A. Have you ever noticed how important clothing is in life?
1. Sometimes the clothing we wear reveals the occupation we have.
a. Medical persons wear certain clothing and so do those in the military and law enforcement.
b. Other job related clothing is seen in construction, firefighting, and food preparation.
2. Sometimes people wear certain clothing to try to make a statement about themselves.
a. What are these people trying to communicate about themselves?
b. Someone wearing leather, spikes and chains might be saying, “I’m cool, tough, or bad!”
c. Someone wearing something bright, colorful or different might be saying, “I’m wild, crazy, and unique.”
d. Someone wearing something plain or traditional might be saying, “I’m calm, proper and conservative.”
e. Someone wearing something designer or a lot of bling might be saying, “I’m rich or I’m important.”
3. Children love to play “dress up.”
a. From the time they can walk, they begin to try to walk around in mom’s or dad’s shoes.
b. Sometimes they are just trying to be funny, but other times they are trying to say, “I want to grow up to be just like you.”
B. In chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul describes the type of spiritual “clothing” that should be “worn” by Christians.
1. Two weeks ago, we explored the kind of clothing that Christians must not wear rather they are the kinds of things that must be put off.
2. That list of clothing to be cast off included: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, slander, lying and filthy language.
3. That is certainly some ugly and inappropriate clothing that are not suitable for Christians.
4. Claiming to be a disciple of Jesus and wearing those kinds of inappropriate attitudes and actions would be like showing up for a presidential ball in filthy rags or a speedo or a bikini.
5. After explaining to the Colossians the kinds of “clothing” that needed to be removed, Paul then shared the kinds of clothing that Christians should be putting on.
6. Paul wrote: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Col. 3:12-14)
7. One of the wonderful things about the Christian life is that as we grow in Christ, our Christian garments grow along with us; we don’t outgrow them.
a. For instance, what starts out as small kindness or patience, grows into completeness and Christ-like kindness and patience.
8. Another important thing to note about these Christian garments, is that although they are visible and observable, they originate in and proceed from the heart.
C. Before Paul proceeded to describe the specific attributes of the Christian clothing, he first gave a word of motivation.
1. Why should Christians get all dressed up in the right attire? The reason is because we are God’s special people.
2. Paul wrote: Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on… (Col. 3:12)
3. Paul’s command and appeal was based on three facts…three realities: Christians are chosen, holy, and dearly loved.
a. Allow those truths to pour over you and allow them to fill you deep down inside.
b. If you are a follower of Jesus, a child of God, then you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved.
c. This is something that we must believe and accept, and something we must allow ourselves to feel – chosen, holy, and dearly loved.
4. Being chosen means that this is something God has done, this is the offer that God has given.
a. Do you remember being a child on the playground when the teams were being chosen and the joy you felt when you were chosen, or the sadness you felt when you weren’t chosen?
b. Being chosen means that God wants us on His team; He wants us to be part of His family, His kingdom.
c. God wants all people to accept the offer He has made through Jesus who is the only way to the Father.
5. Being holy means that we are set apart and dedicated for God’s special purpose.
a. This includes the power to become more pure and holy as God is holy, as we overcome temptation and sin.
b. But it also means that we are added to God’s team and given an important purpose to build God’s kingdom and represent Him as His ambassadors in the world.
6. And so, we are chosen and holy, but we are also dearly loved – not just loved, but dearly loved.
a. The Greek word here is agape – the unconditional love of God – it means to love, to esteem, to delight in and to prize.
b. Is there anything more important and powerful than knowing that we are dearly loved by God?
7. Paul knew how important it is for us to realize who we are – our identity – we are chosen, holy and dearly loved.
a. And because that is who we are, then there is a certain way we must be and live.
b. There is certain “clothing” that we must put on.
c. So, let’s examine Paul’s list of Christian garments that must be “put on.”
D. Paul began with a list of five attributes for us to put on and then goes on to add three more before he is finished.
1. I think it is helpful to realize that the first seven attributes are manifestations of the final, crowning virtue, which is love.
2. It is also helpful to note that every one of these attributes have to do with personal relationships.
3. Relationships are so important in our lives – whether they are relationships in the home, the church, or in the world.
4. If we will put on these attributes, then our relationships everywhere will be enhanced and blessed.
5. Let’s briefly touch on each of these attributes and consider their importance to our lives and our witness as disciples of Jesus.
E. First on the list is compassion.
1. It is interesting to see the way this word is translated in different Bible versions: tenderhearted mercy (NLT), compassionate hearts (ESV), bowels of mercy (KJV), tender mercies (NKJV), and heart of compassion (NASB)
2. From all these versions, we get the sense that compassion is something that is felt deep within us (in our heart or bowels) and the deep feeling has to do with mercy.
3. With compassion, we feel for the difficulty that another person is experiencing.
4. But if that feeling of concern or pity doesn’t prompt us to offer assistance, then it isn’t worth much, right?
5. On at least three occasions in Scripture, the Bible tells us that Jesus felt compassion for someone and then did something about it.
6. In Mark 1, we are told about a man who had leprosy who came to Jesus and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Mk. 1:40)
a. The Bible says: Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. (Mk. 1:41-42)
7. In Mark 6, the Bible says that Jesus saw the multitude following Him and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
a. Jesus then taught them and fed them – it was a crowd of 5000 men, not counting the women and children.
8. Another time that Jesus showed compassion took place when Jesus came upon a funeral profession involving a widow whose only son had died.
a. Can you imagine the heartache going on inside of her?
b. First, she lost her husband and then she lost her son, the only person she had to take care of her.
c. The Bible says that Jesus’ heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
d. Then Jesus approached the coffin and touching it said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. (Lk. 7:12- 15)
8. Obviously, we don’t have the power in and of ourselves to raise the dead and cure leprosy or feed 5000+ people instantaneously, but we do have the power to come alongside and share the burden and help in other ways, if we have compassion.
9. As with all of these attributes of love that we are to put on, a helpful question to ask ourselves is: if the situation was reversed, what kind of treatment or help would I want.
10. Jesus’ “golden rule” of M. 7:12 is a helpful guide: In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.
F. The next attribute on Paul’s list of things to put on is kindness.
1. We noticed that many of the translations had a little different expression for compassion, but when it comes to the word for kindness, all of the translations just called it “kindness.”
2. Because these attributes are different shades of love, there is a lot of overlap to them.
3. One definition of kindness is: the quality of being gentle, caring and helpful.
4. Another definition is: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, often demonstrated through helpful and compassionate actions without expecting anything in return.
5. Simple acts of kindness can uplift not only others but also ourselves, creating a ripple effect that spreads positivity and well-being far beyond the initial act.
6. The idea of trying to do random acts of kindness has been a popular concept in recent times.
7. Interestingly enough, there is a non-profit called Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK), which was founded in 1995 and also spearheads the annual Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th.
8. As good as that is, we don’t need an organization, a movement, or a specific day to put into practice what the Bible has been encouraging God’s people to be and to do for thousands of years.
9. Let’s cloth ourselves with kindness and treat everyone in kind, gentle and good ways, like we want to be treated – hold the door for others, allow others to go first, say thank you – be kind!
G. Another attribute on Paul’s list of things to put on is humility.
1. The opposite of being humble is being proud and arrogant, boastful and egotistical.
2. Which quality is more celebrated in our world today? Humility or pride?
3. The Bible makes it clear that God blesses the humble and is opposed to those who are proud.
4. Humility has to do with having a right assessment of ourselves in view of God and others.
5. Humility is not about self-depreciation or self-disgust, but a right understanding of our value in God’s sight – He values us and loves us, in spite of our weaknesses and failures.
6. And God not only does that for us, He does that for everyone – He loves and values everyone equally and so should we.
7. In humility, we have a healthy view of our strengths and weakness and we know that all we are and all that we have and need comes from God.
8. In humility, we realize that there is no person or task who is above us or below us.
9. And with humility, we seek to give all glory, honor and praise to God.
H. Next on Paul’s list of attributes to put on is gentleness.
1. Looking again at the different translations, we notice that two words are primarily used for this Greek word and they are: gentleness and meekness.
2. Gentleness and meekness are not weakness, but are power under control.
3. Consider how the wind or a horse can be gentle or be destructive.
a. A soothing wind and a calm horse are more helpful than a hurricane or a bucking bronco.
4. The gentle person is a balanced blend of strong stability plus consideration, tact and understanding.
I. Following gentleness on Paul’s list is patience.
1. The different translations usually go with the words patience or long-suffering.
2. Self-restraint might be another good way to define patience, because patience isn’t how long you sit rocking in a chair while your child is being disobedient or out of control, rather patience is what you do when you get out of the chair to discipline your child.
3. You can see how kindness, gentleness and patience need to be working hand in hand.
J. Next, Paul says that we are to be “bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” (3:13)
1. Paul links these two attributes together – bearing with and forgiving.
2. Forbearance literally means to “hold up” or “hold back” – it is the willingness and ability to bear with those whose faults or unpleasant traits are an irritant.
3. Forgiveness, as you know, is the willingness to forgive those who have wronged you and to not hold it against them or be filled with bitterness.
4. Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel and our salvation – we desperately need God’s forgiveness and if we receive it, then we must be willing to share it.
5. This can be a great challenge: forgiven persons must be forgiving.
6. Although we may not be able to forgive and forget, God wants us to work towards forgiveness.
K. Paul concludes his list of attributes to put on with love - Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (3:14) Or as the NIV says: “which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1. Love is the belt or girdle that holds it all together.
2. There is no way to have all these qualities without having love for God and the love of God.
3. Love motivates all these attributes and love completes them all as we seek to love others the way God loves them.
L. The good news is that we don’t have to put on all these attributes and develop them with our own strength and wisdom, rather we have the help of the Holy Spirit and these attributes are the fruit (or product) of the Spirit.
1. This is the way God is and we are blessed to become like our God.
2. And when we are all dressed up with righteous clothing then we are blessed and are a blessing.
3. I often tell people who are exploring becoming a follower of Jesus that if they could see themselves 10 years down the road after walking with God and being transformed by the Spirit, then they will like the person they have become.
4. Over the course of time, they will have put to death or put off what is evil, ugly and harmful and will have put on what is good, beautiful and helpful – what a blessing!
5. So, let’s get all dressed up, because we’ve got somewhere to do and something to do.
Resources:
Colossians, by Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary, Victory Books, 1989
Colossians, by David E. Garland, in the NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 1998
Colossians, by Owen D. Olbricht, in the Truth for Today Commentary, Resource Publications, 2005
