CLOTHED AS GOD’S PEOPLE
Colossians 3:1-17
Rodney Langley
Introduction:
Colossians 3 is filled with teaching about how to live as a Christian. The apostle Paul discusses clothing in this passage. Not our physical clothing, but how we dress and present ourselves to the world around us. He tells us that we who are in Christ must take off worldly attitudes or attire and to clothe ourselves with certain Christian virtues. He challenges us to change the way we live our lives and to be more like Christ.
I. We must set our hearts on things above and not on earthly things (v.1-4).
Seek ye first....Matthew 6:33
1 Chronicles 22:19: Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.
Daniel 10:12: Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your heart to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.
II. We must put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (v. 5-11).
We often look upon lists such as this and those in Galatians 5 and Revelation 21 and use them as a kind of checklist for sin.
We must put those things to death, which means we should no longer live like that. Paul makes it clear in verses 9 and 10 that when we become Christians, we are to be a new person, a different person, a person who no longer lives in these ways.
III. We must clothe ourselves with certain godly virtues (v. 12-14).
A. Compassion: Luke 10:25-37
Compassion does something. We can’t be compassionate and just sit there and look at the plight of others. Compassion causes us to show others the love that they need so badly and the One who loves unconditionally.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
B. Kindness: Ephesians 4:29-32
God desires us to show kindness because he has shown kindness to us. He didn’t just tell us he loved us, he proved it.
Romans 5:8: God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
C. Humility: 1 Peter 5:5-6: All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
D. Gentleness:
Jesus showed great gentleness.
Matthew 11:29: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
1 Thessalonians 2:7: But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
E. Patience: 2 Peter 3:8-9
F. Love: Romans 5:8, John 3:16, I Corinthians 13, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 4:7-ff
God loves us and shows his love for us, therefore we should likewise love one another.
IV. We must have peace with one another and teach and encourage one another.
Romans 12:17-21, Ephesians 5:15-20
V. We must do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to the Father through Him.
