10 - The New Man's Clothes 2011

Last time we looked at the ruin of the “old man” of sin, how God crucified him with Christ, along with his evil habits. We also saw how Paul used the analogy of “getting dressed” in that we are to “put off” (take off like old rags) the old man with his ways, and are to “put on” the “new man.”

In the same way we are to “put off” the rags from our former life, we are to “put on” the new man, the new clothes of our resurrected life.

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

God did not choose to “patch up” our old nature. He replaces it with a new one—the old man is replaced by the new man, the carnal nature by the divine nature. Ultimately, even our old body will be replaced by a new body! (1 Cor. 15:44, 48)

The parable Jesus used of the impossibility of placing “new wine” into “old wine skins” (Luke 5:33-39) deals with this truth. New wine poured into old wineskins, says Jesus, will burst the wineskin and the new wine will be lost. There must be a “new wineskin” (a new nature) to receive the “new wine” (the Holy Spirit).

This new man is “created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph.4:24). When Paul says “and have put on” it means “did clothe yourselves.” But then there is a change. Paul says, “which is renewed,” or “which is being renewed,” or “which is being ever renewed,” or “ever maintained.”

So at the time of our conversion, we received a “new man.” That is a finished fact. And that “new man” is always in the process of God’s renewing. He is ever bringing us into a fresh knowledge of Himself.

This is why Paul wrote elsewhere, “For we are (on-goingly) His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). And, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you (the new birth) will complete it (the ongoing renewing) until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:6).

3:11 “…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

In the body of Christ, all are equal at the foot of the cross!

Since we are new creations in Christ, we are to:

3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;”

Remember, there are two kinds of truth in the Kingdom of God—Positional and Practical. Positional truth is what God declares has been done for us in Christ. Such as, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ—done! We are dead to sin and alive to God—done! We are delivered from the powers of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son—done!

Practical truth involves our taking what God has done for us and applying it by faith to everyday life. For instance, since you are raised with Christ (positional), seek those things which are above (practical).—Col. 3:1

Or, since you are crucified with Christ (positional), then you should no longer yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness (practical).—Gal.2:20; Ro.6

Paul is now turning from positional truth to practical truth. He says, “Put on! Put on! Put on!” This is a command, not a suggestion. The believer has received holiness of character. He is the “elect of God.”

This is a positional truth. So, we are to “put on” mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering by faith. We are to put them on like new clothes because they are given to us by God. By our own deliberate choice, we are to “put on” Christ-likeness of character.

3: 13-14 “…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. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Notice the command over and again; Put these things on! Get dressed in them! They are yours! We might ask ourselves throughout the week, “Am I wearing my new clothes to work?” Or, “Am I wearing my new clothes to church?” Or again, “Am I wearing my new clothes at home?”

No doubt about it, Paul was the best-dressed believer of all time. Rarely do we catch him in his old rags. He was always dressed to the max in Jesus Christ. May we learn to do the same!

3: 15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

Christians are to live in peace—that is, inner peace, the peace of Christ Jesus. Paul talks about “the peace of God guarding your hearts and minds” (Phil.4:6-7). God’s peace is to be the arbiter of whether or not we are in the will of God. If we lose our peace over a decision, circumstance, relationship…it is likely we have stepped out of God’s will.

Jesus Himself was peace personified. He confronted demon spirits with peace reigning within.

Never do we see Jesus worried, taken aback, befuddled by circumstances, or knocked off His game. In a wild and stormy sea, He had peace. He had peace even on the Cross. He said to us, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:1). Paul says that the peace of Christ Jesus should literally “rule” our hearts as we also practice being thankful.

Let the peace of Christ rule, and:

3:16 “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.”

The word “dwell” means “let God’s word find a home in you.” Memorize it, meditate on it, quote it, study it, and live by it. God’s word should fill our minds, control our lives, and become our constant counselor, companion, and guide.

When this is so of us, we will naturally overflow with it, teaching others, rebuking error, encouraging the struggling, and winning the lost.

And being indwelt by the Word will also break out in spiritual songs and hymns. “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Clearly, Christianity is a happy faith! Only a redeemed people can genuinely rejoice.

Next, Paul brings more “practical” admonition in light of all the “positional” truth he has presented.

3:17 “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.”

Life is made of decisions. So Paul gives us a maxim, a rule of faith, a formula to live by. Everything we say and do must be linked to the name of the Lord Jesus. We are to do and say everything under the controlling influence of the saving, sovereign, safeguarding name of the Lord Jesus.

I wonder how this would change our life were we to literally and wholeheartedly practice it today! We are to practice this proportionately—in both “word and deed.” And we are to practice it properly—in the “name of the Lord Jesus.” Finally, we are to practice it prayerfully—“giving thanks to God.”

Now Paul turns his attention to the home:

3:18 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

As goes the home, so goes the nation. Paul’s principles for the home are straight from the Holy Spirit Who inspired his words. Marriage partners each have a role under God.

First, the man is the head of the home. Anything with more than one head is a freak! We cannot have two heads of a nation, two commanders in chief, nor two heads of a family.

The man is not the boss, but he is the head. If he abdicates that headship, he does so to the detriment of himself, his wife, and his children. He is to spiritually lead the home.

This does not mean the wife is a doormat, of less value, or inferior. The word “submit” is primarily a military term, meaning “to rank under.” It can mean “be loyal.”

The wise man will listen to his wife, respect her views, and consider her best interests when making decisions regarding the home. But God holds him responsible to exercise his leadership, and the woman is responsible to submit to it.

Next, the husband is addressed:

3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.”

The instructions to the wife are addressed to her will; the instructions to the husband are addressed to his heart. The word used for love is agape; it is Calvary love.

And the husband is to guard against becoming “bitter” toward his wife, meaning to exasperate or irritate. The same word is translated into “wormwood” in the book of Revelation, describing Satan’s effect on fallen man.

In other words, we are not to allow our marriage to become “wormwood,” filled with bitterness due to the exasperating, irritating traits we all have—be they big or little.

Paul moves next from mom and dad to the kids:

3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”

Of course, this applies to reasonable parents, not those that are physically or sexually abusive. Obedience ends when sin is required in the relationship. God would never, for instance, tell a child to submit to sexual abuse. Nor would he require obedience to a parent that was requiring their child to rob a store.

Within the realm of reasonable parenting that is also under God’s authority, the child is to submit. The home is the first and foremost learning ground for how to respond to authority.

If a child does not learn obedience to parental authority, he will grow up to disrespect all authority—school authority, police authority, and eventually divine authority.

Jesus, our prime example in all things, practiced this very principle. “Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51).

Next, Paul deals with parental responsibility:

3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

The word for “provoke” means “to rouse to anger,” or “to fight.” It can also mean “to irritate.” Children have feelings, thoughts, desires, hopes, and faults, just like adults do. The father’s role is not to be a dictator, bossing and bullying his children. Nobody likes or deserves to be treated that way.

The word for “discouraged” means “to be disheartened,” or “to have their spirit broken.” There is a huge difference between breaking a child’s will and breaking their spirit. The defiant will must be broken. But a “broken spirit,” asks the Proverbs, “who can bear?” (Prov. 18:14) A broken spirit occurs when the child becomes so discouraged they give up.

Next, employer/employee relationships are tackled:

3:22 “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”

Again, unless sin is being required, the same principle of obedience holds true in the workplace. Employees are to render faithful, diligent, Christ-like service. For the hours he is on the job, an employee’s time and talents belong to the employer.

3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Paul tells Christian employees that they should be the best, the most trustworthy, the most loyal, faithful, and industrious people in the workforce.

Whether the boss is fair or unfair, a bully or a benevolent employer, the Christian can work “as unto the Lord,” with joy. After all, it is the Lord who will reward us!

3:25 “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.”

Shining service will be rewarded; shoddy service will be punished—whether Christian or not.