A Chosen
Community – Colossians 3:12-17
Part Two
The Outwear of A Chosen People
Christ-like virtues are the clearest indication that a believer accepts
his chosen status. Interestingly, the
power of the previously listed intrinsic qualities surpasses the righteousness
that results from avoiding the vices listed in the first part of this
chapter. Still, Paul concentrates upon
the individual and corporate dimensions of living a chosen son or daughter of
the Lord. On both levels, people are to
achieve great glory for the Lord.
How does a chosen community define itself? What will be its underlying virtues and
unifying principles? How will outsiders
know that this chosen community exists?
A chosen community distinguishes itself with its principles and
practices. What does it offer that other
groups do not? For the Church at
Colosse, Paul strongly proposes the character of Christ which includes
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. Love is the foundation for these
attributes. Without an appreciation of
Christ’s sacrificial love, one would not be motivated to extent these virtues
to others. Yet, in so doing, the
Colossians appeal to unbelievers on Christ’s behalf and draws them to the
kingdom with His love.
Paul exhorts the Colossians to forgive as Christ forgave them. Certainly, genuine forgiveness is a distinct
virtue in a revengeful society. The
Romans prided themselves on the strength and logic of their law to adjudicate
offenses and crimes. In fact, American
constitutional and criminal law, specifically, and the Anglo-American legal
tradition are indebted substantially to the Roman system of law. Both historical eras marvel at the Christian
practice of forgiveness which relinquishes the right to punish. The larger society does not understand how
Christian victims of violent crimes genuinely forgive their perpetrators. Their amazement stems from their ignorance of
the radicalism of God’s grace and the atoning nature of Christ’s love. As a consequence, Paul encourages the Colossians
to understand their chosen status in terms of the spiritual requirements to
love and forgive as Christ does.
Today’s passage concludes with a few practical suggestions for growing
and flourishing in a chosen community.
First, be thankful. Second,
saturate your mind and heart in the word of Christ. Third, teach and challenge each other with
Christ’s wisdom in worship and Bible study.
Fourth, let every deed be done to the honor, glory and praise of Christ
Jesus, the Lord and Savior of humankind.
Weekly fellowship with like-minded believers solidifies one’s assurances
as a member of the chosen community.
These practices result in personal growth and spiritual development. They guard against indifference and
atrophy.
The Inner Wear of A Chosen People
Amusingly, the apostle designs a spiritual wardrobe for “God’s chosen
people.” First, he characterizes them as
“holy and dearly loved.” To be holy in
its simplest form means to be set apart for God’s exclusive use. In Old Testament terms, the devoted things
were holy as they were to be offered solely to the honor, glory and use of
Almighty God. Consecration and
sanctification are common synonyms for holiness. “Dearly loved” refers to the unfailing, loyal
and sacrificial love of Almighty God.
Love solidifies the distinction as “God’s chosen people.” Ritual, religion and righteousness combined
cannot equate with the power of God’s love to set humankind’s hearts and wills
apart in loving and reciprocal devotion.
God’s affectionate and sacrificial initiative establishes the
relationship that earns disciples the category of being divinely chosen.
Given this designation, the people of God should adorn themselves with
invaluable inner garments. These ironic
pieces of clothing are not material; they will not be found necessarily on the
fashion designer runways of Paris Rome Venice Milan London New York
The use of the word, compassion, equates with love. Literally, to have compassion means “to take
pity” on someone. It is a mental,
spiritual and physical whereby one looks beyond the person’s need, however
extensive, complicated and bleak.
Overlooking their incapacities, one strives to love them toward inner
healing wholeness. The four other
attributes emerge naturally and automatically out of love. Love is as it does rather than as it
says. In John 13:33-34, Jesus declares
that the sole determining factor that will demonstrate the Church’s distinction
as His disciples is love. When the rest
of the world digresses to an elaborate state of nature, the love that disciples
show for each other will distinguish them.
Love is the basis for forgiveness.
The selfishness of our carnal nature compels us to retaliate and seek
revenge when someone offends us.
Internally, we are not born to overlook trespasses against us. Rather, we extract recompense to heal the
harm and repair the damage, financial and otherwise. Yet, our Lord’s example teaches us to pardon
our victimizers against every contrary impulse. On the cross, He prays,
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” He allows that ignorance, immaturity and
incapacity explain the wholesale consent of the crowd to the crucifixion. His prayer for forgiveness naturally evolves
from His unconditional love for humankind.
Likewise, we who have been graced with this love, out of gratitude,
share it with others by practically forgiving everyone for their trespasses
against us. Relinquishing our right to
extract punishment for offenses is a distinctive and identifying factor for the
“Chosen People” of Almighty God.
Love additionally empowers believers to bear one another’s
burdens. Elsewhere in the New Testament,
Paul encourages the Church to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those
who rejoice. From its inception as
recorded in the opening chapters of the book of Acts, the Church utilized its resources
to redress any individual needs. Sharing
in common, each disciple gave according to his or her ability and each one
received in proportion to need. Bearing
each other’s burdens extend beyond
finances and materiality. Often,
emotional, psychological and spiritual challenges hardships encumber believers
more greatly than the previous struggles.
Nevertheless, the shared love of Christ necessitates that the Church
assist each member regardless of the weight on his or her shoulders. Unlike Atlas in Greek mythology, no disciple
of Christ should be left by fellow
believers to carry the world’s load of burdens on his shoulders. Following the example of the crucifixion, we
join our brothers and sisters as they bear their crosses.
“This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me. This peace that I have, the world didn’t give
it to me. The world didn’t give it and
the world can’t take it away.” Those
words from an enduring Negro spiritual describe the inexplicable peace of God
that disciples enjoy despite the circumstances in which they find
themselves. Relying upon the peace of
Almighty God in the midst of life’s daily storms is another distinctive of the
“Chosen People” of God. Consider the countless people who cannot
sleep peacefully. Imagine the
innumerable relationships in which people live with a foreboding angst that
something will go wrong. Few people know
genuine peace whereby anxieties always give way to blessed assurance of the
faithfulness of Almighty God. However,
the apostle insists that disciples of Christ inherently know God’s peace. Their genuine reliance upon the safety and
joy that dwelling in right relationship with the Lord brings separates them
from the rest of the world.
The practical image of God’s peace residing in someone’s heart is that
of a military sentry. You may recall the
images of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
Paul ends this passage of the letter by reminding the Colossians of the
critical importance of deepening their knowledge of the word of Christ,
continuing in praise and worship of the Lord and maintaining an attitude of
thankfulness to Him. The Bible is the
textbook of life. Living by its
teachings is one of the clearest ways in which the Church demonstrates that we
are the “Chosen People of God.” Rejoicing in the Lord regardless of our
surrounding situations is another one.
Being grateful to God, even in the midst of tragedy, is yet another. In all these matters, we know that we shall
triumph. Accordingly, we welcome any
challenge because we hope that we shall honor and glorify the Lord in each
one. Having that purpose as our number
one priority is the identifying factor of God’s people.
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