Last week we looked into the practices, attitudes and behaviours that tear a community apart — through idolatry and, finally, rage which leads to division.
This Sunday, we’ll focus on our new ways of living — our new clothing. Paul describes and names ways of living that breathe life into community and places the church in a redemptive position in society.
Our community can only be a Community of Christ as far as we live in compassion, patience and kindness. These enable forgiveness through love that leads to perfect unity. A tall order! But in Christ we can be new people and a new community.
sermon: A New Suit (Colossians 3:12-14) with Rev. David Donaldson
Putting On What Matters Most
Most mornings, we choose what to wear without thinking too much about it. But the Bible asks us to be much more intentional about what we “put on” in our daily lives.
In Colossians 3:12–14, the apostle Paul reminds us that before we talk about how we should act, we need to remember who we are.
Remember Who You Are
Paul begins with three powerful reminders:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…”
— Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
- Chosen: You are not random or forgotten. God knows you and has chosen you on purpose.
- Holy: Not perfect, but set apart. You belong to God.
- Dearly loved: God’s love is already yours. You don’t earn it.
This matters because we live differently not to gain God’s love, but because we already have it.
What to “Put On”
Once our identity is clear, Paul tells us what to wear—virtues that reflect God’s character.
Compassion: Compassion means truly seeing people, especially those who are hurting or overlooked. Jesus modelled this when He stopped for a woman who had suffered for twelve years and called her “daughter,” restoring her dignity and peace (Mark 5:25–34).
Kindness: If compassion is how we feel, kindness is what we do. Kindness moves us to act generously and helpfully toward others.
Humility: Humility is not thinking badly about yourself—it’s thinking about yourself less. Paul writes, “In humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) Humility means being teachable, willing to listen, and open to learning from others.
Gentleness: Gentleness is power under control. It’s strength that protects instead of harms. Even when addressing hard things, gentleness helps others feel supported rather than crushed.
PatienceL Patience is a long fuse. It’s choosing restraint, especially when it would be easy to react in anger or frustration.
Living With Others
Paul is realistic. Living in community isn’t always easy.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another… Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
— Colossians 3:13
People will make mistakes. We all have faults. Love shows up when we make room for one another—and choose forgiveness instead of resentment.
This echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Lord’s Prayer, where forgiveness is part of everyday spiritual life (Matthew 6:12).
What Holds It All Together
Finally, Paul points to what matters most:
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
— Colossians 3:14
The word for love here is agape i.e. self-giving, self-sacrificing love. Without love, the other virtues don’t last. Love is the energy that powers compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Paul sums it up beautifully elsewhere:
“Love your neighbor as yourself… Love is the fulfillment of the law.”
— Romans 13:9–10
The Big Picture
At the heart of Christian living isn’t a list of rules—it’s love.
We are loved by God.
We respond by loving God.
And we live that love out by how we treat one another.
That’s what we’re invited to “put on” every day.