Put On The New

Colossians 3:12 (ESV) … “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…”

“Put on!” “Put on!” “Put on!” Three times Paul in Colossians reiterates these words. The new man is to be as much recognized by his robes (his habits) as the old man is by his rags. The words put on are in the imperative. This is not a suggestion but a command.

So, then let us look at the new man’s robes, which we are required to wear. The believer receives holiness of character. He is “the elect of God.” That has to do with what we are positionally. God has set us part from the unsaved. His purpose is and has been from all eternity that we should be like His dear Son. Accordingly, those who accept Christ as Savior are constituted holy. This is done by God’s own sovereign will. It is not the result of human merit or attainment.

On the other hand, the believer reveals holiness of character. He is compassionate, kind, humble-minded, meek, and longsuffering. These are all characteristics that we associate with the Lord Jesus. We are to put them on as our own because they are given to us by God. By our own volition and deliberate choice, we put on Christlikeness of character. We are to put on goodness.[1]

[1] Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Colossians & Philemon: An Expository Commentary (Col 3:12). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.