COLOSSIANS 3:8-14
CHANGE YOUR FILTHY CLOTHES
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
We need to take off sinful behaviors like we
change out of dirty clothes into clean ones. What is the difference between
anger and wrath? Anger begins with frustration,
hurt, and bitterness. It is a small fire and if left to smolder can mushroom
into blazing wrath. Wrath is often displayed via violent outbursts. One example
would be domestic violence, but wrath comes out in other relationships as well.
God’s wrath is the righteous indignation against sin, but man’s
wrath is rarely, if ever, righteous.
James 1:19-20 (NIV) My dear brothers and
sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak
and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the
righteousness that God desires.
What is malice? Malice
is evil intention without reason or cause.
Webster’s
1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:
MAL'ICE,
noun [Latin malitia, from malus, evil.] Extreme enmity of heart, or
malevolence; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal
gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.
According to John MacArthur, malice in this
verse derives from a Greek term denoting general moral evil. An example would be Hitler who wanted to kill all disabled
people, all Jews, all who did not fit his profile of perfection. His intent was
morally evil.
We usually think of blasphemy as denying the
power of God, speaking against the Holy Spirit. We looked up the particular
word used here:
Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
blasphēmia988
– vilification (espec. against God) – blasphemy, evil speaking, railing
Blasphemy can also mean slander against a
person, assaulting someone’s character, which
ultimately is against God since we are created in His image.
What does Paul mean by “filthy
communication?” This can range from dirty jokes
to pornography. Nothing vile or obscene should come from a Christians’ mouths,
or be produced via any means.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have
put off the old man with his deeds;
It seems that being truthful with each other
would be a no-brainer. Believers should be honest and
above reproach. All the things we are instructed to “put off,” to strip away,
are evidences of our old nature.
Psalm 34:13 (NIV) …keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Once we have taken off the old garments of
our life before Jesus, we dress in the clothing of the Christian which is the
righteous of Christ. We have these new clothes because
of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. They are in our closet, ready to
wear, but we choose daily whether to put them on or to walk around in the old,
filthy rags.
Let’s look at verse 10 again in another
translation:
Colossians 3:10 (CJB) and have put on the new
self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer
and closer to the image of its Creator.
Sanctification is going on and will be going
on until we see Jesus face to face, and then we will see ourselves as we shall
be – just like Jesus. Living the Christian life should be a journey of coming
closer and closer to Christ, being made into His image. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are not
instantaneously made perfect. As Susan said, it is a process. God SEES us
through the righteousness of Christ, but becoming righteous is a lifelong
process.
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ
is all, and in all.
There are no longer divisions of race, class,
or gender; but we are united in Jesus as the family of God. No person is superior or inferior: there is no caste system
among believers. Christ is all we need and His
Holy Spirit resides in each believer. If we harbor prejudice against another
believer, we are in essence being prejudiced against our Lord since He lives in
each of us.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy
and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering;
Once we have taken off the old nature, we
need to put on the new. As true believers, chosen by God and surrendered to the
Lordship of Jesus, we should be changed within and exemplify certain attributes. What does
Paul mean by “bowels of mercies?” This refers to a
person’s heart of compassion. We should be tender-hearted toward the needs of
others. A person that comes to mind as demonstrating this to the nth degree is
Mother Teresa.
We looked up the Greek word for “kindness” to
get the shades of meaning:
Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:
chrēstŏtēs5544-
usefulness, i.e. moral excellence (in character or demeanor): gentleness,
goodness, kindness
Kindness is preferring others. Some examples
would be allowing someone to move in front in line when they have only a few
items or seem to be in a hurry. Encouraging others, being there for them in a
time of need, is also kindness. A kind person intentionally looks for something
good to say about everyone.
Humbleness of mind – the opposite of being
puffed up. This makes me think of Paul’s instruction to the Philippian
believers:
Philippians 2:3 (AMP) Do nothing from
selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with
[an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard
others as more important than yourselves.
What is meekness?
Webster’s
1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
Meekness
MEE'KNESS,
noun Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and
provocations.
1.
In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will,
without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and
refractoriness. Galatians 5:23.
I
beseech you by the meekness of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1.
Meekness
is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems
to have understood or recommended.
Meekness is a submissive attitude toward God and each other as opposed to haughtiness and
arrogance.
Longsuffering – The believer can endure the monotonous, seemingly continuous, challenges of this life because we know that Jesus is in
control of everything and we have sure hope of relief.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so
also do ye.
We are to be patient with each other and
forgive as Christ forgave. How did Christ forgive? Jesus forgave us completely and without strings attached.
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
Charity, love for the Lord and our brothers
and sisters in the family of God causes
everything to function as it was intended by the Lord, according to His perfect
will. God’s love flowing through His children to one another is the glue that
holds the body of Christ, the Messianic community, together.
Review the change of clothing:
TAKE OFF PUT
ON
Anger Mercy
Wrath Kindness
Malice Humbleness
Filthy Communication Meekness
Lying Longsuffering
Forgiveness
Love
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