Colossians 3:12-17

Putting on the New - 3:12-17

12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Because none of the above distinctions are valid, all of us must clothe ourselves with what is right and proper.

We are God's chosen ones. God choose to save those who are obedient to Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-5)"Bowels of mercies" (KJV) is a reference to emotions and feelings. SEB "tender feelings" NIV "compassion" Thayer "the viscera, which were thought to be the seat of compassion" Compassion goes to the very heart and seat of the emotions. Without compassion it is not possible to be right with God or man. (1 John 3:17-18)

Kindness has to do with being good. Vine "goodness of heart" See Romans 3:12.

Humbleness is a mental state. ZA "humility of mind and deportment, modesty" Perhaps this is the most difficult trait to acquire. Just when we think we are humble, we lose it. Study 1 Peter 2:5-8.

Meekness is difficult to express in English. It is an internal quality, not an action. Study Matthew 5:5.

We must learn to endure. Thayer "to be of long spirit, enduring misfortunes and troubles, slow to anger" Vine "longsuffering is the quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish" God is longsuffering. (2 Peter 3:9) Love suffers long and still remains kind. (1 Corinthians 14:4)

12 - Because we are chosen of God, we should dress ourselves in compassion, kind disposition, humility, and the inner qualities of gentleness and patience in difficult situations.

13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Paul continues this idea of holding back. SEB "put up with one another" Vine "to hold up, to bear with, endure" Thayer "a holding back, delaying"

We must be forgiving. Phillips "be ready to forgive" Thayer "to do something pleasant or agreeable, to do a favor, gratify, to grant forgiveness, pardon" The idea is that forgiving is not earned or merited. It is a form of the word "grace."

We must not quarrel with each other. Even if your complaint is a valid one, be ready to forgive.

Remember, you too, were forgiven by Christ. Why can't we forgive each other? Study Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 6:9-15. Our forgiveness is directly tied to our willingness to forgive others.

13 - We must learn to put up with each other and forgive each other. If we have a cause to blame someone, learn to be forgiving as Christ has been toward us.

14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Using the metaphor of clothing and getting dressed as a Christian, Paul adds another article of clothing to put on - Love. We must put off some things. We must put on some things. And over all these garments, put on love.

Love is an often abused and misused word today. Love (Greek word "agape") does not describe some emotional feeling or attachment. It is the decision to seek what is best for another. Thayer "to have preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of" Vine "love seeks the welfare of all (Romans 15:2), and works no ill to any (Romans 13:8-10). Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings. It does not always run with the natural inclinations."

There is a stronger bond that holds us together. NEB "to bind together and complete the whole" NIV "bind in perfect unity" Vine "that which binds together" This word is used in the iniquity of Simon in Acts 8:23, and of the peace of unity in Ephesians 4:3. The word "perfect" means complete, full grown, mature. Love is the overcoat that makes us complete.

14 - Love is like an outer garment that covers us. It is the Christian's tie that bind us as we grow to maturity.

15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

There are three types of peace needed in our lives. 1) Peace with ourselves. We must have an understanding of the forgiveness of our sins. 2) Peace with others. 3) There must be peace with God.

Peace must not just be present, it must rule. Peace must be a controlling factor is our actions. The word "rule" is from the same word as "cheat" (2:18). It refers to a referee or umpire in a game. Vine "to act as an umpire, to arbitrate" Paul is now on the positive side of this word. Who writes your rules? Not the self-proclaimed false teacher. Let God and the peace that comes from our relationship with Him be the umpire in our life.

We are in one body. The church is that one body. We are called by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14) to leave the darkness of sin and enter the light of Christ (Colossians 1:13).

Paul keeps reminding us to be grateful. We can not be reminded enough. In everyplace, situation, and difficulty there is much about which to be thankful. How can we be so ungrateful to a God so good? Why do we have so little trouble counting our problems and so much trouble counting our blessings? Keep saying it, Paul. We still need reminding.

15 - Allow God's peace to make the decisions in your heart. This is the life to which you have been called. Always be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Christ should live in us richly. SEB "live among you in an abundant way" Phillips "let Christian teaching live in your hearts" Vine "to dwell in, from 'oikos' - house" The teaching of Christ must take up residence within us. For too many, Christ only comes for an occasional visit.

Each Christian teaches and admonishes others as they sing. This passage rejects the idea of a choir or other group that sings while most listen. NIV "teach and counsel" NEB "instruct and admonish" Vine "teach is the impartation of positive truth; admonished is the call for warning" To warn others is not just for preachers and elders. It is for everyone. (Romans 15:14) In our singing we can warn of sin and judgment to come.

Psalms are sacred songs of Scripture. Generally this category of song is from the poetic passages of the inspired Word, set to music. In NT times they were chants of scripture. "Seek you First" and "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah" are psalms.

Hymns are songs of praise, usually addressed to God. Some hymns are about God or Christ. All hymns are songs of praise and adoration. "How Great Thou Art" and "A Mighty Fortress is our God" are examples of hymns.

Spiritual songs are the songs that we sing to teach, encourage, motivate each other. These songs, compared to the first two types of song, are less praise to God, and more teaching and warning each other. "We are Marching to Zion" and "To the Work" are examples of spiritual songs.

Psalms - scripture set to music

Hymns - songs of praise to or about God

Spiritual songs - songs to encourage each other

The word that has caused more discussion in the religious world is the word translated "singing." Thayer "common in Greek of every period to sing, chant the lyrical emotion of a devout and grateful soul." Vine "always used of praise to God" ZA "to sing"

The question of instrumental music has caused a problem in every major denomination and caused a major division among churches of Christ in 1906. Is vocal music commanded and instrumental music forbidden? Yes! There are several ways to discuss this subject.

Specific command - General commands allow the specifics open to judgment and expedient obedience. Noah was commanded to use gopher wood. We are to use the fruit of the vine in communion. These are specific and leave no room for our opinion, judgment or what we believe is expedient.

Law of Exclusion - When a thing is commanded all other things in the same category are excluded. To send a child to the store for a loaf of bread, limits all other items that may be in the store. It is not necessary to list each item which is not wanted. They are excluded.

Attitude toward Scripture - Either we are free to do anything no specifically forbidden or we are limited to what is commanded. Is the Bible the only source of authority? Study Hebrews 7:12-14.

Law of Addition - God has forbidden us to add to His law. (Revelation 22:18-19) Instrumental music is added to the singing. Would it be permissible to have fruit of the vine AND cola in communion? No! Neither are we permitted to sing and play.

Law of Intent - Not only did God give us the command, but He explained what purpose was intended by this command. Study the chart below and notice that the instrument can not meet ANY of the purposes for which singing was designed by God.

Intent Voice Instrument

Teach Can Cannot

Admonish Can Cannot

With grace Can Cannot

In your heart Can Cannot

To each other Can Cannot

Speaking Can Cannot

Merry Can Cannot

Understanding Can Cannot

Praise Can Cannot

We should sing with grace in our hearts. When we understand the fact of God's grace to us, then we are "gracious" in our treatment of others. Our singing must be with the beauty and grace that is due a gracious Lord.

Our singing is to be directed, primarily, to God. He is the object of our worship. Worship is not for our pleasure or enjoyment. Worship is to praise God. That is why we assemble for worship each week. Study John 4:23-24.

16 - Let the teachings of Christ reside in you. Instruct and warn each other in psalms, songs of praise and spiritual music. Sing to God from a heart filled with gratitude.

17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Paul now broadens the scope from just singing to every activity of life. Phillips "whatever you may have to do"

SEB "everything you say or do" NEB "speak or act" There is nothing that is not included here.

All that we do must be done by the authority of Christ. SEB "by the authority" This phrase should not cause us any problem. But tradition has caused us to change its meaning. This phrase does NOT mean to "say the name." In prayer and at a baptism many have written a rule that the name of Jesus must be said out loud. The meaning is the same as a police officer saying, "Stop, in the name of the law." He is speaking by the authority that the law gives to him. Whatever we do must be done by the authority given to us by Christ.

Prayer - In John 15:16 we are told that "whatsoever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you." In no place are we commanded to SAY that our prayer is in the name of Jesus. While making such a statement is not wrong or out of place, the prayer is not make invalid if such words are omitted.

Baptism - Acts 2:38 commands us to be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Study Acts 8:12; Acts 10:48. The same point is made here. We are commanded to baptize by the authority of Christ. What words must be said are not given. What is said, if anything, has no power to make the baptism valid. If the words said make the baptism proper and acceptable to God, then the power of baptism is reduced to a spell or a witch's incantation. The power of baptism is in Christ and his blood rather than in some words spoken.

We must give God the glory and thanks. Here is gratitude again. The direction of our praise and gratitude is toward God. The thanks we offer to men is not wrong. We should also thank God for those people who have aided us.

The avenue of approach to God is through Christ. Jesus the our mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5) Again, the emphasis is not on the words pronounced, but on the attitude of the heart. We have no right to go around our mediator. He is on our side. He will take before God the desires of our heart even when, because of emotion, we are not able to express them in words. (Romans 8:26-27; Romans 8:34)

17 - Whatever you say or do should be done by the authority of Jesus. All thanks should go to the Father through him.