The Elevated Life: What to Put On Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV) We have been looking at chapter 3 the chapter of practical Christian living. Looking at the life of the believer now that he has encountered the cross. Now that he has been given a new heart and a new start, he s no longer a bottom feeder. He s now living the elevated life. A life that is seeking those things above where Christ is seated. Last week was a tough one, but good for us to hear. Paul reminded us what we were saved from fornication, anger, wrath, all things that used to be attached to us, but now that we are in Christ we have put them behind us. They re what we used to wear, but today we have been given a new wardrobe the robes of righteousness and the garments of praise. Let s read verses 12-17 and get our bearings, then we can walk back through it. Vs. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God The word elect simply means that He has chosen you. Jesus knows all things. He knows who is going to believe and who is going to reject. Thus in His foreknowledge He could say, Before you ever chose Me, I chose you. And then notice what we were chosen for Vs. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved Notice the word holy here Holy: Set apart for His special purposes We have been chosen to be not of this world, even though we live in it. We are to be a holy representative while we are here on earth. Peter reminds us Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 1
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) Don t get all caught up on the chosen part. Instead, get caught up on what you chosen for to proclaim the praises of Him who called you. And then Paul moves into what that holy life should look like Vs. 12-13...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. As believers we get new threads to wear. How many of you remember getting new clothes for school? Some of you might have just did that this last month. As I was being elevated into junior high, I remember having to convince my mother that the jeans she had been buying me for the last 10 years needed to go. How many of you remember wearing Tough Skins? They were from Sears. That s where all the moms shopped in the 70 s, then Miller s Outpost came around. As I was going into junior high, I convinced mom to get me a couple pair of 501 s. I was moving up! Junior high was the elevated life and Tough Skins were not going to work for my new image. Tough Skins would not work moving into the new life. I had to have 501 s! So mom caved and I got elevated into Levis my junior high years. This is what Paul is getting at here. You could call these The Wardrobe of the Elevated Life. This is what putting on Jesus Christ will look like. Notice the list here The Wardrobe of the Elevated Life: Tender mercies: inward mercy, from the heart. Paul would tell the church of Ephesus Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 2
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) You have heard it said, The one who has been forgiven much loves much. That s what Paul is talking about here. We have been forgiven. God showed His mercy towards us, now let that be the motivator for showing mercy to others. Kindness: moral goodness or integrity In the same verse that Paul speaks of tender mercies, he also connects it to kindness. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) Often it s one of the first things we see change in the life of the new believer their speech gets a renovation. They are going from hurting people or defiling people with their speech, to blessing and building up people with their speech. It s listed in the chapter on love that Paul speaks to the church of Corinth about Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) If we are living in and walking in the love of God, then it will show up in how we treat people and how we speak to people. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV) Notice Paul goes on Humility: lowliness of mind, a humble opinion of oneself. When Paul speaks about our calling, this is what he says Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love Ephesians 4:1-2 (NKJV) Notice the word lowliness. The elevated life is not an arrogant life nor is it a puffed up life. It s a life of humility. There is a proper perspective of oneself. We know where we came from, we know what we can be in the flesh, and we know who brought us up and out of the life of the flesh. So there is a humility that is now part of our new identity. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:2-3 (NKJV) It s no longer about us, but about others. Peter, who had a struggle with self and an issue with pride prior to his conversion, said this after his conversion Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV) Part of the new wardrobe is that we see the importance of humbling ourselves. We are no longer in competition with one another and are no longer needing to one up each other. We can be last in line, last to get our food, and we can let others take our lane because we know the last will be first and first will be last. We have a kingdom perspective. Paul goes on Meekness: gentleness, mildness. Paul would remind us how important this is when we are restoring someone who has fallen into sin. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 4
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) The Spirit of God is a spirit of gentleness and the elevated life cares about the feeling of those around us. It s no longer harsh, rude, or mean; it s gentle and considers others. Whether it s at home, at the jobsite, on the baseball field we can still be good at what we do and be gentle towards others. Longsuffering: patience and slow in avenging wrongs. Paul lists this in the fruit of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) One of the byproducts of walking in the Spirit is that we suffer long with people. There is a greater patience with people. Even when they offend us, we can suffer long knowing that they re under construction. We leave room for the Spirit of God to work on them. Which leads us to #6 Bearing with one another: to put up with, suffer. The Christian community is full of quirky people and Wildwood is no exception, well maybe. In our house we call quirky people interesting people. Maybe you do too. Have you ever said, That person is interesting.? What you really mean is they re quirky, maybe even hard to be around. When you re around them, you suffer a bit everyone does. But that s what we do when we are family, right? That person might just be the person God has put in your life to help you in the bearing with one another category. Forgiving one another. This is really the key to our relationships. When, not if, but when we are offended, forgive just as Jesus forgave. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 5
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 (NKJV) That s what Jesus did with our sin. He showed us compassion and He took our sin and casted it into the bottom of the sea never to bring them back up again. That s the example set before us. It s only when we don t forgive that God reminds us that we are in jeopardy of His forgiveness. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) Unforgiveness can shut us down spiritually and can create crazy stuff in our life physically. When you re struggling to forgive, look at the cross and be reminded of how Christ forgave you and I. What He did to bring us forgiveness was His great love for us. Which brings us to #8 Vs. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Love. Love is the bond of perfection Love is the summary of all the things described in this passage. Love perfectly fulfills what God requires of us in relationships. David Guzik So when you look into the closet and you see a new wardrobe for the elevated life, make sure you put on what Paul says here is above all these things love is the bond of perfection. Some would call it the belt that holds everything else up. Without love all the other pieces of the wardrobe will be out of balance. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 6
It s what we talked about in verses 1-5. There is a new law that governs our heart it s the law of love. And Paul is reminding us here what that love is going to look like. For those who would say, Dude I am a very loving guy. Sweet, then this is what that love should look like. This is what the lover of your soul is going manifest in your life. Vs. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Rule: to be an umpire or govern. In other words, the peace of God should be the governor over our hearts and minds. Have you ever asked the Lord His will on something that you really are hoping is His will, but instead of getting a green light, you get a red light? Instead of having the peace of God, you get a check in your spirit from God. When you don t have peace, don t move forward. Don t buy the house, don t move your child to another school, don t marry that guy wait until you have peace. That s the umpire in your life and you want to let it rule. If there is no peace, then don t continue to pursue. Stay in the path of peace, not only in your own life, but notice Paul will say in the body of Christ. Peace in our hearts will bring peace to our relationships in the body of Christ. This should be what the body of Christ is noted for the peace of God that governs our lives and that overflows into our community. Sadly, too many times, churches can be noted for being at war with one another and not at peace. Notice how Paul finishes out the wardrobe of the righteous here Vs. 16 Let 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. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 7
Let the word of God dwell in you richly. Paul is putting the top slice of bread on this spiritual sandwich. The other slice of bread is in verses 1 and 2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) How do I set my mind on things above? Verse 16 is the answer. I let the word of God dwell in me richly. Dwell: to be at home When I think of my home, it s a place where I am comfortable. I know the comfortable places in the house. Is the word at home in your heart or is it a stranger to the home of your heart? Let the word dwell richly. Let it fill your heart with wisdom and instruction, so that there is a full take to admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And then notice how Paul finishes Vs. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. That s the elevated life in a nutshell, because you and I have been raised to walk in newness of life, don t settle for anything less in life! Whatever you do, do it all in Jesus and for Jesus because at the end of the day we will stand before Jesus. It s what Paul said in Romans But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14 (NKJV) The wardrobe for the believer is simply Jesus. If you will put on Jesus each and every day, then you will live the elevated life. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 8