Sep. 26, 2021

“ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR LIFE?”

“ALL DRESSED UP AND SOMEPLACE TO GO”

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14

Colossians 3:12-14 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Establish the Need for New Clothes: The Motive

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

You don’t begin something in the Spirit and finish it in the flesh.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

The key- the real need we have is to allow God to renew our minds.

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The inward man is renewed day by day as you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ which is found in the Bible.

John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on…”

“Elect of God”

Ephesians 1:4 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

God has elected us and set us apart by His Spirit.

The elect of God are “holy and beloved” vs.12  God loves you!!

Colossians 3:12-14 “…put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

You don’t become holy because you do these things, you should do these things because you are holy, and loved by God.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he, eat and drink, he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

Previews of the Best Styles for the Believer this Fall:

Ephesians and Colossians are the garment district of the Word of God.

These things deal with our relationships with others:

Jesus modeled all of these clothes for us.

*   “tender mercies”- the seat of emotions, inward affection, compassion that works out of our life to others.

Philippians 1:8 “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”

*   “kindness”-being helpful to others.

Titus 3:4 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.”

Ephesians 4:32

*   “humility”-this is an attitude as well as an act.

Philippians 2:5-8

*   “meekness”-strength under control.

2 Corinthians 10:1 “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.”

*   “longsuffering”

1 Timothy 1:16 “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

*   “bearing with one another”- putting up with each other.

Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”

*   “forgiving one another”

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

*   “love”- it is above all the rest of these, it is to be first.

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 

Putting on these new clothes is what enables us to manifest that we are believers in Jesus Christ. 

Is there continual evidence of change in your life?