The new man, the new creation, is not only new but is perpetually being renewed. God is penetrating deeper and deeper into each new man, transforming us into a fuller and higher likeness of Jesus Christ. This personal relationship knowledge, is true knowledge. It is the knowledge that makes us, day by day, more like Christ. And it continues to take place as a believer comes to a personal, deep knowledge of and fellowship with Christ.
In the realm of the new man, where people are being transformed into the unifying image of Christ, these distinctions or race, cultures and social classes no longer have any real significance. The Christian community will be different but theses differences are not to be barriers to fellowship.
"Christ is all, and in all" teaches us that Christ is the reason for our unity. Christ and Christ-likeness is what we need to focus on, not our differences. Loyalty to Him must take precedence over any and all earthly ties. I believe that the church today would do well to learn from this, so many are divided on even the smallest, insignificant issues. Christians as the chosen of God have the responsibility to live a godly life.
Salvation sets the believer apart exclusively for Jesus Christ. When believers run from God to love the world, the flesh, they fail to act differently than the world, then violating the very purpose of their calling.
Believers are the beloved of God, which means they are the special recipients
of His agape love. God’s love involves Him doing what is eternally best
for us though not necessarily what we desire or what is easiest. It is a
commitment to remain true to us, in all the circumstances of our life.
As we begin to return God’s love, we will grow in our obedience to Him
and mature, drawing nearer, in our walk with Him. Though God loves each of
us just as we are, His love motivates us to respond to Him by becoming
who He would have us be and doing what He would have us do. Surrendering our will to His.
The Bible calls beloved believers to take decisive action. We are to clothe ourselves in the virtues of God’s loving grace. Because we have put on the new self, as described in verse 10, we should therefore live according to the traits and attitudes of a born again person.
Paul says in verse 12, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;"
Compassion was certainly characteristic of Jesus. In fact, He was so moved with compassion for people that He wept for them. He was so concerned about the poor that He fed them. He was so concerned about the sick that He healed them. Beloved, based on Christ’s example to us, as Christians, we should be the greatest helpers of the poor, hurt, blind, sick, and needy.
Kindness is closely related to compassion. It is meeting the needs of people on whom we have compassion. It is benevolence in action. The Greek word, "chrēstos," refers to the grace that seeks to touch the whole person, taking the edge off their harsh reality. Jesus used the word in Matthew 11:30, when he said, "My yoke is easy," meaning its not harsh or hard to bear. The kind person is as concerned about his neighbor’s good as he is about his own. God is kind, even to ungrateful and evil people. In fact, it was His kindness that led us to repentance. Kindness was exemplified in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37, who bound the wounds of an enemy, took him to an inn, and spent a good amount of money so that the man could be properly cared for. As Christ's followers, it is an example we too should follow.Paul continues to describe the virtues of a heart filled with grace in verse 13. "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."
Bearing with one another means "to endure, to hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not retaliating." It means not only bearing one anothers burdens, but also putting up with one another. In I Corinthians 4:12, Paul told the Corinthians "and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;" Believers are to exhibit forbearance. However, if you will recall, it did not characterize the Corinthian believers, who were actually taking each other to court.
Believers are to be marked not only by endurance, but also by forgiving each other. The Greek word "charizomenoi," literally means to be gracious, tenderhearted and the text uses a reflexive pronoun, so it literally reads, forgiving yourselves. In other words, the church as a whole, is to be a gracious, mutually forgiving fellowship. The premise of forgiveness includes the idea" just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Christ is the model of forgiveness. Because He has forgiven us, so also must we forgive others. Colossians 3:8-9, refers to times when someone is at fault because of sin, error, or debt. Grudges have no place in a Christian’s life for they may lead to the sins previously mentioned. The Lord Jesus is our pattern for forgiveness, because He forgave all our sins, all our errors, and our debts. He is also the model for the rest of the virtues discussed in this section.
Paul now tells us in verse 14, the most important of all Christian virtues, love. "Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." All of these virtues must flow from love, which in turn is a fruit of the Spirit-filled life. Love is the virtue that bonds all of the other virtues together in our hearts. Nothing is acceptable to God, if not motivated by love, including knowledge, faith, and obedience. Love is the perfect bond, holding them all together in perfect unity. In the catalogue of virtues, love is both the binding and the cover.
In verse 15, Paul teaches us that a heart full of grace is a heart where Christ’s peace is in control. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
Believers are to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts because they are called to peace as members of one body. The closer believers are to Christ and His likeness, the closer they are to each other. In interpersonal relationships peace, God-given tranquility and well-being, should rule ,brabeuetō, meaning to arbitrate, decide every debate, umpire; used only here in the New Testament, kata-brabeuetō, or decide against.. Christ’s followers who have put on the virtues listed in verses 12 through14, are not concerned about disputing everything nor controlling every thing, but with following Christ. They are concerned with letting His peace rule in their hearts and in their church.
Prior to Paul's letter, the believers at Colossae were listening more to man that to God. Let's be honest, obeying man doesn’t bring real peace, only peace with God does that! This kind of peace is referred to as the peace of Christ, because it is the peace only He can bring. Believers were called to live in peace in one body. Individuals who have peace with Christ and in their own hearts will live in unity and harmony with each other. Christians are to be thankful people. In order to maintain a peaceful heart, one has to be thankful. An attitude of gratitude contributes to an enjoyment of spiritual tranquility, whereas grumbling makes for inner and outer agitation. Ingratitude marks the heart of unbelievers, gratitude must come naturally to believers, in response to all God has done for us. Because a spirit of humble gratitude towards God will inevitably affect our relationship with others.
Verse 16, teaches us that a heart full of grace is a heart where Christ’s word is overflowing. This new life that Christians must put on is one in which the Word of Christ dwells richly. Christ’s words were recorded by Spirit-guided apostles. The words of the Bible, God’s written Word, are to dwell in the hearts of believers. Here, Paul calls upon believers to let the Word take up residency and be at home in their lives. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." To let the word of Christ dwell richly is to be accomplished by being filled with the Spirit. The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the Spirit turns the will.
Teaching is the impartation of positive truth about what we are supposed to believe and know. Admonishing is the negative side of teaching. It means to warn people about the wrong beliefs they hold and the consequences of their behavior as a result of these wrong beliefs. They are the result of a life overflowing with the Word of Christ.
Beloved, both of these are my responsibility as your pastor. However, Paul was not writing to a pastor here, he was writing to the church as a whole. Therefore, each of us have a responsibility to teach other persons including our children, our fellow Christians, and others with whom we come in contact. We have a responsibility to warn them. Look, I'll be the first to tell you, it's not always an easy task, however, it is necessary. The best advice that I can offer to you, to know what to teach and the way to recognize when to warn is by filling yourself with Christ’s word. When Word of God richly dwells in us, it produces not only wise knowledge and healthy relationships, but also praise. It generates psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and singing with gratitude and thankfulness in our hearts to God. It is the deep expression of what God has done for us.
Verse 17, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
The simplest, most basic rule of thumb for living the Christian life is to do everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Whether in word or deed, all should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, for His glory. To do everything in the name of Jesus is to act consistently with who He is, what He has show us by example and what He wants. Whatever we do to be done for His glory, we are to live with a thankful spirit. All that we do is to be done without reluctance or despair or legalistic duty, but with giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
In Closing...
Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Some of you may or may not choose to accept that having a heart full of grace will change you and change your outlook on life. I would like to encourage you to give a try for 30 days, before coming to a decision. Whatever happens in your life, find something in that situation for which you can give thanks. I'll be the first to tell you, you may have to look pretty hard at times, but look for something, anything to be thankful for. It may be small, it may be something that believe to be insignificant, but find something to be thankful for in each and every day. And once you've found that thing to be thankful for, do not just keep inside of you, express your thanks and gratitude to the person or persons who are responsible. I believe that your attitude of gratitude will not only have a profound affect you and your outlook on life, but it will also dramatically affect those around you. Try it, what do you have to lose.. Except unthankfulness and ingratitude.
May it be so...
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen