The Christian and His Spiritual Clothing
Study Text: Colossians 3:12 - 17
Introduction:
- Clothes say a lot about a person. The fact is most, if not all of us, give a
tremendous amount of attention to what we wear and what is in style.
- However, there is a major problem. Styles change very quickly. They also
vary from culture to culture. What is viewed as acceptable and even attractive in one is
seen as offensive and in poor taste in another.
- But there is good news for devoted Christ followers concerning our spiritual clothing. What was in style in the ancient times is still in style in the modern day time. In fact it is in style anywhere and anytime.
- We are to put on as our spiritual clothing, those things that characterize our new life in Jesus Christ. We are new creations,
with a new ethics, a new heart, a new attitude, and a new
passion. 2 Corinthians 5:15-17
- In this passage, Paul talks about attributes of a Christian’s life. The attributes we must “put on” as spiritual clothing if we are to reflect and experience God’s purpose for our lives.
- We shall be discussing this topic under three subheadings:
1. The Reasons for the Christian Spiritual Clothing
2. The Resources for the Christian Spiritual Clothing
3. The Results of the Christian Spiritual Clothing
1. The Reasons for the Christian Spiritual Clothing:
- Paul begins this passage with the reminder that those who follow after Jesus are truly God’s chosen people. They are God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved.
- This brings up an interesting question for us: if Christians are God's chosen people, why did He choose them?
- God doesn’t choose people based on their own merit. He chooses based on His purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9
- Paul wants the Church to remember that, while we were at one time, separated from God, Jesus died for us so we could experience the fullness of God’s love. This is the truth of the Gospel; this is God’s purpose for us.
- Being set apart by God means that our lives take on a whole new look, one that is drastically different from the world around us.
- We are no longer defined by our hostility and evil actions. We are now defined by the love God has for us.
- Some of the reasons for our spiritual clothing are as follows:
a) We have been Chosen by God
- Salvation begins with God, it is at His initiative. It is His work of
grace. Anyone saved today has been selected by God from the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 2:9
b) We have been Consecrated by God
- Every genuine Christian has been set apart by God from sin, Satan, selfishness, and the systems of this evil age.
- The Christian has alsobeen set apart unto the Saviour for His service, His will and His way in our life. John 15:16
c) We have become the Children of God
- Since the day a man truly surrendered to Jesus as his Lord and personal Saviour, he is given the power to become a Child of God. John 1:11-12
- So, in order to manifest our new identity and to fulfill the purpose of God for saving us, we must put on our spiritual clothing continuously everywhere.
2. The Resources for the Christian Spiritual Clothing:
- If our life takes on a whole new look because we are spiritually clothed in Christ, what does this look like?
- We have quite an array of attributes we are expected to put on. As God's chosen people, who are holy and dearly loved, we are to be: compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.
The Christian is said to be spiritually clothed in Christ when he puts on the following:
1. Bowels of mercies:
- A yearning and tender sympathy for the sorrowful and afflicted, as opposed to carelessness or cruel delight in their griefs.
- Jesus said that this is a condition to be a candidate for the mercy of God. Matthew 5:7
2. Kindness:
- Kindness an active goodwill, not merely ready to sympathize with the suffering people, but in every way to do good to others.
- Kindness must be shown without any ulterior motive. It has to be simple, pure, and brotherly in nature.
3. Humbleness of mind:
- This has two phases. It is a low estimate of ourselves, and it leads us to estimate others highly in comparison with ourselves.
- We must not allow our position, possession and achievements enter into our heads, to be looking down on other people.
4. Meekness:
- It is a spirit of patience and self-control, especially when under reproach, misrepresentation, and unkind treatment by others.
- Meekness is part of the teachings of Jesus Christ and part of what He demonstrated to us as His followers. Matthew 11: 28-29
5. Long-Suffering:
- It elongates meekness, and stretches it out, when unkindness from others is systematic and long continued.
- We will be offended by people over and over again, we need the grace of long-suffering to be able to handle situations without losing our values as Christians.
6. Over all these put on Love:
- This is like a girdle round the loins. It completes our spiritual dress, and adds a general grace to the entire outfit.
- Love must be the motive behind all forms of kindness and good deeds we showed to others before they are accepted by God as good works.
- Further, all this is not to be merely "put on." There is a radical cause which should produce it all, the love of God. This lies deep in the heart; and without it, the rest would be a cloak of hypocrisy.
- We shall put on externally, by putting out or developing from within, all the graces here sketched.
- In the event we are tempted to think we have to put on these attributes in our own strength, Paul gives us a very encouraging promise. In Philippians 2:13, he says:
“For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.”
- God has not set us apart to live according to our own strength. When Jesus reconciled us and made us blameless before the Father, He began a process we call “sanctification”. This means that, although we are not yet perfect, God is working in and through us so we would live the life for which He set us apart.
- It is only by the strength of God working in us that we can be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving. This is what it looks like to be set apart; this is what it looks like for God’s people to be clothed in Christ.
3. The Results of the Christian Spiritual Clothing :
- The outcomes of putting on these spiritual clothing include:
1. We will be Willing to Forbear with Others
- When we put on our spiritual clothing, we will be able to tolerate others and accommodate them despite their weaknesses and attitudes of unkindness.
2. We will be Willing to Forgive Others:
- When we find it difficult to forgive others, it is because we are not putting on our spiritual clothing. A man that puts on mercy and love will have no issues in forgiving others their wrong doings.
3. We have the Peace of God Ruling in our Hearts.
- This is because we were called to be at peace in one body (the church).
- Jesus died on the cross to make peace. Ephesians 2:14-18
- If we disrupt the peace of the body (church), we disrupt the work of Christ on the cross.
- Thus, we must be diligent to "keep the unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace" - Ephesians 4:3
- Generally, where there is contention and strife, it is among the members of the body who are not letting the peace of God rule in their hearts. Hebrews 12:14
4. We are to allow the Word of God to Dwell Richly in our Hearts.
- That is, the Word is to live, to abide, and to have free course in
our lives.
- This is possible only through a serious effort to learn it (via self-study, Bible classes, sermons, etc.)
- Infact, in the book of Psalm 1:2-3: we are told that, for those who meditate on God’s word and delight in the Lord’s instruction, they are, like a tree planted by rivers of living water.
- Paul wants us to be rooted in the one thing that will never fail us: the truth found in Jesus.
5. We will be Thankful
- Thankfulness has two phases:
1. Being Thankful to God.
- We are expected to give thanks to God for all things and in all situations, without murmurings and complaining. 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18
- Thanksgiving is not to be done only when our needs are met, but one of the means of making our our needs known unto God.
2. Being Thankful to People:
- God has surrounded us with good people as friends, families, neighbours, brethren etc. We are to be appreciative of every little kindness shown to us and be thankful to people.
Conclusion:
- Paul concludes this passage with one final statement. He says in verse 17,
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
- God’s purpose for us is to be set apart, and through this, God wants us to be totally committed to Him in everything we do. This verse encourages us to experience God’s purpose with complete surrender and thankfulness.
- God wants us to know His love, express His love, and be unified in His love.
