Put On Those New Clothes!

“. . . bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:13, NKJV)

It’s important to include verse twelve with this verse to get the full sentence. Together, verses 12 and 13 say,

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭NKJV)

This injunction to, “put on,” is the key instruction in this passage. His dominant metaphor in the chapter is that of putting on and putting off, akin to taking off dirty clothes in order to clothe a clean body in clean clothes. The cleansing of the body is not in the taking off of the dirty clothes but once clean, the body should not once again be clothed in tattered rags. What are the dirty rags to be put off?

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds . . ..” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:8-9 NKJV‬‬). Paul identifies these as character traits which must not mark the believer’s walk. These are the dirty clothes we must not once again put on.

In addition to the above-mentioned relational characteristics, the ultimate clothing to be donned is described in verse 14. “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NKJV) Love ‬‬is the overarching trait which animates all the others.

Finally, he enjoins, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) If we can’t in good conscience attach Jesus’s name to what we do, we have no business even trying that outfit on.

It’s time to get dressed for the work of the Kingdom, folks. Don’t donate the old stuff to Goodwill. Get rid of it. Put on your new, heavenly outfit and start practicing for those pure robes of white for which we’re all destined.