Colossians 3:12-17January 1, 2012Page | 1
Hi Kids,
What do I have in my hand [show a neck tie with many different Bible titles for the Son of God]?These are different names the Bible gives us for the Son of God.I have a shirt with a picture of a cross and a Bible verse [show a shirt which has a cross behind the words “Be strong and Brave …for the LORD thy God is with thee!” with “brave” resembling the Atlanta Braves Logo Word and read the verse.]Why do we wear a tie or a shirt like these?We want people to hear God’s word.
In the Bible verses for the sermon God gives us a list of words and tells usto “clothe” ourselves with them.Here are the words [Show a white shirt with the words written in black and/or blue: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiving, teach, help to repent.In red write: love, give thanks.Read them to the children]. Now, do you think that God is telling each of us to write these words on a shirt like this and wear it every day? No, God wants us have them in our heart so that what we say and do every day shows that they are written in our hearts.There are two special ones I have written in red.When we love one another and give thanks to God, then we are able to do the other ones in a way that pleases God.
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 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.
Dear Christians gathered in Jesus’ name,
Nations the world over have changed to the year 2012 today.Many people had celebrations last night to mark the event.In Bethlehem, if Jesus’ birthday happened on December 25, today on the eighth day, the big event for the family would have been his circumcision as God’s religious regulations required for Israelites under the Old Testament.And it did happen because the Son of God came in human appearance to submit to all God’s laws to earn heaven for us and be the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins.
The eighth day also was when the baby was given his official name.And so today the son of Mary would have been announced as “Jesus” just as the angel had instructed her.This name is important not simply so that we have something to call him when we talk to him or about him.The name “Jesus” is important because it tells us the purpose for his coming.The name “Jesus” means “Savior” because He came to save us from our sins.And it is with this name that Paul directs us to connect everything we do in life.Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks.
It certainly would be a God-pleasing New Year’s resolution for us make as our goal (1.) Clothe your lives in Christ-like qualities.And why shouldn’t we? After all you are “God’s chosen.”He did the picking, not you or I.Before creation God who knew everything about us and our entire earthly life chose to connect us with Christ so that we could spend eternity in the Paradise that is even better than what Adam and Eve had at Creation. God chose us not based on our life choices, but in his grace.He chose us “in Christ” because we are sinful and no sinner is allowed to enter the door to heaven.Through Jesus’ perfect compliance with every demand God requires and through Jesus’ innocent sacrifice to pay for all sins, we are declared innocent and “holy.”Yes, through God’s giftof faith in Jesus which he put into our heart he sees us as sin-free.We are “dearly loved!”God did all this for us because he wants us to have what we don’t deserve.He wants us to have all his blessings forever and never have to experience anything connected with sin.
Because of God’s love we have a glorious New Year ahead and a fabulous eternity beyond that.So how does our Lord ask us to live in response to these blessings?The qualities that the Lord seeks in you are the words that were printed on the shirt in the children’s section.Let’s review them beginning with “compassion.” This has to do with the deep rooted feeling of affection that comes from inside of you which you want to show to another.You see that person in a helpless circumstanceand you are compelled to comfort them and assist if possible.
And how is “kindness” different?It is broader.It is the opposite of malice or harshness.It is showing a loving, cordial disposition which willingly helps others in any way to benefit them.A kind person continually is looking for a way to bring joy and relief to others.
“Humility” does not look at oneself as inferior.Jesus “humbled himself” and he certainly was not inferior to anyone.Humility that God seeks in us is that we don’t elevate ourselves over others as if we are more important.Jesus put it this way, “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”Jesus teaches us that the Christian attitude is a willingness to put the welfare of others before our own.It is “love your neighbor as yourself” in action.Genuine humility recognizes our sinfulness and unworthiness and truly appreciates what Christ has done for all of us.
“Gentleness” is not being spineless or refusing to take a stand on any principle.The Christian like Jesus always stands firm in what God declares as good and right and opposed to what he declares as wrong and sin.Gentleness is refusing to be easily provoked to anger and harsh words and violent action.Gentleness is willing to overlook insults in the spirit of forgiveness.
“Patience” is the action of giving the time needed for a person to change, or to “get it right” after much practicing and mistakes.Patience aims to help the other person grow and succeedno matter how long it takes.Instead of bearing a grudge or having thoughts of vengeance, patience keeps working through even insults and injustice for a blessed solution. “Enduring with one another” is an act of patience.
We are sinners living with sinners and a work in progress toward resisting temptation more consistently.In the process we make mistakes in the way we treat one another.This is why “Forgiving” is on the list.Paul’s choice of words literally means “free giving.”We don’t earn forgiveness.Our sin earns punishment and rejection instead.Forgiveness is a gift.We are given a pardon from the penalty we deserve to pay because we sinned.
Love is the most important thread in our garment of Christian living.It is most important because “love covers a multitude of sins” with forgiveness.It is always giving.It bears no grudges.Love is the one word that summarizes all the commandments. Love connects all the virtues so they can work together.It is God’s attitude that we are to put into action.Love enables us to (2.) Deal with others in a Christ-motivated way (vv. 15–17) because we have experience “the Peace of Christ.”
Jesus has the title “Christ” which means he has been anointed by God to bring the New Testament.Jesus stomped on Satan’s head by resisting every temptation sent to get him to sin.Jesus reclaimed the world from Satan by paying God for all our sins with his suffering.And by taking on himself all our sins, Christ Jesus was reconciling the world to the holy God.We have this peace through faith in Jesus as our Savior.
Christ’s peaceis “the umpire for your heart.”The NIV translates the word as “rule.”The umpire rules on a disputed matter.His decision settles the matter.Christ’s peace settles things.Strife and competition are removed from Christian relationships because the Prince of Peace has brought us a peace with God that enables us to be at peace with ourselves and with the members of the “one body,” the holy Christian Church of all believers.
So how are we able to Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks? “Let the Word live in you abundantly.”Study your Bible continually believing what God promises and doing what God asks.“in all wisdom” means that you trust the words from God and seek his help to apply them to your life.And you work to help others do the same by “teaching and admonishing” them with music.The words of the Songs we sing at home or in worship are important.Their message teaches God’s truth.This truth also includes confronting us with our sins and inviting us to repent so we receive the forgiveness of sins.As we sing to one another, let it be with the attitude of “gratitude.”
All your words and works aim to “give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus.”“In the name of the Lord Jesus” means that we do something in connection with our wonderful relationship to Jesus.We do it in harmony with his will, with all the Bible which is his will written down.We do it in dependence on his power.We let our relationship to Christ control our relationship with everyone and all things.Lord, fill us with these attitudes and actions in the new year as our thanks to you.Amen.