Summary: Looking at Colossians 3:12-14 and considering who we are in Christ and how that status/relationship should direcly affect each of us.

Illustration:

"A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing."

Martin Luther

1. Our Identity in Christ (12a)

a. Chosen by God

Ephesians 1:4

2 Timothy 1:9

b. Changed by God

Ephesians 1:4

c. Cherished by God

Ephesians 1:4

2. Our Mind in Christ (12b)

a. Develop Compassion (lack of indifference)

Splanchnon (oiktirmos)

"gut level compassion (mercy)"

b. Distribute Kindness

"mellowing the harshness" through grace that spreads through the body

Matthew 11:30, "easy = not harsh to bear"

c. Desire Humility

d. Deliver Gentleness

"...willingness to suffer injury instead of inflicting it..."

Dr. John MacArthur

e. Demonstrate Patience

2 Peter 3:15

patience like God’s patience

3. Our Response in Christ (13-14)

a. Forgiveness (13)

i. Understand their faults

2 Thessalonians 1:4

(endure = anexomai, also in verse 13)

ii. Overlook their failure

literally: "to be gracious" / extending grace

iii. Remember God’s faithfulness

Ephesians 4:32

even when their is failure on our part

b. Love (14)

i. Love’s Prominence

Romans 13:10 (none of this is possible without love)

"...to practice these virtues without love is legalism..."

Dr. John MacArthur

ii. Love’s Power

1 Corinthians 13:-3

Nothing is acceptable to God unless it’s motivated by love.