Clothed with Compassion

May 16, 2010

Lesson: Colossians 3:12–17

Key Verse: Colossians 3:12

Introduction

What is a Christian like? The Christian is one who is able to clothe himself with tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering (Col. 3:12). The Christian is one who, by virtue of his faith in Christ, has obtained by the Spirit a moral nature from which flows certain moral deeds. This is further illustrated in verse fourteen, which teaches us that the Christian is clothed in love: “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” A Christian, because of his new nature in Christ Jesus, is endowed with the ability to put on love. However, it is not the ubiquitous love of the world, but that special love which God alone is able to give. The Greek word is “agape,” or charity, meaning a benevolent love. This love is revealed in doing something which is needed by another. This love is revealed in God’s love toward us in sending his Son to be our Savior. What is a Christian like? He is able to show charity, an unselfish love toward others. J.C. Ryle wrote: “Charity is rightly called ‘The Queen of Christian graces.’—The charity of the Bible will show itself in a believer’s doings. …It will make him diligent in doing all that lies in his power to lessen the sorrow and increase the happiness of others. Like his Master, he will care more for ministering than for being ministered to, and will look for nothing in return.”

As the elect of God we are able to “put on!” The Christian is like a man who sees himself dressed in the rags of this world. He must take off those things of unrighteousness, bury them deep in the dung hills, and appropriate the righteous clothing of his Lord and Savior. Daniel heard the Lord’s promise of being clothed in righteousness, “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Dan. 12:10). This truth of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ is revealed in all its beauty to the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 3:1–10). Joshua the high priest is standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan stands at his right hand to resist him. The Lord speaks to Satan, saying, “O Satan, the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” Joshua is seen as clothed with filthy garments. The Lord again speaks, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” To Joshua he says, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” It is to this Joshua, the high priest, that the Lord promised the sending of “the BRANCH,” who is Christ Jesus the Son!

Put on Charity—Colossians 3:12, 14

The elect of God, those chosen to be his very own children, the Lord calls holy and beloved. Holy, because they have been set apart in His righteousness, they have been given a new nature with certain moral characteristics. They are called beloved, agapao in the Greek, because they have received the undeserved love of God in Christ Jesus. This unmerited love proceeds from the will of God to each of His chosen children.

Thus they are, because of their new nature, are able to put on “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering.” Bowels of mercy speak of that affection which proceeds from the innermost being of the Christian, flowing, as it was, from a fountain of kindness placed there by the Spirit of God. Kindness reveals the good-natured heart of the believer in their deeds, outward disposition, and speech. Gentleness speaks of this and of his inward character. “To this,” writes Calvin, “he adds humility, because no one will be kind and gentle but the man who, laying aside haughtiness, and high mindedness, brings himself down to the exercise of modesty, claiming nothing for himself.” Verse fourteen reads, “And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.” We have already defined charity as agape love, that love which comes from God and shows compassion and benevolence. The Christian’s new nature is summarily characterized by God’s love. Kindness, meekness, etc. is nurtured by that gift of love, of charity. Charity is the “bond of perfection,” or the bond of accomplishment. The word ‘perfection’ or ‘Teleiotes’ stresses the actual accomplishment of the end in view. In order to move onto the goal of our calling in Christ Jesus, to run the race, to win the victory, we must put on charity, unmerited love and benevolence.

Discussion: What does it mean to practice ‘charity’ in light of God’s love?

Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven—Colossians 3:13

An example of this kind of kindness, mercy, and charity in the life of the believer, Christians are seen as “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Our continuing prayers to our Father in heaven must include these words, “Forgive us our debts, our trespasses, as we forgive those who sin, transgress the law of God, against us.” It is as if we are saying, ‘Lord, Thou hast forgiven me, paid the ransom price for my soul; therefore, let me have the same spirit within in me as you have; enable me, by Thy Spirit, to forgive those who have sinned against me.’

Calvin explains this forgiveness by having to look at that part of our new clothing, ‘long-suffering.’ He writes that by long-suffering “we embrace each other indulgently, and forgive also where any offense has been given. As, however, it is a thing that is hard and difficult, he confirms this doctrine by the example of Christ, and teaches, that the same thing is required from us, that as we, who have so frequently and so grievously offended, have nevertheless been received into favor, we should manifest the same kindness towards our neighbors, by forgiving whatever offenses they have committed against us.”

Discussion: What does it mean to practice ‘forgiveness’ as God has forgiven us?

Let the Peace of God Rule—Colossians 3:15

The end result of this righteous clothing that we put on, that which covers the inward soul, as well as the outward acts of the Christian, is ‘peace’—“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” It is the peace of God which the Lord has established within and among us. It is in this unity of the Spirit of God, belonging as one body to Christ Jesus, the Head and King of His Church, that we live. This peace of God, obtained for us by the precious blood of Christ, is to rule in our hearts, to reign in our hearts, to vanquish all enemies within and without, to enable us to grow in grace, to die to sin, and to live to Christ alone!

Discussion: What does it mean to have ‘peace’ rule in our hearts?

Let the Word Dwell in You—Colossians 3:16–17

Paul concludes his encouragement to the Christian to be clothed in righteousness, saying, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Paul put it this way, when he wrote to the saints at Ephesus: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Our hearts should be a home where the truth of God lives; “that is, that it should have a settled abode, and that largely, that they may make it their aim to advance and increase more and more every day” (Calvin). God’s Bible songs of the Psalms abide in our hearts and advance from lips, teaching one another of the wonder of God’s grace and truth. By this we are to make melody in our hearts to our Lord. We are like students in a heavenly classroom showing to our Teacher that we love what he has taught us, thereby giving him the glory.

Paul continues, “And whatsoever ye do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving to God and the Father by him.” Paul wrote to the saints at Rome: “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Rom. 1:8). By word and deed we serve and glorify our Lord. The faith of those Christians could not be spoken of unless they were being seen in the works of the Spirit through them. Faith without the outpouring of gracious works cannot be seen to be the true faith, which by grace alone we have been saved. By Christ, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:15). The fruit of our lips in song and witness are also to be among our deeds.

Discussion: How are we to receive the Word of truth in our hearts and how shall we show that Word in faith and deeds?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.