HIGHER CALLING PT 3

 

Colossians 3:1-17 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

15 And 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 dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Four Things We Are Called To Do To Live Out Our Higher Calling:

 

#1) PRIORITIZE HEAVENLY THINGS (V. 1-4)

VERSE 1: SET YOUR HEART ON CHRIST

VERSE 2: SET YOUR MIND ON CHRIST

VERSE 3 & 4: LIFE IS FOUND IN CHRIST

 

#2) PURGE EARTHLY THINGS (V. 5-9)

VERSE 5: PUT TO DEATH SINFUL AGGRESSIONS

VERSES 6 & 7: REASONS TO PUT TO DEATH

VERSE 8: PUT AWAY SINFUL ATTITUDES

VERSE 9: PUT OFF SINFUL APPEARANCES

 

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#3) PUT ON CHRISTLIKE VIRTUES (V.10-14)

VERSE 10: PUT ON THE NEW SELF

 

Process of Growth

1) Put off the old

2) Put on the new & be renewed

 

  • What is the goal of this growth?
    • Knowledge = epignōsis = understanding; definite knowledge; full knowledge. Genuine knowledge attained through Christ in the process of renewal.

 

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

 

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VERSE 11: OUR NEW SELF IS IN CHRIST

 

  • Verse 11 makes it clear where our value comes from. Christ is all and in all!

 

Four Earthly Distinctions:

1) National or Ethnic Pride (Gentile vs Jew)

 

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

2) Religious Background (circumcised vs uncircumcised)

 

  • We must not allow a religious spirit to cause division.
  • We must not allow religious traditions to get in the way of God’s will.

 

3) Culture (Barbarian & Scythian)

 

Colossians 2:8 ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

 

4) Economic (slave vs free)

 

  • When it comes to Christianity, we are all on the same level. They both make mistakes and are saved by grace. They share the same table and dream of the same eternity with God.

 

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VERSE 12: PUT ON HIS PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

 

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

 

Five Personal Attributes:

 

1) COMPASSION

 

  • (Greek) oiktirmos = compassion; to have mercy, to show tender compassion; care; concern
  • (Hebrew) răhămîm = feeling of love; mercy; the bowels; favor; deeply moved (bowels)

 

Unhealthy Compassion:

A) Absorbing other’s emotional pain

B) Becoming over responsible as if God lacks ability to act.

C) Emotional exhaustion

D) Overlook righteousness

 

How did Jesus demonstrate compassion?

1) Keen Perception — Jesus perceived/saw the need

2) Radical Mercy — Jesus was deeply moved

3) Dignified Inquiry — Jesus asked His Father what would help

4) Decisive Actions — Jesus acted by helping

5) Continued Care — Jesus always followed up to truly demonstrate He cares

 

A Few examples of Jesus Compassion:

 

A) Meeting Physical Need

 

  • Healed the sick— Matthew 14:14
  • Fed the hungry — Matthew 15:32

 

B) Addressing Emotional & Spiritual Pain

 

  • When Jesus saw a widow grieving her son, he had compassion and told her not to weep (Luke 7:13).
  • He wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35)

 

C) Teaching

 

  • Seeing crowds like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus had compassion and began teaching them (Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36).

 

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

 

D) Offering HIs Presence

 

  • He invited the weary and burdened to come to him, promising rest and describing himself as gentle and lowly in heart (Matt 11:28–30).

 

E) Giving Forgiveness

 

  • To a woman caught in adultery, he offered forgiveness rather than condemnation, telling her to go and sin no more (John 8:10–11).
  • He recognized that a sinful woman’s deep love flowed from experiencing forgiveness (Luke 7:36–50).

 

Genesis 43:30 ESV

Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.

 

Psalm 145:8-9 NLT

The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

 

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2) KINDNESS

 

  • chrēstotēs = to act kindly; goodness; benevolence

 

How did Jesus demonstrate kindness?

  • He responded with warmth when interrupted by outcasts, the people rejected by society. (Mark 5:25-34)
  • Jesus let the children come to Him although the disciples objected to it. (Matthew 19:13-15)
  • Jesus made breakfast for the fishermen after his resurrection. (John 21:1-14)

 

Romans 2:4 ESV

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

 

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3) HUMILITY

 

  • tapeinophrosynē = humble attitude; humility; without arrogance; modesty
  • Humility is really about having a good sense of ourselves, knowing our limits and how we’re not perfect.

 

How did Jesus demonstrate humility?

 

A) Through His Teachings

  • Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
  • Parables to reveal the pride of the listeners
  • He invites the gentle and humble in heart (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

Luke 18:16–17 ESV

But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

 

B) Through His Actions

 

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

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4) MEEKNESS

 

  • prautēs = gentleness
  • Meekness is NOT weakness. Meekness is controlled strength.

 

Three ingredients of Meekness:

  • Consideration
  • Submission
  • Teachable Spirit

 

  • A Meekful person:
    • Is considerate of the feelings of others
    • Would never intentionally hurt, shame, belittle, or embarrass another person.
    • Submits to the will of God, a willingness to obey God’s Word be led by God.

 

How did Jesus demonstrate meekness?

 

Matthew 27:12–14 ESV

12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.  13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”  14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

 

Matthew 26:52–53 ESV

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

 

Luke 22:42 ESV

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

 

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5) PATIENCE

 

  • Makrothymia = patience; forbearance; longsuffering; self-control

 

How did Jesus demonstrate patience?

  • Jesus patiently did not condemn Thomas for his doubting. (John 20:24-29)
  • Jesus patiently corrected the disciples 3 times for sleeping while he was praying. (Matthew 26:36-46)
  • Jesus demonstrated extraordinary patience through His work of salvation.

 

Luke 23:34a ESV

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”…

 

We must be patient (longsuffering) with each other.

 

  • To summarize verse 12, the new clothing for Christians starts with personal attributes like compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

LOVE – unconditional decision to love with God’s love

JOY – rejoice in the Lord, total hope in the Lord

PEACE – with God, of God. the well-being of the heart & soul.

PATIENCE – quality of mind, not easily offended, long-suffering

KINDNESS – respect, treat people good as of value

GOODNESS – generosity, benevolence, going a second mile

FAITHFULNESS – fidelity, firm, trustworthy, steadfast

GENTLENESS – submissive, teachable spirit toward God that manifest itself in genuine humility. Strength under control.

SELF-CONTROL – mastery over one’s desires and passions.

 

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VERSE 13: PUT ON HIS CHARACTERISTICS

 

Colossians 3:13 ESV

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

 

A) Enduring

 

  • Enduring = anechomai = bear with; to be patient with; to have patience.
  • “Enduring” is putting up with others even when they fail or act differently from what is expected.

 

B) Forgiving

 

  • Forgive = charizomai = show favor; give freely; show kindness; cancel a debt; to forgive.

 

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

 

  • Sins = hamartia = offense;
    • Similar to the word ‘sin’ (hamatarnō) in Matthew 18:15 = to err; that which is done wrong; to miss the mark.

 

We are called to endure & forgive one another so we can be healed and grow in Christ.

 

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VERSE 14: PUT ON GOD’S LOVE

 

Colossians 3:14 ESV

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 

 

Two qualifications reveal the primacy of love:

 

1) Love Above All

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

 

1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

Let all that you do be done in love.

 

2) Love Unites Us

 

  • Binds = eimi = to be identical; exist; be in a place; belong; represent
  • Perfect = teleiotēs = perfection; maturity; completeness.
  • The expression “binds everything together in perfect unity” means that mutual love would bring the group to perfection.

 

Ephesians 4:2–3 ESV

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Romans 12:9–10 ESV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

 

John 15:12–13 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

 

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

1 John 4:19–21 ESV

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

 

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CONCLUSION (PT 3)

 

  • In these 5 verses (Verses 10-14), Paul outlines the virtues and attitudes that embody a renewed self. When we put on compassion, kindness, patience, meekness, humility, forgiveness, and love, this directly reflects the image of Christ. Intentionally living this way fosters unity and peace. By embracing these Christlike virtues, you’ll not only be transformed but also make a real difference in the lives of those around you.
  • What is the Holy Spirit telling you through this message?

 

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