Goodmorning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Colossians chapter 3.
Have you ever heard the old saying practice makes perfect? How many of you out there are musicians? Before you can play a part perfectly you have to practice it over and over again. Sometimes it can take quite a while to get it right but the point is that you need to keep practicing. God wants us to display perfect charity in our lives, but it requires practice and learning to walk in the qualities that we are going to discuss today.
Col 3:12-14
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
The Apostle Paul refers to the church as the elect of God. when you are elected to a public office you are picked and chosen for that particular position. Christians are referred to as the elect of God because he has chosen us to become followers of Jesus Christ and the things that he taught.
1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The Apostle Paul refers to the church as holy and beloved. Because each of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God the only way that we could begin a walk of Holiness is through God’s mercy and forgiveness. He blots out all of our past transgressions, cleansing us from our iniquities when we come to Him through faith in His beloved Son Jesus. God truly loves the world, and wants to save us through faith in Christ the Lord.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.
The Apostle wants us to be filled with bowels of mercy. Bowels is an old word that means from the depths of your heart or to be filled with pity and compassion for others. Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Jesus could have called legions of angels and destroyed the entire world but instead he suffered and showed us mercy when he went to the cross and died for our sins.
Lamentations 3:22 – It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
He took upon himself the suffering that we rightly deserved, and that is the mercy that we want to show to one another. Instead of retaliation or returning evil for evil, Jesus taught to turn the other cheek and be merciful.
Luke 6:36 – Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Another quality that a Christian wants to be filled up with is kindness. Kindness is having a compassionate and good-hearted demeanor. It is being inclined or able to forgive and show mercy.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
A humble person is not proud and does not believe that they are better than other people. The Apostle Paul was very humble in the position that God placed Him in.
1 Corinthians 15:9 – For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Philippians 2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Meekness is To be quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive. If you have the quality of meekness you will have a desire to submit to the teachings of Jesus. Christians are called to walk in meekness of spirit. It is a quality of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:2 – To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
To be long suffering is having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Ephesians 4:2 – With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Forbearance is a ceasing or restraining from action; patience; long suffering. It’s a withholding of punishment that is due to somebody else.
Romans 3:25 – Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
The Apostle taught the church to be very forgiving with each other, the way that the Lord Jesus is towards us. Instead of imputing our trespasses unto us, He cleanses our conscience. Our sins and iniquities He remembers no more when we come and confess them to Him. Because God treats us this way, you need to treat others in the same manner.
Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Matthew 6:15 – But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Charity is called the bond of perfectness and divine charity will possess these qualities that we discussed today.
Just like a trumpet player has to practice his parts, the Christian needs to practice these qualities each and every day. If you continue to do this, eventually you will learn to walk in perfect love with God and with each other. After all,….
…..practice makes perfect!
Let’s think about these things for today and Lord willing we will talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️
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