DIGGING DEEP NO. 1077 April 1, 2025 A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS (PART 8) ALL DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO Col.3: 12 – 17.

The emphasis in this study is on motives. Why should we put off the old deeds and put on the qualities of the new life? Four motives ought to encourage us to walk in the newness of life.

1. The grace of Christ – Col.3: 12- 14. Grace is God’s favor to undeserving sinners. Paul reminded the Colossians of what God’s grace had done for them.

God chose them Vs.12a – The word elect means “chosen of God.” God’s words to Israel through Moses help us to understand the meaning of salvation by grace Deut.7: 7- 8. This miracle of divine election did not depend on anything that we are or that we have done, for God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world Ephe.1: 4. If God saved a sinner based on merit or works, nobody would be saved. It is all done through God’s grace that it might all bring glory to God.

God set them apart Vs.12. Because we have trusted Christ, we have been set apart from the world unto the Lord. We are not our own; we belong completely to Him 1 Cor.6: 19- 20. Just as the marriage ceremony sets apart a man and a woman for each other exclusively, so salvation sets the believer apart exclusively for Jesus Christ. Would it not be a horrible thing to see the groom run off with the maid of honor at the end of a wedding? It is just as horrible to contemplate a born-again Christian living for the world and the flesh. Love is the strongest motivating power in the world. As the believer grows in his love for God, he will grow in his desire to obey Him and walk in the newness of life that he has in Christ.

God has forgiven them Vs.13- 14. God’s forgiveness is complete and final; It is not conditional or partial. How is the holy God able to forgive us guilty sinners? Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. God has forgiven us for Christ’s sake, and not for our own sake Ephe.4: 32. Chosen by God, set apart for God, loved by God, and forgiven by God. They all add up to GRACE! Now, because of these gracious blessings, the Christian has some solemn responsibilities before God. He must put on the beautiful graces of the Christian life! Tender mercies (tender feelings of compassion towards one another); Kindness. We have been saved because of God’s kindness toward us through Jesus Christ Ephe.2: 7; Tit.3: 4. We, in turn, ought to show kindness toward others Ephe.4: 32. One of the most beautiful pictures of kindness in the Bible is King David’s treatment of Mephibosheth 2 Samuel 9. Humbleness of mind. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of humbleness of mind Phil.2: 1.  Meekness; meekness is not weakness; it is power under control. Longsuffering; When a person is longsuffering, he can put up with provoking people or circumstances without retaliating. Forbearance; This word literally means “to hold up” or “to hold back.” Meekness, longsuffering, and forbearance go together. Forgiveness; you must forgive or else feelings of malice will develop in the heart; and these can lead to greater sins. Love; This is the most important of the Christian virtues, and it acts like a girdle that ties all the other virtues together. When love rules our lives, it unites all these spiritual virtues so that beauty and harmony indicate spiritual maturity.

2. The peace of Christ – Col.3: 15 In this verse Paul turned from character to conduct. How can a Christian know when he is doing God’s will? One answer is the peace of Christ in the heart and in the church. When the believer loses his inner peace, he knows that he has in some way disobeyed God. The peace of God is the umpire in our believing hearts and our churches. We must beware, however, of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to go to sleep in the hold of a ship in a storm! “I had peace about it” is not sufficient evidence that we are in the will of God. We must pray, and seek His guidance in the scriptures. The peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God. Jonah thought he was at peace when actually his sins created a storm! When there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips: “And be thankful.” The Christian out of God’s will cannot give sincere praise to God. When David covered up his sins, he lost his peace and his praise. When he confessed his sins, then his song returned.
3. The word of Christ – Col.3: 16 This means the Word of God. The false teachers came to Colosse with man-made traditions, religious rules, and human philosophies. They tried to harmonize God’s Word with their teachings, but they could not succeed. God’s Word always magnifies Jesus Christ. It was not the Word of false teachers that brought salvation to the Colossians; it was the Word of the truth of the gospelCol.1: 5. This same Word gives us life and sustains and strengthens us 1Pet.1: 22- 23. The Word will transform our lives if we will but permit it to “dwell in us richly.” If we have experienced the grace and the peace of Christ, then the Word of Christ will feel at home in our hearts. There is an important parallel that we need to examine Ephe. 5: 18- 6: 9. In his letter to Ephesians, Paul emphasized being filled with the Word. But the evidences of this spiritual fullness are the same! How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Spirit? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive Ephe.5: 19- 21. All of this shows up in his relationships in the home and on the job Ephe.5: 22- 6: 9. How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Word of God? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive Col.3: 16- 4: 1.   
4. The name of Christ – Col.3: 17 In modern society, we pay little attention to names. But the ancient world held a man’s name to be of utmost importance. Often, during the Old Testament days, God changed a person’s name because of some important experience or some new development. As Christians, we bear the name of Christ (Identification); we belong to Jesus Christ. But His name also means authority. A man’s name signed to a check authorizes the withdrawal of money from the bank. The president’s name is signed on a bill, which makes it a law. In the same way, it is in the name of Jesus Christ that we have the authority to pray Jh.14: 13- 14; 16: 23- 26. Because Jesus Christ is God, and He has died for us, we have authority in His name. All that we say and do should be associated with the name of Jesus Christ. By our words and our works, we should glorify His name. If we permit anything into our lives that cannot be associated with the name of Jesus Christ, then we are sinning. We must do and say everything on the authority of His name and for the honor of His name. Bearing the name of Jesus is a great privilege, but it is also a tremendous responsibility. Every parent tries to teach his children to honor the family name. In just a few minutes, a person can disgrace a name that has taken hundreds of years to build. For example, the Hebrew name Judah is a respected name; it means Praise. The New Testament equivalent is Judas; and who would name his son Judas?

As we review these four spiritual motivations for godly living, we are impressed with the centrality of Jesus Christ. We forgive because Christ forgave us Col.3: 13. It is the peace of Christ that should rule in our hearts Col.3: 15. The Word of Christ should dwell in us richly Col.3: 16. The name of Christ should be our identification and our authority Col.3: 11.

In Conclusion – CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL