mistreatment • some neglect
• some failure
• some bad habit
• some irritating behavior
There are some things about everyone of us that just turn some people off. None of us escapes the fact. In addition, everyone of us does things that irritate some people. Again, there is no escaping the fact. Any person can be looked at and have his flaws and weaknesses picked out.
But note: this is not what the Scripture says to do. The Scripture says that the believer is to put on the clothing of forbearance. The believer is to forbear the flaws of others. He is to put up with and bear with the weaknesses of other believers.
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Col. 3:13).
8. (3:13) Forgiveness: the believer must put on the garment of forgiveness; he must be forgiving (charizomenoi PWS: 1586). The word means to be gracious to a person; to pardon him for some wrong done against us. Note: a quarrel or some difference has taken place. A person has hurt us and brought pain to us. But no matter what they have done, we are to have a forgiving spirit clothing us. We are to be so clothed with the spirit of forgiveness that no difference or quarrel can shake us.
Note why: because Christ has forgiven us. No matter how much wrong a person has done against us, it cannot match the wrong we have done against Christ. Yet, Christ has forgiven us. Therefore, we are to forgive those who have done wrong against us—no matter how great the wrong is.
9. (3:14) Love: above all, the believer is to put on the garment of love (agapēn). Note that love is to be the main garment of the believer's new life. It is called the bond of perfection; that is, love binds all the clothing or great qualities of the believer's life together. If the believer has put on love—if he really loves people—then he is always clothed with...
• mercy
• kindness
• humility
• longsuffering meekness
• forbearance
• forgiveness
