The Letters Colossians 3:11-12
Colossians 3:11
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or
free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
• To me this is very much like our church here at the beach!
o We have people from all kinds of denominations. Typically we would find denominations that would suit
our particular style or political views or specific theology. We have found a way to stay together.
▪ The next closest English speaking Christian church is either Uvita or Jaco. How do we all get
along when we are very different in our cultures, theology, age and economic statuses?
• Our creed: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.
• 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there
be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
o The topic of unity is throughout the New Testament.
o I believe that the idea of being unified as a body of Christ trumps all the non-
essential topics.
▪ If we discuss a topic that we have opposing thoughts on we must always
at the end of the day not let the topic come between us and divide us.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• This is how we stay unified!
o Our actions should be a response to God’s love not an obligation
▪ Paul says that out of a response of being chosen by God, set apart for him and loved, we clothe
ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
▪ In verse 8 Paul says to take of acts of evil. They are all about self: “anger, rage malice, slander
and filthy language.
▪ Here he tells us to put on or clothe ourselves with these godly attributes.
• What do you notice about these attributes? They are all about dealing with each other.
They are vertical, not horizontal.
• What we wear shows our intention. We wear a suit when going to court, we wear
overalls when we work labor. What do we wear as a Christian?
• We get hung up on church clothes. What we wear, what we look or sound like. We try
to say all the right things and look the part. This verse tells us what a Christian should be
like, not what a Christian should look like. All of these have to do with how we treat
each other.
o We may not always agree on politics, child raising, money management or even
theology but we should always show these attributes with each other.
o Compassion
▪ Compassion is the emotional response to mercy. It highlights a heartfelt
response to the suffering or needs of others
• This takes the focus off of self and it puts it on others.
• You cannot see the suffering of others if you are totally wrapped
up in your own.
o Kindness
▪ Literally in Greek this word “chrestotes” (khray-stot-ace) means “well fit
for use for what is really needed”
• Kindness is not always doing what is expected from those
involved. It is meeting a need in the way that God would meet
that need. This word is one of the gifts of the Spirit.
• Kindness isn’t just relieving of suffering.
o I heard a pastor once say that kindness can sometimes be
someone who is suffering from the shakes of not having
a beer, to buy them one. That’s foolishness! It may be
what that person wants but it is not what that person
needs.
o Just because my children want something that doesn’t
mean that it is in their best interest that I do that thing.
o Kindness typifies the old saying “What would Jesus
do?”
▪ Before just handing out your “kindness” to
people in need perhaps the better option is to ask
God what he would want us to do in our
situation and do that.
o Humility
▪ Humility isn’t thinking that you are bad or “less than others”. This word
asks us not to compare ourselves to others but to God.
• When we do that we can actually see ourselves in proper form.
• When we see ourselves in that way it helps us to be able to view
ourselves the way God sees us and others.
o God sees us through the lens of his son Jesus Christ.
When he does that he doesn’t see our faults or our
accomplishments. He sees the love he has for his Son.
o When we view ourselves we shouldn’t prop ourselves up
and see our faults or accomplishments. We should see
that we are all loved and cared for in Jesus.
o Gentleness
▪ Meek is often used with gentleness. These words do not describe
weakness but rather strength under control.
• More and more when wrestling with my boys I exercise less
gentleness. When they were younger and I wrestled with them I
had to hold back much of my power. This didn’t mean that I
was week. It just meant that my power had to be in check.
• Nowadays they are much stronger and when I wrestle around
with them I can let more of my strength go but I still exercises
Gentleness
o I cannot be gentle if I am the weaker person. I can only
exercise gentleness if I am the strong one.
o Even if you are bigger, faster, younger, richer, more
powerful then others we must exercise gentleness with
others.
o Patience
▪ Often times this is literally translated as “long suffering”. What that
means is that it you are willing to wait (suffer) a long time before you
become angry.
▪ We often pray for patience but do not like the way that it is given.
• We are often given chances to grow in an area that we are
praying about. When we pray for courage God usually gives us
an opportunity to grow our courage, thus giving us more.
o When we are given times in our lives where patience is
needed that usually means that the Lord is trying to grow
that gift in us. We should take advantage of that!
• In all of these things that the Lord asks us to grow in we must understand that Jesus exemplified it perfectly!
o Jesus is moved to emotion because of his mercy. Because of that compassion he shows us kindness. He
knew we couldn’t reach heaven so he humbled himself and became a human to reach us. He could have
just destroyed us and started over but because he is gentle he forgives us. He shows us patience everyday
even when we sin and fall short of his glory!
