shadmans Musings  

  (15) 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 richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (17) Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Col 3:15-17) In this last part of the ‘putting on of the new self,’ Paul completes the qualities that mark the lifestyle of a new believer. His conclusion references: 1) the peace of Christ, 2) the word of Christ, and 3) the name of Christ.  The Priorities The Peace of Christ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Col 3:15) ‘Peace’ – We know the meaning of the word as tranquility, but John MacArthur sees the word as including, “... both the concept of an agreement, pact, treaty, or b...

(12) So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (14) Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Col 3:12-14) This set of verses pick up where the previous ones left off. Paul is now focusing on what God will be expecting of the believer. He is explaining what the believers should be clothing themselves with. If we belong to Christ, then Paul is letting the believer know what true Godly character is, ending with the most important of them all – love. (John 13:34, 15:12; Eph 5:2) Having Character So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (Col 3:12) Definition: ‘those who have been chosen’ – The Greek word, eklekto...

  (9) Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (10) and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— (11) a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (Col 3:9-11) In society, one can normally tell a lot about someone by what they wear. Someone in a suit and tie is generally assumed to be a professional or a businessman. Our profession many times determines what we wear. As John MacArthur said, “Christians must dress themselves spiritually in accordance with their new identity.” We are to throw off our old sinful lifestyle and put on our new godly lifestyle. [1] One commentary said this,  We have already found the same idea presented under the forms of death and resurrection. The "death" is equivalent to the "putting off of the old,...