Sermon 9 - All Dressed Up... Series

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.