Colossians 3:12-17 The Proper Development of a Christian Life

The Proper Development of a Christian Life

Colossians 3:12-17

There’s a movement of new churches rising across the country, and guess what they all have in common? They all don’t believe in God! Yes, atheist churches and even atheist megachurches are becoming more and more popular as people want the warm feelings of a church experience they grew up with, just without God. Sanderson Jones, one of the leaders of Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles, said, “There was so much about it [referencing a Christian church’s Christmas caroling event] that I loved, but it’s a shame because at the heart of it, it’s something I don’t believe in,” Jones said. “If you think about church, there’s very little that’s bad. It’s singing awesome songs, hearing interesting talks, thinking about improving yourself and helping other people—and doing that in a community with wonderful relationships. What part of that is not to like?” Atheist churches, like Jones’ Sunday Assembly, continue to grow in America.

Even those who don’t believe in God understand the power and draw of things he ordains. Singing songs, talking meaningfully to one another, caring for one another, being in a committed community, and doing works of charity to our neighbors—these activities are attractive to everyone. The reason why is because these activities represent who God is and the expression of himself through his human creation. The only problem is that these atheistic churches leave the original source out of it.¹

If I am going to live the Christian life the right way, I need to get these three verbs in the correct order.

Some say that I need to DO things to be a Christian. Still others say that I need to HAVE to be a Christian. But the reality is that I start with BE. Let me explain what I mean.

DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS IN THREE STAGES

BE (Colossians 3:12-15)

“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved…” (Colossians 3:12, HCSB)

“…Just as the Lord has forgiven you…” (Colossians 3:13, HCSB)

This answers the question about MY PERSONALITY as a Christian.

Paul reminds us that we ARE God’s chosen ones. Are is a form of the verb “to be.”This means that we are already are in state of being. We are God’s children. This means that we are holy and loved. God has given us these two qualities.

Holiness means that we one is unique. As I have said before, God’s nature of holiness derives from His love. By this I mean that He is holy because He is loving You see in this verse that we are holy because we are loved. We are God’s children because God is holy because He is loving. He has loved us and He continues to love us. Being loved and holy is part of our new creative make-up as a Christian. This creative make-up is possible because God has forgiven us from our sin. Forgiveness has changed our nature. I AM a different person because of Jesus Christ.

This is why developing my relationship with God is essential to my growth as a Christian. I can only HAVE and DO what God wants after I become who God wants me to BE.

HAVE (Colossians 3:12-15)

“…put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12–15, HCSB)

What I AM makes up my personality as a Christian. This passage also lists a sets of qualities that every Christian HAS.

This answers the question about MY POSSESSION as a Christian.

These qualities are graces which God has bestowed on every person. We HAVE these qualities in abundance. All we have to do is express them. To HAVE as a Christian means that there are qualities which every Christian possesses. These qualities are all a quality of grace which come from God. The grace of God teaches us qualities:

“For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,” (Titus 2:11–12, HCSB)

The grace of God gives us qualities to which we are instructed to HAVE.

EIGHT QUALITIES OF EVERY CHRISTIAN THAT WE POSSESS

1. Compassion

Compassion begins with pity, but it is more. Compassion is that deep response we have when we do something about our feelings of pity. I can feel sorry for you and do nothing about it. Feeling sorry for you may result in my pitying you. But to be moved by your pain, to feel your situation so deeply that I seek to act in your behalf, is compassion.²

2. Kindness

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,” (Titus 3:4, HCSB)

We have seen God be kind to us when it comes to our salvation. We should be kind with others. Kindness is the outworking of our compassion. To be kind means that we care for the good of the other person.

3. Humility

There is an earthiness about this word. “Humus” is the root word for earth and out of that root the word “humble” comes. It has the dimension of meaning “of the earth.”

The humble know who they are. Humility has nothing to do with self-depreciation, or cowering back, nothing to do with self-disgust at our shabby lives; nor is it a downcast, brow-beaten stance. The humble know who they are in relation to God and other persons. They have perspective, soundly estimating their strengths and weaknesses. They flaunt neither their strength nor weakness, but take their place in God’s kingdom without fanfare.

The humble also know their source of power. God’s presence and power in their lives gives them certainty and confidence—certainty and confidence not in the power they hold, but in the Power that holds them.³

While compassion and kindness are qualities that we show to outward to others, humility is a quality we show to others and to God. The person with humbleness of mind thinks of others first and not of himself.⁴

4. Meekness

To be meek does not mean to be weak. It really means to have strength under control.

This word was used to describe a soothing wind, a healing medicine, and a colt that had been broken. In each instance, there is power: a wind can become a storm; too much medicine can kill; a horse can break loose. But this power is under control. The meek person does not have to fly off the handle because he has everything under control.⁵

5. Long-suffering

To be long-suffering is to suffer long with people. This is patience we have with people. It means that when it comes to your temper, you let your fuse get longer before your temper ignites.

This word is literally “long-temper.” The short-tempered person speaks and acts impulsively and lacks self-control. When a person is long-suffering, he can put up with provoking people or circumstances without retaliating. It is good to be able to get angry, for this is a sign of holy character. But it is wrong to get angry quickly at the wrong things and for the wrong reasons.⁶

6. Forbearance

This word literally means “to hold up” or “to hold back.” God is forbearing toward sinners in that He holds back His judgment.

“Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, HCSB)

“God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.” (Romans 3:25, HCSB)

To forebear has the negative meaning, “to refrain or abstain,” or “to control oneself.” But it also has the positive meaning of bearing one, or carrying. Thus one translator substitutes “affirming” for fore-bearing in this text. We are forebearing when we affirm, when we value and respect another.⁷

Meekness, long-suffering, and forbearance go together.⁸

7. Forgiveness

“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32, HCSB)

Two cars were involved in an accident. One of the drivers had insurance; the other didn’t. The driver without insurance also did not have a job, and his license was expired. The insured driver had a choice after he left the scene of the accident. He could live for the rest of his life sour about his messed-up bumper, or he could use his insurance to get his car fixed. He chose to get his car fixed rather than be held hostage by someone else’s lack of insurance.

When we sin, we must lay it before God and admit our sin. If someone has sinned against us, we must relieve them of the sin so that we can move on.³²⁰⁹

God forgave us through the death of His Son Jesus. Forgiveness is a quality which God wants us to show to others. One of the most important characteristics of a Christian is to be forgiving to others. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. Forgiveness also diminishes selfishness. I have to be very self-less to forgive someone else. I have to give to forgive.

8. Love

In a sense, these eight qualities increase in nature. Each of the seven are characteristics of the eighth. All seven qualities are a shade of love. God has given us a loving nature.

This will act as a bond, a word that ‘means the fastening together of separate items which are thus brought together into a unity’.¹⁰

The word “bond” is a medical term used for ligaments that hold the parts of your body together. When the ligaments don’t work, you limp, your knee gives way. When our lives are not filled with the love of Christ, we walk with a spiritual limp; things give way in our life. Love binds together all of these virtues that reflect the character of Jesus.¹¹

DO (Colossians 3:16-17)

“Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:16–17, HCSB)

This answers the question about MY PURPOSE as a Christian.

What we do as a Christian, defines our purpose as a Christian. The five purposes of the Christian are listed in these verses. What we are called to do is listed here:

1. Evangelism – “let the message about the Messiah dwell”

2. Fellowship – “among you”

3. Discipleship – “teaching and admonishing”

4. Worship – “singing…with gratitude”

5. Ministry – “whatever you say or do…in the name of Jesus”

Again, here we have a reminder to take time to listen to God before we do anything. To DO something comes out of who we ARE and our relationship with God, as well as what we HAVE as His possession. As we listen to the Word and take time to worship, God will guide us what to do.