Text: Colossians 3:12-17
Theme: The new man has new lifestyle which honours Christ.
Intro:
- We dealt previously with the fact that we are a new man in Christ, and last week we looked at the habitual lifestyle of the old man, and our death to that lifestyle.
- Today, we are going to look at a fairly lengthy list of things that should characterize our lives now that we are new creatures in Christ.
I. Put On Humble Actions (Vs 12-13)
- To put on, is to array with clothing, in the sense of slipping into a garment.
a. The picture here is that we have mortified the old mans with his deeds, like an old garment with holes in it, we taken the old man off and now we must put the new man on, as a clean garment fit for a child of the king.
b. We are the elect in Christ. By that we mean that, since we have been saved and are now in Christ, God has chosen us to also be his children.
c. To be holy is to be blameless, ceremonially consecrated, and set apart unto God.
d. God has chosen to love us in Christ. We are not only saved and given a home in heaven, but now God has chosen to adopt us as His children and to love us. - Be Kind to One another (Vs 12b)
*The traits that are supposed to characterize our new man are listed in the coming verses*
a. Bowels of mercies – This speaks to an internal affection toward others that leads to outward pity for them.
b. Kindness – Kindness is the moral excellence that compels us to act in goodness and fairness to those around us.
c. Humbleness of mind – Humbleness of mind is the opposite of pride. It is lowliness of mind.
d. Meekness – Meekness couples’ gentleness with humility.
e. Longsuffering – To be longsuffering is to endure hardness with patience and fortitude. - Forgive One another (Vs 13)
a. Forbearing one another – To forbear is to endure or put up with each other.
b. Forgiving one another – Forgiving one another means we grant as a favour, kindness and pardon.
c. Christ is the perfect example of the principle of forgiveness.
– In most human quarrels there is fault on both sides, but God never offended us, we offended him. Despite this, Christ freely offered forgiveness to us if we would humbly accept it.
I. Put On Peaceful Attitudes (Vs 14-15)
- Put On Charity (Vs 14)
a. The attribute of charity, or love, is the superior attribute
b. Above all, refers to superimposition. It is the higher principle which all others are subject to.
– In other words, if you are merciful, do it out of love. If you are kind and lowly in mind, meek and longsuffering, then do so out of a spirit of charity toward the brethren. If you would forbear and forgive, do so because of love for others and love for Christ.
c. Charity is the bond of perfectness.
– A bond is a joint tie or ligament. It means that love is the principle that unites all the requirements that have been outline previously. - Put On Peacefulness (Vs 15)
a. To have the peace of God is to coexist in a state of quietness and prosperity, and to be at rest.
b. The peace of God should rule in our hearts.
– The peace of God ought to govern the thoughts and feelings of our hearts so that we will know rest and quietness of spirit in our fellowship.
c. This is what we are called to in the body of Christ.
– Instead of causing strife over hurts and offences, let the peace of God rule in your heart and develop a spirit of thanksgiving to God.
III. Put On Biblical Ministries (Vs 16-17)
- The Ministry of the Word (Vs 16a)
a. If the word of Christ is to dwell in you richly, it must first be absorbed. You can’t be filled with the word unless you are taking it in through your eyes and ears.
b. For the word to dwell in you, is for it to take up residence in you and to have free reign in your life.
c. For the word to dwell richly is for it to begin producing fruit in your life to the glory of God. - The Ministry of Song (Vs 16b)
a. Teaching
– If the words we are singing are theologically and scripturally barren, then our singing will not fulfil its proper function in instructing the listeners.
b. Admonishing
– To admonish someone is to gently reprove or caution them. It means to put them in mind of certain truths.
c. Psalms & Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
– Psalm singing is great because you are signing the very words of scripture. The Psalms, in particular, are full of encouragement for the Christian, and exaltation toward God.
– Hymns are a real blessing as well, because they seek to convey biblical truths in poetic form. Hymns are often based on a specific passage of scripture and seek to explain the writers experience of the biblical truths written there.
– “Spiritual songs” refers simply to all other forms of singing which are of a spiritual nature, free from worldly influences, and which lift the soul toward the Divine.
Spiritual songs are, by definition, not carnal or worldly in their origin or influence.
d. Our singing is for the glory of God - The Ministry of Service (Vs 17)
a. Beyond all this, we are to give our lives in total devotion to Christ.
– Every act of service should be done with the goal of honouring Christ.
– Every word spoken should have the express purpose of honouring Christ.
– This a tall order, but it is the goal of the Christian life.
b. In all these things we are to give thanks unto God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ His Son.
Conclusion:
- Are you actions toward our brothers and sisters in Christ governed by the principles we’ve discussed today?
- Do you live to please Christ, and do you seek to glorify Him through thankfulness to our Heavenly Father?