Colossians 3:12-17

Gods constancy for Good

Gods constancy for Good

Philip Ross McDougall / General

Colossians 3:12-17

There are two parts to this passage for us to consider.

Therefore as chosen - Clothe yourselves

James 1:17–20 NIV

We are aware from the hand of ., that every good and perfect gift is from above,

James 1:17–20 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

In the same way we are invited by Paul in Ephesians to put on the armor of God here he is inviting us to be clothed in the right way. . My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be clothed to have and share compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience so that out of these attributes we will find the righteousness that God desires. However this is only part one

Colossians 3:12 NIV

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Part two is

Bearing and forgiving

The wise men came bearing gifts to give. In this context it is the process of seeing each other as the gift

Avoiding deception

Paul is constantly stressing the great truth that every gift sent by God is good. Therefore you and I are good What Paul is emphasizing is that is saying here is allied to the reality about the unchangeableness of the Father In addition his purpose is gracious. The word of truth that is the Gospel.

and this brings us to the

The Virtue of Love

In the sayings of the Jewish father’s we read that there are four characters in the scholars

[1] Quick to hear and quick to forget. – his gain is cancelled by his loss

[2] Slow to hear and slow to forget. – his loss is cancelled by his gain

[3] Quick to hear and slow to forget.- he is wise

[4] Slow to hear and quick to forget.- This is an evil lot

We can follow up this with a further teaching from James

from verse 21 onwards

.

Colossians 3:14 NIV

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

If we are able to set our store on the positives then we at the same time put paid to the negatives as James states in .

James 1:21 NIV

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James 1:21 NIV

The words get rid of is the same as stripping oneself. the undressing of dirty clothes before getting into a clean bath.

Hearing and doing

There is a clear call for us to be under control The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God

Like the young boy who is seen to get passionately angry with his mother and then tried to excuse it later on and justify it at the time as somrthing that needed to happen.

When asked if he ever got angry with his teacher, he said no because he did not want her to dislike him. Anger towards the mother was deemed OK because as a mother she would always love him.

James 1:21 NIV

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

It does not matter how many songs of praise we sing and reverent our prayers are it will mean nothing if we are hanging on to aspects of life that are divergent to God’s way of thinking. Salvation has been planted in our hearts quietly and profoundly by Jesus. Revelation 3:20.

. NIV

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

James is reminding us that what is heard in the holy place needs to be lived in the market place

This brings together two of the great symbols that bring God into our orbit

[a] the call to be clother in righteousness

[b] tha call to eat together

The true law

This concept of the law that James raises is known as the 1stly as the perfect law James 1:25.

James 1:25 NIV

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

there are three reasons why the law is called perfect.

[1]It is Gods law, given and revealed by God. The way of life laid down by Jesus is in accordance with the will of God

[2]It is perfect in that it cannot be bettered. the Christian law is the law of love and the demand for love can never be satisfied except from the throne of God.

[3]The Greek word for perfect is

Teleios - perfect

This word describes perfection towards some given end. if a person obeys the law of Christ he will realize the purpose of his own person hood, and fulfill the purpose for which God sent them into the world

Secondly James calls this the law of liberty.

It is the law in the keeping of which a person finds their true liberty. This brief trip into James is on purpose for it reinforces that liberty is found in love, especially when we practice loving each other

The Roman stoic philosopher Seneca said this

To Obey God is Liberty - Seneca

other stoics “the wise man alone is free”

For it is in accepting the will of God that we become free.

True worship

see 1 John 5:18.

NIV.

1 John 5:18 NIV

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

and Romans 12:2.

NIV.

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Testing the perfect will of God is found in being focused on being clothed, forgiving and loving.

However we tend to err on a misuse of the word. We are here in community to exercise Praise and thanksgiving to God and Jesus True worship happens in the context of other people.It is an action that we undertake for others, and we need to note again the two aspects in James 1:27.

we begin by putting on an undergarment as per verse twelve and follow with a shirt that allows us to bear and forgive and a pullover which add the quality of love

It is the combination of the garments that all is bound together in unity and peace.

James 1:27 NIV

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

and as Paul concludes in .

Colossians 3:17 NIV

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Worship happens in helping people rather than in the singing of How great thou art