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Col 10 - New Life Traits - Col 3:11-17
 
I love the definition of - “Trait” (as in “New Life Traits”)
 
In Webster’s – for “Trait” – it says;
an inherited characteristic, or a distinguishing quality
 
& that is EXACTLY what the New Life is !
an “inherited characteristic” - & - a “distinguishing quality”
 
If you have Received Jesus Christ today
You have inherited the “New Life traits” – IN CHRIST !
 
& now – BECAUSE of your inherited “New Life traits”
there should be a “Distinguishing Quality” about our life
 
& it doesn’t matter WHO you are – WHERE you’ve been
or WHETHER you’re Barbaric – Uncivilized – Slave – or Free
 
Christ is ALL that Matters - & He lives in all of us Who BELIEVE !
 
Col 3:11 - NLT
11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
NKJ - 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
 
In this New Life
ALL that matters - is that Jesus Christ lives in us
 
& THRU His Life in Us
we can Inherit His “New Life Traits” - - (& THAT is good news)
 
- & we’ll look at some of our inherited “New Life Traits”
 
Just 1 more thing –
this text is our Foundation For Leadership – here at CCN
 
So if you’re heading into Leadership here – please pay attention because there will be a test (a real life test)
 
Col 3:12
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, . . .
 
NKJ - 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . .
 
How did we get to the word “Since” (Therefore in NKJ) ?
 
See – the “New Life Traits” are a THEREFORE in the Christian Life
They’re not a REQUIREMENT – They’re a BECAUSE (therefore)
 
BECAUSE – Jesus Christ lives in you,
THESE are the “New Life Traits” you have inherited
 
We may just need to learn to WALK a bit more
in the New Life of Christ in us . . . AMEN?
 
To get to the “Therefore” - we have to start back in
 
Col 3:1-2 - NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven . . .
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth
 
& then - V.3
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God
 
& then - V.5
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.
 
& then Vs’ 7-9 give us the “Spiritual Logic” of the “Therefore”
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of [these sinful behaviors] . . .
9 . . . for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds
 
So – since our sin nature has been “stripped off” by Christ
we simply need to Put-On (SINK INTO) our New Nature . . .
 
Col 3:10 - NLT
10 Put on [Sink Into] your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him
 
& THEN we get to the “THEREFORE” (Since) of today’s msg –
the beginning of the ‘New Life Traits”
 
Col 3:12 - NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, . . .
 
 
Rom 8:29 - NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, . . .
 
NKJ - 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, . . .
 
God knew us in advance - & He Called us
to Inherit The Characteristics of His Son (to become like Jesus)
 
SO – Col 3:12 says - NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves
 
NKJ = “Put On”
 
Strong’s – “Clothe” or “Put On” =
to sink into, as to clothe one’s self
 
We must “Sink into” , “Clothe ourselves”
with the New Life of Jesus Christ living in us
 
Also – the Greek Verb Tense here
implies a command with a sense of urgency
you must immediately “clothe yourself”
 
 
Now – we’re about to Review 14 “New Life Traits”
 
HOWEVER – This is NOT a list of Religious Rules !!!
 
We just spent TWO WEEKS learning
Religious Rules can’t give us “New Life”
 
The power of this text - is the supernatural transformation
that comes from Knowing Jesus on a personal, intimate level
 
THAT’S NOT something that can duplicate w/ Religious Rules
 
So - this IS NOT a Religious Check-Off List
 
It’s what a transformed HEART looks like
It’s what a transformed LIFE looks like . . .
when Jesus Christ is living in you Unrestrained
 
It’s what it looks like when your Old Nature
has been crucified with Christ,
& it’s no longer you who live, but Christ lives in you (Gal 2:20)
 
 
So – Let’s review the 14 New Life Traits listed here . . .
 
New Life Trait # 1 - Col 3:12 – NLT (middle)
12 . . . clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
 
This is a heart of compassion toward others.
It’s genuine care for those who are hurting & broken-hearted
 
Mat 9:36-38
 
 
New Life Trait # 2 - Col 3:12 - NLT
. . . [clothe yourselves with] kindness,
 
This is readiness to do good, even when it may be undeserved
It’s unselfish willingness to do Good with no ulterior motives
 
Eph 4:32
New Life Trait # 3 - Col 3:12 - NLT
. . . [clothe yourselves with] humility,
 
Humility is LIT – an “emptying” of yourself
not thinking Lowly of yourself – it’s NOT THINKING of yourself
 
it’s a willingness to esteem others higher than yourself
it’s a posture of servanthood
 
Phil 2:3-8
 
 
New Life Trait # 4 - Col 3:12 - NLT
. . . [clothe yourselves with]gentleness,
 
Gentleness is the opposite of pride & self-assertion
 
This is actually a word of Real Strength
it is - the strength of self-denial
 
Gal 6:1
 
 
New Life Trait # 5 - Col 3:12 - NLT (end)
. . . and clothe yourselves with patience.
 
NKJ = longsuffering - which means - to suffer long
 
LIT - restraint enabling injury & insult without retaliating
 
Gal 5:22-23 (fruit of the Spirit)
 
 
 
Now – let’s take a little break here for a question . . .
 
On our own - Can any of us ever achieve these lofty goals?
 
These virtues are all fruit of the Spirit living unrestrained in your life
 
You & I cannot produce this fruit
we are powerless to “put on” these “New Life Traits”
 
We cannot make ourselves be forgiven – holy - or Christ-like
 
We must cast ourselves on Him
in complete submission and brokenness
 
& then we are Transformed into His image –
as we “Sink Into” a deeper & deeper Relationship with Him !
 
The “New Life” takes shape as Christ truly lives in us
as Lord of every area of our lives
 
& it CAN’T be done – Without the Power of the Holy Spirit
 
We’ve got to surrender control of our life to the Holy Spirit
We’ve got to ask Him to give us the Power
to both Crucify the Old Life - & Live in the New Life
 
 
let’s continue with the “New Life Traits” that we inherit
when Jesus Christ is really Living IN Us
 
We’ve seen 5 “New Life Traits” we’re called to “Sink Into”;

1. Mercy
2. Kindness
3. Humility
4. Gentleness
5. Patience

 
Now - we go to 2 Very Specific Responses
to those who WILL “Offend” you !
 
New Life Trait # 6 - Col 3:13 - NLT
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults,
 
NKJ - 13 bearing with one another,
 
KJV – Bearing with one another
 
Best Def = persevering, tolerating, putting up with
 
The word implies - a constant acceptance of other believers
 
We need to “Bear with” or “Make allowance” for our fellow believers
by clothing ourselves in the 5 New Life Traits we’ve seen so far ;
 
Mercy – Kindness – Humility – Gentleness - & Patience
 
Eph 4:2
 
 
New Life Trait # 7 – (again) Col 3:13 - NLT
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
 
NKJ - 13 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.
 
and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others
 
We MUST forgive ANYONE who offends us
Key words are MUST & ANYONE
 
If a Christian is holding Un-Forgiveness in their heart –
they are IN SIN !
 
& that sin will separate you from God
& it will eat at you like a bleeding ulcer (until you deal w/ it)
 
We have 4 Messages on Divine Forgiveness at W-B-M
(1 general, 1 for the church, 2 for marriage)
 
If you’re stuck in this sin – please pick up ALL those messages
 
& remember (as this Vs. says) - Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others
(NKJ = even as Christ forgave you, so you must do)
 
Mat 6:15 - Eph 4:32 - Mat 18:35
 
 
& then – in a great “ALL ENCOMPASSING” statement . . .
 
V.14 gives us - Not Only - the “Above All” New Life Trait
but also – we see what the “Above All” New Life Trait is FOR
 
New Life Trait # 8 – Col 3:14 - NLT
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
 
NKJ - 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
 
The most important trait to “Sink Into”. . .
it is above all - & it covers all
 
Having all the virtues we’ve reviewed so far Doesn’t Cut It
without a genuine spirit of Agape Love for the brethren
 
What’s so incredible here is - - The phrase “binds us all together”
Lit. refers to the ‘chains of a prisoner’
 
The same word is also used for the ‘ligaments’ of the body
the ligaments - that hold all the ‘joints’ together
 
Christ’s love actually constrains and restricts us
to love one another fervently - - holding the body together
 
1John 4:20
 
 
Now - as kind of a “Natural Result” of the
“Above all, clothe yourself with love” . . .
 
V.15 tells us how this should GUIDE our hearts
New Life Trait # 9 - Col 3:15 - NLT
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace . .
 
NKJ - 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; . . .
 
let the peace that comes from Christ RULE in your heart
(NKJ = the Peace of God)
 
In the N.T. – The word for peace is used primarily for
the “absence of conflict”
 
used most often to describe unity & harmony between two people
 
But the Cool part – is the word - Rule
it means - “to act as an umpire” or “to arbitrate” (to make decisions)
 
So – when dealing w/ other “Members of the Body”
we must let the Peace of God RULE (umpire – make decisions)
 
Now – this doesn’t mean that we’ll always make people happy,
or do what they want . . .
 
but even in difficult circumstances
we can work from a position of “Peace in the body”
 
FOR – As V.15 says
as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
 
Phil 4:6-7 - Rom 12:18
 
New Life Trait # 10 - Col 3:15 - NLT (end)
15 . . . And always be thankful.
 
Being genuinely thankful to God – IN all circumstances
will change our relationship w/ God, & w/ other people
 
& – so many conflicts are rooted in
envy , jealousy & self-interest . . .
 
that if we will always be thankful to God
for what He is doing in OUR LIFE
It will really help eliminate those sins of Self-focus
 
& remember - thankfulness is not determined by our circumstances
It’s determined by our knowledge of God’s Grace
 
Psa 100:4
 
 
New Life Trait # 11 – Col 3:16 - NLT
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives . . .
 
NKJ - 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . .
 
FILL (NKJ – Dwell) = “to live unrestrained”
“to be given the run of the house”
 
Not to live in as a Servant - but as Master (directing the household)
 
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness,
LIVE UNRESTRAINED in your life
 
Eph 3:17
 
 
New Life Trait # 12 – Col 3:16 - NLT
(let’s read from the beginning of V.16)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives . . .
 
NKJ - 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another . . .
 
Before we can Teach & Counsel each other w/ all the wisdom he gives
We MUST (1st) let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, fill our lives
 
So FIRST - we let the Word of Christ - fill our lives
THEN – we use the wisdom he gives us (thru His Word)
to Teach & Counsel one another (makes perfect sense)
 
2Tim 3:16
 
& - - there’s 1 more thing
that the Word of God should cause in our lives
 
 
New Life Trait # 13 – Col 3:16 - NLT (end)
16 . . . Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
 
NKJ - 16 . . . in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
IF we will let the Word of Christ dwell richly in our lives
1) – we’ll be able to Teach & Counsel one another w/ its wisdom
2) – it will cause us to Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
 
I promise you – If you’ll let the Word of God dwell richly in your life
really accessing all the Wisdom God gives us there . . .
 
AND - start singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God
with thankful hearts . . .
 
I PROMISE YOU – Your Life Will Be CHANGED from the Inside Out
 
Psa 103:1-2
 
 
& finally
New Life Trait # 14 – Col 3:17 - NLT
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
 
NKJ - 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
 
Before you Act – React - or Respond . . .
are you acting as a representative of the Lord Jesus
Can you say;
I’m doing this as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ
 
NKJ says - 17 And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, . . .
This means in full accordance with His Nature, Character, & Will
It means – acting as HIS REPRESENTITIVE
 
This is the Ultimate & Final standard to go by
It is the greatest litmus test
 
Prov 3:6
 
& THAT – wraps up our 14 “New Life Traits” of Col Ch 3
 
 
Now – this text describes a life - SO RADICALLY TRANSFORMED
that we might say – “I will never be able to live like that” . . .
 
& you are EXACTLY RIGHT !
 
If you leave here trying to do this in your own “Nature”
you will fail miserably . . .
 
So – YOU (your old nature) MUST DIE
& Jesus Christ must live - fully unrestrained in you
 
None of these things exist in your nature
So crucify that nature with Christ – THRU FAITH
 
& allow Jesus Christ to live (w/o restraint) in you & through you
 
So that you become a REFLECTION (a representative)
of your LORD
 
 
Let’s close with 2Cor 3:18
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed [thru salvation] can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
 
NKJ - 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
 
Give Jesus Christ full reign in your life !
Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit !
 
Ask Him to make you more & more like Him
as He changes you into His Glorious Image