I.      COL 3:11

A.  In Christ all distinctions are removed.

1.    Even religious distinctions, slave or free, it doesn’t matter who we are.

a)    We are all one in Christ.

(1)  1COR 6:17 Says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”[1]

b)    Believers are truly “created equal” and equal in the eyes of God.

II.   COL 3:12-17

A.  Going back to verse 12 which says, …(read)

1.    Again Paul called on believers to take a decisive action:

a)    Clothe yourselves (NIV, or KJV Put on). Because they have “put on  the new self” (v. 10), they should live accordingly, with appropriate attributes and attitudes.[2]

2.    The “elect of God” or “God’s chosen people” (NIV) should be different from the world or the way people are in the world.

a)       1 Peter 2:9-11

(1)  Just in these verses alone, God is telling us to stop the fleshly desires, which are so common in the world.

3.    But in verse 12 he is now telling us not only put off the fleshly lust but now we are to put on certain attributes because we are the children of Light or that we are “holy and beloved”

a)    The 1st one he says is “bowels of mercies”

b)    “Bowels” actually refers to the inner parts i.e. an organ.

(1)  In this sense it refers to “the inner seat of passion.”

(2)  In the KJV it says, “bowels of mercies.” In most other translations it rendered as “COMPASSION” it is a “HEARTFELT COMPASSION”

c)     Next he says, “KINDNESS.”

(1)  That doesn’t need much explanation, but I’ll just add this that the Strong’s adds “GOODNESS.”

d)    The next in our list is “HUMBLENESS OF MIND”

(1)  That does mean “HUMILITY” or “THE HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE’S SELF.”

e)     Next is “MEEKNESS” which is also “GENTLENESS” especially with the attitude towards others.

f)      The last one in verse 12 is “LONGSUFFERING”

(1)  Longsuffering is more then patience, but it has to do with “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance. slowness in avenging wrongs”. [3]

g)      Look at Gal 5:22-23

(1)  Here we see some of the same things that Paul is talking about in Col 3:12.

h)      We see it again in EPH 4:1-2

(1)  lowliness is “humbleness of mind,” meekness is “gentleness,” and longsuffering is “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, and forbearance.”[4]

B.  In Col 3:13 he says, “Forbearing one another”

1.    Forbearance is kind of a funny word, not used very much,

a)    The NIV puts it this way, “Bear with each other.”

b)    Another definition is to “TOLERATE AND ENDURE” It also means “ENDURE, BEAR WITH, PUT UP WITH; HEAR OR LISTEN TO WILLINGLY.” Or “ACCEPT”

C.  Next he says in V 13, “Forgiving One Another”

1.    How? By forgiving as the Lord forgave them, graciously and freely [5]

2.    Grudges have no place in a Christian’s life. They may lead to the sins already mentioned in Colossians 3:8-9.[6]

D.      COL 3:14

1.    The NIV says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”[7]

2.       Look at 1COR 13:13

3.    Back to Col 3:14, Paul says that this LOVE will cause in us a “bond of perfectness.”

a)    Or really binds us together in perfect unity.       

WOLCC Thurs. 8/28/2003

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[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (1 Co 6:17). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

v. verse

[2]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[3]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G3115). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[4]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G3115). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[5]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[6]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[7]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Col 3:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.