GET SOME NEW CLOTHES COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
I. INTRODUCTION
A middle-aged business executive approached the front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass on through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, “Don’t hold the door for me just because I’m a lady.”
To her surprise, he looked right back and replied, “I’m not. I’m holding it open because I’m a gentleman.”
Likewise, we as Christians must always act toward others on the basis of what we are in Christ Jesus, and not on the basis of what they may or may not be.
It is not enough to simply know you must grow in specific areas of character; you must become intentional about character growth, taking steps that demonstrate that solid character is essential for your long-term success as a spiritual leader.
Remember, the character transformation process will have its ups and downs. God is patient with you, and you can be patient with yourself. It will take time to see lasting change, sometimes more time than you want to take. But God takes much longer to grow an oak tree than a squash! He is the enabler of this change through the work of the Holy Spirit. You can trust in His power to help effectuate this change as you work on the exercises.
A. A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
1. PAUL BEGINS THE CHAPTER BY SAYING IF YOU ARE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE
2. PAUL SAYS AS CHOSEN ONES
3. PAUL USES THE METAPHOR OF CLOTHING TO DESCRIBE THE SANCTIFIED LIFE
How painful almost to get a situation, but to miss it.
How vexing almost to catch a plane, but to be left at the terminal.
How sad almost to escape drowning, but to be engulfed in the water.
But, oh, how above-all-things terrible to be almost a Christian and yet in the lake of fire for eternity!
It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
May it not be said also that it will be trodden by millions of almost-Christians!
Oh, be warned, then, against being an almost-er, for to be almost saved is to be certainly lost!