Sermons
January 14th, 2024 by Pastor Solley011424AM Holy Garments
Sub. Christians
Theme: Garments for the Christian.
Text: Col 3:12-17
“Holy Garments” Col 3:12-17
Introduction
On the front of our bulletin this morning is a picture of the High Priest of the Old Testament who served in the tabernacle and then the temple under the Law. The High Priest as well as the priests who served under him were given holy garments. Ex 28:1-2 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. Those holy garments distinguished the High Priest and the other priests from the people, set them apart as they ministered unto the Lord. The High Priest had garments that distinguished him from the other priest and every article that made up those holy garments had special meaning. Those holy garments set the priest and the high priest apart from the people. That distinction, the High Priest from the people, ended when Jesus Christ died on the cross bringing the dispensation of the Law to an end and marked the beginning of this present dispensation of grace. Now every born again believer in Jesus Christ enters into a spiritual priesthood. 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. God provides no special garments for the pastor to put on, no such distinction is made. Praise God this morning that He is no respecter of persons and that every born again child of God enters into this spiritual priesthood.
I. But did you know that we have holy garments that we as born again believers in Christ are to put on? Col 3:12-17 The Bible clearly tells us there are some things that need to be put on. – Col 3:12 – Put on therefore. The Bible clearly states that there are some things that should be put on.
A. This is speaking to the believer in Jesus Christ: Col 3:12 Elected or chosen as all have been to have opportunity to be saved, holy and beloved because one is saved. If you are saved this morning God has something for you to put on.
1. Col 3:1 If you are saved this morning this chapter is speaking directly to you. If you are saved. – Col 3:1 – This for those who are one in Jesus Christ. – Col 3:10-11
2. God has something for us to put on this morning: Col 3:12 Holy garments for us as believers in Christ to put on.
B. These garments will serve to distinguish those who put them on: Col 3:12-17 For any and all who follow the commands given in these verses, for any and all who put on these things, they will be set apart, they will be different.
1. Those who put on these garments will be different from the world, from the lost: The garments of the lost are seen in preceding verses and they are different. For any who put on the garments found in verses 12 – 17 they will be different.
2. Those who put on these garments will be different as well from others claiming to be saved but who do not put them on: Not every professing Christian will choose to put these garments on and those who do will be different.
3. God does have some things for us as His children to put on: Col 3:12 That is as clear a command, put on, as “Ye must be born again”. God has some holy garments He desires us as born again believers to put on.
II. To put on these garments will distinguish us as Christians in the service of our Lord, they will set one apart: No mistaking the High Priest when he put on those holy garments, he was set apart. There is no mistaking the Christian who puts on the holy garments, they also are set apart.
PROP: Every born again child is God is commanded to put on these holy garments. TS: For they set us apart from the world.
Body
I. In order to put something on something must be put off: Col 3:5-9 In order to put on holy garments there are some things that need to be put off. That Old Testament High Priest did not wear those holy garments all of the time and when not serving in the tabernacle or temple he dressed as other men did. But to enter into that priestly office he had to take off his garments and put on holy garments. Now he was different and in order for us to put something on something needs to be taken off.
A. Here we have the garments of the natural man, the garments of the lost: Col 3:5-9 Remember now that the Bible is addressing born again believers in this passage. – Col 3:1-3 – These then are our members, things that are in us because of the sinful nature that we all were born with. – Col 3:5 – Mortify your members. Subdue, put to death your members, my members. In order for us to put something on something needs to be put off. Mortify your members, mortify my members.
1. The garments named in these verses rule in the lives of the lost, of the unsaved: There because of the sin nature they rule in the lives of the lost and based on Scripture there is not one child of God among us who does not struggle with one of these things, more than one of these things, or all of these things. These are the members of the flesh and need to be put off. Mortify your members.
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2. Verse five is a picture of the world and the society we live in today: Col 3:5 Because of that first sin in the garden these things have always been in this world but today they rule this world, this is the norm of society today. The first four sins named in this verse are all sexual sins.
a. Col 3:5 – Fornication is a sin that destroys the soul according to Proverbs chapter six and 1 Cor chapter six.
b. Uncleanness is sexual impurity going beyond fornication.
c. Inordinate affection speaks to uncontrollable lust that consumes ones mind.
d. Evil concupiscence speaks of that which is strictly forbidden and even unnatural as is homosexuality and transgender.
e. To be covetous as used here means to replace God with anything and everything that brings fleshly pleasure.
3. These things welcome the wrath of God: Col 3:6 But none of us have a problem with these things, or do we?
a. Pornography is identified as one of the major sins in Christian men today with women not far behind. So easy to see those pictures on the smart phone, the web-sites and the TV shows and movies. Photography takes in those first four sins and is destroying marriages, families and churches because it corrupts the heart. You cannot look at smut and not be corrupted by it.
b. And none of us ever put anything or anyone before the Lord do we? We all have a problem with idolatry to one degree.
4. Then we find anger and wrath: Col 3:8 Anger not controlled leads to wrath and wrath leads to sin. We live in an angry world.
a. I wonder at times what people are so angry about.
b. Many Christians seem to be consumed by anger and then wrath and that separates them from the God of peace.
5. Blasphemy: Col 3:8 When we think of blasphemy we think of taking the name of the Lord in vain, using the name of Jesus as a cuss word and that is common place in the world we live in. But that is not all that blasphemy is.
a. Blasphemy is speaking against God, railing against God, blaming God for what happens in a life. That also is blasphemy.
b. Blasphemy is also purposely going against God. That also is blasphemy.
6. Filthy communication: Col 3:8 How many filthy things do you hear coming out of the mouths of people today? Often they are coming out of the mouths of professing Christians.
7. And lying: Col 3:9 People find it so easy to lie and for some that is all they know how to do.
8. These things are in us and they need to be put off: Col 3:5 Your members, my members.
a. There is no one in this room this morning that does not have a problem with at least one of these things and most have a problem with more than one of them and some with all of them. They are in us because of the sin nature, these are our members.
b. These need to be put off.
c. This command to put off is just as clear as the command to put on, just as clear as the command “Ye must be born again”.
B. Until the old man is put off the new man cannot be put on: Col 3:9-10 New garments do not cover the old, they replace them.
ILL. I am wearing an older sports cost this morning…I want to put on a newer, but there is a problem. The old must be taken off.
1. Our greater problem is that we cannot take off those things on our own: When one tries to put these things off on his or her own it is reformation and there is most always a return to what has been put off.
2. The only way to successfully put these things off is by regeneration and allowing Christ to work in and through us: Col 3:2-3 Dead to self and the desires of the flesh and alive unto Christ and allow Jesus Christ to control our lives. – Rom 6:11-13 – Christ can give us victory over the old man, over the flesh, over the world and over Satan himself. Jesus Christ is the answer.
3. To put off any and all of those tings give them over as well as yourself to Jesus Christ: Christ can give you the victory and the power to put off the old man. – Col 3:8-9
a. Give any or all of those things to the Lord in prayer and ask Jesus to take them from you. Give that area over to Jesus Christ.
b. Then when tempted to return to that which you have put off stop and pray. Before you turn on that phone put it down and pray. Before that blasphemy comes out of your mouth stop and pray. Pray, pray, pray and ask for Christ to take those things away.
4. Until those things are put off one will never know the fulness of the Christian life: That is why there are so many conflicted and so many shallow Christian who are only the smallest part of what they could be.
C. In order to put something on something must be put off: Col 3:5-9
II. The importance of putting on these holy garments: Col 3:12 Everything we are commanded to do in the Bible is important and should not be neglected. Consider the importance of putting off the old and putting on the new.
A. It is important to put on these holy garments because of our position in Jesus Christ: Col 3:12 We as born again believers are part of the elect who have received by fath salvation in Jesus Christ. All have been elected to receive salvation but not all will. We are, if you are saved as I am, part of the elect who have been redeemed.
1. We are now called holy: Col 3:12 God desires to call us holy. Only those who put on the garments can truly be called holy.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
a. Those still wearing the old garments are certainly not holy.
b. To be holy new garments must replace the old.
-3- 2. We are now beloved by God: Col 3:12 God loves us and is willing to call us beloved.
a. God does not and cannot love sin.
b. We are called beloved when we put off the old and put on the new.
3. Important to put on holy garments because of our position in Jesus Christ:
B. Important to put on holy garments because the one who does will be different, will be changed: They will not be the same.
Col 3:10 That familiar verse of Scripture becomes a reality in the life of the one who puts off the old and puts on the new. 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1. That change is noticeable: What does the Bible say about Peter and John, two common fishermen? Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
2. When Moses came down from the mount after meeting with Jehovah there was a change: That change was noticeable.
3. When Saul got up of that dusty road after meeting with Jesus Christ there was a change: That change was noticeable.
4. When one meets with Jesus Christ, when one puts off the old and puts on the new there is a change: That change is noticeable.
5. This new man who puts on holy garments is going to be completely different than that old man: They will not be the same.
C. Important to put on holy garments because they number twelve: Col 3:12-17 You may find more depending on how you divide the things we find in these verses or you may find less, but I find twelve garments we are to put on in these six verses.
1. Twelve is an important number in the Bible: Twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve apostles. Twelve foundations in the New Jerusalem. Twelve gates to that heavenly and earthly city. Jesus was twelve when He first appeared in public in the temple. Twelve baskets were filled with the fragments after the feeding of the five thousand. Jairus’ daughter was twelve when she was raised from the dead. Twelve is an important number in Scripture. We are to put on twelve holy garments and that is important.
2. Twelve holy garments that if and when put on will make us useful to the Lord Jesus Christ in service: They will also open up to us the fulness of the Christian life.
3. Twelve things to put on:
D. Important to put on holy garments because they will bring unity to the body of Christ: Col 3:12 All will be putting on the same things and that will bring unity.
1. As individual Christian we have different personalities, different likes and dislikes, and even different spiritual gifts imparted to us by the Holy Spirit: We are not the same.
2. But when we put on these holy garments we become the same: Col 3:11 We become one in Christ and there are no divisions, no schisms, no clicks, none higher than others and none lower. When we put on these holy garments we become one in Christ.
3. Those wearing holy garments will be agreed and will be strengthened: Two verses come to mind about being clothed with these garments along with others of like, precious faith.
a. Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
b. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
E. The importance of putting one these holy garments: Col 3:12
III. Consider now these twelve things: Col 3:12-17 You may find more or you may find less but I find twelve.
A. Put on bowels of mercy: Col 3:12 What is it to put on bowels of mercy? The Greek word for bowels here refers to the inner most part of an individual. Today in this context we would say heart, the Greeks said bowels. The inner most part of man. We are to be filled with mercy, mercy is to flow out of us.
1. Mercy means compassion and compassion for the plight of others should flow out of the Christian: Mercy and compassion for brothers and sisters in Christ but mercy and compassion for all who find themselves in need.
2. Jesus was merciful and compassionate: Matt 14:14 That same multitude would reject, deny, and hang Jesus on a cross and Jesus knew it even then. But Jesus was merciful and compassionate. Jesus was moved by mercy and compassion. – Mark 1:41
3. Jesus is still merciful and compassionate today: Heb 4:15 So thankful today that Jesus is still moved by compassion.
4. Mercy and compassion has disappeared from much of Christianity today: Not talking about the lost because we do not expect to see the mercy and compassion the Bible is speaking about in them or even in false Christianity, but in the redeemed in Christ there is a lack of mercy and compassion for the plight of others.
a. We look at some overtaken by sin and decide they are getting what they deserve. Jesus never did that.
b. We look at those in need and decide they should help themselves before we lend a hand. Jesus never did that.
c. We should be moved with compassion as Jesus was moved by compassion for those in need.
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5. We are commanded to be moved by the needs of others: Gal 6:1-3 Moved to help and not to turn away. Moved to restore and not to ignore. We are to be moved by the needs of others.
a. We are not to help people to sin. – Gal 6:1
b. But we are to try and help people escape that sin.
6. If you are willing to put on holy garments you must be merciful and compassionate: 1 John 3:17 It is an indication of the closeness of our walk with Jesus Christ.
7. Put on bowels of mercy: Col 3:12
B. Put on kindness: Col 3:12 Without bowels of mercy it is impossible to be kind in the way kindness us used here.
1. Kindness speaks to a gentleness of spirit and gentle actions: We could say a sweet disposition.
2. It is only because of the kindness of God that we can be saved today: Titus 3:4-5 Kindness moved God to send His Son into this world. Jesus came in kindness. That is what the Bible says. – Titus 3:4-5
3. There is little kindness found in Christianity today: Kindness can be described as active good will toward others leading to action.
a. Putting on bowels of mercy we are moved with compassion to those in need.
b. Kindness is displayed when we do little or big things for people in need or not.
(1) There is kindness on display inside this building on service days.
(2) Kindness needs to extend outside this building as well.
ILL. There is so little kindness in the world today that people do not know how to act when you are kind to them.
I have asked if I can help elderly people move groceries from cart to car at walmart and they think I want to steal them.
I have stopped by people broken down and asked to help and have been told no.
\ And some have voiced much thanks and appreciation.
4. We are to put on kindness:
Conclusion
having begun a message on putting on holy garments this morning what can we say?
I. In order to put something on something must be put off: Col 3:5-9 In order to put on holy garments there are some things that need to be put off. That Old Testament High Priest did not wear those holy garments all of the time and when not serving in the tabernacle or temple he dressed as other men did. But to enter into that priestly office he had to take off his garments and put on holy garments. Now he was different and in order for us to put something on something needs to be taken off.
II. The importance of putting on these holy garments: Col 3:12 Everything we are commanded to do in the Bible is important and should not be neglected. Consider the importance of putting off the old and putting on the new.
A. It is important to put on these holy garments because of our position in Jesus Christ: Col 3:12
B. Important to put on holy garments because the one who does will be different, will be changed: They will not be the same.
C. Important to put on holy garments because they number twelve: Col 3:12-17
D. Important to put on holy garments because they will bring unity to the body of Christ: Col 3:12
III. Consider now these twelve things: Col 3:12-17 You may find more or you may find less but I find twelve.
A. Put on bowels of mercy:
B. Put on kindness: