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Bobby Stafford What Should A Christian Wear?     Christian Living

What Should A Christian Wear?

Introduction:

Paul’s love and concern for the Christians at Colosse is evident throughout this letter that he wrote to them.  He urges them to follow Christ and His gospel alone.  Nothing more is needed.  He is sufficient to save them and make them complete.  Therefore, they were to “put off” their old, sinful life styles and “put on” the spiritual clothing of Christ.  Be conformed to the image of Christ.

Text:  Colossians 3:5-14

Body:

I.  The Old Clothes Must Be Put Off  Colossians 3:5-11  Verse 5: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:  fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” NKJV  Certain clothes must be discarded, put away, if we expect to one day wear those white robes in heaven.  The word members is a figure of speech.  (Romans 6:12-13)  “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” NKJV  In this list, sexual desires have gone bad.  It includes vile and depraved passions.  (Romans 1:24)  “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,” NKJV  This includes homosexuality, etc.  ‘Covetousness’ is greedy desire to have more, an unholy lust for things.  This desire leads a man into allegiance to something other than God, idolatry.  Verse 6:  “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,” NKJV  The reason for these sinful practices is disobedience to God.  They must be “put off” if we wish to avoid the wrath of God.   

(Romans 1:18)  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” NKJV  Verse 7:  “in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” NKJV  These Christians had in times past walked in these sins. It was their life-style, way of life.  The word once shows the distinction between then and now.  They had been converted, as had the Christians in Corinth.  (I Corinthians 6:9-11)  “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit if our God.” NKJV  Verse 8:  “But now you yourselves are to put off all these:  anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” NKJV  Paul lists additional sinful clothes that one must discard, ones dealing with attitudes and words.  God’s people are not to be characterized as an angry people, not violent, neither full of rage.  We must put off hatred and ill-will toward others that we might harbor in our hearts. 

V. E. Howard:  “Are you listening?  We must rid ourselves of speaking words which maliciously injure others – evil or wicked speech, lying.  Christians speak the truth!”  Verse 9:  “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,” NKJV  Why?  We must put off the old man, our sinful clothes.  (Colossians 2:11)  “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,” NKJV  “Filthy rags”  Once removed, one gets as far away from them as possible.  Verse 10-11:  “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” NKJV  “Off with the old and in with the new”  There is a definite line distinguishing between when one was ‘old’ and when one became ‘new’. 

(Acts 22:16)  “And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” NKJV  We become new – fresh. 

(Romans 6:4)  “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” NKJV  This renewing is a continual process for the rest of one’s life.  Newness must be maintained.  We are constantly being transformed into the image of Christ.  Knowledge is necessary for one to be renewed.  Knowledge of God’s Word is essential.  (James 1:21)  “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” NKJV  The Word tells us of our lifelong responsibility to cleanse and restore our souls by repentance and praying for forgiveness.

II.  New Clothes Must Be Put On  Colossians 3:12-14  It is not enough to just stop doing certain things; one must start doing others.  Replace evil with good.  Verse 12:  “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;” NKJV  ‘Elect of God’ are those who choose to obey God, selected by God for eternal life.  ‘Holy’ means consecrated, set apart for service to God.  ‘Beloved’ – God has special laws for His children.  (I John 3:1a)  “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” NKJV  Christians are to dress differently than the world because we are God’s elect, holy and beloved!  We are to dress as Christ is dressed.  (Galatians 3:27)  “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” NKJV 

We should look more and more like Him as we mature in the faith.  ‘Tender mercies’ – Feel for others; have a heart of compassion.  ‘Kindness’ – Act with understanding of other’ people’s problems.  ‘Humility’ – Have lowliness; be not arrogant.  ‘Meekness’ – Have gentleness, submissiveness.

 

 

 

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Matt 11:28-29
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

The church of Christ in Granby Missouri

516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109