Are You Putting Me On?
Clichés are trite expressions. We say them at the right time and in their right context, but we do it in a rather apatetic way. They do not really add any effect to what we are stating or asking, but they do communicate. Some refer to them as “filler” words. The apostle Paul’s writings strategically set out our position in Christ, and then he shifts to address our practice of the Christian life. In essence, the Christian life could be described as disrobing from dirty clothes and putting on clean clothes. Christians are to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 13:14). Is it too cliché for Jesus to ask, “Are you putting me on?”
Our task is to understand what it means for us to be clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27). Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, and directed them to do pretty much the same as he directed the Romans (13:12–14), the Corinthians (15:53–54), the Ephesians (4:24; 6:11), and the Thessalonians (1:5:8), saying,
“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. 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 3:12–17).”
When God turns a sinner into a saint, there is an identity and a positional change, leading to a change in lifestyle practices. The reason this occurs is predestination, God chooses to save some people (Eph 1:3–5). They are called, “chosen of God” (3:12a). He sends the Holy Spirit to indwell them (Rom 8:9, 11), and He fulfills His demand for His people to be “holy” (3:12b; 1 Pet 1:16), and this will be true at the end, too (Eph 1:4; 5:27, Col 1:22). The last identifier is “beloved” (3:12c). God’s chosen people are the object of His love. He has loved us, in Christ, with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3).
In Christ, we observe how the Holy Spirit works in and through the Christian to bring her into conformity with Christ (Rom 8:29; 1 Tim 6:3). There are a number of conforming actions undertaken by the Holy Spirit in the sanctification of the saint. Let us consider how the Holy Spirit helps us to “put on” the very attributes of God in Christ. Remember as you read, it is the Holy Spirit who is dressing us, clothing us with Christ, not ourselves.
First, put on a heart of compassion (3:12d). Our innermost being, where the Holy Spirit abides and works, is often called, “the heart.” “He has a big heart” or “I left my heart in San Francisco” or “She has no heart for it” or “He gave up the search because he lost heart,” are statements illumining this idea. Compassion means, “with suffering.” We join in the sufferings of others when we minister, including Christ’s sufferings (2 Cor 1:5; Col 1:24). The Lord is compassionate (Ex 34:6). The Macedonians entered into Paul’s financial suffering and gave to him from their own poverty (2 Cor 8–9).
Second, put on kindness (3:12e). Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, God’s lovingkindness is one of the most prominent themes. God’s love is also significant as a motif in the New Testament. We should learn and know the kindness and severity of God (Rom 11:22). Ruth was considered to be very kind (Ruth 3:10), a woman of excellence (Ruth 3:11).
Third, put on humility (3:12f). The command is for Christians to humble themselves before Almighty God, knowing He gives grace to the humble (Jam 4:6). The antithesis of this is pride, which is the prime mover of the old sinful self. Jesus is humble in heart (Mt 11:29), and He taught His disciples they must be humble as a child (Mt 18:4) when it comes to kingdom matters. To be humble in heart, we must have humility on our minds (Phil 2:3). Moses was the most humble man on earth (Num 12:3).
Fourth, put on gentleness (3:12g). Here is another clearly stated fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23). The Holy Spirit is working the attributes of God into our character. In a dog-eat-dog world (cliché), gentleness is rare spirit. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth (Mt 5:5).” This is profound considering what we see in the world, especially in the world of politics.
Fifth, put on patience (3:12h). This fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) is also very painful to those who are living in the fast lane (cliché). We want a smooth road, no potholes, no traffic, to traffic signals on our road to success (cliché). God works patience in His people, often using discipline, illness, or other agitating agents like family members, classmates, and co-workers. Often the wilderness is a place of learning patience. Moses, Israel, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul waited there in divinely designed delay.
Sixth, bearing with one another (3:13a). Putting on the first five attributes now has a purposeful playground in Paul’s list. Christian character needs some place to be tested and honed. A helpful study of God’s laboratory for testing a believer’s growth and development is found in the “one another” passages. We are also taught to bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2). Solomon taught, “Two are better than one (Eccl 4:9).” Elijah had Elisha. Jeremiah had Baruch. Paul had Timothy. They all had thorny people in their lives and ministries, too.
Seventh, forgiving each other (3:13b). It is customary for carnal men to hold a grudge against those who have wronged them. Peter inquired of Jesus about the frequency of forgiving repeat offenders (Mt 18:22). The implication of our Lord’s reply is a ubiquitous spirit and practice of forgiveness. If God has forgiven us so much and so often, should we not just clear the vendetta and vengeance wish list? She who is forgiven much, loves much (Lk 7:47). Isaac kept digging wells until his neighbors stopped stealing them. Joseph forgave his brothers. Jesus forgave Peter. Paul forgave John Mark.
Eighth, put on love (3:14). God is love (1 Jn 4:8), and the new self receives the best robe from our heavenly Father (Lk 15:22). This fruit of the indwelling Spirit is conjoined with the other attributes of God manifesting in and through us. We are commanded to love (Jn 13:34–35) because love is the greatest thing we can receive and then give away (1 Cor 13:13). Love will keep us together (3:14b). Jonathan and David loved one another like brothers ideally should. John loved Jesus the way the rest of us should. The Psalmist adds, “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity (Ps 133:1).” Love is the epoxy.
Ninth, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (3:15). Christ Himself is our peace (Eph 2:14). Christ is in our hearts (Eph 3:17), and Christ is Lord of our hearts (1 Pet 3:15). Peace is yet another fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). Simeon was able to die in peace, having seen Jesus Messiah (Lk 2:29). Christ desires peace in His church (3:15b), which abides together in unity in the Spirit (Eph 4:3).
Tenth, put on gratitude (3:15c). Two groups of people vividly appear on the pages of Scripture pertaining to God. One group gives thanks to God with a grateful heart. The other group does not give thanks to God (Rom 1:21c). Christians should always give thanks to God (1 Thess 5:17–18), for He alone is the giver of every good and perfect gift (Jas 1:17). Give thanks, for everything, with all your heart (Ps 9:1). David and Paul always seemed to be giving thanks to God. Certainly, Jesus did (Jn 17).
Eleventh, let the word of Christ richly dwell with you (3:16). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who is our teacher (Jn 14:26). He bears witness of Jesus Christ in His teaching. George Fox and others felt the Spirit was always leading, guiding, and teaching with new light, new revelations. However, the Word of God tells us to meditate day and night on the ancient sayings, which serve as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps 119:105). The early church members were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42), growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).
Twelfth, sing the Word of Christ to teach one another and learn together (3:16b). God has given His church gifted musicians and singers, even as the Levites brought music to the tabernacle/temple (1 Chron 15:16). God’s people treasure God’s Word up in their heart, and songs of faith can make good theology stick. God’s Word/Song Book is the Psalms. Here is the intersection of poetry, theology, prayer, and song lyrics. A Christian worships the Lord with her whole heart and with her whole mind, and we can even lift our hands when we sing our “hallelujahs.”
Thirteenth, put on the name of the Lord in doing all of these things and everything else (3:17). “Whatever you do…,” should have Christ’s exalted name attached to it. The Psalmist writes, “You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of truth (Ps 60:4).” Christians should labor in everything as unto the Lord, in a labor of love, and it should all be done in excellence. This is the more excellent way (1 Cor 12:31), of Jesus, who has a more excellent name (Heb 1:4).
Paul has shown us the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. God is filling His people with Himself and manifesting His attributes. Our souls are animated with the life of Christ (Gal 2:20). As Christians submit themselves to the Lord, they discover their inability to produce any spiritual gifts or fruit from their flesh. The tree branch has no life, nor power, in itself to produce fruit. It must have the life of the vine flowing through it (Jn 15).
The Christian can “put on” none of these attributes, nor can he perform any of the instructed tasks, unless it is the Spirit of Christ doing the work (Phil 2:13). Therefore, we are taught to yield to the Spirit, so as to be filled with the Spirit, not resisting, or grieving the Spirit, in order for Christ to perform His good works in us, by the Spirit. What God requires of us, He performs in us. In this way, He receives all of the honor and glory for our sanctification unto glorification (Rom 8:30; 1 Cor 1:30).
In conclusion, we must see ourselves as witnesses to the manifestation of the new self, not the actual performers. Remember, He is the Potter and we are the clay (Jer 18; Rom 9:19–21). We must be certain to give the credit to God, “who accomplishes all things that concern me (Ps 57:2; 138:8).” He has shown you, O man, what is required of you (Mic 6:8). Be ye doers, not hearers, only (Jas 1:22–23). Recognize however, as you obey in faith, working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) that God alone is able to make grace abound toward you (2 Cor 9:8). God is at work (Phil 2:13; Heb 13:21), and He will do it (Ps 37:5) from His place within us (Gal 2:20; Eph 3:20), through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 26, 2021
