What the Elect of God Must Put On
These things are the world's first impression of a Christian.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-14)
What are the elect of God - Christians - commanded to “put on” in this passage?
Tender Mercies (or compassionate hearts).
Kindness (“Kindness is benevolence in action” – Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Humility - “The word for the Christian virtue of humility (ταπεινοφροσύνη), was not used before the Christian era, and is distinctly an outgrowth of the Gospel. This virtue is based upon a correct estimate of our actual littleness…” – Vincent’s Word Studies.
Meekness - Meekness is the complete opposite of arrogant pride.
Longsuffering “is a patient holding out under trial; a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially the passion of anger” – Vincent’s Word Studies.
Above all, we must put on love - the bond of perfection.
When the world looks at a Christian, these things should be the first impression of a Christian.
Sadly - sometimes this is not the world’s first impression of Christians because sometimes Christians have lost sight of the fact that we must be different.
We live a new life now - entirely consumed by Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:1-4).
Do the things the Christian must “put on” paint an accurate picture of who you are as a child of God?