Sermons
January 21st, 2024 by Pastor Solley012124AM Holy Garments #2
Sub. Born again believers
Theme: Things we are to put on.
Text: Col 3:12-17
“Holy Garments” #2 Colossians 3:12-17
Introduction
We are going to continue this morning with a message that began last week looking at holy garments that are to be put on. In the Old Testament under the Law holy garments were provided for the High Priest that separated him from the people. Ex 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. These garments the High Priest put on while serving in the tabernacle and later the temple. These garments separated the High Priest from the people, made him different and when those garments were put on all the people saw that High Priest as different. Now that separation ended when Jesus Christ died on the cross and according to the Bible each born again believer in Jesus Christ is made a spiritual priest and becomes a part of 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. That is speaking of each and every born again child of God today, we are part of a priesthood.
I. As part of this spiritual priesthood there are holy garments we are to put on: Col 3:12-17 The Bible, again speaking to the redeemed in Christ, commands us to put on these things. – Col 3:12 – If you are saved, if you are born again, then these things are set before you and me to put on today. – Col 3:1-3 , 10 – Has your sin been forgiven, are you alive in Christ, is your life hid with Christ in God, are you ready to put on the new man? Then these garments are for you.
A. Last week we looked at a few things concerning putting on these holy garments: Just to refresh our memories.
1. Before we put on the holy garments other garments have to be put off: Col 3:5-9 These are the garments of our flesh, garments we are to put off. Before we put on holy garments fleshly garments must be put off.
a. Every Christian has a problem with the garments of the flesh named in those verses. A problem with at least one of them, more than one, or all of them. These are the garments of the flesh we are born with.
b. We must put off the old before we can put on the new.
c. Failure to put off the old is why there are so many shallow and spiritually weak, so many lukewarm Christians.
2. We also noted why we need put the holy garments on: Why do we need obey the command to put on? – Col 3:12
a. These holy garments will separate us from the world, will make us different. For the true born again child of God there is to be a difference, a noticeable difference between us and the world. 2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, These holy garments will make us different as we should be.
b. We are called holy and beloved by God. – Col 3:12 – These garments allow us to be holy and beloved by God.
c. These garments bring unity to the body of Christ. – Col 3:11 – We are to be one in Christ.
d. There are twelve garments that I have counted. Twelve is an important number in Scripture.
B. We also looked at the first of the holy garments: Col 3:12 We looked at the importance of being merciful and compassionate in this world today. Concerned with the plight of others.
1. Jesus was moved by mercy and compassion and still is: How thankful we need to be for the mercy and compassion of Jesus today.
2. We are to be filled with mercy and compassion as Jesus was:
II. This morning we continue looking at holy garments we are to put on: Col 3:12-17
PROP: Every born again child of God needs to be aware of these holy garments because they are provided for us by God and we are to put them on. TS: But are we willing to put them on?
Body
I. These garments are contrary to the nature we are born with and are impossible to put on through our own power: Just as we noted last week that the old garments cannot be put off through our own power neither can the new be put on through our own power.
A. There are some here this morning that are given naturally to some of these things: Just as all individuals have a problem with the garments of the flesh there are some here this morning that may mirror some of the things named here naturally.
1. Some people are naturally kinder than others: Col 3:12 That seems to be part of their nature.
2. Some people are naturally meeker than others: Col 3:12 That seems to be part of their nature.
3. Some people naturally have more patience than others: Col 3:12 That seems to be part of their nature.
4. But when those things seem to be part of ones nature they are but a mirror of what God really wants us to be and what God really wants us to put on: Part of our nature they do not rise to the level that God wants them to be, they are just a mirror of what God wants us to put on.
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B. Without the power of God, without the working of the Holy Spirit, none of us will put on these things the way God wants us to put them on: Just as we cannot put off the old on our own we cannot put on the new on our own. Jesus said that without Him we can do nothing and that includes putting on these holy garments.
1. When we try and put these things on without His power it is reformation: Reformation will not last.
2. It must be a product of regeneration for these garments to be put on and to stay on: It will be only by the power and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that these garments will be put on and stay on. I can’t put on these things on my own.
3. Only through the Divine power within the believer in Christ can these garments by put on: Eph 3:19-21 If you desire to put these things on, if you desire to obey the command of God, then you need realize it is a spiritual battle that you are entering into and that spiritual battle must be fought in the Lord and by His power and might. – Eph 6:10 – Satan does not want you or me to put these things on and he will and does fight against these garments being put on.
4. But these things can be put on by His power: Eph 1:19-21 Every child of God can put on these things by and through His power.
C . So this question should be asked before we start down through this list: Do we want to put these things on? I see the command, I can read the list, but do I really want to put these things on? If so…
1. Am I willing to die to self and put on Jesus Christ? Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. Am I willing to yield self to God and the Spirit? Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
3. Am I willing to be filled with the Holy Spirt and not grieve Him? Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4. Do I want to put on these things, put on the holy garments?
D. These garments are contrary to the nature we are born with and are impossible to put on through our own power: Just as we noted last week that the old garments cannot be put off through our own power neither can the new be put on through our own power.
II. We see as well that we are to put on all of these garments: Col 3:12 We are not free to pick and choose which of these garments to put on and what ones we would rather leave off. That Old Testament High Priest could not put on some of his holy garments, he put them all on when he went into that tabernacle.
A. The command to put on covers all that follows it: There is no if in the command, we are to put all of these things on.
1. It reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit: Nine things are listed in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22 but it is called fruit and not fruits. All nine of those things named are part of one fruit.
2. So do all the things listed in our text make up one garment if you would: Put them all on. – Col 3:12
B. We are to put on all of these things as together they make up our holy garments: Put them all on.
III. We are to put on kindness: Col 3:12 Remember these things are to come from deep within us, a product of regeneration. The Greeks used the word bowels, we use the word heart. These things are to come from deep within the child of God.
A. To be kind seems like a simple thing, perhaps a natural thing, that is until we begin to examine Biblical kindness: The Greek word is “KHRA-STOT-ICE” and it speaks to being endowed with this kindness by the Holy Spirit, being anointed to be kind. It is to be moved to acts of kindness.
1. It is this type of kindness that Ruth showed to Naomi: Ruth 3:10 Boaz is speaking to Ruth here but what impressed him was the kindness Ruth showed to Naomi.
a. Ruth left her home and family to be kind to Naomi.
b. Ruth went out to glean in the fields to be kind to Naomi.
c. Ruth gave up her life to be kind to Naomi.
2. It is the type of kindness David showed to king Saul: 2 Sam 9:1 Saul tried to kill David.
3. It is the type of kindness God shows to us: Ps 117:1-2 ; Isa 54:8
4. It is a kindness that is eternal: Eph 2:7
B. This kindness then takes over our personalities and actions: Put on kindness as Jesus put on kindness.
1. Look at the kindness Jesus showed to those who hated and despised Him: John 3:1-3 Nicdemus was a Pharisee and how did the Pharisees treat Jesus. But Jesus was moved by kindness.
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2. Jesus was moved by kindness as He hung on the cross: Kindness to the multitude as He prayed “Father forgive them”. Kindness to Mary as He said to John “Behold thy mother”.
3. Jesus was moved by kindness toward the broken hearted, to the spiritually defeated, to any and all in His path: Jesus was moved by kindness in all that He did.
C. Are you moved by kindness, has kindness altered your personality, does kindness shape you? We are to put on kindness.
1. I am not naturally kind: Soft hearted but not kind.
2. Kindness must come from within as one yields to the working of the Holy Spirit within:
D. We are to put on kindness:
IV. We are to put on humbleness of mind: Col 3:12 God placed humbleness of mind after kindness for good reason. Acts of kindness are often followed by thanks and praise and praise can lead to pride. Put on humbleness of mind. – Col 3:12
A. How many of us like to be praised? All. That may not always be a bad thing but when it leads to pride it is a dangerous thing.
1. I should not be moved to acts of kindness so I can be thanked and praised: That should not be my motivation. I am to be kind because there is nothing else I can be.
2. I should not be moved to acts of kindness so I get something out of them: That should not be my motivation. I am to be kind because there is nothing else I can be.
3. Because acts of kindness are often followed by thanks and praise God command we put on humbleness of mind: Col 3:12
B. Pride, a lack of humbleness is a very dangerous thing: Some great men fell to pride.
1. Pride kept Moses out of the Promised Land: “Must we fetch you water” and that pride kept Moses from finishing his life’s work.
2. Pride took the kingdom from king Saul: David received more praise than he did and that pride destroyed king Saul.
3. Pride made Solomon and miserable man: Look at all I have done, all I have, a life is vanity.
4. Pride took the kingdom from Nebuchadnezzar: Look at this great Babylon I have built.
5. Pride, a lack of humbleness is a very dangerous thing: Prov 6:16-17 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look… The first of the seven named is pride.
6. Pride always sets one up for a fall: Prov 16:18
C. What are you so proud of today that it is setting you up for a fall?
D. We are to put on humbleness of mind: Col 3:12
V. We are to put on meekness: Col 3:12 Many mistake meekness for weakness and they are not the same thing. Moses. Gideon, David, Paul were all meek and none of them were weak. Meekness is a product of humbleness, not weakness.
A. Were it not for the meekness of Jesus Christ none of us could be saved: Luke 9:51-56 Notice what Jesus said to James and John, the sons of thunder. – Luke 9:54-55 – They claimed the right to destroy that city with fire. – Luke 9:54
1. Jesus had the right and authority to do that very thing: They had rejected the Son of God, the savior of the world. – Luke 9:53 Jesus had the right and the authority to call down fire and destroy them.
a. Like the false prophets that stood before Elijah Jesus had the right and authority to call down fire.
b. Like Sodom Jesus had the right and authority to call down fire.
2. But Jesus acted in meekness: Luke 9:55 And Jesus was looking for a change in the hearts and nature of the sons of thunder.
3. Listen to those words: Luke 9:55
B. Meekness is self control under reproach and unfair treatment from others: Meekness is the blending of power and authority with humility and kindness.
1. You will be treated unfairly, lied about, lied to, called names that you do not deserve: How do you, how will you react?
a. The easiest thing to do is strike back and cry out so all know how you have been mistreated.
b. The harder thing is to show meekness. – 1 Cor 4:21 – God would have us put on meekness.
2. God would have us put on meekness: 1 Peter 3:15-16
3. God would have us remember what manner of people we are: Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
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C. We are to put on meekness:
Conclusion
Having looked again at garments we are to put on what can we say this morning?
I. These garments are contrary to the nature we are born with and are impossible to put on through our own power: Just as we noted last week that the old garments cannot be put off through our own power neither can the new be put on through our own power.
II. We see as well that we are to put on all of these garments: Col 3:12 We are not free to pick and choose which of these garments to put on and what ones we would rather leave off. That Old Testament High Priest could not put on some of his holy garments, he put them all on when he went into that tabernacle.
III. We are to put on kindness: Col 3:12 Remember these things are to come from deep within us, a product of regeneration. The Greeks used the word bowels, we use the word heart. These things are to come from deep within the child of God.
IV. We are to put on humbleness of mind: Col 3:12 God placed humbleness of mind after kindness for good reason. Acts of kindness are often followed by thanks and praise and praise can lead to pride. Put on humbleness of mind. – Col 3:12
V. We are to put on meekness: Col 3:12 Many mistake meekness for weakness and they are not the same thing. Moses. Gideon, David, Paul were all meek and none of them were weak. Meekness is a product of humbleness, not weakness.