Colossians 3:1-4:1 The Christian’s Clothing

 

Richard Schickel describes it as "A gentle film about somewhat alien beings, who entertain us by creating instead of destroying."  Another commentator writes, "I decided long ago that I needed no further proof that animals have souls. But if I did need some, I could find it here."  It is something of a surprise that the international movie hit last year was, according to the BBC, a National Geographic wildlife documentary. Directed by the French biologist, Luc Jacquet it recounts an epic tale: the life cycle of the emperor penguin, the largest of the 17 species found in Antarctica. Every aspect of emperor penguin life is tough, for the bird is the southernmost species and breeds on the ice-bound Antarctic land mass. What it takes to do this is remarkable. At the end of the Antarctic summer, in March, the birds flop out of the Southern Ocean where they have been assiduously stuffing themselves, and begin a long walk to their mating grounds, up to 70 miles away. Thousands gradually come together, tramping over the ice in long single files like patrols of infantry. But that's only the beginning. After courtship and pairing, the female bird produces a single egg, and then one of nature's great curtains comes down.

 

A six-month night descends, and the temperature drops with it, to minus 60 and below. This is when the working mother bird departs. She has gone without food for so long - and the effort of producing the egg has been so great - that she must return to the sea to feed. The task of incubating the egg, in the harshest conditions on earth, falls to the husband.

When blizzards arrive, with 100 mph winds in a nightmare of frozen dark, their survival depends on huddling together in great groups to keep a minimum of warmth. Most survive, and so do their eggs, kept secure and warm in a skirt of abdominal skin just above their feet; and after 60 days of standing like this, the eggs hatch.


The husband feeds the tiny chick at first with a milky substance, then eventually the mother returns to take over, recognising her partner by call. The film is an extraordinary story of co-operation and endurance, and an inspiration to those who have seen it.  It is also a remarkable natural illustration of what God has designed the Church to be. C.S. Lewis once wrote an essay on church membership, reminding us that the word "membership” is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all its original meaning. Joining a church used to be an act of conformity in our society. Because everyone did it. But not anymore. The act of conformity on Sundays for most people is to visit a gardening centre.  

George Gallup has found that the majority believe you can be a "good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church.

And I suspect many who regard themselves as Christians wouldn’t disagree.  Brent Thomas of Grace Community Church, Glen Rose, Texas, said recently,We’ve robbed the concept of church membership of any substance to the extent that many otherwise well-intentioned believers no longer see it as necessary, buying into the pervasive individualism of our surrounding culture...”

This encourages what he terms “church shopping” where Christians search for the “right church,” in the same way that you choose a supermarket or hairdresser - based on subjective feelings rather than committing to a local church with all its inherent breadth and diversity ….

Drawing together the relationship between salvation and church membership, Mark Dever, in his book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, says that “Membership is the church’s corporate endorsement of a person’s salvation.”[1]

That is what Paul insists on in our reading from Colossians 3. 

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry…

 

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you…” (Colossians 3:1-13)

I read this extensive passage to invite you to notice how Paul weaves together our relationship with God and our relationship with one another. Look at the colours - the red is our relationship to him - the blue our relationship to one another.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry…

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you…” (Colossians 3:1-13)

You see how the spiritual and natural, our invisible and visible relationships are interrelated? We inhabit two worlds as Christ-followers and we live out our faith in Jesus among his other children in our locality. I am convinced from the Scriptures that the Christian life is designed by God to be lived out in community and in accountability to one another. Without that commitment to other Christ followers in a community of faith, the individual Christian cannot hope to grow to maturity, cannot find a place of active service, and cannot fulfill their God-given purposes.

There are many analogies for a Christian disconnected from a church: A football player without a team; a soldier without a platoon; a tuba player without an orchestra; and a sheep without a flock.

 

But the most understandable (and biblical) picture is that of a child without a family. 1 Timothy 3:15 refers to the church as “... the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.”  That is because God does not want us growing up in isolation from each other so he created a spiritual family on earth for us. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:15,

 

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15). Members and membership are therefore biblical words.   That is why we introduced a membership scheme last Easter.

While it is true that we may be a little untypical for an Anglican church in defining what we mean by membership - being untypical is not the same thing as being un-Anglican.

 

Three Common Misconceptions on Membership

 

1. Membership vs. Grace

Some have suggested that having a membership scheme is a form of legalism that runs counter to the spirit of Grace. I don’t agree. There is no conflict between living by grace and living as slaves of Christ (Romans 6:22). Grace is not antithetical to responsibility - immaturity is. The New Testament does not recognize a Christ follower who is not at the same time a serving member of a local Church. You cannot be connected to the head of the Body (Jesus) without being part of the Body (the local church).

 

2. Membership vs. Unity

Some have suggested that having a membership scheme creates divisions in a church family. I don’t agree. Having a membership scheme helps identify the divisions that already exist and helps us pastor people more appropriately. The New Testament identifies four kinds of people and we should too.

 

Type

Scripture

Responsibility

Unbeliever/ Seeker

Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14

Win

New Believer

Ephesians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Build

Immature Believer

Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 Corinthians 3:3-4

Discipline

Maturing Believer

Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 2:15

Send

 

Unbelievers: We should not encourage unbelievers to become church members before they have received Christ. The Electoral Roll form alone, allows this. Our membership scheme will steer these people to one-to-one evangelism or the Christianity Explored course. They are very welcome at our activities.

 

New Believers: Like new born babies, new believers need personal one-to-one nurture and a group specifically designed for them. This is the purpose of our Members/Foundations course.

 

Immature Believers: These Christians also need one-to-one discipleship, and if necessary, discipline, to help them mature and become fruitful and diligent, fully devoted servants of Christ.

 

You know what a church and swimming pool have in common? All the noise comes from the shallow end… Unity is not threatened by mature believers seeking to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit!

 

3. Membership vs. Electoral Roll

But isn’t it enough to apply to have my name added to the Electoral Roll? No. Brent Thomas describes this as, “Meaningless membership - [which] is an affront to the very Gospel that we preach. We preach that hearts of stone may be replaced with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19), that people may be born again (John 3:1-21), and that the spiritually dead may be raised (Ephesians 2:1-10). All of this assumes that after salvation, there ought to be a stark difference. All Lazarus had to do was walk into a room and people immediately thought of the Christ who had raised him (John 12:9-11). Is the same true of us? Sadly, it seems that such concepts are not even on the radar screen of many believers, much less the churches they attend.”[2] If you look carefully at the wording of the Electoral Roll form you will see that membership is assumed. This begs the question - how are we to define membership of the Church of England?

 

The Anglican 'Duties of Church Membership' were actually issued as long ago as 1954 by the two Archbishop's of Canterbury and York.  To our knowledge these 'duties' have been neither annulled or superseded, but represent the ‘official’ position of the Church of England on membership. Clearly even in the 1950’s nominalism was a problem and the Archbishop’s felt it necessary to raise the bar and challenge Anglicans to get serious in living out their faith.

 

Out of date? We think not. Bradford and Portsmouth Diocese are just two commending these criteria on their websites. Our new 2007 Membership leaflet will reinforce what the Church of England has always understood membership to be. That is why we are also asking everyone to endorse our membership commitment as well as the Electoral Roll.

 

Why make it an annual pledge?

As a way of acknowledging that we are on an adventure,  a journey of faith together, and we have not ‘arrived’ yet. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul longs that they “will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching..." (Ephesians 4:14-16). We need all the help we can get, and give one another to persevere.

 

Please turn with me to Colossians 3 and lets discover how we can deepen our daily walk with Jesus.

 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

 

Now there is much more in this passage than we have time for so please simply note three basic injunctions on how to follow Christ.

 

1. Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

2. Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

3. Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Colossians 3:17)

 

1. Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

Who or what is ruling your heart right now? What is the dominant issue in your heart? A close relationship that is going sour? The post-Christmas debt you are in? That decision you are dreading? Or is it the peace of Christ? What is ruling your heart right now? Is it guilt? Greed? Or grace? If its guilt then until we confess our sin and repent of it, we will never experience the peace of Christ. If its greed, until we detox from it, we will never experience the peace of Christ. Paul tells us to do two things - “put to death what ever belongs to your earthly nature” (Colossians 3:5). How do you put something to death? You don’t feed it. You starve it. In verse 8, Paul says, “you must rid yourselves of these things.” (Colossians 3:8). In verse 9, he reminds us we have taken off our old nature. The imagery is of taking off our old dirty clothes and putting on clean clothes - the clothes of Christ.

 

“as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

 

I can see you put on your clothes today but what about the character of Jesus? We need to consciously and deliberately clothe ourselves in the qualities and attributes of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, on a daily basis, if his peace is to rule our hearts.

So from tomorrow, when you have your shower, pray that God would clean you on the inside as well as the outside. And as you put on your clothes, ask Him to clothe you with compassion, with kindness, with humility, gentleness and patience, and then as you tighten your belt, remember the words, “over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together.” Begin your day with Jesus. Every day with Jesus. If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus, Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

2. Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

“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.” (Colossians 3:16)

 

What is shaping your mind? Is it the Times or Telegraph editor? Is it the BBC controller? Is it your boss or your spouse or the latest business guru? Is it pornography? Or it it the Word of God? The word of Christ? We are what we eat. We are what we fill our minds with. We are what we give our minds to. Do you want to be wise? Then let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly.  How can I do that? By making the reading, the studying, memorising, meditating and application of God’s Word your highest daily priority, your ultimate life goal. Why must I allow the word of God to shape my mind? Because

 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

 

That is why I read my Bible every day. Why I follow a systematic plan that enables me to read the Bible once every year.
It’s why I have a copy of the Bible on my personal organiser. This is why the study of the Word of Christ shapes and controls everything we do as a Church. Our mission statement, our five main purposes, our vision, our goals, our five year plan are determined by the Word of God. Our Sunday Clubs for children are for teaching the Bible. Our FUEL group for teenagers is for teaching God’s Word. Our small groups for adults are primarily for studying God’s word and applying it in community. The hymns and songs we sing on Sundays are biblical in content. Why?

 

Because, as Dick Lucas points out, “Genuine Christian praise is not primarily a vehicle for the expression of spiritual aspirations and experiences, so much as a celebration of God’s mighty acts in Christ.” [1]  With “gratitude in your hearts to God.”

If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus,

 

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

 

3. Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Col. 3:17)

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

 

Let’s think for a moment about what it means to do everything in Jesus’ name.[2] In Paul’s day, a name wasn’t just something to call a person. A name signified the whole person - a person’s character. When Paul says do everything in Jesus’ name, he’s saying act consistently with Jesus’ character - act the same way Jesus would do if he were in our place.  What is so striking is how comprehensive Paul’s statement is “Whatever you do” he says. Then in case we miss how broad that is, he adds, “in word or deed.” And if anyone is still looking for loopholes, he says, “do it all in the name of Jesus”. Of course, this isn’t something we attempt in our own strength. We don’t just do things for Jesus in his name - as if he were far away, like a spectator watching while we act on stage. When we become Christians, Jesus takes up residence within us. We do life with him, in a partnership, not as a performance.

 

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said to his friends, “I am with you always”. He is indeed here, with us, in us, right now. The heart of spiritual life is to do everything with Jesus, in his name - the way he would do it in our place -  knowing he is actually present. Living in Jesus’ name is like the manna God gave the Israelites in the desert - it comes in one-day doses. We can only live in Jesus’ name one day at a time.  If I’m going to learn to spend a day with Jesus, it has to be this moment, this breath, this day. For this day is all I have. For the most part it won’t involve doing new things or more than I do now, just doing them in new ways - in Jesus’ name.  Remember God isn't interested in your spiritual life. God is simply interested in you. You and your life - every part of it. That means every moment is an opportunity to do life in Jesus' name. If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus,

 

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Colossians 3:17)

 

The joy of membership in Christ’s Body is that we do not journey alone.  We journey with Jesus and one another.  Dick Lucas points out, “It is the name of Jesus that unites... All whom Christ has accepted we will accept; all who are not satisfied with Christ alone will not be satisfied with us.”[3]

We deepen our daily walk with Jesus, as we let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. As we let the Word of Christ shape our minds. As we let the name of Christ determine our actions one day at a time. Lets covenant to walk together, in the words of Colossians 3, “as members of Christ’s body”, in this community, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved.”  Lets pray.

 



[1] http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org

[2] http://www.colossiansthreesixteen.com/archives/date/2005/08 



[1] Dick Lucas, Fullness and Freedom (IVP)

[2] John Ortberg, Session 1, An Ordinary Day with Jesus (Zondervan)

[3] Dick Lucas, Fullness and Freedom (IVP)