Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
COLOSSIANS
A small letter with a large meaning
Sermon 10
Clothe Yourself
Colossians 3:12-17
When old, dirty, ragged clothes are discarded, it is normal for them to be replaced by clothes, if not new, which are at least in wearable condition. They may be ‘hand-me-downs’ or bought in a used clothing store. But God doesn’t give ‘hand-me-downs’ or Goodwill duds. The clothes He gives are ‘brand-spanking’ new, made to order for each and every one of His children. They are all contained in the newly-created holy nature which the Scripture calls, “the new man.” That “new man”, though a spiritual baby, has the ability, first of all, to discard the rags of sin, and then to dress himself with the sparkling new clothing created in him by His Father. That clothing is part and parcel with the new nature.
God’s children are His “elect.” He has chosen each of them in Christ before the foundation of the world. See Ephesians 1:4. The new nature He creates in them is “holy”, totally without blemish. He loves them with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3) and has put His love in them. See Romans 5:5.
Because God loves His children and because they have His love abiding in them, He enjoins them to clothe themselves with: (1) “bowels of mercy”, compassion, the deep feeling of sympathy, even empathy, with one who is suffering; (2) “kindness”, mercy in action; (3) “humbleness of mind”, true, not pretended, humility (see Romans 12:3); (4) “meekness”, gentle and mild in word and deed, “power under control”; (5) “longsuffering”, “whereby a person patiently bears the evil words and actions of others, and is not easily provoked to wrath by them, but puts up with injuries, and sits down contented with the ill usage he meets with” (John Gill); (6) “forbearing one another”, overlooking, bearing with, enduring the faults in others, not seeking revenge for an offense given; (7) “forgiving one another”, for all offenses, being ready without hesitation to extend forgiveness when it is asked by those against whom there is a legitimate complaint, “even as Christ forgave”; He who had many more causes for complaint against us than we could ever have against anyone forgave us the instant we asked; (8) “charity”, God’s love, a self-sacrificing, unselfish, giving love, the “bond” which hold all the others together and makes them useful in the purpose for which they are intended, making them real and not hypocritical; (9) “peace of God”, the umpire which oversees and controls all the other graces, applying them at the proper times “in your hearts” (see Psalm 28:3; 55:21; Jeremiah 9:8), “to which you were called”, both in your hearts and with one another (see Mark 9:50) “in one body”, the body of Christ of which all believers are members; (10) “be thankful”, an attitude of gratitude to God for everything (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20).
To do these things requires a conscious effort, including receiving and retaining the “word of Christ”, letting it make a permanent home in you. Listen, read, meditate upon, memorize the Lord’s word repetitively. Learn it all, the whole counsel of God “in all wisdom”. With that wisdom, teach and admonish one another in the body of Christ, specifically the local church, using “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”. The music of the church must, absolutely must, be scriptural. Otherwise, “teaching and admonishing” will be to no avail. There is no place in the church for entertainment.
With the voice, sing from the heart. Otherwise the songs are just so much noise to God, no matter how pleasing they may sound to the human ear. God must be the sole object of our praise and adoration. The purpose of our singing is to please Him, not human hearers.
Everything believers do in the course of their lives on earth is to be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus”; i.e., according to His word, His commands, His counsel, His will. Their prayer should be, “Lord, Thy will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.” If there is anything that prayer does not include, then it should neither be done nor said.
Believers’ lives should be lived with a continual attitude of overflowing gratitude in everything, their thanks being directed “to God the Father,” who, through Christ, is the Source of everything they are, everything they have. He is the Giver of “every good and every perfect gift (James 1:17), yes, of life itself. Believers prayers of thanksgiving, as with all their prayers, must be by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Mediator between man and God, who accepts nothing from anyone except through His Son.