Pursuing Perfection: Part 2 

Colossians 3:8-14

It is good to be here with you for part two of “Pursuing Perfection.” This teaching is from the middle of Colossians 3. Last time, we had the first part of this teaching: discarding the old. We looked at several specific actions that we must get rid of.  Today, we will look at putting on the new man and the steps we can take in this area. We will end by focusing on verse 14, “above all put on love.” This is what sets Christianity apart: from top to bottom, inside to out, and through and through, love makes a difference. 

Turn to Colossians 3 and follow along with J Mark as he teaches from this passage.  

⁸But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

 ⁹Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 

¹⁰and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  

¹¹where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 

¹²Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  

¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  

¹⁴But above all these things put on love, the bond of perfection.  

The Next Part of the Metaphor is, 

Put on the New 

Another reason to put away lying is that we have put on Christ. Christ makes us different; we’re not who we used to be. In other words, our practice must square with our profession! 

Paul says that this new man is renewed in knowledge because we are created in the likeness of God. Unlike the former, corrupt life, we are continually being refreshed and changed into a new kind of living. It’s not an event, it’s a process. As we pursue a relationship with Him, the old man’s characteristics are flushed out, and the characteristics of the new man are welcomed and embraced. 

Paul then made a revolutionary statement for his day. He says that in this new man, “…there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” In other words, the former distinctions of religion, ethnicity, and social status are not to be a part of the life of a person who is being renewed daily in God’s image. Paul insists that these distinctions cannot be; they’re impossible in the life of one who is living is putting on Christ.  

Now, because we’re being renewed in the knowledge of God, that God chooses us, that we are holy and beloved, we are also to put on the following things that Paul highlights. The verb tense at the beginning of verse 12 indicates that this command must be obeyed immediately.  

First, we are to clothe ourselves with tender mercies. Some of the older translations use the words “bowels of mercy.” In the Hebrew mind, the bowels were the place of the tenderest affections. In Philippians 1:8, Paul wrote: “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Other versions read “I long after you in the affection of Jesus Christ.”  

Paul commands us as new creatures in Christ to put on a heart of compassion. Does the suffering of others move you? Organizations and ministries that provide material aid for those in need often use pictures to arouse our emotions and create a feeling of compassion for the less fortunate. That’s wonderful and commendable, but if we only improve the physical circumstances of people in need, what have we and they gained?  

Compassion was one of Jesus’ identifying characteristics. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” That’s Matthew 9:36.  

The lostness of His people touched Jesus’ heart. He was concerned about their poverty and the harsh government they lived under during His time on earth. However, His primary focus was on people’s spiritual needs. Immediately following Matthew 9:36, which I quoted earlier, He tells the disciples to “…pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest field.” This compassion for the lost is an area I need to be more intentional about putting on.  

And then Paul mentions kindness. Are you a kind person? Kind people are gentle instead of harsh and gracious in relating to others. Jesus exemplified kindness in His interactions with little children, with immoral women, and with the untouchables of His day. He saw each person as a unique expression of God’s creativity and deserving of respect.  

Next on the list is humility, the opposite of pride. It’s a modest and humble opinion of oneself and one’s achievements. It puts others before self. Can you imagine how different our homes, churches, and world would be if we cultivated this character quality?  

Humility is willing to admit wrong or to confess a lack of knowledge. It says, “I don’t know.” Humility doesn’t deny God-given gifts; it just recognizes that what I have has been given by the grace of God and according to His purpose for me. Humility acknowledges the giftings of others and isn’t jealous of them or intimidated by them. 

Next is meekness. This quality is one Jesus assigned to Himself. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [meek]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That’s Matthew 11:29. Humility and meekness are very closely related. Meekness is the mild temperament that doesn’t fight against God or other people. But it is not weakness!  

Have you noticed that these things we’re to put on are becoming progressively more difficult for us? As new creatures in Christ, we must put on long-suffering or patience. Notice that suffering is part of this word. How do we respond when we’ve been mistreated, falsely accused, or when our good name has been slandered, when our achievements gain no recognition?  

Paul says in First Corinthians 13:4 that “love suffers long… and is not easily provoked.” To be patient, particularly under ill-treatment by others, is to be long-suffering. Everything in us cries out for justice, or vindication, or vengeance. Jesus’ responses to His mistreatment clearly show us what long-suffering looks like in the most challenging circumstances.  

Next, we are to bear with one another and forgive each other. These concepts are captured for us in Matthew 18:21 and 22. “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus told him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Peter thought he was generous, but Jesus raised the bar even higher as He told the parable of the unmerciful servant.  

Galatians 6:2 commands us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ.” We are to endure, to sustain, to bear with each other, to stand with and support each other. We will not become discouraged or stooped with despair. We will stand firm, ready to support the weak and to help the weary on their journey. We won’t allow disagreements to damage our relationships with others, and we will refuse to be quarrelsome ourselves.  

Further, Paul says we are to completely forgive others to the same extent that Christ has forgiven us! Christ in us will enable us to readily forgive by recognizing how much we have been forgiven. And by the way, forgiveness isn’t deserved. The root word of forgiveness is charis, which is grace. Forgiveness is unmerited, unearned, and given as a favor.  

After putting on all these metaphorical articles of clothing, Paul says, there’s just one more thing. And that leads us to the final part of the metaphor. 

The Final Part of the Metaphor is, 

The Ultimate Accessory 

The apostle ends this list by adding, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” In the world of apparel, an accessory is that final item that completes the outfit. It might be just the right pair of shoes, purse, or neck scarf for a woman. For a man, it may be a special shirt, a tie, or a handkerchief folded just right in the breast pocket of the sports coat. The accessory doesn’t draw attention to itself. Instead, it just makes the whole outfit complete. You may not even notice its presence, but if it were missing, you would surely notice.  

What does it look like to “put on love”? There is a lot of confusion in our world, and even among the people of God, about what love is. In some people’s minds, love never says anything negative about anyone, it never corrects, it never provides accountability, and love always takes precedence over truth.  

But that’s not real, genuine love. Truth matters, and those who reject it will pay a high price. To others, love is a feeling, an emotion, a desire. Love is all those things, but so much more.  

Paul is commanding us to put on agape. It’s sacrificial love; love that denies itself for the benefit of the one being loved. It is a love based on the will; we choose to love, even the unlovely. It’s Jesus’ love for you, me, and every human being ever born or yet to be born. A love that motivated Him to give His life for us, even when we hated Him. He willingly took your place and mine, bearing the penalty of our sin in His own body on the Cross.  

Paul writes that this kind of love is the bond of perfection. It brings a state of completeness to the whole wardrobe of the Christ-follower. It is the uniting principle that binds all the other characteristics together. Divine love is fused with all the other virtues as it binds them together. They become one harmonious whole and are made usable by love’s presence.  

What a challenge this portion of Scripture is to me! So often, I fail to discard the old and put on the new. I say or do things, and I immediately know it wasn’t Christlike. But then I remember, I am IN Christ, the Father accepts me because of Jesus and His righteousness. I am forgiven! And that motivates me to renew my commitment to Him, not because I’m trying to earn His favor, but because I’m grateful for what He’s done for me.   

So, I urge you to focus on Jesus, who He is, and what He’s done for you. His Spirit, living in you, will show you the things you need to put off and the things you need to put on. Positionally, you are perfect in Christ; His righteousness is yours. Now, you need to start living that out practically. And when you do, the world will notice. Because Jesus said, “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.”  

Let’s strive together to pursue perfection to the glory of Jesus!  

What a way to end this lesson on pursuing perfection. Those are great things to think about and put into practice. His definition of love challenged me: “love denies itself for the benefit of the one being loved.” This is true love, and it is attractive to people everywhere. I also see this as an area in which I need to grow. May God help us discard the old, put on the new, and grow in genuine love.  

If you have any questions about today’s teaching or want to contact us, here are a few ways to reach us. An easy way is to email. Our email is [email protected]. You can also message us online; our website is heraldsofhope.org. Once there, click on the “contact us” link on the top right.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Thanks again for being with us today. We look forward to being with you next time. In closing, I leave you with the verse you heard before. Jesus did a fantastic job summarizing the power of love; He said, “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.” God bless you as you live this.    

*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.