Colossians 3:12-17

Functional Holiness by the Grace of God.

Paul wrote in Romans that the gospel makes God’s righteousness appear on earth in the lives of people as they walk by faith. This passage in Colossians expands that idea with a detailed portrait of what righteousness looks like. It instructs believers to make their lives a delightful blessing to others — and to do it as a matter of habit. (Romans 1:17)

Paul extends his metaphor of clothing to encourage believers to put on a gracious and honest way of life. He addresses mutual care, forgiveness, unity, and worship. The gospel touches us deeply and thoroughly renovates our heart’s approch to our fellow creatures.

The headline for the appeal is yet again our new identity in Christ. We have been chosen by God to be holy because He loves us. That is who we are, our guilt washed away and forgiven. By God’s grace we can act like it. And if we are willing, the Lord will make it so.

This passage is not a list of things to do but a list of things to be. A heart of compassion will see needs and take action to help. But that seeing wells up from within and is moved by the need rather than putting on a self-absorbed show that seeks applause for charitable giving. Remember the Lord’s instruction in the sermon on the mount:

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:1-4)

Kindness provides assistance with welcome benefit, and humility opens the doors of one heart to another. Gentleness for others will flow out of respect for them as God’s sacred creatures, those who answer to Him and are treasured by Him.

It should be essentially impossible to offend believers; we should not fall easily into injury and resentment. Patience (in this passage) almost literally means to have a long fuse as opposed to having a short one. Instead we bear with one another’s shortcomings waiting for the Lord to lead all of us into greater spiritual maturity. When there is cause for complaint, a ready forgiveness is graciously poured out instead. How else can we respond? Since we are aware of how great a debt of our own guilt the Lord has forgiven. And at what great cost to Himself.

There is a oneness for believers that arises from the aligning work of the Holy Spirit as He places us into the body of Christ. Unselfish love is also to be an article of our new clothing and that will secure the actual practice of our unity as believers. This sort of love is the way we must live, and it is possible to have it flow from our hearts only by the power of God as we yield to Him. If we are willing to be unselfish, then He will make it a reality.

Keeping this unity with the fellowship of believers should serve as a high priority for us. We have been called to peace in Christ and that peace should arbitrate our choices, causing us to abandon words and actions that cause strife and dissension. Thankfulness for our rich blessings should be commonplace instead. God’s Word should fill our hearts and our speech, which is teaching and admonishing one another through the music we sing.

In this way, our worship of God will give Him thanks and bring the blessing of spiritual nourishment to all who participate. There will be the beauty of a fellowship in unity worshiping the Creator.

Undergirding all of this gracious living is an understanding that we do these things by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ as His representatives, acting at His direction and privileged beyond imagining to stand before the throne of the Almighty and receive grace to meet every need. Indeed thanksgiving is unavoidable.

Grace that brings relief

Fake righteousness is a ditch that poses a threat all along life’s road, and if you find yourself stuck there, then be encouraged: God has a way out for us.

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