In  Colossians 3:1-4 we learned that true heart change starts with a saving relationship with Jesus. Our primary identity is in Christ and in Him, we have union in His death, resurrection and return. We are also to actively put to death sin as it will not have dominion over us lest we return to slavery. See Romans 6:1-14)

Paul moves from discussing our identity in Christ and being heavenly mind to Colossians 3:5-10 where he gives us a number of specific imperatives that help us understand exactly what needs to die:

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices  and have put on the new self. (Col. 3:5-10. NIV)

The examples Paul gives are:

• Put to death your sexual sin (v.5)
• Put to death your greed (v.5)
• Put to death your anger (v.8)
• Put to death your sinful speech (v.8)
• Put to death your lying (v.9)

Why?

…since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

But it is not enough put off these sins because true heart change requires replacements. Colossians 3:12-14 gives us the replacement graces that emerge from genuine heart change.

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col. 3:12-14, NIV)

Let’s make a few observations from the text.

The NIV translation encourages believers to “clothe” themselves with five Christlike virtues (V.12), which contrasts the five vices Paul mentions in V.8-9. The NIV translation in V.10 encourages us to put on the new self while the excellent NET Bible states V.10 this way: and have been clothed with the new man (Col. 3:10, NETB)

The key phrases in the translations that I’m emphasizing are “to clothe” and “have been clothed.”

The word picture that emerges from the NETB is that believers have had a change of wardrobe when they believed. The “new man” has exchanged his or her filthy rags with the garb of Jesus Christ. The sin that had corrupted (dirty clothes) has been forgiven, the debt has been canceled, having been nailed to the cross (See Col.2:9-14).

The NIV version in V.12 says “to clothe” which means “clothe yourselves (NETB) as an ongoing practice. In other words, the old man with his or her corrupt, filthy clothes has received the new suit of Christ but must actively keep putting it on.

This is important because believers have to actively fight forgiven sin. Our hearts can still be deceptive (Jer. 17:9) and we must be vigilant to guard the heart (Pro. 4:23).

Paul lists five Christlike virtues to replace the five corrupted virtues in V.5,8,9.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col.3:12, NIV)

God’s chosen people are a reminder that God chose them not because they deserved choosing or because they were good people. God chose them simply based on his pleasure of his will (Eph. 1:5). Because of Christ, they are now holy and beloved. The positional truth of being chosen, holy and beloved provides the basis (therefore) to actively put on Christlike virtues.

• Put on compassion
• Put on kindness
• Put on humility
• Put on gentleness
• Put on patience.

To put on compassion means to put on the heart of compassion (NASB) like Jesus did.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36, ESV)

Emotions are neither good nor bad; they simply reflect what is going on in the heart. To have a heart of compassion is to feel like Christ felt for the lost. What the lost need is grace and mercy, and as we have been transformed, we need to give each other grace and mercy.

To put on kindness means the opposite of being harsh. We all seem to recognize a person who is harsh much of the time as opposed to a person who simply is kind as Jesus was to the sheep without a shepherd.

To put on humility requires us to put off selfishness. The Christian virtue of humility was unknown in the Greco-Roman world which put personal pride as the greatest virtue. James says that God gives grace to the humble and is opposed to pride (James. 4:6), and Jesus illustrated humbleness when he washed the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-5)

Putting on gentleness means (meekness, some translations) can be difficult because our default position can be justice or revenge when someone injures or insults us somehow. To be meek does not mean to be wimpy, but rather to endure injury or insult rather than to return evil for evil (Rom. 12:17-19). Jesus endured the pain of the cross for unworthy sinners and we can control ourselves when reacting to petty offenses.

Putting on patience means being “long-tempered”  or “long-suffering. In other words, it is important to be able to exercise self-control when provoked by anger. 

Paul sums up the virtues by encouraging the Colossians with two “one anothers.”

 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col.3:13, ESV)

The ESV Study Bible sums up the five virtues  by noting:

3:13 The words bearing with (cp. Rm 15:7; Eph 4:2) and forgiving (cp. Eph 4:32) express the habitual manner in which believers exhibit the stated virtues. Both verbs pertain to interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ. Just as the Lord has forgiven echoes Jesus’s injunction to forgive because believers are forgiven (Mt 6:12, 14–15; 18:23–35; Lk 7:42).

In my counseling ministry, I often tell people I’m trying to help that the virtues which are to be exhibited habitually pertain to the interpersonal relationships within the local church.  They have applications beyond the local church, but it is the local church where unity is to be preserved (V.14).

I also tell them that the passage is a “how much more” passage since it can especially apply to the Christian home. Imagine a Christian home that lacks the five Christlike virtues. A home like that would be characterized by anger, bitterness, unkind words,, selfishness and no bearing with or forgiving.

Paul wants unity in the local church; how much more in the family that professes Christ. 

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