"PASSAGES TO PONDER"

Apparel Of Christ

INTRODUCTION
  1. In this series, "Passages To Ponder", we have briefly examined these passages so far...
    1. "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom" - Mt 5:3-12
    2. "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23
    3. "Qualities Of Love" - 1Co 13:1-13
    4. "Works Of The Flesh" - Ga 5:19-21
    5. "Fruit Of The Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23
    6. "Unity Of The Spirit" - Ep 4:4-6
  2. Summarizing these passages, we have pondered...
    1. The character and blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven
    2. The source of evil and sin that defiles mankind
    3. The kind of love that is possible in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ
    4. The works of the flesh that can prevent one from entering the kingdom of God
    5. The fruit born in the life of those led by the Spirit of God
    6. The unity of the Spirit which we must be diligent to preserve

[Our next to last passage in this series describes the "Apparel Of Christ" (Col 3:12-17). Note first...]

  1. THE CONTEXT
    1. CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST...
      1. In verse one Paul writes "If then you were raised with Christ" - Col 3:1
      2. "If" here is the condition of the first class, assumed as true - Robertson's Word Pictures
      3. We were raised with Christ in baptism - Col 2:12-13
      -- Being raised with Christ offers new opportunities!
    2. CHRISTIANS ARE TO SEEK THINGS ABOVE...
      1. Where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand - Col 3:1
      2. Setting our minds on things above, not on earthly things - Co 3:2
      3. For in Christ we died; another allusion to baptism - Col 3:3; cf. Ro 6:3-4
      4. Our life is now in Christ; hidden to the world, but one day to be made evident to all - Col 3:3-4
      -- Being raised with Christ should lead to a new mindset!
    3. CHRISTIANS ARE TO PUT OFF THE OLD MAN...
      1. By putting to death fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness - Col 3:5
      2. For God's wrath will come on those who practice such things - Col 3:6
      3. We once walked in such things, but now we are to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying - Col 3:7-9
      4. Such sins we examined in "Defilements Of The Heart" and "Works Of The Flesh"
      -- Being raised with Christ should lead to a new lifestyle!
    4. CHRISTIANS ARE TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN...
      1. Renewed in knowledge according to image of God who created us - Col 3:10
      2. No longer Greek nor Jew, etc., but like Christ - Col 3:11
      -- Being raised with Christ should lead to Christlikeness!

    [What Christlikeness entails is seen as we now consider the "Apparel Of Christ" in Col 3:12-17; that is, those things that we should put on (Grk., clothe) as "God's elect people, holy and beloved"...]

  2. THE MEANING
    1. THE NECESSARY APPAREL...
      1. Tender mercies (bowels of mercy, KJV)
        1. Grk., splagchnon {splangkh'-non} oiktirmos {oyk-tir-mos'}
        2. The first word literally means "bowels...for the bowels were regarded by the Hebrews as the seat of the tender affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion"
        3. The second word describes "compassion, pity, mercy"
        4. Thus we are to have "bowels in which compassion resides", or as we might say today, a heart of compassion
      2. Kindness
        1. Grk., chrestotes {khray-stot'-ace}
        2. Gentleness, kindness
      3. Humility (humbleness of mind, KJV)
        1. Grk., tapeinophrosune {tap-i-nof-ros-oo'-nay}
        2. The having a humble opinion of one's self; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind
      4. Meekness
        1. Grk., praotes {prah-ot'-ace}
        2. Gentleness, mildness, meekness
      5. Longsuffering
        1. Grk., makrothumia {mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah}
        2. Patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
      6. Bearing with one another (forbearing one another, KJV)
        1. Grk., anechomai {an-ekh'-om-ahee}
        2. To sustain, to bear, to endure
      7. Forgiving one another
        1. Grk., charizomai {khar-id'-zom-ahee}
        2. To do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to, gratify; to grant forgiveness, to pardon
        3. We must forgive just as the Lord forgave us!
      8. Love, the bond of perfection (bond of perfectness, KJV)
        1. Grk., agape {ag-ah'-pay}
        2. Active good will, benevolence
        3. "which binds them all together in perfect unity" (NIV)
        4. The perfect tie that binds the other virtues together (like a belt binds pieces of clothing)
        5. Without love, the other virtues cannot last; with it, they can be easily maintained
        -- Such is the spiritual apparel we are to adorn in our life with Christ!
    2. THE NECESSARY ACCESSORIES...
      1. The peace of God - Col 3:15
        1. We are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts
        2. For in Christ, who is our peace, has made us one body - cf. Ep 2:13-16
        3. For which we should be thankful!
      2. The word of Christ - Col 3:16
        1. We are to let the word of Christ dwell us in richly in all wisdom
        2. By teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
        3. As we sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord
      3. The authority of Christ - Col 3:17
        1. We are to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
        2. That is, by His authority
        3. With an attitude of gratitude (giving thanks to God)
        -- These "accessories" will reinforce the spiritual apparel we are to put on!

      [Properly adorned with the "Apparel Of Christ", we will live up to our calling as "God's elect people, holy and beloved" (Col 3:12). Finally, a few thoughts regarding...]

  3. THE APPLICATION
    1. ADORNMENT BEGINS WITH BEING RAISED WITH CHRIST...
      1. The premise in this passage is that we have been raised with Christ - Col 3:1
      2. Which, as noted earlier, involves baptism - cf. Col 2:11-12
      3. For in baptism we put on Christ (in principle) - cf. Ga 3:27
      -- Only then can we really put on the new man (in practice)
    2. ADORNMENT REQUIRES A NEW MIND SET...
      1. Seeking those things above, where Christ is - Col 3:1
      2. A mind set on things above, not on things on the earth - Col 3:2
      3. As Paul wrote elsewhere, a mind set on things:
        1. Virtuous and praiseworthy - cf. Php 4:8
        2. Of the Spirit, not of the flesh - cf. Ro 8:5-8
        -- Only then can we really put off the old man and put on the new man
    3. ADORNMENT REQUIRES A CONCENTRATED EFFORT...
      1. It does not come naturally, without effort
      2. We must cast off the old man with its works of darkness- cf. Ro 13:12-13
      3. We must make the effort to put on the new man (the Lord Jesus Christ) - cf. Ro 13:14
      4. As Paul wrote elsewhere, we must work out our salvation - cf. Php 2:12-13
      -- We have God's aid, but not without diligent effort on our part!
CONCLUSION
  1. What a wonderful opportunity God has given us...
    1. To be raised with Christ, forgiven of all sin!
    2. To put aside the old man, with its sinful corruption!
    3. To put on the new man, created in the image of Christ!
  2. But is an opportunity only for those who avail it by...
    1. Dying with Christ in baptism
    2. Setting one's mind on things above
    3. Putting off sinful conduct
    4. Adorning the "Apparel Of Christ"

May passages like Col 3:12-17 motivate us to take advantage of this God-given opportunity...!