PT-3 "The Performance of the New Man" (Col. 3:12-13)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/5/2017 11:15 PM

My Worship Time                                             Focus:  PT-3 “The Performance of the New Man”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Colossians 3:12-13

            Message of the verses:  “12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, 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.”

            We have been talking about God choosing believers which comes from verse twelve and we left of looking at Romans 9:13-16, 19-22. Now we want to next look at Romans 11:4-5 “4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace (ESB).”  What we want to look at from these verses is God’s gracious choice.  The verses actually describe God telling Elijah something to a comment Elijah made to God which was not true, but he did not know it was true.  Elijah was kind of feeling sorry for himself thinking that he was the only believer in Israel, so God answered him in verse four and Paul picks up on this by bringing it into New Testament times “at the present time.”  Now another verse that speaks of God choosing believers is Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”  We could also look at 2 Thess. 2:13 and also 2 Timothy 1:8-9 “8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” 

            John MacArthur writes “The doctrine of election crushes human pride, exalts God, produces joy and gratitude to the Lord, grants eternal privileges and assurance, promotes holiness, and makes one bold and courageous, for one who has been chosen by God for eternal life has no need to fear anything or anyone.”

            Now we want to begin looking at the rest of verse twelve and we will be looking at different words and there meanings from the Greek.  We begin with “put on” and this word in the Greek is enduo, “to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one ’s self.”  John MacArthur writes that “the qualities that follow are to cover the new man.”

We will only look at the first one this evening which is “A heart of compassion” as it is the first character trait that is to mark the new man.  The following is from the Greek/English dictionary “1) bowels, intestines, (the heart, lungs, liver, etc.)  1a) bowels 1b) the bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc.) 1c) a heart in which mercy resides.”  John MacArthur adds “As already noted in the discussion of 2:2, however, it is often used in the New Testament to speak figuratively of the seat of the emotions.  That is its use here.  Oiktirmos (compassion) means ‘pity,’ ‘mercy,’ ‘sympathy,’ or ‘compassion.’  Taken together, the phrase could be translated, ‘put on heartfelt compassion,’ or ‘have a deep, gut-level feeling of compassion.’  That divine quality (Luke 6:36; James 5:11), so perfectly exhibited by Jesus (Matt. 9:36), was sorely needed in the ancient world.  For example, sick, injured, or elderly people were often left to fend for themselves.  As a result, many died.  Believers must not be indifferent to suffering, but should be concerned to meet people’s needs.”

5/5/2017 11:42 PM