Hope for Today

On this episode of Hope for Today, we’re beginning a study of the Gospel of Mark. That’s why I’ve titled today’s teaching, “On Your Mark.” This episode will explore some of the background material that helps enhance our understanding of Mark’s Gospel.

Colossians 4:2-6

It’s good to be with you today as we take another look at God’s Word together. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, where our goal is to use media to make disciples of Jesus. This program is the media. We are studying in Colossians, and Lord willing, all of us are becoming like Jesus; we are being His disciples.  

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we are nearing the end of the book of Colossians. After this lesson, we have one more, and that will complete our teaching from Paul’s fantastic book. As you may recall from last week, our title is “Getting the Word Heard,” and last week we explored how vital communion with God is in spreading the Word. Today marks the second part of this teaching, and the main points will be clarity, conduct, and conversation, each an essential element in allowing the Word to be heard.  

If you can turn with us to Colossians 4:2-6. 

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 

3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 

4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each one. 

This text contains several ELEMENTS we must consider if we want to be effective in “Getting the Word Heard.”  

The Next ELEMENT (in getting the Word heard) is, 

Clarity 

If people can listen to our words but don’t understand them, the Word isn’t being truly heard. Genuine hearing involves the intellect and the heart. I recall my mentor, Dr. J. Otis Yoder, speaking about the importance of clarity in teaching and preaching. He said, “If you’re going to feed the sheep, you have to put the food where they can reach it.” To do that, you need to know your audience. Paul asked the Colossian Believers to pray that he would be able to proclaim the Word clearly, to put the food where the sheep could reach it. 

Sometimes we Christ-followers use language that is familiar to us but foreign to non-believers. Several decades ago, people understood what it meant to be “born-again.” Today, many people are like Nicodemus. When Jesus talked with him about being born again, he couldn’t see how that was possible. Many people today have little or no exposure to God’s Word and biblical truth. So, the Word must be conveyed in language they can understand and relate to.  

  Paul emphasizes the importance of clarity in 1 Corinthians 14. The context is his teaching about speaking in tongues, but his conclusion applies just as well to this essential element of clarity. In verse 8, he says, “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So, it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.” 

 Here again, prayer is part of the process because we can ask God, through His Holy Spirit, to help us share His truth in ways that people can understand, and to enable them, by His Spirit, to understand what we’re saying. That’s what Paul was asking the Colossian Believers to pray for him. He knew his effectiveness in getting the Word heard depended, at least in part, on his clarity. The same is true for you and me today.  

The Next ELEMENT (in getting the Word heard) is, 

Conduct 

In the English language, we have a saying: “What you DO speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying.” A person’s conduct and character have much to do with whether people listen to what they say.  

When I was a younger man, there was a popular bumper sticker that said, “Honk if you love Jesus.” A lady was driving on a busy street and pulled up behind a car at the traffic light. She read the bumper sticker and tapped the horn. An angry man jumped out of the car and yelled, “Lady, what’s the matter with you, can’t you see the light is red?” I cringe sometimes when I see how people drive and then have a Christian message of some kind on their vehicle.  

Paul says we are to walk wisely before those who are outside of the family of God. So, he makes a distinction between believers and unbelievers. Jesus did the same thing in Mark 4:11. He made a distinction between His disciples and those who weren’t disciples. We who are born again are “spiritual insiders” because we belong to God’s family, and we share His life.  

But we must never become proud of our position in Christ. We must never give those outside God’s family the impression that we are superior to them. We were just like them before God rescued us from the slave-market of sin at the cost of Jesus’ blood. We are sinners saved by grace. The primary purpose of this text is to share with others how they can experience the same transformation we have through Jesus.  

What does it mean to walk wisely before unbelievers? Walking refers to our conduct. Many unbelievers seem to know instinctively how a Christ-follower should live. So, when a high-profile Christian leader is caught in major moral failure, the unbelievers mock. Here was someone who claimed to speak for God, and he was discovered to be doing the same thing the unbelievers were doing, or worse! That jeopardizes the testimony of all Believers.  

Walking in wisdom means being careful in what we say and do. It means consciously trying to avoid actions that will hinder others from hearing the message we proclaim. In Acts 24:16, Paul defended himself before the Roman governor, Felix, against the charges brought by the Jewish leaders. In response to their accusations, he said, “I always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”  

Paul didn’t want anything he did or said to give others a reason to disregard the message he was preaching. We know that his detractors falsely accused him, and we may experience the same thing. But we should strive to live a life that is above reproach. 

Another area of conduct that we, as Christ-followers, need to work on is being more loving in our presentation of the truth. We know God doesn’t hate sinners. God doesn’t approve of any sin, regardless of its form, but He loves all people. John 3:16-18 leaves no doubt about this fact. In getting the Word heard, we need to learn how to use God’s love to guide our conduct.  

I learned about a woman who was a professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University in New York, and a practicing lesbian. She wrote a book, “The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert.” In it, she recounts the story of her journey to faith in Jesus in the year 1999. She shares how God used a humble couple’s simple invitation to dinner to draw her, a radical and committed unbeliever, to Himself. That couple reached out to her as a human being loved by God. That helped to break down her perception that Christ-followers were hate-filled bigots.  

The message of the Gospel is offensive; Jesus and the apostles said it would be so. But we don’t need to make it more offensive by our un-Christian responses to the sins of others. We must learn to see past the sometimes-repulsive exterior of a person to see the deeper needs of the soul. We must surely keep in mind that “except for the grace of God, there go I.” 

Paul further reminds us that this walking in wisdom includes redeeming the time. That means “buying up” the opportunities that come our way for personal witnessing. Here, Paul uses a commercial term. Just as a businessman seizes a bargain when he sees one, so a Christ follower seizes the opportunity to share the message of Christ’s love with the lost. He knows that both his time and the person he’s witnessing to are limited.  

I’m sure there’s more we could discuss about how important this element of conduct is in getting the Word heard. But let’s move on to… 

The Final ELEMENT (in getting the Word heard) is, 

Conversation 

While our conduct is vital as we walk before unbelievers, it’s not a substitute for sharing the Gospel message with them verbally.  

I read about a man who got saved as a young adult. He was so excited about Christ for the first couple of weeks that he told everybody the difference Jesus had made in his life. One Sunday night, he was at his church, and they sang the song, “Rescue the Perishing.” He heard that song and he got so excited that as soon as the service was over, he rushed to the pastor, and said, “Pastor, I’m ready.” The pastor said, “Ready for what?” He said, “Man, I’m ready to go rescue the perishing–let’s do it!” 

The pastor looked at him and said, “Well, that’s not something we do; that’s just a song we sing.” Sadly, the pastor’s response is all too common today. In this context, Paul addresses the importance of how we do that. He writes, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Our speech will only be gracious if we have grace in our hearts.  

And then, metaphorically, Paul says that our speech should be seasoned with salt. What does that mean? Salt has been used for thousands of years as a preservative and to enhance flavor. It seems the second use is primarily in view here.  

As Christ-followers, we can hold firmly to our biblical convictions without being rude or obnoxious. How willing are you to listen to someone whose language is rude? We must model the speech of Jesus as He delivered it in the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth. “So, all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.”  

Our walk and our talk are both critical. Our conduct and our conversation are mutually supportive. They must agree. Add to this the two earlier elements of getting the Word heard: communion, that is, prayer, and clarity, which makes the message plain and understandable so that all can truly hear.  

I must confess that this portion of Scripture has convicted me. By God’s grace and enabling, I will be more faithful in communion with my Heavenly Father in intercession for the lost. I will continue working to bring clarity to the message of the Gospel as I proclaim it.  

By His grace and enabling, I will strive to conduct myself in a way that will not bring reproach on the name of Christ and will not hinder my witness for Him. And I will be more diligent in taking advantage of the opportunities to give verbal witness to the Gospel. Will you join me in those commitments? 

Good question, J Mark. If we don’t care and don’t do our part to get the Word heard, then who will? This is a sobering question.  J. Mark just did a good job of summarizing the lesson. Now, the challenge is for us: will we do our part to spread the word? May we, God’s servants, be faithful in telling others about him and shining His light into the darkness.   

If you have any questions about today’s teaching or would like to contact us, please reach out to us using one of the following methods. A good way is by email; our email address is [email protected]. Alternatively, you can visit our website at heraldsofhope.org and send us a message online. There, click on the “contact us” link, which is on the top right. And of course, there is always a pen and paper. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. We look forward to hearing from you.  

Reflecting on the importance of letting His Word be heard, I conclude this program with the words of Jesus. He said, “You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  We bless you as you shine His light!  

Colossians 3:15-17

The Bible is a valuable resource for learning about God and His will for humanity. Last time, in Colossians 3, we examined two imperatives for living life to the fullest. They let the peace of Christ officiate and allow the Word of Christ to educate. Today is a continuation of this teaching, and the third one is to let the name of Christ motivate all we do.   

As you can see, Christ is central to each point, and we, here at Heralds of Hope, believe that everyone who wants to live life to the fullest will have Jesus Christ at the center of everything. Make Jesus your king, become His servant, and you will be well on your way to living life to the fullest.  

Let’s go now to Colossians 3 for the rest of our lesson.    

Today, we are resuming our study, and our text is Colossians 3:15-17.  

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  

16 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.  

17 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. 

This text provides several IMPERATIVES that, if obeyed, will enable us to “Live Life to the Fullest.”  

The Next IMPERATIVE (that will enable us to live life to the fullest) is, 

Let the Word of Christ Educate 

In the contemporary church, many people are woefully uninformed about biblical truth. I saw a recent poll of 1,000 professing Christ-followers. 60% of these folks believe that Jesus is not the only way to acceptance with the Father. That’s nearly two-thirds; to me, that’s incredible! Jesus Himself pointedly told us in John 14:6 that “no one comes to the Father except by Me.” So, either they don’t know what Jesus said, or they don’t believe it.  

For Christ-followers in the developed world, there’s no excuse for not knowing the truth about Christ or about the things He taught. We have more ways to access the Word of God than any previous generation, but, as a rule, we have a lot less Bible knowledge. And too often, even the Bible knowledge we have remains theoretical; it’s in our heads.  

HOW is this word of Christ to dwell in us–richly, in all wisdom? The word richly is plousios (ploo-see’-ose). It means abundantly plentiful, a bountiful yield, like a mountain spring gushing continually from its source without diminishing. We’re not just to have a small portion of the Word of Christ, but an abundance of it, an overflowing of it from our lives in every kind of wisdom. 

The Colossian false teachers were promising their followers a kind of wisdom available only to a select group of people, especially those initiated into their group. But Paul says, no, this wisdom contained in the Word of Christ is a resource of infinite riches for ALL genuine Believers.   

What is the context in which this bountiful richness of wisdom is to be exercised? In the Body of Christ, to which you and I have been called. Do you notice the pattern here? In the preceding verse, the peace of Christ is also to be exercised in the context of the Body.  

The New Testament teaching on the Church knows nothing of a Christ-follower who is, by their choice, detached from a local body of Believers. The prevailing idea today is that the Church exists to serve me, rather than that I’m called, as a Christ-follower, to serve the Church.  

The richness of the Word of Christ dwelling in us and educating us will produce a specific effect. That wisdom will result in teaching and admonishing one another in various ways. Teaching embodies the idea of instruction and learning. Admonishing is to caution someone or to reprove them gently. It carries the idea of warning.  

Next, the apostle provides specific ways in which this teaching of the Word and this admonition can be put into practice. Interestingly, he uses music as a tool to do this. The logical flow of thought in this text and throughout the entire teaching of the New Testament reveals that the teaching and preaching of the Word must take priority. Music is used as reinforcement, not the other way around, as is often seen in many churches today. 

Paul mentions the Psalms, the original music of Israel. We should be familiar with these because they express a wide range of emotions: joy, sorrow, thanksgiving, complaint, trust, questioning, and more. However, there is also teaching about God, His character, His sovereignty, His love and mercy, His wrath, and more. The psalms are theological and practical, not mindless repetitions of exact phrases. God is primarily the focus of the Psalms; they call us to worship Him. 

Next is hymns. Hymns are praises to God composed by Christ-followers. They are often rooted in the Scriptures. Hymns encompass a whole range of issues. And then, Paul mentions spiritual songs. This is a general description of all godly songs. These and many more have their place in our worship services, our homes, and our times of fellowship with the Lord. They can all be helpful in teaching and admonishing one another in the Lord.  

Next, Paul provides us with critical guidance on the source of our singing and how we should utilize music. He writes “…singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” How do we do that? Greek scholars tell me that the definite article is present in this phrase. So, we should read it like this: “…singing with THE grace in your hearts to the Lord.” The motivation for our singing is the grace of God, His unmerited favor that has provided our salvation and rescued us from destruction. I can sing because I am redeemed!  

Then, look where this use of music begins – it begins in the heart. Anyone can sing a song, we know that. But if the singing isn’t an expression of what is in the heart, it’s only a performance. 

I have good memories of hearing my mom sing as she went about her daily work. Like every wife and mother, she faced her share of difficulties. When money was tight, she had to be creative in running the household. But she usually had a song in her heart and on her lips.  

Growing up on a small dairy farm, I can still hear my dad singing in the milk house. Since that environment was mainly concrete and steel, he didn’t need an amplifier! He was born with such poor vision that he was classified as legally blind. Life was hard, yet he persevered in providing for and raising our family of 5 siblings. And through it all, he never lost his song. In his final months of life, when his mental faculties began to fail, the songs he had loved and sung for all those years remained in his memory. That reality still blesses me today!    

Is the Word of Christ dwelling in you? Is it educating you in the things of the Lord? Are you expressing what you learn from Him in a life of obedience? Are you encouraging your brothers and sisters in the Lord with the overflow of that Word from your life? Are you rejoicing in the unmerited favor of God through the medium of music? I hope and pray you can answer all those questions with a resounding, yes! And that leads us to the final imperative…  

The Final IMPERATIVE (that will enable us to live life to the fullest) is, 

Let the Name of Christ Motivate 

“Let everything you do, whether in word or deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In other words, let the name of Christ motivate all you do.  

In the minds of some commentators, Paul is shifting the focus from worship to daily life. But I disagree. As I see it, Paul is simply continuing to show us what living life to the fullest looks like. Too often, we view worship as an event that occurs on specific days or adheres to certain time limits, rather than a way of life. That’s a mistake. 

I believe this last verse is like what we discussed in verse 14 during our study on pursuing perfection. Much like love is the crowning accessory of our spiritual clothing, doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus ties together this whole concept of living life to the fullest.  

In our time, we often make distinctions between the sacred and the secular. This idea doesn’t come from the Word of God. Saint Francis of Assisi was once cultivating a row of beans in his garden when a pilgrim approached and asked, “What would you be doing if you knew this was the last day of your earthly life?” Saint Francis smiled and replied: “I would keep on hoeing.” He understood that our work is an expression of our worship! 

What does this command, to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” look like in daily life? First, doing things in His name means doing them under His authority, with His blessing, and second, doing all things with the keen awareness of my dependence on Him. If we could live out these two principles, it would dramatically change the whole character of our actions.  

Whether the task is great or small, exciting or monotonous, easy or hard, public or private, isn’t the point. If we are IN Christ and Christ is IN us, then any task is imbued with meaning and value that is eternal. But too often we ask, “What’s in it for me? What benefit do I get?” Instead, we should be asking how this task, no matter how menial, can bring glory to God.  

Notice that Paul closes this imperative in the same way he did each of the previous ones, with instructions for us to be thankful. Each of these three verses in our text contains this counsel. Why is this characteristic so important that the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, would mention it three times in three verses? 

One reason is that a lack of gratefulness is the first step on the path that leads away from God. Romans 1 describes those who once knew God but are now His enemies. And verse 21 tells us that, “…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”    

When you and I forget who we are without God, and what we’d have without Him, and when we forget where we’d be without Him, we’re in trouble. We will become, as Paul wrote, proud and foolish in our thinking and ultimately our living. And that is the path to destruction.  

Is there anyone you know whom you consider to be living life to the fullest who isn’t thankful? Unthankful people can’t live life to the fullest because they’re never satisfied. They’re always looking for something more. But thankful people are grateful for the smallest of God’s daily gifts; they express their gratitude to Him, and their lives demonstrate it to others.  

Are you living life to the fullest today? Perhaps, before, you weren’t quite sure how you could do that. However, you now know from this portion of Scripture. And now that you know, what will you do with what you’ve learned? I believe God’s desire is for every human being to live life to the fullest. But that will only happen if we let the peace of Christ officiate, the Word of Christ educate, and the name of Christ motivate in all we do.  

I desire to live life to the fullest for the glory of God; will you join me in this desire?  

Thanks, J Mark, for this challenge. I appreciate your emphasis at the end to make this teaching practical and live it out. Some view Christianity as a head religion, believing in right and having the correct doctrine. While this is important, it doesn’t stop there; our Christian faith must also affect the way we live. When J Mark encourages us to be thankful, that is more than just a thought; let’s verbalize our thankfulness to others and God.      

If you have any response to today’s teaching or would like to contact us for any reason, here are a few ways you can reach us. The best way to contact us is by email; our email address is [email protected]. Alternatively, you can message us online; our website is heraldsofhope.org. Once there, click on the “contact us” link, which is on the top right. And of course, you can write to us. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533.  We would love to hear from you, so please get in touch with us in the way that is easiest for you.  

Thank you again for being with us today. We wish you God’s best as you live your life to the fullest, just as God intended. As you think about these great things, David discovered with God. “You show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Go with God and serve Him with all you have right where you are.  

It is good to be here with you for part two of “Pursuing Perfection.” This teaching is from the middle of Colossians 3. Last time, we had the first part of this teaching: discarding the old. We looked at several specific actions that we must get rid of.  Today, we will look at putting on the new man and the steps we can take in this area. We will end by focusing on verse 14, “above all put on love.” This is what sets Christianity apart: from top to bottom, inside to out, and through and through, love makes a difference. 

Turn to Colossians 3 and follow along with J Mark as he teaches from this passage.  

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  

13 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.  

14 But above all these things put on love, the bond of perfection.  

The Next Part of the Metaphor is, 

Put on the New 

Another reason to put away lying is that we have put on Christ. Christ makes us different; we’re not who we used to be. In other words, our practice must square with our profession! 

Paul says that this new man is renewed in knowledge because we are created in the likeness of God. Unlike the former, corrupt life, we are continually being refreshed and changed into a new kind of living. It’s not an event, it’s a process. As we pursue a relationship with Him, the old man’s characteristics are flushed out, and the characteristics of the new man are welcomed and embraced. 

Paul then made a revolutionary statement for his day. He says that in this new man, “…there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” In other words, the former distinctions of religion, ethnicity, and social status are not to be a part of the life of a person who is being renewed daily in God’s image. Paul insists that these distinctions cannot be; they’re impossible in the life of one who is living is putting on Christ.  

Now, because we’re being renewed in the knowledge of God, that God chooses us, that we are holy and beloved, we are also to put on the following things that Paul highlights. The verb tense at the beginning of verse 12 indicates that this command must be obeyed immediately.  

First, we are to clothe ourselves with tender mercies. Some of the older translations use the words “bowels of mercy.” In the Hebrew mind, the bowels were the place of the tenderest affections. In Philippians 1:8, Paul wrote: “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Other versions read “I long after you in the affection of Jesus Christ.”  

Paul commands us as new creatures in Christ to put on a heart of compassion. Does the suffering of others move you? Organizations and ministries that provide material aid for those in need often use pictures to arouse our emotions and create a feeling of compassion for the less fortunate. That’s wonderful and commendable, but if we only improve the physical circumstances of people in need, what have we and they gained?  

Compassion was one of Jesus’ identifying characteristics. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” That’s Matthew 9:36.  

The lostness of His people touched Jesus’ heart. He was concerned about their poverty and the harsh government they lived under during His time on earth. However, His primary focus was on people’s spiritual needs. Immediately following Matthew 9:36, which I quoted earlier, He tells the disciples to “…pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest field.” This compassion for the lost is an area I need to be more intentional about putting on.  

And then Paul mentions kindness. Are you a kind person? Kind people are gentle instead of harsh and gracious in relating to others. Jesus exemplified kindness in His interactions with little children, with immoral women, and with the untouchables of His day. He saw each person as a unique expression of God’s creativity and deserving of respect.  

Next on the list is humility, the opposite of pride. It’s a modest and humble opinion of oneself and one’s achievements. It puts others before self. Can you imagine how different our homes, churches, and world would be if we cultivated this character quality?  

Humility is willing to admit wrong or to confess a lack of knowledge. It says, “I don’t know.” Humility doesn’t deny God-given gifts; it just recognizes that what I have has been given by the grace of God and according to His purpose for me. Humility acknowledges the giftings of others and isn’t jealous of them or intimidated by them. 

Next is meekness. This quality is one Jesus assigned to Himself. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [meek]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That’s Matthew 11:29. Humility and meekness are very closely related. Meekness is the mild temperament that doesn’t fight against God or other people. But it is not weakness!  

Have you noticed that these things we’re to put on are becoming progressively more difficult for us? As new creatures in Christ, we must put on long-suffering or patience. Notice that suffering is part of this word. How do we respond when we’ve been mistreated, falsely accused, or when our good name has been slandered, when our achievements gain no recognition?  

Paul says in First Corinthians 13:4 that “love suffers long… and is not easily provoked.” To be patient, particularly under ill-treatment by others, is to be long-suffering. Everything in us cries out for justice, or vindication, or vengeance. Jesus’ responses to His mistreatment clearly show us what long-suffering looks like in the most challenging circumstances.  

Next, we are to bear with one another and forgive each other. These concepts are captured for us in Matthew 18:21 and 22. “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus told him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Peter thought he was generous, but Jesus raised the bar even higher as He told the parable of the unmerciful servant.  

Galatians 6:2 commands us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ.” We are to endure, to sustain, to bear with each other, to stand with and support each other. We will not become discouraged or stooped with despair. We will stand firm, ready to support the weak and to help the weary on their journey. We won’t allow disagreements to damage our relationships with others, and we will refuse to be quarrelsome ourselves.  

Further, Paul says we are to completely forgive others to the same extent that Christ has forgiven us! Christ in us will enable us to readily forgive by recognizing how much we have been forgiven. And by the way, forgiveness isn’t deserved. The root word of forgiveness is charis, which is grace. Forgiveness is unmerited, unearned, and given as a favor.  

After putting on all these metaphorical articles of clothing, Paul says, there’s just one more thing. And that leads us to the final part of the metaphor. 

The Final Part of the Metaphor is, 

The Ultimate Accessory 

The apostle ends this list by adding, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” In the world of apparel, an accessory is that final item that completes the outfit. It might be just the right pair of shoes, purse, or neck scarf for a woman. For a man, it may be a special shirt, a tie, or a handkerchief folded just right in the breast pocket of the sports coat. The accessory doesn’t draw attention to itself. Instead, it just makes the whole outfit complete. You may not even notice its presence, but if it were missing, you would surely notice.  

What does it look like to “put on love”? There is a lot of confusion in our world, and even among the people of God, about what love is. In some people’s minds, love never says anything negative about anyone, it never corrects, it never provides accountability, and love always takes precedence over truth.  

But that’s not real, genuine love. Truth matters, and those who reject it will pay a high price. To others, love is a feeling, an emotion, a desire. Love is all those things, but so much more.  

Paul is commanding us to put on agape. It’s sacrificial love; love that denies itself for the benefit of the one being loved. It is a love based on the will; we choose to love, even the unlovely. It’s Jesus’ love for you, me, and every human being ever born or yet to be born. A love that motivated Him to give His life for us, even when we hated Him. He willingly took your place and mine, bearing the penalty of our sin in His own body on the Cross.  

Paul writes that this kind of love is the bond of perfection. It brings a state of completeness to the whole wardrobe of the Christ-follower. It is the uniting principle that binds all the other characteristics together. Divine love is fused with all the other virtues as it binds them together. They become one harmonious whole and are made usable by love’s presence.  

What a challenge this portion of Scripture is to me! So often, I fail to discard the old and put on the new. I say or do things, and I immediately know it wasn’t Christlike. But then I remember, I am IN Christ, the Father accepts me because of Jesus and His righteousness. I am forgiven! And that motivates me to renew my commitment to Him, not because I’m trying to earn His favor, but because I’m grateful for what He’s done for me.   

So, I urge you to focus on Jesus, who He is, and what He’s done for you. His Spirit, living in you, will show you the things you need to put off and the things you need to put on. Positionally, you are perfect in Christ; His righteousness is yours. Now, you need to start living that out practically. And when you do, the world will notice. Because Jesus said, “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.”  

Let’s strive together to pursue perfection to the glory of Jesus!  

What a way to end this lesson on pursuing perfection. Those are great things to think about and put into practice. His definition of love challenged me: “love denies itself for the benefit of the one being loved.” This is true love, and it is attractive to people everywhere. I also see this as an area in which I need to grow. May God help us discard the old, put on the new, and grow in genuine love.  

If you have any questions about today’s teaching or want to contact us, here are a few ways to reach us. An easy way is to email. Our email is [email protected]. You can also message us online; our website is heraldsofhope.org. Once there, click on the “contact us” link on the top right.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Thanks again for being with us today. We look forward to being with you next time. In closing, I leave you with the verse you heard before. Jesus did a fantastic job summarizing the power of love; He said, “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.” God bless you as you live this.    

*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.

Thank you for joining us as we study God’s Word together. No matter where you are or what you are going through, we are confident the Bible has good principles for you right where you are. The Holy Spirit through God’s Word can speak to and guide you, it is up to us to have a heart that is in tune with God and ears that are listening for Him. With his help, this will happen today as we study Colossians. 

Today’s lesson is “Pursuing Perfection.” This is the first of a two-part teaching. We are looking at Paul’s metaphor of “changing clothes” and applying that to our relationship with Jesus. Let’s go now with Bible teacher J Mark to Colossians 3.  

In 2019, people worldwide spent nearly 2 trillion dollars on clothing. Clothing is often used as a fashion statement, but also as a means of identification. Police officers, EMTs, firefighters, and military personnel have recognizable uniforms. Many corporations require their employees to wear uniforms, from the front office to the janitorial staff.  

In the book of Zechariah, there’s an interesting scene involving clothing. In his vision, Zechariah sees Joshua, the High Priest, wearing filthy garments, standing before God and the angel of the Lord. And Satan is standing at Joshua’s right hand to accuse him. 

Then the LORD speaks. “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” The Lord speaks again, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him. And to [Joshua], He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’ And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So, they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.” This powerful act of forgiveness and transformation should fill us with hope and inspiration. 

In this vision, God takes away the sin of Joshua, typified by the filthy clothing, and gives him a pure robe of righteousness. In other words, when forgiveness of sin is accepted, the heart is changed, and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This act of embracing Christ’s righteousness should reassure and comfort us in our journey of spiritual growth.  

In our previous study, from the opening verses of Colossians chapter 3, we looked at what it means to be risen with Christ. We talked about the changes that take place when we, by faith, enter into His death and resurrection. One of those changes was our focus. We constantly seek the things above, the things of Christ—our way of thinking shifts from earthly to heavenly things.  

As a result of our being in Christ, certain practices cannot be a part of our lives. Verse 5 lists a series of sexual sins, including covetousness. Paul told us these things must be put to death within us personally and among us corporately.  

Today, we begin a study from Colossians 3:8-14 titled, “Pursuing Perfection.” This section builds on the preceding verses and reminds us that when we place Christ first, that choice will dramatically impact our lives. I’ll begin by reading the text. 

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  

13 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.  

14 But above all these things put on love, the bond of perfection.  

In this text, Paul uses the metaphor of “a change of clothing” to show us how our relationship with the risen Christ will motivate our pursuit of perfection.  

The First Part of the Metaphor is, 

Discard the Old 

Paul uses the metaphor of clothing several times in this text. He begins by saying that since you have embraced Christ, made Him preeminent in your life, and passed from that old life of sinful conduct, here’s what you need to do next. Strip yourself of the following sinful vices and cast them aside. The previous list of sins, from verse 5, focuses on sins of the body. In our text, Paul focuses on sins of the spirit. Remember, Paul is writing to Christ-followers.  

The life of a Christ-follower is a destination and a journey. Our embrace of salvation through faith in the shed blood of Jesus is just the first step on the journey; it makes us righteous in the sight of God. However, salvation is not the destination; Christlikeness is. The destination will be reached when we conform entirely to His image, which won’t happen until we are in His presence. In the meantime, we journey toward the goal, “…for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This ongoing journey of spiritual growth should motivate and commit us to discipleship.  

And what are those things we must discard? Anger. Anger is a violent emotion, a desire for punishment or vengeance. Paul recognizes it in Ephesians 4:26, saying, “be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” He implies that unresolved anger allows Satan to make inroads into your life.  

What arouses my anger? It’s often one of two things: my rights have been violated, or my expectations aren’t met. I think I have a right to quiet in my home. So, when the teenage neighbor practices drumming when I’m trying to read or concentrate on a task, I feel that right has been violated. The natural response is to get angry at someone violating my right to quietness.  

And then, expectations. I am a punctual person. I despise being late, so I plan to be early for appointments and meetings. When someone sets up an appointment with me and arrives late, my unmet expectations can easily arouse anger. You have things that trigger your anger. I must continually allow the Holy Spirit to enable me to discard unrighteous anger.  

Next is wrath; wrath often develops as people brood over their anger. They turn the offense over and over in their mind. It’s like a boiling pot. Wrath is passion, fierceness, and indignation. It indicates the agitation of the spirit and the physical effects, such as elevated blood pressure, heavy breathing, and a flushed face. Eventually, it results in angry outbursts. James reminds us that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Paul agrees; take this off and discard it!   

Next on Paul’s list of things to discard is malice. It is ill-will, especially the desire to injure another person, to rejoice in their misfortune. The malice among those who profess to follow Christ is distressing. It must’ve been a problem in Colossae too; otherwise, Paul wouldn’t have mentioned it. All of us experience hurts in life. Jesus told us in Luke 17:1 that offenses are inevitable. But when they come, God, through the Holy Spirit, gives us grace to respond with meekness and forgiveness; to return good for evil.   

However, if we fail to accept God’s grace in times of hurt and pain, we will become bitter and seek revenge. I am deeply grieved by the amount of bitterness in churches today. So many congregations have been torn apart because people are unwilling to forgive.  

As professing Christ-followers, we must confront the seriousness of malice. God hates it! Proverbs 6 reminds us that there are six things the Lord hates, and seven are an abomination; they are detestable to Him. The last one mentioned is “one who sows discord among brothers.”  

Paul gave this advice to Titus: “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” We have ignored this exhortation to our hurt.  

The feelings of malice and bitterness we too often overlook breed a desire for revenge, leading us to the next level of things we’re to put off.  

Paul says, “Put off blasphemy.” Often, this word makes us think about taking God’s name in vain or attributing evil to Him. No Christ-follower should engage in that. But blasphemy isn’t limited to that. It is slander, speech that injures another person’s good name and reputation. Today, with the widespread use of social media, it can be spread around the community and the world in seconds, making it almost impossible to withdraw it. Be careful what you post on social media because you can’t take it back once it’s out there, and it will live on forever in infamy!  

Next on the list is filthy language. There’s plenty of crude and vulgar speech in our world today. There was a time when some words weren’t used when women or children were present. Not anymore! That’s sad, but it’s not what Paul talks about here.  

This isn’t just shameful language but rather foul-mouthed abuse. This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used. If you notice, there’s a progression in this list of sins. This language reveals what is in men’s hearts and should not be in our speech.  

As he wraps up this list of things to put off, Paul writes, “stop lying to each other…” Here was a practice from their past that the Colossian Believers had carried with them. We should not have a habit of lying. We are warned not to speak deliberate falsehoods.  

The reason Paul gives for putting away lying is twofold: you have put off the old self with its corresponding behaviors. Putting off means to wholly divest oneself of something. And, it denotes a separation from what is put off! Using the clothing analogy, remove the old garment, use it for a rag, or burn it! It no longer fits who you are in Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 6:6, “…knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with (or rendered inoperative), that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” 

In the time Paul lived, a slave was easily identified by the clothing he wore. Imagine if that enslaved person could purchase his freedom or was voluntarily set free. What would be one of the first things he would do? He would get some different clothing! It might not be new, but it would let everyone know he was no longer a slave. What does your clothing tell others about you and your relationship to the Father? What is the Holy Spirit asking you to put off? 

This brings us to the next part of the metaphor of a change of clothing. But that will need to wait until next time.  

Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us about discarding the old. To put on the “new man,” we must discard the old; both cannot exist in the same person simultaneously. J Mark explained each one, and with God’s help, we can put off these actions from the old man. Some may be more challenging, but don’t quit pursuing perfection.      

If you have any questions about today’s teaching or want to contact us for any reason, here are a few ways to reach us. An easy way is to email. Our email is [email protected]. Or you can message online, our website is heraldsofhope.org. Once there, click on the “contact us” link on the top right, and you can message us directly there. We look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Thanks for being with us this week. Please join us next week as we continue this teaching and look at the second part, putting on the new. Philippians Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” May this also be said of you and me.     

*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.