Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.1
– Colossians 3:12-17
We commonly understand what it means to be “dressed for the occasion.” Fancy restaurants may require gentlemen to wear coat and tie. Funerals and weddings usually compel us to dress nicely, at least a level above everyday life. In another way, dress pants, loafers and a sport coat would not be recommended for a day of work in the pasture. Not only would a person look funny, but they would also find themselves uncomfortable lacking the support of functional clothing. Regularly we are faced with the need to consider the occasion and dress accordingly.
Getting dressed is a conscious act for us. It doesn’t happen by accident. Paul knows this, and uses it as an analogy for how we ready ourselves for Christian living. Knowing that we have died to a former life, and consequently have shed the clothing of that life, Paul describes the new wardrobe we have in Christ. The list of characteristics or virtues in these verses may be one of the more beautiful descriptions of what a Christian life should look like. It is indeed an elegant wardrobe.
For the purpose of clarity, consider this quote from the commentary post prior to this one (see Bury the Bones).
And just to be clear, this is not a matter of behavior management. Jesus didn’t die for behavior management. He died to make men and women holy by freeing them from the guilt and power of sin. Paul isn’t asking us to manage our behavior better; he is inviting us to live in the light of Christ now that we are set free from the bondage of darkness.
That analysis may seem contradictory to what one reads in Colossians 3:12-14. It could seem like Paul is most certainly advocating for behavior management by telling us to “put on” these qualities. That conclusion, though, misunderstands who Paul sees as the source of these qualities. For Paul, it is only by the Holy Spirit that we have a chance of being clothed in these things. The behaviors are not of us; we simply allow them to be known through us.
Allow me to attempt an illustration. Several times through the years I have been complimented on my attire. Having a wife as a wardrobe advisor doesn’t hurt. Whenever a compliment on my clothing is offered, I thank the person sincerely. Though I don’t say this as part of my response, the truth is that I deserve no credit for any attractive clothing I might be wearing. Why? Because I don’t make clothing. Obviously some people do make their own clothing, and in those cases this illustration doesn’t work. For me, my clothing is always made by someone else. All I do is put it on.
It is the same with living a Christ-like life. It is not behavior management, because that makes the person the source of the behavior characteristics. Christian living is a surrender to the Holy Spirit living through us. Paul doesn’t say, “be compassionate.” He says, “put on compassion.” He doesn’t say, “be patient.” He says, “put on patience.” It may seem like a nuance, but it makes the difference between accurate and inaccurate understandings of scripture. More practically, it will make the difference between maturity in Christ and frustration at one’s inability to make these things happen through their own efforts.
James 1:23 says that looking at the Word of God is like looking in a mirror. True enough. It is especially relevant when we look at the life of Jesus as depicted in the Word of God. Looking into such a mirror might be uncomfortable at times. It will show us with honesty how much we resemble Jesus, or fail in resembling him. When we look and see that the new clothing of Christ-likeness is still lacking, it is simply a reminder that we need to go back to the closet (the prayer one) and exchange our rags for a Holy Spirit garment of beauty.
What are you wearing today?
- Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ↩︎
The Winding Path 