The Soul's Dress

UTER the negative comes the positive in the Chris¬

tian life. Not only is the believer to put off the

evils of the old life, he is also to put on the graces of the new life. In these verses a number of aspects of the Christian character and conduct are presented for practical realisation*

I. The Spiritual Attire (v. 12)

The Colossians are exhorted to clothe themselves with various elements of the spiritual life. The figure of cloth¬ ing is found in several other passages (Rom. 13 :14). The first necessity is “a heart of compassion,” because with the affections right, everything else should follow. Then will come “kindness,” the opposite of harshness and severity. The next feature will be “humility,” the real thing as distinct from the unreal (2:18, 23). This will express itself in “meekness” and “longsuffering,” the very opposite of everything rude and overbearing. Sir William Ramsay has called attention to the frequency with which St. Paul brings together the two ideas of meekness and lowliness, as though this were an echo of our Lord’s well-known words (Matt. 11:28-30). Those who are humble in mind will naturally be slow to resent wrongs and will never for an instant contemplate revenge.

II. The Special Robe (v. 13)

Keeping up the figure of attire, it is noteworthy that so great prominence is given to the spirit of forbearance and forgiveness, for both here and elsewhere this Christian grace is made very prominent (Eph. 4:32; Rom.

15 :7). In all matters of complaint and blame, this readiness to forgive should be shown, especially as it is the necessary outcome of Christ’s forgiveness of us.

III. The Protecting Girdle (v. 14)

Again the figure of clothing is used and reference is made to the girdle by which the robes of an Eastern man were held together. It is interesting that there are three passages which speak of the girdle: the girdle of truth, (Eph. 6:14); the girdle of peace (Eph. 4:3); and here the girdle of love. Love is regarded as that which holds together the various Christian graces already mentioned.

IV. The Deciding Factor (v. 15)

At this point the reference is made to “the peace of Christ,” which is to be allowed in the heart as the umpire or arbiter deciding and ruling the life. The word “rule” is suggestive of that which settles differences, especially where there is any conflict of thoughts and feelings. Under such circumstances the peace of Christ is to decide. The same idea and practically the same word is found in 2 :18. It may be asked how peace is able to do this, and perhaps the explanation is that as peace with God is the result of our acceptance of Christ (Rom. 5:1), so experience of peace in the soul in union with Christ and through the presence of God will at once settle every difficulty and show us what is the Divine will. In this case there is also a special reason for this peace because of the essential unity of the body of Christ. When we are one with Christ and one with Christians, there is no question as to the power of peace in our life.

V. The Inner Spirit (v. 15)

When the Apostle adds, “and be ye thankful,” he means, in Lightfoot’s suggestive words, “to crown all, forget

The Soul’s Dress, 3:12-17 yourselves in thanksgiving towards God.” True thank¬ fulness is the very essence of the Christian life, for in proportion as we appreciate what God has done for us and is to us in Christ, we shall realise the peace and power of true living (1 Thess. 5:18).

VI. The Abiding Power (v. 16)

The next exhortation refers to the word of Christ which we are to allow to dwell in our hearts (Psa. 119:11). It is not enough to be taught the truth; we must possess it as a present personal experience. It is to be in us as abiding there, dwelling in us as in a home. “It should not be treated as a stranger or slave, at a distance, but received as an intimate guest.” It is to abide in us plentifully in all the variety of its wealth and power. It is also to dwell in us “in all wisdom,” so that we may know thereby how to live and how to help others live. In pro¬ portion as we meditate on God’s Word and fill our minds with its truth, we shall have the consciousness of power and the means of blessing. Everything in the Christian life is in one way or another associated with the Word of God. At this point there is a little difference of punctuation. The A. V., followed by Lightfoot, punctu¬ ates with a full stop after the word “wisdom,” but it would seem more natural with several great authorities to make a slight change and connect the word with what follows. This is how the phrase will read according to the new suggestion: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another; with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs sing¬ ing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord.”

VII. The Definite Duty (v. 16)

The work of teaching and warning others is very important and it naturally follows from the possession of Christ’s word in our hearts (1:28). Only as that word is dwelling in us richly can we safely and truly be the means of blessing to others.

VIII. The Joyous Attitude (v. 16)

The reference to psalms and hymns and spiritual songs seems to indicate something of the life of the early Church, though it is not easy to distinguish between these three forms of praise. Perhaps the “psalms” refers to the Psalter, and “hymns” to Christian compositions, while the third word would naturally include the other two, and yet go further in referring to all forms of song, so long as they are spiritual. No mention is made that these songs are to be referred, still less limited, to public services, and perhaps there is the idea of joyous fellow¬ ship at family and other social gatherings, suggesting that praise was to be characteristic of the daily life of the believer. It is also encouraging to realise that whatever we can or cannot do with the lips, it is still possible to sing in the heart, for if only the inner life is in tune with God through His grace, our whole being will in one way or another manifest itself to God’s praise and glory. There seems no doubt that this singing refers to the soul’s personal fellowship with God and expresses the state of the heart when it is alone with Christ. It means that the consciousness of God’s grace fills the soul with such joy and peace that the heart cannot but rejoice before God. This is a fine test of our spiritual condition.

IX. The Supreme Principle (v. 17)

Then from the heart the thought extends outward to the entire life and everything is included in the one all-embracing principle of “doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus” and thanking God through Him. Christianity is a religion of principles, not rules, and everything

The Soul’s Dress, 3:12-17 is to be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). This is the mark of the true follower of Christ who performs his duties in union with his Saviour and in the consciousness that his life belongs to the One who died that he might live. It means the joy of conscious salvation and conscious fellowship, and is the dominating principle and adequate inspiration of all true life and service.

In this section we have a wonderful picture of Christian living, and it is very significant that some of the verses are in the Greek aorist tense, which invariably refers to a definite act, while others are in the present tense, which always indicates a continuous action. Thus the former speaks of the Christian position and principle, and the latter of the Christian process and progress; the one speaks of being “in Christ,” and the other “for Christ.”

1. The Christian Position. This is described as “God’s elect, holy and beloved.” These three descriptions tell of what the Christian is in the sight of God. He is chosen of God, consecrated for God and loved by God, and all these come from his union with Christ.

2. The Christian Conduct. The thought of clothing nearly all through this section emphasises the need and duty of a proper outward appearance. As clothes are an indication of personality, so the impression and expression of these graces will show “whose we are and whom we serve.”

3. The Christian Secret. This is shown to be threefold: the peace of Christ, v. 15; the word of Christ, v. 16; and the name of the Lord Jesus, v. 17.

Thus our union with Christ is not only the basis of our spiritual position, it is the source, secret, strength, and satisfaction of our spiritual state in every detail.