What to wear? There are many great virtues with which we may clothe ourselves, but how do we put them on? Hear from Dr. Marty Baker as he brings the words of the Apostle Paul to life as we continue in Colossians chapter three.
I might be old-school, but I thought pajamas were only to be worn at home while you slept. Anymore, I can’t believe how many people apparently roll out of bed, grab some breakfast, comb their hair, brush their teeth (I hope), and then head to the airport in their pajamas and comfy slippers or Crocs. Seriously, is this appropriate? Maybe for a four-year-old, but not for a grown adult.
It has become such a problem that airports like the Tampa International Airport are seeking to institute a dress code for flying and summarily outlaw pajamas. Finally, someone with a spine who isn’t afraid to say, “Hey, that’s not appropriate attire to wear in public. It looks sloppy, and it’s not becoming.” Some have said this is a joke, but from what I’ve read, it appears legit, and rightly so. The farthest distance from your home you should wear pajamas is from your front door to your mailbox. Other than that, I’d agree it’s time for people to start dressing civilly.
Obviously, pushback came instantly. One remarked, “When airplane seats get comfortable enough to sit in, I’ll start dressing up to fly. Til then it’s slippers and pjs, baby.” It is funny how, back in the 1960s, when seats were not as comfortable as the ones we have now, people flew on planes like they were dressed up for church. Remember those days? I say this to underscore how lame this person’s argument is. Look at it this way. Seats in courtrooms are far from comfortable, but you’d never dream of showing up in court with pjs and your favorite Crocs. Comfort has nothing to do with civility or taste. But still, some folks can’t stop wearing all the wrong clothes in the wrong places.
All of this sounds like a spiritual metaphor in the making. Just as some people wear all the wrong clothing in all the wrong places, we learn from the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Colossians 3 that many Christians do the same. How so? By wearing godless garments instead of godly ones. According to Paul, the ultimate spiritual fashion coach in my estimation, this should not be the case in light of our faith relationship to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. What we should focus on daily is taking off the wrong spiritual clothes and putting on the right ones, ones that not only honor God but also reflect the character of Christ. The latter half of his letter to the believers in Colossae addresses this point in detail (Col. 3:5-4:6).
As we’ve learned, the overarching theme of this practical question is clear:
Your Christian Life Should Always Be Moving From The Old Life To the New Life (1 Col. 3:5-4:6)
This statement really details what practical sanctification is all about. Positionally, believers have Christ’s holiness (1 Cor. 1:30), but practically, we need to remove sinful clothing/behavior and replace them with righteous clothing and behavior to evidence greater levels of holiness. To motivate believers to give up the carnal Crocs, Paul skillfully develops his commands in this vacillating fashion:
As you can see, in chapter 3, verses 12 through 17, Paul moves from the negative to the positive, from the sinful clothing saints need to get rid of and the holy clothing they need to wear instead.
The Identification of the Right Clothing (Col. 3:12-17)
To develop this refreshing and enlightening point, Paul moves in a two-fold fashion. First, he gives us The Next Command (Col. 3:12a), and then he follows this up with a description of the spiritual clothes or characteristics we should wear more often than not (Col. 3:12b-17). We will follow Paul’s method as we consider these powerful verses. As we do this, be listening to the Spirit’s voice. I’m sure He will tap you on the spiritual shoulder as we move through these positive types of spiritual clothes you should wear, letting you know whether they are present in your life.
The Next Command (Col. 3:12a). Here is how the NAS translates this verse:
12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (Col. 3).
This translation is built off of the Greek:
12 Ἐνδύσασθε οὖν, ὡς ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ἅγιοι καὶ ἠγαπημένοι, σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ χρηστότητα ταπεινοφροσύνην πραΰτητα μακροθυμίαν, (Col. 3)
The verse begins with the imperatival verb “you be clothed” (Paul uses this command in two other places: Romans 13:14 and Ephesians 6:11), followed by the coordinating conjunction “therefore,” or oun (οὖν). There is no coordinating conjunction “and” (kai) here, so the NIV gives us a better translation:
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col. 3:12 NIV)
The NIV is preferred because it more effectively sets up the transition between sinful clothing a believer shouldn’t wear and the holy clothing/virtues he should wear. The aorist, or past tense, imperative can be classified as an ingressive. As such, it denotes the beginning of an action, and could be translated, “Begin putting on the spiritual clothing I’m going to present now.”
How does Paul describe saints? He uses three special words to tell believers who they are. They are “chosen people, “holy ‘people’” (implied), and “dearly beloved ‘people’ (implied). All three Greek nouns have a similar ending: ἐκλεκτοὶ (eklectoi); ἅγιοι (hagioi); and ἠγαπημένοι (agapamenoi). According to Bullinger’s Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, this is an instance of paronomasia. This type of figure uses similar ending words to underscore or highlight their meaning and importance.
Who are believers? They are “God’s chosen people.” Does the Bible teach election whereby God chooses certain people to be saved? Yes. Several NT texts support this conclusion:
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13)
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Eph. 1)
I could give more texts, but these two should suffice to underscore the doctrine of election.
Does election mean we don’t have a freewill? No. The call of the gospel goes out to all mankind, and each person is responsible to make a choice to receive or reject Christ as Savior and Lord.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John)
If God’s call weren’t real and viable because we didn’t have free will, then His judgment of hellfire would be capricious and unjust. His judgment is just because the call to believe or not is left for us to decide. Hence, the doctrine of election and the notion of human free will are taught in the NT. Yes, it is a mystery how the two work together, but I will leave that for God to sort out in His dimension, which is far beyond our limited ones.
What is important to realize in this passage from Paul is that God chooses believers for salvation. He chose us, as Paul says in Romans 5:10 (10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life) when we were His avowed enemies. What mercy. What undeserved grace, wouldn’t you say? In light of this wonderful new standing with God, a pertinent conclusion follows: If you are chosen by God to be saved, then live like it by embodying Christian, or Christlike, virtues.
Further, Paul says believers are holy. As I stated earlier, Jesus shares His holiness with us at the moment of conversion. Instantly, He forgave our sins and gave us His holiness (1 Cor. 1:30). Several key NT verses validate this point:
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10)
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Heb. 10)
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6)
This positional truth should, by definition, impact our practical spiritual clothing. Put differently, since believers are clothed positionally with Christ’s holiness, they should practically clothe themselves with holy virtues that reflect that lofty standing before the all-seeing eyes of Christ, our High Priest.
Lastly, Paul says that Christians are “beloved.” The Gnostics erroneously taught that God was so far removed from mankind that He was virtually inaccessible except through angelic mediators. That doesn’t sound very loving. This is not the true God Paul has revealed to us. He loved us when we were sinners. That love for the unlovely moved Him to send His only Son to bear our sin, die on a cruel cross, and rise the third day from the grave. Love doesn’t get any better or more profound than this. Again, John 3:16 drives this truth home:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3)
That was worth repeating. God’s love for us is off the hook and over-the-top. The old hymn, The Love of God, puts God’s love in perspective with these powerful, instructive words:
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Author: Frederick M. Lehman (1917)
In light of this, we are left with a challenge: Since God’s love moved Him to do what He did to redeem us at such a high price, how can we not love Him back by choosing to wear spiritual clothing that honors Him? Are you honoring Him, or are you wearing some carnal Crocs and some putrid spiritual PJs?
With the last part of verse 12 through verse 17, Paul lists the type of spiritual clothing we should be striving to wear every chance we get. Once again, I challenge you to ask the Spirit to show you if these garments are part of your spiritual wardrobe. If not, then I think you know what you need to do.
What is this holy clothing? Let’s see:
12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Come with me as we look at these spiritual clothing items maturing disciples should wear.
The New Clothing (1 Cor. 3:12b)
Paul introduces us to five beautiful pieces of spiritual clothing that all believers should attempt to wear at all times.
Garment #1: Compassion. The Greek phrase here literally speaks of the “bowels of compassion.” We locate compassion in the heart, but the Greeks located it deep in the intestines. Either way, the emphasis is the same. Believers need to display tender care and concern for others from the depths of our being. It is something that drives and motivates us. When we hear of a divorced mother of three children who lost her job, it moves us to feelings and actions. When we encounter a family with a child with special needs, it draws us to them to do what we can to lighten their heavy load. When we learn that a stroke victim can’t access their home without a wheelchair ramp, we spring into action, or at least contact people who can help alleviate this need. So what about it? Are you compassionate or heartless?
Garment #2: Kindness. Think of it this way. You are a believer because God showed kindness toward you by sending His only Son to be your Sacrifice and Savior. And when He came, He lived a life of kindness. When they ran out of wine at a wedding, He made more out of large vats of water (John 2). When He entered a synagogue on the Sabbath and encountered a man with a withered hand, He healed him to the consternation of the legalistic religious leaders (Mark 3). When an angry crowd attempted to stone an adulterous woman to death, He bravely interceded and saved her life (John 8). When Peter denied even knowing Him on the night of His arrest, He returned to Peter after His resurrection and used Him again in a profound way (John 21). Kindness was a garment Jesus wore well. Do you wear it? Do the facts of your life support your answer?
Garment #3: Humility. Christ’s life dripped with humility. He didn’t brag about His abilities. He didn’t showcase in a cocky fashion how smart He was. He didn’t highlight His accomplishments, “Hey, try and top the time I walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee.” He looked for the best in others. He treated everyone as equals, meaning He didn’t cater to the rich, famous, or powerful. He was approachable no matter the time or the demands of a given day. What about you? Are you humble? Don’t tell me. Just take a look at your life and see if you live as your Lord did. Are you consumed with yourself, as many are if you check out the photos on their iPhones, or are you consumed with others? Here’s some wise advice from Blaise Pascal: “Do you wish people to think well of you? Don’t speak well of yourself.” Dwight L. Moody’s honest sharing is also instructive, “I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I ever met.” What a wise man. What a humble man. No wonder God used him greatly. What about you? Does humility or hubris characterize your life before others?
Garment #4: Gentleness. This Greek word, prautata (πραΰτητα), describes a person who acts in a delicate fashion where the rights or feelings of others are concerned. It also speaks of power that is under control. Think of a massive, muscle-bound athlete holding a baby. He has the power to bench hundreds of pounds, but he holds that power at bay as he gingerly and carefully holds that baby in his massive, bulging arms. If anything, Jesus was tender and gentle with broken, confused, and argumentative people. To Mary and Martha, who grieved the loss of their brother, Lazarus, Jess gently and tenderly encouraged them: “Your brother will rise again” (John 12:23), and indeed he did when Jesus called his name from outside the tomb. Are you gentle with those under your leadership as an officer? Are you gentle with the people on your team who tend to have a boatload of life issues? Are you gentle with a child who is not that coordinated and is having a hard time riding a bike with your coaching? Are you gentle with your wife when she’s having a hard, challenging day? Do you speak gently? Gentleness is in short supply in our rude and rough day, so when you wear this garment, people will immediately see the character of Christ on display.
Garment #5: Patience. The Greek word literally means to have a long temper. A short-tempered person explodes at the drop of a hat. They are impulsive and lack true control of their emotions. They are like Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe on the TV sitcom Frazier. How many times did he immediately fly off the handle when he couldn’t find something? Too many. A patient person waits to consider evidence. A patient person is a great listener. A patient person keeps their cool. A patient person doesn’t freak out when their day goes south. A patient person enables you to feel relaxed around them. A patient person is measured and deliberate and is not prone to reacting prematurely in trying situations. Ah, but you say, “I’m just not wired this way.” Well, I know someone who can help with your wiring issues. His name is Jesus. He can make the impatient you become the most patient person anyone has ever met. And when they meet that kind of person, they can more readily see the face of Christ.
You know, the Lord has a way of showing how these sermons impact my life before I preach them. Last Sunday was our 46th wedding anniversary. We’d reserved a lunch date after church at our favorite restaurant, Trattoria Villagio in Clifton.
While driving there on Clifton Road, I told Liz the car sounded funny. So, we pulled off onto a side road. Liz jumped out and confirmed that, yes, our front-right tire was completely flat. I called AAA, and they said it would be a two-and-a-half-hour wait, and I’m a gold card member of some 40 years.
So, I called Steve Knight. He came and helped me change the tire, so we could at least get home. Within a few minutes, we realized that the spare tire had only 18 PSI, which was far below the required 50 PSI. So, instead of getting frustrated and ticked off, I decided to knock on a stranger’s door. A nice man named Jay actually brought us his electric air pump, which solved our flat-spare-tire problem. We rescheduled our dinner for later that evening and had a great time, despite events that tested our patience.
The Volvo dealership in Dulles, where I bought the car and the new tires, was closed on Monday, and Tuesday I had a promotion service I needed to help lead at the Pentagon, so I wasn’t able to get the compromised tire to Volvo until Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.
Tuesday’s ride on the Metro proved equally challenging for my patience. We had no sooner taken off from the Franconia station on the Blue Line than the conductor came over the intercom and said, “This train is being pulled out of service because a tree fell across the tracks near Arlington Cemetery.” I had one hour to get to the Pentagon on time. Exiting the train too far from the Pentagon to walk, I stopped a police officer and asked, “What is the best way for me to get to the Pentagon?” She told me how to catch the Yellow Line to get to my destination, so in a few minutes I was on my way. Talk about an interesting morning. What had God done? He ramped up the complexity of the events to test my patience. He wanted to see if I was truly committed to living in light of Paul’s command in Colossians 3:12b. He’ll do the same for you, too. So, hang on.
On Wednesday, I drove twenty minutes to the Volvo dealership near Dulles International Airport. While I was there, the service writer said I was due for an oil change, so I agreed to add it to my appointment. Two hours later, the service writer informed me that my car was finished, so I jumped up and headed to the car. Once I arrived, the service writer said the tech had failed to reset the maintenance light. So she tried, and couldn’t do it either. What did she do while I stood there? She called for backup. After multiple tries, the young man who came to help said he had “fixed” it and that it should reset as I drove away. So, they lifted the garage door, and I happily pulled out.
Looking in my rearview mirror, I saw a worker waving his hands at me in a bid to get me to hit the brakes. Once I stopped, he ran over to the car and said there was a problem. While we sat there trying to get the maintenance light to turn off, a massive amount of new oil spilled out under my car.
The service writer then gave me the good news. “Marty, you’ll need to head back into the waiting area until we resolve this issue.” At that point, I could have put on the carnal Crocs, right? But I resisted . . . after all, I had just studied Colossians 3.
As the tech fixed the seal on the oil filter, which had been crimped when he installed it, I had a nice, meaningful discussion with the service writer I typically use about where our country is headed, morally speaking. I wouldn’t have had that conversation had the tech not crimped the seal of my filter. I really wouldn’t have had that conversation had I lost my cool either. This woman knows I am a believer and a pastor, so I’m sure this entire debacle was a witness to her, or at least, I hope it was.
Who set these challenging events up? The Lord set them in motion to see if I genuinely committed to wearing the garment called patience. I think a few of the other garments mentioned in Colossians 3:12 were also part of the test, too.
What the Lord did to and for me this week is the same thing He is going to do for you when you leave this house of worship today. He will set up a series of events to help you see whether you are wearing the five virtues He prizes in the lives of His saints. If you are not wearing them, then you know what you need to do. Get the putrid PJs off, along with the carnal Crocs, and put on the right attire as a saint of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And you might prepare yourself for a flat tire of sorts this week. Smile when it occurs, for you will know the Lord loves you enough to test your mettle and see if you truly desire to wear all the garments Paul just listed.
