Put On The New Self - Part One

January 27, 2002 Preacher: Randy Smith Series: Colossians

Scripture: Colossians 3:12–15

Transcript

Put On The New Self-Part One

Colossians 3:12-15
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Pastor Randy Smith



Throughout the first two chapters in Colossians, Paul has made it crystal clear who we are in Christ. Because of our union with Him, Christians have adopted a new status. We have spent considerable time thus far discussing this status, or our position in Christ: saints (1:2), transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (1:13), holy and blameless and beyond reproach (1:22), completeness in Him (2:10), raised up with Him through faith (2:12).

But you may say, saints (1:2)? Who am I in comparison with Saint Paul or Saint John? Transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (1:13)? I may be gullible, but this sure doesn't look like heaven. Holy and blameless and beyond reproach (1:22)? If that is true of every Christian, why is being "above reproach" a necessary requirement for leadership? Complete in Him (2:10)? I sure don't feel complete, if anything my life feels very incomplete; I can't even balance my checking account. Raised up with Him through faith (2:12)? Raised up, present tense? I haven't moved. My feet are growing roots on this earth.

How do we explain this apparent contradiction? Is everything for the Christian a done deal? In many ways you are forced to answer yes, based on what I just shared in Colossians. But in many other ways you are forced to answer no from other verses in Colossians. If we are already complete, why is Paul running around in 1:28 trying to make every man complete in Christ? Additionally, why am I called to be "built up" and "established" in Christ (2:7) if I am already holy, blameless and beyond reproach?

Here's the answer. Positionally, every Christian is complete in Christ. All are equally justified and equally sanctified. The perfect righteousness that clothes every Christian is a result of Christ's death on the cross. When we put our faith in Jesus, all our sins are forgiven (past, present and future), and we receive His righteousness. Without His righteousness, no one would ever make it to heaven. So when an individual truly becomes a Christian by receiving Christ, everything is positionally complete in the eyes of God. For those of you in Christ this morning, the progression is thus: the moment you put your faith in Jesus, all your sins are forgiven, and you are clothed with Christ's righteousness. Therefore, you are holy and beyond reproach in the sight of God, you will spend eternity with God, and you have complete salvation.

No other religion in the world can make these marvelous claims. Every one, but Christianity, has you working your way to God, only to hope at the end of your life that you did enough to find yourself acceptable in His sight. What a disheartening way to go through life, and what a blasphemous lie to believe that a sinful individual can work his or her way to a holy God. According to the Scriptures, our "righteous deeds" are nothing but "filthy rags" in the sight of God. All the righteous deeds in the world can never change an individual's heart. And God, as you know, is in the business of examining the heart.

Salvation is often described in the Bible by one word…a gift! But (and here's the other side of the coin) with that gift comes responsibility, a responsibility to grow practically into the positional status we have received from God. John MacArthur put it like this, "A righteous identity must issue in righteousness behavior. Such behavior is the outward manifestation of the inward transformation, and it is the only sure proof that such transformation has taken place." If there were no ethical expectations from God, if everything was a done deal the moment we believed, the book of Colossians would stop in chapter 2. Rather, Paul knows that God expects us to practically mature into our position in Christ as saints. Therefore chapters 3 and 4 list the wardrobe that Christians are to be wearing and will be wearing if they are truly being transformed by the Holy Spirit. Two essential questions will be answered this morning… How do we put on the holy wardrobe that should characterize our position in Christ? And what specific garments constitute this wardrobe?

1. HOW TO PUT ON (3:12a)

Let's begin with how we are to apply the new wardrobe. Paul bases the motivation for godly living on our position in Christ. "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col. 3:1-2). "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God…. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to (the plethora of sins that follow)…" (Col. 3:3,5). Now you can see why Paul said in this morning's text, "And so (based on all we've studied in Colossians) as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on (and a list of virtues follow)" (Col. 3:12).

Again, what is the motivation for godly living? Our position in Christ! We are, as it says in verse 12: chosen (God's free sovereign choice of unmerited favor), holy (set apart from sin and devoted to God…this is where we get the terms "saints"/holy ones/set apart ones), beloved (objects of God's special love…God has a common love for the world, but a special love for the church. Only His children are called beloved in the Scriptures). These three terms are also mentioned together in Ephesians 1:4-5. "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will" (Eph. 1:4-5).

Not only do these three terms describe our position in Christ, but fascinatingly they were previously reserved exclusively for Israel according to the Old Testament. For example, in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 we read, "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." In the New Testament, these three words, chosen, holy and beloved are now applied to Gentiles. The mere thought of that would have been was unthinkable to the Jews! Yet a major paradigm shift has occurred in the redemptive workings of God. The status of favored nation, which once applied to Israel, now applies to the church. We are chosen, we are holy, and we are beloved. That is our position as Paul reminds us; therefore, live accordingly!

So what motivation do we have for godly living? We have a new position in Christ! But as we also have learned previously, God has given us a new heart that desires the things above and has distaste for the things of this world that we once enjoyed. We have a life that died with Christ (2:20), and now lives for Christ (3:4). We have a life (3:10) that is forever being renewed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Jesus Christ. And as God is working in and renewing His children, we are to be forever putting off the old self and putting on the new.

Two weeks ago we looked at some of those deeds from the old self. By no means are these lists exhaustive. Verse 5 lists the sexual sins: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, and idolatry. Verses 8 and 9 list the social sins: anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech and lying. Each of these sins are defined and expanded for personal examination in a handout available in the rear of the church. But the bottom line is this- we are dead to these sins (3:5)! They provoke the wrath of God (3:6) and characterize our former manner of life (3:7). For these reasons, we are to put them all aside (3:8). Col. 3:9 says we have laid aside the old self with its evil practices.

So now what? Here is where many Christians stop. I quit swearing. I quit getting drunk. I quit cheating on my income tax forms. I quit abusing my spouse. I quit yelling at my kids. That's good, but it doesn't end there. We never simply "put off" and stop. This creates a vacuum. What an easy way to fall back into the sin. Rather, we "put off" the vices and (here's the new material) "put on" the virtues; or we put off the dirty clothes and put on the clean clothes. The Christian life is an ongoing process of "putting off" and "putting on," and that is how we are conformed into the image of Christ. Our practice moves us ever closer to our position. Put off the old self that characterizes our sinful state and put on the new self that characterizes our saintly state. The two continually work hand-in-hand.

Let me show you an example as this principle is repeated elsewhere in Scripture. Let's begin reading in Ephesians 4:20. "But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life , you lay aside the old self , which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind , and put on the new self , which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore , laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. [Put off falsehood; put on truthful speech.] Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. [Put off sinful anger; put on righteous anger zealous for God's glory.] Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. [Put off stealing to hurt others; put on working to help others.] Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. [Put off words that tear others down; put on words that build others up.] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. [Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander; put on kindness, tenderness and forgiveness.]" (Eph. 4:20-31).

As a footnote, here's where our world, championed by the ACLU, is killing our society. Not only do they have everyone putting off God, but also they are not filling the vacuum with any positive "put on." Naturally sin is filling the void. So our world is doing exactly the opposite of what the Bible commands. They are putting off God and putting on self.

2. WHAT TO PUT ON (3:12b-14)

Let's return to our text in Colossians. Two weeks ago I described what we are to "put off." Already this week I have described the motivation and process of "putting off" and "putting on." I'd like to finish the message today, as we move to point two, specifically with what we are to put on.

Beginning in verse 12, "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

Allow me to briefly identify these 8 virtues of godly living. These are the clothes that should characterize our new life in Christ: Heart of Compassion is a merciful, sympathetic, heartfelt tenderness. Kindness is gracious, generous sensitivity expressed toward others triggered by a genuine care for their feelings and desires. Humility is a lowliness of mind, a complete absence of self-exaltation; it was Christianity that elevated this one to a virtue. Gentleness is meekness or strength under control. Patience is long-suffering in the face of personal insult or injury. Bearing With One Another is enduring with others without complaint. Forgiving Each Other is a promise to not hold another's wrong against him or her. Love is the crowning grace which is the fulfillment of the law.

I wish not to spend any more time identifying these specific virtues as I feel they are self-explanatory. Additionally, much of my research is presented on the insert for you to read and meditate on in the quietness of your own heart. However I would like to share 6 overarching themes that characterize these virtues, which the Lord revealed to me in my study this week. I trust these observations will make the virtues more meaningful.

1. All these virtues can only be worn in a community

It's easy to be patient when nobody is aggravating me. It's easy to be kind when my objective is to serve myself. It's easy to be forgiving when no one has wronged me. I can think about all I need to do, and even succeed when no one is around. I'm very good at that! But it's a whole different story when I'm immersed with a bunch of sinners who think as much in the flesh as I.

Is there anybody in this room that does not know that a Christian is to be patient ? Or a Christian is to be kind ? Or a Christian is to be forgiving ? I mean this is Christianity 101; this is milk! Then why don't we do it when we are around other people? The true test of these traits is community involvement; and a healthy community can't exist without these traits. Do you know how many Christian counselors would be out of a job if Christians simply "put off" and "put on" as they are expected to? Beloved, some of you do not need more counseling; you simply need to quit sinning! I have never met anyone who has put off the sexual sins and social sins and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love and still had relational problems in their marriage.

The same that applies to the marriage relationship also applies to the church relationship. You don't have a personal relationship with Jesus; you have a corporate relationship with Jesus. The Scriptures say we are members of His body and therefore united with each other. That's why these "put-ons" are community traits given by God not to practice by ourselves, but to practice within the community.

There is no greater opportunity to practice the "put ons" and no greater opportunity to become better at the "put ons," than in the Christian community. We can't "clothe ourselves," a present imperative, with these traits in isolation. For in isolation we have no need for clothes.

2. The Christian virtues are not a sign of weakness

Anybody can walk in the deeds of the flesh, sexual lust, pride, anger, slander, gossip… those are easy! Many of us became very good at those things in our former manner of life without even trying!

However, how easy is it to forgive someone when they have wronged you for the 50th time and blame you for 100% of the problem? How easy is it to bear with all people: those who have different interests and viewpoints, people who don't always agree with you, those who smell funny on the streets and are boring to listen to, those who continually hurt you and keep coming back to you for help? How easy is it to serve another without expecting anything in return, caring only that God sees your good deeds? How easy is it to respond to another's evil with good? How easy is it to love the unlovable and even our enemies?

Oh, don't tell me the Christian virtues are for wimps. They are for the disciplined. They are for real men and women who love God and seek to live for His glory.

3. These virtues mark the Character of God Himself

Did you ever wonder why God has us put off certain deeds and put on others? I mean, why are the lists drafted the way they are? Why is something right and another thing wrong? Is it that God simply doesn't want us to have any fun? Is He a celestial killjoy?

Obviously not. He wants you to be happy in Him! And the only way to be happy in Him is to be like Him. So God's purpose to conform us to the image of Christ is not only for His glory, but also for our good! Therefore, our ultimate goal is to be like Christ, not to "be like Mike (Jordan)." Christian" means "little Christs." Is Christ immoral? Is Christ impure? Is Christ evil? Perish the thought. Rather is Christ forgiving? Is Christ kind? Is Christ gentle? Is Christ humble? Obviously! He is the epitome of these virtues! Therefore we are to be an imitator of God (Eph. 5:1). We are not only to let our name "Christian" characterize us, but we are primarily to let our character characterize us as a child of God. Like Father, like son and daughter.

4. These virtues are a summary of the two dominant themes that should mark every Christian, the fruit of the Spirit and love.

In Galatians 5 we read, "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, (remember the "put offs") which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (They are not even in the family). But the fruit of the Spirit (the mark that God has given you His Spirit and is transforming your life) is love (Col. 3) , joy, peace, patience (Col. 3) , kindness (Col. 3) , goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (Col. 3) , self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:18-24). If God's Holy Spirit indwells you (as He does every Christian), His Spirit will make you HOLY. He will bear fruit in your life; He will make you like Christ.

If one is not bearing the fruit of holiness (fruit of the Spirit) and has a greater desire for the deeds of the flesh, then there is good evidence to say that he or she is not indwelt with the Spirit, and therefore not a child of God. God is in the business of making you more holy, more like Him!

Furthermore, of all the fruit of the Spirit the greatest is love. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as our self. Paul said in Romans that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:10). In our text, love is "the perfect bond of unity". Also in verse 14 Paul says, "beyond all these things put on love." Without a doubt, love is the crowning grace of the Christian life. But what is love and how do I measure it?

Paul answers that question for us elsewhere, "Love is patient (Col. 3), love is kind (Col. 3) It is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant (Col. 3), does not act unbecomingly (proud) (Col. 3); it does not seek its own (Col. 3), is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered (Col. 3), does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things (Col. 3), believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (Col. 3)" (1 Cor. 13:4-7). In summary, the virtues we are to "put on" are simply the fruit of the Spirit working itself out in our lives, primarily characterized by love.

5. Ethical demands don't come from a list, they come from a new nature

The Tennessee farmer once said, "What comes up in the bucket is usually what's down in the well." Meaning sexual immorality, anger, abusive speech, etc. are all tokens of an inner wickedness. They are simply a manifestation of what is in our heart. No ethical list can change a heart. You'll remember in 2:21 when Paul rebuked the false teachers for attempting such a feat. Ethical lists may suppress sinful behavior or may even make sinful behavior more socially acceptable. But unfortunately, the sinful heart still remains. The only remedy for a sinful heart is a spiritual transformation of the heart, a transformation from the inside out. Once the inside is clean, the deeds that the heart manifests on the outside will be clean as well. Everything, as Jesus said, is an overflow of the heart. As humans, our primary need is not for lists, but rather for a new heart!

Commonly the illustration is given of plants and the type of fruit they bear. In order to have good fruit, I need to have a good plant. Apples will not grow on thistles! We are like plants, and the type of fruit we produce is contingent upon the type of plant we are. An ethical list will not enable a bad plant to produce good fruit. In order to produce good fruit, God must change us into a good plant. Therefore, success in these ethical lists won't come through human effort. Success will come naturally upon transformation by God. It will come as a spontaneous product when we put on Christ. An apple tree doesn't have to work very hard to produce an apple. It simply happens, and it's simply expected.

That's why I believe Paul's focus (with these lists) is more on what a believer is , rather than what he must do . I think the lists are more descriptive than prescriptive . Meaning, I don't come to these lists and say, this is what I need to do because I am a Christian. Rather, I say these fruits characterize my life because I am a Christian, and they give testimony to God's renewing and transforming power in my life. In this God gets all the glory! The "put ons" should be as natural for me as a good tree producing good fruit. And good fruit, as we previously discussed, is simply a by-product of the Holy Spirit.

6. We are to practice these virtues to each other as God practices them to us.

Beyond the power of God accomplishing these virtues in our lives, the greatest motivation we have to practice them with each other is the simple fact that we receive them from God. In other words, how can you not give to others when God has given so much to you?

Allow me to show you what I am talking about. Paul said in Titus 2, "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Ti. 3:4-5). In Romans he said, "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Rom. 2:4)? Has God been kind to you? Then how can you not be kind to another created in His image? Is it not somewhat hypocritical to take so much from God and give so little to others?

Take another virtue for instance. 1 Timothy 1:16 says, "And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience , as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life". In 2 Peter 3:15 we read, "And regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation." Again, has God been patient to you? Then how can you not be patient to another?

Let's consider the virtue of mercy. "Be merciful , just as your Father is merciful " (Lk. 6:36). "You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful " (Jas. 5:11). Has the Lord been merciful to you? Then how can you not be merciful with another?

Finally, let's take one example straight out of our text this morning. "Forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you" (Col. 3:13). "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32). Has the Lord forgiven you? Then how can you not forgive another?

Is it too much for God to expect us to give to others what He has lavished in our own lives? Is God not perfectly fair and just to expect these virtues in our response and treatment toward others, especially those holy, chosen and beloved in the family of God? You have just sought the Lord's forgiveness for the same sin for the 800th time, and He forgave you from a divine perspective, and you cannot forgive someone for hurting you for the 8th time. "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Mt. 6:14-15). Sense a little accountability?

The truth is this, we are accountable to give to others what God has given to us. Maybe the best illustration comes from the Bible itself. In Matthew 18 we read, "Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' (The Jewish rule was 3 times, Peter thought he was safe, he doubled it and added one.) Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents (about 10 million dollars). But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii (about 18 dollars); and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' (should have sounded familiar) He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall my heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart'" (Mt. 18:21-35).

The parable relates to patience, compassion, and forgiveness, but any of the Christian virtues could be inserted into its place. God has given you so much, beloved. How can you simply take and not give a small portion back to those whom He loves. Do you not realize that God has blessed you to be a conduit of His grace and mercy, not a cul-de-sac that only takes and never returns?

So what have we covered? We examined the motivation and process of "putting on" and "putting off." We examined some specific virtues that need to be "put on." Finally, we examined some overarching themes that characterize the "put ons." In light of Martin Luther King's birthday, I wish to conclude with a practical illustration. The story is about John Perkins, a black man from the south. This is an excerpt from the book, Let Justice Roll Down .

"John Perkins tells how he was beaten in a Mississippi jail, being repeatedly kicked and stomped on as he lay in a fetal position for protection. The beating went on and on as he writhed in a pool of his own blood while inebriated officers took turns, using their feet and blackjacks. At one point an officer took an unloaded pistol, put it to Perkins's head, and pulled the trigger. Then another bigger man beat him until he was unconscious. As the night wore on, it got worse. It was a barbarous torture, a great, substantive reason to hate. But this is what happened, as John Perkins tells it:

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. I felt strong again. Stronger than ever. What doesn't destroy me makes me stronger. I know it's true. Because it happened to me."

May we likewise adopt the same attitude. May the "put offs" and "put ons" characterize our life regardless of the circumstances we face. May they testify to the working of God in our lives all to His glory!