God’s Clothing Is Both Inward and Outward (Colossians 3:5-17).Wednesday June 17, 2026
Intro:
Before salvation, before we were made new, we had little or no resistance to the sins of the flesh. If we were not doing them, we were thinking about it.
Col 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Their world was not different from ours in this respect. Cultures change, but the people in them do not.
1. Christ came into the world to save us from the things deserving the wrath of God.
He saved us from many things.
Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
This thought parallels Col 3:5-9.
Col 3:5-9 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
What things deserve the wrath of God?
Immorality (porneia) is a direct reference to sexual immorality. Impurity, passion, and evil desire are all connected to illicit sexuality.
Covetousness – Christ not enough. Which becomes idolatry – discontent with what you don’t have.
Why should you put them to death?
“Therefore” : because you are dead and raised (2:20; 3:1) in Christ, mortify your members to the perversions of God’s gifts to man because of sin.
2. Christ’s clothing is inward and outward.
Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
The inner self is the culprit – so “consider” is added.
Christ was clear that if you lusted you did it. It is not a command to never perform illicit sex again but to make the whole idea dead.
These sins of the flesh begin within the person. If Christ can change the inner man then He will have changed the usage of the body.
Together the death of these sins fall under the virtue of temperance: self-control; “I buffet my body and make it my slave” (1Co 9:27). The fruit of the Spirit is bookended by love and temperance.
Pro 25:28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
The walls of a city are like garments on the person.
We are to take off the garments of inner sins and sins of the tongue.
Col 3:8-10 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him –
“laid aside” is a verb that means to take off clothes. “put on” is a verb that means to put on clothes.
The clothing of Christ must be first over the heart and then outward in the use of the body.
The body is clothing that reflects the heart.
3. Our clothing is emotional.
Col 3:12-14 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion [used of God], kindness, humility (pride is lost), gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
The fruit of the Spirit must come to mind with self-control (temperance) referring to what we take off. Also, the expanded explanation of love in 1Co 13:4-8.
Love is stated as if it were an outer garment that braces all into one (beyond or above all things). Therefore, wearing love over all that is within you, serves to ensure that you do not hang onto to one grace and neglect another. Love is the bond between brothers, but it is also the bond that holds all virtues together, fit and ready for use.
4. How do I put on the clothes I’ve been given?
Col 3:15-17 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 richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
“Let the peace of Christ rule (umpire) in your hearts” = faith in what you know (resting in Him; faith-rest).
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” = Keep increasing in your knowledge of the Word of God. You have to keep returning to the Word of God hungry to learn more (“richly”).
Conclusion:
God’s plan to clothe us was always to do so with His Son.
We have been made dead and alive with Him.
We are clothed with Christ forever.
Now that that’s settled, clothe yourself with Christ in your heart and in the function of your body:
Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
We do this through faith in His Word and enriching ourselves with continued study of His Word.
The gift from Christ: the old garment torn off through death and the new garment put on through resurrection. |