Putting On the New Self Colossians 3:12–17

INTRODUCTION Clothes can say a lot about a person. What you wear might indicate the kind of job you work, or your spending habits, or your personality. And as we all know, certain occasions call for certain attire. Well, I can remember one particular instance when I wore something that did not fit the occasion. When I was in seminary I was a part-time associate pastor at a church outside of Boston. And one particular weekend they were having a special dinner. And somehow I failed to realize that this was more of a formal event. And so I showed up wearing jeans and an untucked shirt. And when I got there I thought, “uh oh…I’m underdressed.” And it was too late. There wasn’t time to go home. And everyone else coming into the building was wearing their best attire; dresses, slacks, coats, ties. And here I am, feeling terribly out of place. And I thought maybe no one would really notice. And then someone kindly leaned over to me and said, “I guess you didn’t get the memo huh?” And now by God’s grace I have a wife who prevents me from making such mistakes.

Well, in our portion of Scripture this morning Paul tells us about the kind of clothes that are fitting for the saints. And to be clear, he’s not talking about a cotton poly blend garment. He’s talking about the very character that should be worn by those who are walking in close fellowship with the Lord. In chapter 3, Paul uses the metaphor of taking off and putting on clothes as a way of helping us understand what should be true of those are believers.

You see, in the same way we dress our bodies every day, we dress our souls. But the sobering reality is that at times we dress in the wrong attire. The character we dress ourselves in is not an accurate reflection of who we are in Christ. So we need to be asking ourselves the question, “Does the character of my life reflect the person that I am in Christ? What does my behavior and my attitude say about me? Have I put on the Lord Jesus Christ? (Romans 13:14), When people see me, what do they really see?”

Taking Off and Putting On Now to recap where we’ve been, Colossians has brought us face to face with the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God. All things were created through him and for him. He holds all things together. He is the very center of the universe. And when a person becomes a Christian, they are then united to Christ Jesus forever. Our lives are then intertwined with the life of Jesus. So much so a Christian can say things such as…

I have died with Jesus Christ I have been raised up with Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is my life I have the hope of glorification with Jesus Christ

And because of that, two things should happen: 1) We are to take off the old way of life. The habits, the patterns, the thoughts…everything that characterized our lives before meeting Christ should be removed. 2) We are to put on the new life. It’s not a matter of simply not doing certain things, but instead replacing them with a new way of life. New habits, new patterns, new thoughts. There should be nothing short of radical transformation that occurs when a person becomes a Christian. And an ongoing one at that, where our behavior is progressively being brought into line with our new self. If we’ve truly come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, then we need to dress the part. What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside.

TRANS: So the Lord, through the Apostle Paul, tells the church at to put on “the new self?” But what does that look? Well, it begins by knowing who you are…

1. Know Who You are (v12) Look at what Paul says in verse 12: [12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Did you notice how Paul addressed the believers at Colossae? He uses three labels: chosen, holy, and beloved. And here’s why this is important: identity drives behavior. Your identity will motivate you in either a positive or negative way. I say this, because if you’re a Christian reading this passage of Scripture, a part of you says, “Yeah, I already know that these are ways I’m supposed to be living.” I doubt anyone is going to read the list and say ‘Wow. I had no idea that I’m supposed to be patient with others.’ And yet, for so many of us that’s a struggle.” And so what God is doing in Colossians, as he lays out theme of Union with Christ, is showing us that the way to change is to come to a deeper understanding of our identity. In order for us to “put on” Jesus Christ, then I have to know who I am in Jesus Christ.

Think about identity this way. On one level our identity has to do with our sense of self. At the very core, “who am I?” In my vocation, in my home, in my group of friends, as a person, “who am I?” “What defines you as you?” But secondly, our identity has to do with our self worth. “What makes you feel significant?” “What makes you feel confident of your value?”

So for example, a person can easily find their identity in their profession. But when things don’t go the way they hoped - not moving up the ladder or making pay raises - then their world is shaken. But the gospel gives believers an identity that is fundamentally different in this way: it’s received, instead of achieved. If your identity is wrapped up in your profession, then you're responsible for validating your own sense of self worth. It’s something you achieve. But on the other hand, the gospel says you simply can’t validate your own sense of self worth. You can never live up to the standards of God, so Christ himself took the responsibility to do it on your behalf. And the moment you trust him for salvation, you receive a new identity. And so here is is. If you’ve trusted Christ for your salvation, you are #1…

Chosen Paul uses the word “chosen” in this passage, he uses it in other letters - in fact it’s a word that we see all over the . Sometimes it appears as God’s chosen, or God’s elect. We see it used in the Old Testament to describe Israel as God’s honored possession. We see it in the to describe Jesus as the “the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35), and it’s even used in places like 1 Peter 2:9 to describe the church as God’s special possession.

And so the doctrine of divine election is clearly taught in Scripture. After all, Paul says in Ephesians 1:4 that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And yet, the doctrine of election is one that causes a lot of debate. It brings up a lot of questions. And to some extent is beyond our finite understanding. But what I want you to see is that this word “chosen” as it relates to your identity in Christ, should not motivate you to debate with others…but it should motivate you to adore God all the more. Why?

To begin with, we should marvel at the fact that God took the initiative. Did you realize that? In your salvation, it was God who took the initiative. Graciously, and sovereignly, it is God who draws men and women to himself. Everything that was at play in you coming to know Jesus - all of the circumstances - were not random or by chance. God divinely orchestrated it so that someone shared the gospel with you, or that you were in a certain place at a certain time, or a

difficult situation arose which caused you to see the depths of your sin. God took the initiative. And if it were not for God’s gracious intervention in your life, you would have never come to him on your own. Jesus said no one can come to him unless the Father draws them.

And do you know the reason why God chose you? Well, it wasn’t because of anything you’ve ever done. It was because of any character quality you possess. It wasn’t based on the fact that you were a little more moral than the next person. God chose you for his glory. He calls those who are undeserving, who are dead in their sins, who have offended him. It is a magnificent display of his grace - and far from making us prideful it should create a humble gratitude and love towards him. It should cause us to rejoice in his mercy. And it should motivate us to live for Him.

Holy Not only does Paul say you are chosen, but holy. In fact, this is a result of being chosen, you are made holy. In the Bible, to be holy means that you have been set apart by God and for God. It means that God has declared us holy, not based on past performance, but based on the righteous record of Jesus. Again, this should motivate us. You will find that the more you realize that your position before God is one of holiness, then you will grow all the more in your desire to act in holiness. What we wear on the outside should be a display of what’s on the inside.

If you need a picture, think of it this way: When two people come together in marriage they are being set apart. They’re being set apart for each other - the two become one. But they are also set apart from everyone else. They’re marriage commitment includes that they aren’t going to enjoy this kind of intimacy with anyone other than their spouse. So you would expect that the bride then, won’t run off with the best man. Or the groom, won’t be running off with the maid of honor. And so it is with believers. They have been set apart for God. To live for Him. And to live apart from sin.

Beloved Well he doesn’t just say we are chosen and holy, but also beloved. Did you know that when God chose you, it was not some cold arbitrary thing. He fixed his love on you. “In love, He predestined us to conformity as his children. Think about that for a moment. God has set his affection on you!

My guess is that some of you in here might struggle with. Not because you don’t understand what love is, per se. You don’t struggle to agree with the statement, “God loves me.” But perhaps you struggle to feel it. Perhaps you struggle to believe its true of you. Jonathan Edwards used an analogy that describes it accurately: “There is a difference between having a rational judgment that honey is sweet, and having a sense of its sweetness.” In other words, someone can tell you that honey is sweet, but you don’t really know until you’ve tasted it.

Maybe you grew up in a home where a parent did not know how to express their love for you. Instead of experiencing their affection, you experienced belittling, you experienced condemnation, you experienced disapproval…and so the thought of God setting his love upon you is…well, difficult to taste.

Well, know this: The affection of God has been set on his children, without disapproval and condemnation. Perhaps the greatest quote from Tim Keller, and he’s got a lot of good ones, is this: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” And that’s a truth that you simply need to work deep into the recesses of your soul until

you not only believe it, but taste it. In fact, in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, the Apostle prays that the Lord would direct the believers hearts in God’s love.

TRANS: All of this, should motivate us. Our identity which is received and not achieved, should cause us to want to live for the one who has loved us and gave himself for us. Once you know who you are in Christ, it is all the more possible to put on Christ. And so in order to put on Christ, we need to…

2. Daily Put on the Qualities of Grace (v12) Notice what Paul says in verse 12: [12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. This is the wardrobe of those who belong to Jesus. And here’s why I say “daily.” In one sense, when you become a Christian many of these things come gradually. One of the evidences of salvation is a whole new set of desires. You suddenly find yourself being more compassionate and kind and humble. But on the other hand, we’re still in a battle. The flesh is weak. Mindful that we are saved by grace alone, we still need to put some effort into our sanctification. And that requires a daily, intentional endeavor to take off the old and put on the new. What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside.

Compassion Paul begins with compassion. This word can also be translated mercy. Would you say that’s true of you? Do you show genuine, heartfelt compassion towards others? Generally speaking, if you’re the type of person who believes that God accepts you because you’re a pretty good person, then you don’t have any incentive to help the poor. You’re more likely to think, “Hey, these people who are “less fortunate” can go out and get a job and work their way out of their situation. They’re just being lazy!”

But, if you really know that you’re a sinner saved by grace alone, then your attitude should be entirely different. You should look at people who are in financial distress, physical distress, mental distress, spiritual distress…and say, “Before I came to Christ, the Lord looked on me in my distress, and he had mercy. He had compassion.” You see it all goes back to our identity in Christ. Only when you know the compassion that has been given to you, then you can give to others. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Kindness Second, Paul mentions kindness. This is closely related to compassion. Do you value your neighbor’s good as much as your own? When Sarah and I first moved to Sioux Falls about six years ago she worked in the accounting division for one a large health care provider. Because we only had one car I dropped her off every morning and picked her up in the afternoon. One day it started to snow pretty heavily. And when I picked her up I got the car stuck in the parking lot. And here I am, without a shovel, trying to push the snow from the tires. And car after car, after car, drove by me and no one offered to help. And here’s the ironic thing. The place where Sarah worked was called the Good Samaritan Society! But you know, when ever I remember that day, it’s almost as if the Lord says to me, “How many times have you been one of those who drove by without helping?” If you are one with Christ, it’s because God has shown you kindness. Kindness at the cost of His son’s life.

Humility Third, Paul mentions humility. Do you find that you count others more important than yourself? Humility is in one sense the opposite of being prideful and arrogant. And I used to think that if a

person wasn’t boastful or didn’t have a “better than you” attitude then they were humble. But you know, I’ve realized not only through the Word but personal experience that it’s more than that. You see, humility is also a dependence on Christ. When I believe that I don’t have to pray about something, or don’t feel the need to be obedient to God in every way, then I’m not humbling myself. I think it was C. S. Lewis who said “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Humility doesn’t grow when we think we are the greatest thing since sliced bread. And nor does humility grow when we treat ourselves like a doormat. Humility grows when we simply stop thinking about ourselves so much and turn our attention toward others.

Meekness Fourth, Paul mentions meekness or gentleness. Sometimes meekness is confused with weakness. But that isn’t accurate. Meekness means “strength brought under control, with a willingness to suffer injury rather than inflict it.” When other criticize you, how do you respond? Do you defend yourself? Do you attack the other person? Meekness responds gently to people even when we have been wronged.

Patience Fifth, Paul mentions patience. This is also translated as long suffering. And the word has to do with how we respond to people, more than circumstances. And at it’s core, patience means that when we are provoked, exasperated, and even annoyed with another person - we don’t fly off the handle. We don’t get a bad attitude. We don’t get even with them. We don’t get angry with them. We long suffer with them.

I don’t think we can begin to fathom the amount of patience the Lord has shown to us. You see, if it were not for God’s patience, no would ever be saved. In 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul writes, “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” So the next time you feel yourself becoming inpatient with someone, think deeply upon the Lord’s patience shown to you.

TRANS: What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside. In order to do that you need to know who you are. You need to daily put on the qualities of grace. But you also need to…

3. Cultivate Genuine Forgiveness and Love (vv13–14) Let me read verse 13 again. [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Ask yourself, do I forgive others completely? The key word there is completely. One of the ways in which you know you’ve been forgiven by someone completely is when they stop bringing it up.

Think of it like a bell in a bell tower. These hang up high and have a rope attached to them. To ring the bell, the rope must be pulled down a few times. There is a constant pulling and constant ringing of the bell. Now, after the pulling is over and the person pulling the rope lets go, the bell will keep swinging. The bell does not stop swinging just because the rope is not being pulled anymore. It will swing for a while before it slows down and eventually stops.

Forgiveness is the act of letting the bell rope go. It means that you choose to no longer hold the rope. A lack of forgiveness is when you constantly pull the rope. Each ring of the bell reminds us

of each wrong inflicted on us by another. Our constant pulling of the rope keeps the wrongdoings on our minds. Now, if we choose to let go by a decision of the will, our emotions will still hear the bell for a little while. But, if you let the rope go and leave it alone, after awhile, the bell will slow down until it stops.

Paul tells us to bear with one another and to forgive one another. These are different, but related. To forebear with someone is to put up with them. It is to embrace the suffering that comes with the relationship. But forgiveness goes beyond that. It’s not simply putting up with someone. But to forgive is to be gracious even to those who don’t deserve.

The civil rights activist, John Perkins, recounts a time when he was brutally beaten in a Mississippi jail. The guards beat him until he was unconscious, essentially torturing him. As the night went on, it only grew worse. But listen to what happened. Perkins writes,

“The Spirit of God worked on me as I lay in that bed. An image formed in my mind. The image of the cross—Christ on the cross. It blotted out everything else in my mind. This Jesus knew what I had suffered. He understood. And He cared. Because He had experienced it all Himself. This Jesus, this One who had brought good news directly from God in heaven, had lived what He preached. Yet He was arrested and falsely accused. Like me, He went through an unjust trial. He also faced a lynch mob and got beaten. But even more than that, He was nailed to rough wooden planks and killed. Killed like a common criminal. At the crucial moment, it seemed to Jesus that even God Himself had deserted Him. The suffering was so great, He cried out in agony. He was dying. But when He looked at that mob who had lynched Him, He didn’t hate them. He loved them. He forgave them. And He prayed God to forgive them. “Father, forgive these people, for they don’t know what they are doing.” His enemies hated. But Jesus forgave. I couldn’t get away from that.… It’s a profound, mysterious truth—Jesus’ concept of love overpowering hate. I may not see its victory in my lifetime. But I know it’s true. I know it’s true, because it happened to me. On that bed, full of bruises and stitches—God made it true in me. He washed my hatred away and replaced it with a love for the white man in rural Mississippi.”

As the Lord has forgiven you…that’s the measure. When we forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, there is no wrong doing against us that cannot be forgiven.

He goes on in verse 14: [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Does genuine love permeate my relationships with others? Some have called this the crown jewel of the believers new life. Kent Hughes writes,

“The apostle envisions a man dressing his body with the flowing garments of the day, and then it occurs to the man that as beautiful and fine as his garments are, they can never be worn with comfort or grace until they are held in place by a belt. So he adds the belt: “love.” It is possible to have some of the five recommended garments and not have love, but it is impossible to have love and not have all of the five garments. Bruce calls love “the grace that binds all these other graces together.” And that it is. The imperative thrust is continuous: keep putting on love over and over and over again.”

TRANS: What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside. In order to do that you need to know who you are. You need to daily put on the qualities of grace. Cultivate genuine forgiveness and love. And lastly…

4. Immerse Yourself in Christ’s Peace and Truth (vv15–17)

Time doesn’t permit us to spend much on these last verses. But let just give you a few main observations. In verse 15, Paul writes: [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. This verse is often misunderstood as a subjective guide to decision-making. You probably know what that’s like. It’s not uncommon for us to pray that God would give us a peace about what to do in a certain situation. But the context here suggests something different. You see, everything about these verses has to do with our relationship with those in the body. And Paul is essentially saying the rule of Christ is the rule of peace. In other words, if believers share with one another the benefits of the cross, we’ve experienced peace. The cross has made peace between a holy God and sinful man. So why would we fight with each other? It’s like soldiers in the same company who turn against each other. As one commentator put it, “When Christ rules in the heart, his peace will rule in the fellowship.”

He goes on in verse 16, [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. What does it mean to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly? Well it means several things:

One, it implies that the sufficiency of Christ is front and center in our lives. It means that not only the words Christ spoke, but the truths about him are ever on our thoughts and minds. The gospel of Christ is rehearsed daily. It takes up residence in us.

But it also means that our lives are saturated by the Word. That we go beyond mere knowledge to application so that the realities of Christ shape our lives. Practically speaking that means we come together, hear the Word taught and explained, and we then live out the implication. And this really happened in the context of the church. Did you catch that? “Teaching and admonishing one another.” You can’t put on the new self without each other.

But it also means there is a priority of worship. “Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Interesting isn’t it, how Paul connects worship and signing to the Word? So often our criteria of good worship music is based on our preferences of style, and not on the depth of lyrics that proclaim the glorious truths of Christ and his Word.

And so if we want to put on the new self, we need to immerse ourselves in the peace of Christ - the rule of Christ - as well as the truth. It is these two efforts that help us daily to put on Jesus Christ. Do this and humility, meekness, patience, compassion, love - all of those will be more natural.

Lastly, verse 17: [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. In many ways this is a summary statement of this entire paragraph. Notice, everything - every area of life - should be brought into submission to the rule and reign of Christ. Why? What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside.

CONCLUSION What we wear on the outside, should be a display of what’s on the inside. Perhaps you’re realizing today that you don’t have the right attire? Christ offers you the garments of his righteousness!