Clothed in Christ

Beginning with Who We Are

Our New Identity in Christ

Called - chosen, wanted, belonging - adopted

Like being picked on the playground - not last - but from before the foundation of the earth (Eph 1)

Holy - sanctified, clean, set apart

We belong to God - we are holy before him, and serve a holy purpose in the world

(1 Co 6:11) But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus

Beloved - cherished -

John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son -

Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love

This is all by the grace of God

Paul begins here as a reminder of who we are - called by God, made holy by God, loved by God.

Who we are shapes what we do

The vertical equips us for the horizontal

Our relationship with God is secure because of our identity in Christ.

We are those whom God has called, made holy, and loved - there is nothing more we could do that would make God love us more or less; nothing more we could want

Being Clothed in Christ

vs 5-11 we were called to put off the things that belonged to the ground - those things were dead to us in Christ - here we see that we are to be clothed in Christ

We are Putting on Christ

Paul isn’t describing the Christian life, he’s describing Christ.

The Attributes of Christ on Display -

Compassionate hearts

(Mt 9:36) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Kindness

(Mt 12:20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

Humility (inward, not imposing, but lowly and unassuming)

(Php 2:6–8) Christ, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Meekness - Like a bridled horse, powerful yet restrained. Requires great strength to be in control and not lash out.

(1 Pe 2:22–23) He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Patience - Bearing with one another

Christ with his disciples - (Jn 14:9) Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Forgiving one another - As Christ forgave, so you must also forgive -

(Lk 23:34) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The clothing of Christ over all we are

Love, which holds all things together perfectly - like the overcoat -

(Jn 15:12–13)“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Peace of Christ reigning in you as the body of Christ

To reign - arbitrate - “Let the peace of Christ be umpire in your heart amidst the conflicts of life. Let it decide what is right. Let it be your counselor.”

I’ve been called, made holy, and loved in Christ - and so has the person sitting down the pew - thought he may not always act like it. The peace we have with God in Christ we also have with each other.

Word of Christ dwelling in you

Teaching and Admonishing one another - with Christ’s words, not our opinions

Singing with thanksgiving

Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs - joy filled thanksgiving to God

With Christ its All or Nothing

Christ is not a store where you can pick and choose the things you think you need. You will have all of Christ, or you will have none of Christ.

Every problem in the church comes from when we chose the a la carte plan, “I’ll take the righteous indignation of Jesus today, and neglect the peace, patience, forgiveness, and love…”

There may be times when compassion is working hard on your heart, or the Lord is teaching you humility and meekness, or when you are desperate to know the Peace of the Lord, but all of Christ is being brought about in you, if you are in Christ.

Our New Life in Christ isn’t mere externality, but an internal change. Our life is now Christ in us, his life being lived out through us. If His life is being lived in you, then His qualities are yours:

Paul is not giving us a check list of things to become now that your are in Christ, but what he brings to the table for you. These are yours because Christ is yours.

Not an impersonation, but the In-Personation of Christ.

We embody Christ today, in our union with Him, He lives in us, and should be seen in us We’re not trying to mimic him, that’s exhausting. We live by nature of His life in us, and His life shines through ours.

Upward and Outward Living

The Life of the Christian is Focused on God’s Glory

All things are meant to give thanks to God through Christ Jesus - this is how we glorify him. Whatever you do, in word or work, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus

Let the whole of Christ - all of his goodness - his person, be present in everything you do

The Life of the Christian is Engaged with Others

Luther - God doesn’t need your works

God is not hungry that you must feed him, doesn’t need your prayers or your faith to continue to exist, doesn’t need you in order to bring about salvation of the lost - but God has chosen to work through the humble, the meek, the compassionate, the loving...

God doesn’t need your compassion, your kindness, your humility, your meekness your forgiveness.

The world around you does, and God has chosen to make Christ known through you - His compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, love…

As you serve God, where will you find him? In those whom God created in His image.

All these garments, the qualities of Christ, can be worn only in community with others, in relationships.

Those who are marred with sin, lost and in sins strong bonds… God has given you the key by which they may be saved, the balm which would bind up their broken hearts, the light that would lead them to peace

Being clothed in Christ is not for your sake - but for the sake of those who need to see him.