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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