Put On Community-Concerned Practices

Imagine there is a town called “Earth Town.” In this town, everyone lives and behaves according to the practices described in verses 5-9; the sinful practices that belong to our earthly nature and old self. A few miles down the road is another town called “New Selves.” In this town, everyone lives and behaves according to the practices in verses 12-17. In which town would you want to live?

In today’s world, many would prefer the first town. They say, “Here we are free. We can do anything we want in any way we want. We are having a good time and lots of fun. But you know, those lot in that other town, they are a bunch of wimps who can’t stand up for themselves. They are goody-goodies who always say ‘sorry’ and sing hymns.”

However, they are fooling themselves thinking that they are free and happy. Their way of life tears apart community and destroys relationships. They are lost, confused, lonely, angry, bitter, and unhappy. “Self-indulgence and habitual anger and lying may seem like fun for a while, but they destroy you sooner or later—often sooner” (Wright). And the people living in the town of “New Selves” are not a bunch of weak-willed, wimpish people. It takes courage and strength to live the new kingdom life. It takes bold courage to put on, to clothe ourselves with these community-concerned practices of verses 12-17. It takes dying to self. When we live according to these practices we experience true community and fellowship; true freedom, peace, love, and unspeakable joy.

1. We Are God's Holy People

We are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. We are God’s chosen people. Because of his love and grace, God chose us in Jesus Christ “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph 1:4-6). We are God’s holy people. We have been made holy and righteous in Christ. God “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” He has reconciled us with Him “by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col 1:13-14,22). We are holy because God is holy. He separated us from the world and consecrated us, set us apart to serve Him.

We are God’s dearly loved people. God chose us, saved us, and made us holy because He loves us, and not because of anything we have done. We were his enemies and alienated from Him (Col 1:21).  “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you … Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love …” (Deut 7:7-9). And He kept his covenant of love by sending His Son to die for us and give us this new, eternal life. Take a moment to think about this — you are chosen, you are holy and becoming holy, you are loved by God.

Thus, we are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. We are God’s special treasured possession (1 Pet 2:9; Ex 19:5-6). As such we must put on, and clothe ourselves with the clothes, the virtues, that befit God’s holy people. Image of clothing—v9 take off the old self, v10 put on the new self, same word use here—put on, clothe yourselves. What does this special community of God look like? How do they live and behave? Verses 12-17 describe the clothes, the character traits of God’s people and explain how we should wear those clothes; how we should live out these virtues in practice as a community and in community.

2. Put On the Clothes of the Saints

We must put on the clothes of the saints, of God’s holy people. We must clothe ourselves with the character traits of our new self in Christ. All these garments or virtues were perfectly worn by Christ. He is our example. When we put on these, we are putting on the character of Christ so that we become perfect in Christ.

Heartfelt compassion — This is that inner, gut-felt emotion. It describes the deep, intense feeling and experience of compassion. Heartfelt compassion is the concern for and the response to the needs of others and the readiness to meet those needs.

Kindness — was used by Jesus to describe his yoke, “My yoke is easy (kind)” (Mt 11:30). It is listed as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Kindness is an attitude that is ready to listen to others and respond by helping them with their needs and doing good to them.

Humility — Humility is having a true estimate of ourselves. We are not proud and haughty thinking more of ourselves than we ought to but neither do we depreciate ourselves. Humility is not a low self-esteem. We know who God is and who we are before God. When we clothe ourselves with humility we are putting on the character and mind of Christ who humbles himself by becoming obedient to death (Phil 2:8). We love and honor others above ourselves. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2).

Gentleness or meekness is the self-giving attitude that is willing to give up our own rights to serve others like Christ. It is willing to be injured rather than to injure. It is not being resentful towards others. Again, this is putting on the character of Christ as Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).

Patience — is long-suffering and endurance in the face of insult or injury. It does not act in anger, retaliate, or take vengeance. It is exercising patience toward others who annoy or irritate us. It is also a fruit of the Spirit and we are called to be patient with everyone (1 Thess 5:14).

What will happen when we wear these clothes when we practice these community-concerned virtues? We bear with each other and forgive one another. With patience, gentleness, humility, kindness, and compassion we continue to love others in spite of their faults, weaknesses, and sins, even when they provoke, injure us, or do things we don’t like.

We forgive one another. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:32). The Lord forgave us completely and freely, immediately and forever. We are to forgive in the same way He did. If Christ has forgiven someone, who are we to withhold forgiveness from that person? Forgiving like the Lord did, will involve pain and sacrifice just as it did for Him. Our complaints and grievances against others are microscopic in comparison to everything the Lord has forgiven us. We all are imperfect and in the process of being renewed. Therefore, we should bear and forgive one another.

And over all these put on love — Have you noticed that all these virtues are expressions of self-giving, self-sacrificing love? When we love, we practice all these virtues. They are rooted in and flow out of love. Love is the outer garment or belt that we put on over all these clothes to hold them all together in perfect unity. Love is THE garment that especially identifies us as God’s people.

3. Let Christ Rule Our Hearts & Minds

So, how do we put on and wear these clothes of God’s holy people? How do we practice these community-concerned virtues? How do we put on love over all these over and over again? We let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. We let the word of Christ dwell among us richly, and we worship God with thanksgiving.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts — Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). He gives us His peace through his Spirit. We have peace with God the Father because of Christ. We experience peace because we have a living Savior, our sins are forgiven, our lives are in God’s hands, and nothing can separate us from His love. This peace is his personal presence with us. This peace is a sense of wholeness and well-being. We are content and at rest. We are at peace.

His peace rules our hearts. When we experience conflicts within ourselves or within our communities, when we are faced with decisions, His peace must act as the supreme umpire and guide our decisions and actions. His peace should regulate and guide our relationships with each other because we are all members of the one body and we are called to peace. We are peacemakers. We should do what agrees with the peace of Christ. When His peace rules our hearts, our selfish desires and self-centered feelings are put to death. In love, we can be humble and patient. In love, we can practice compassion, kindness, and gentleness. We bear with and forgive one another. So, when we are faced with conflicts and decisions, we should ask, “What does the peace of Christ require of us to do in this situation?”

Let the word of Christ dwell among us richly — His Word must be alive within us and our community. We must read, study, meditate upon, memorize, and then put His words into practice. His Word should be allowed to fill every part of our being. We must come completely under its influence. And we should do this in community, not only on our own. How does His word dwell richly among us? When we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Humility teaches us that not one of us knows it all or has it all. As members of his one body called to peace, unity, and love, we need one another. “We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone [one another] with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone [one another] fully mature (perfect) in Christ. To this end [we] strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in [us] (Col 1:28-29).

4. All of Life Is Worship

And then, the word of Christ dwells among us through worship, through singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God with gratitude in our hearts. Through song and music, His Word teaches, comforts, admonishes, convicts, and encourages us. His Word is received in song and expressed in song.

Three times Paul tells us to be thankful or give thanks. When the peace of Christ rules in our hearts, we are thankful. When the Word of God dwells richly within us, we want to sing with gratitude in our hearts to God. And how can it be any different, when we consider and remember what God has done and is doing for us? Every single thing we do every day, we are able to do because God gives us the minds, the skills, the gifts, the abilities, and the strength to do it.

Therefore, we offer all of our lives as worship, as a living sacrifice, and so this passage ends with this instruction, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Our words are everything that we think and that passes our lips. Our deeds are everything we do—preaching, teaching, eating, exercising, driving, cleaning house, shopping, visiting, working, playing—everything. All of life, therefore, is worship. We do everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ because Christ is all and in all. He is the Lord of our entire life. Everything we do should bring honor to Christ and glorify God the Father. Thus, God’s people are a worshipping people who rejoice always in the Lord with thanksgiving in every situation.

Have you noticed how these virtues, these community-concerned practices correspond to the blessings and the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount? In The Chosen, Season 2, Jesus told Matthew that the blessings are a map to Jesus. Where his followers practice these traits, people will find Jesus. When we as God’s people put on these clothes of the saints, and practice these community-concerned practices, we are a map to Jesus Christ. We become channels of his blessings that attract people to Jesus and show the way to Him. We become channels of his blessings, channels through which his love and peace flow to the world.