Introduction
Every once in while when I don't feel well or am overly tired, I dress up to work. The idea is that in order to feel the part, I need to look the part. Somehow by putting on certain types of clothes, we might feel and think of ourselves in a particular way. What the Holy Spirit teaches us here is the exact opposite. As far as our identity as a people who believe in Jesus Christ goes, we must put on certain characteristics because they are a true reflection of who we are. What we have here is a heavenly fashion show of what we, as followers of Jesus Christ, must wear.
I. Who We Are – What we put on is a reflection of whom we are.
A. Elect of God
1. In eternity past God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit chose you to be his.
2. He chose you not because he saw something magnificent in you.
a. It was not based on how much he needed you.
b. As a matter of fact he knew your heart better than you do.
Mk. 7:21-23 – For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.
3. He chose you solely based on his sheer grace.
Eph. 1:11-12 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
4. We sit here today in love with Jesus because he brought us to himself despite our wickedness.
B. Holy
1. Separated and consecrated to the Lord.
2. You are a marked people by virtue of your baptism.
3. You have received the seal of the New Covenant and it says, "MINE."
1 Pt. 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once werenot a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
C. Beloved
1. This is the best, most precious description of whom we are.
2. Though it is not explicitly stated, the subject of this love is God – we are beloved by God!
3. The God who created the universe, who holds everything together by the power of his word, who is completely happy and fulfilled in himself, loves you.
Jn. 13:1 – Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
1 Jn. 4:9-10 – In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Titus 3:4-7 – But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
II. What We Should Wear Because of Whom We Are
A. Notice that all of these pieces of spiritual clothing have to do with how we relate to others in the Body of Christ.
1. We have been elected, consecrated, and loved by God in order to live in communion with one another.
2. That's why church membership is so important.
a. By becoming members of a local church, we are saying about us what God says about us.
b. That we were re-created to be part of a body.
B. Tender mercies = compassionate hearts
1. An emotional, caring relationship with those whose lives are hurt and broken.
2. We see that exemplified in Jesus.
Mt. 9:36 – But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
C. Kindness – Readiness to do good, even when it may be undeserved.
Titus 3:4-7 – But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
D. Humility – A posture of lowliness and servanthood.
Mk. 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
E. Meekness
1. Or, "gentleness" in offering help.
2. A non-coercive approach to encouraging change in others' lives.
2 Tim. 2:24-26 – And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and thatthey may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
2 Cor. 10:1a – Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…
F. Longsuffering (patience) – Willingness to take the long view in the face of human weakness.
2 Pt. 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
G. The Spirit tells us now how we put on these 6 pieces of spiritual clothing, 13.
1. Bearing and forgiving.
2. This is the pattern that Christ has given to us.
3. The way we deal with one another is not through bitterness, gossip, and hatred.
4. The way we deal with each other is through forgiveness because that's how Christ deals with us.
Eph. 4:32-5:1 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
H. The ultimate in heavenly fashion is love, 14
1. Love for one another is the ultimate bond.
2. It is the glue that keeps the Body of Christ together.
3. It is the bond of perfection, that is, the bond of completeness.
"Nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy. All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need." Beatles
4. This love is something that, by God's grace, you can have for all in the Body of Christ – it is a command.
I. The rule of peace, 15
1. Harmony around Christ is to be the judge among us.
2. God has made peace with us and enables us to be at peace with each other.
"In its practice of love, forgiveness, and graciousness, the Christian community is to be a showcase of the reconciliation and peace Christ has brought between heaven and earth and within a fractured humanity." Reformation Study Bible
J. Thankfulness, 15
1. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of heavenly fashion.
2. This thankfulness is not an abstract concept.
3. It is thankfulness to God for each one in the Body of Christ – see v. 17.
K. The dwelling of the Word of Christ, 16
1. Notice that the way that the Holy Spirit describes the indwelling of the Word of Christ is not how we would think of it.
a. We would expect to read that for the Word of Christ to dwell richly in us we should read it and memorize it – which the Bible says we should do in other places.
b. But here the Word of Christ dwells richly (abundantly) in us as we minister it to others!
2. As the people of God minister the Word of God to each other, the grace God becomes more abundant in our lives.
3. The idea here is that the Word of Christ governs all our relationships and interactions.
L. In the name of the Lord Jesus, 17.
1. This is kind of like the outer cloak, the piece of clothing that covers all the other clothing.
2. All that we do in our relationships in the Body of Christ (and every other relationship) must be done in the name of Christ.
a. This means that the person and work of Christ is present in that relationship.
b. This means that if we look at the tag of that relationship it says, "Made in heaven and worthy of Christ."
c. This means that what we are doing is Christ's doing.
Conclusion
What a beautiful outfit the Spirit describes here! It is a heavenly outfit worthy of the most beautiful bride. And we as the Bride of Christ must put on as we relate to one another, not because we want to become something, but because we ARE the elect, holy, and beloved of God.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2013/11/heavenly-fashion-col-312-17.html
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