The things to put on: (3: 12-17):
The new man is chosen of God. This means that God has chosen the Christian, and chosen him to be something special in His plan. Put on compassion, kindness, humility: Each one of the qualities mentioned in this passage express themselves in relationships. A significant measure of our Christian life is found simply in how we treat people and the quality of our relationships with them. It is most significant to note that every virtue listed here has to do with personal relationships between man and man. There is no mention of virtues like efficiency or cleverness, not even of diligence or industry. It is not that these things are unimportant. But the great basic Christian virtues are those which govern human relationships.
- Compassion or tender mercies: If something is tender, it is sensitive to touch. “The apostle would have them to feel the slightest touch of another’s misery; and, as their clothes are put over their body, so their tenderest feeling should be always within reach of the miserable.” (Clarke)
- Kindness: It is the virtue of the man whose neighbour’s good is as dear to him as his own. It is something that wine which has grown mellow with age and lost its harshness. It is the word used when Jesus said, “My yoke is easy.” (Matt.11:30).”
- Humility: (It was not considered a virtue among the ancient Greeks) is the “parent” of both meekness and longsuffering. Meekness shows how humility will affect my actions towards others; I will not dominate, manipulate, or coerce for my own ends, even if I have the power and the ability. Longsuffering shows how humility will affect my reaction towards others; I will not become impatient, short tempered, or filled with resentment towards the weaknesses and sins of others.
- Forgiving one another as Christ forgave us: We have a profound example of Jesus’s The Lord forgave all our sins which were a staggering debt. When we consider His mercy toward us, it is base ingratitude for us to not forgive others.
- God makes the first move towards us in forgiveness: the habit of men is to only be reconciled if the offending party craves forgiveness and makes the first move.
- God forgives often knowing that we will sin again: sometimes in the exact same way. We make solemn promises to never do the wrong again.
- God’s forgiveness is so complete: So complete and glorious that He grants adoption to those former offenders. In the habit of man, even when forgiveness is offered, he will not lift again the former offender to a place of high status and partnership.
- God bore all the penalty: Our habit is that we will not forgive unless the offender agrees to bear all the penalty for the wrong done.
- God keeps reaching out to man for reconciliation: He reaches out even when man refuses Him again and again. In the habit of men, one will not continue to offer reconciliation if it is rejected once.
- God requires no probationary period to receive His forgiveness: Our habit is that we will not restore an offender without a period of probation.
- God’s forgiveness offers complete restoration and honour: We many times feel that we should be complimented when we merely tolerate those who sin against us.
- God puts His trust in us and invites us: He invites us back to work with Him as co-labourers. In the habit of men, one will not trust someone who has formerly wronged them.
- God even forgets our sins: If someone had grievously offended us and he asked our forgiveness, we most probably say to him, ‘Well, yes, I forgive you; but I cannot forget it’? It is a sort of forgiveness with one leg chopped off, it is a lame forgiveness, and is not worth much.” (Spurgeon)
- Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection: Love perfectly fulfils what God requires of us in relationships. In all matters, love prevails and covers all shortcomings.
- Peace of God to rule our hearts: In all anxieties and doubtful issues where the peace is disturbed, the Peace of God must be the guiding force and standard which helps us to discern God’s will. Let God’s peace act as umpire. Let the peace of Christ judge, decide, and govern in your hearts, as the brabeus or judge, does in the Olympic contests. When a man loses his peace, it an awful proof that he has lost something else that he has given way to evil, and grieved the Spirit of God.” (Clarke)
- Let the word of Christ dwell in you: Although the early Christians had access to the O.T and freely used it, they did not yet have the N.T or any other Christian books to study. The stories and teachings about Christ were memorized and passed on from person to person. Sometimes the teachings were set to music and so music became an important part of Christian worship and education.
- Do all in the name of Jesus: This means bringing honour to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, we represent Christ at all times wherever we go and whatever we say.
A Christian family: (3:18-23):
Faith in Jesus Christ not only changes individuals; it also changes homes. The first institution God founded on earth was the home (Gen.2:18-25; Matt.19:1-6). As goes the home, so goes society and the nation. The breakdown of the home is a sign of the end times (2 Tim.3:1-5). Confucius said, “The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes.”
Now-a-days we see family breakdowns are increasing. There are single-parent families on the increase. Due to the influence of TV, children are suffering from “battered children syndrome.” Today’s greatest need is to build godly Christian homes.
Husband and wife (Love and submission): (3: 18-19):
Paul did not address the wives first because they were the neediest! The Gospel radically changed the position of women. God does all things “decently and in order” (1 Cor.14:40). The woman has to submit to her husband does not suggest that the man is better than the woman. It only means that the man has the responsibility of headship and leadership in the home. The family is like a team working together and husband to be the captain of the team.
We must not think of submission as “slavery” or “subjugation.” Headship is not dictatorship or lordship. It is loving leadership. In fact, both the husband and the wife must be submitted to the Lord and to each other (Eph. 5:21). It is a mutual respect under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
The mutual love and submission creates an atmosphere of growth in the home that enables both the husband and the wife to become all that God wants them to be. The fact that the Christian wife is “in the Lord” is not an excuse for selfish independence. Just the opposite is true, for her salvation makes it important that she must obey the Word and submit to her husband. In regard to salvation, there is no difference between male or female. Everyone is accountable for his or her own life. But the joyful submission of a wife is an evidence that the wife belongs to Jesus Christ. However, the husband has the responsibility of loving his wife; and the word for “love” used here is agape, the sacrificing and serving love that Christ shares with His church. A marriage may begin with normal, human, romantic love, but it must grow deeper into the spiritual agape love that comes only from God. In the parallel passage (Eph.5:18ff), Paul made it clear that the husband must love his wife “even as Christ loved the church.” Jesus Christ gave His all for the church! He willingly died for us! The measure of a man’s love for his wife is not seen only in gifts or words, but in acts of sacrifice and concern for her happiness and welfare. The Christian husband and wife must be open and honest with each other and not hide their feelings or lie to one another. “Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) is a good way to solve family differences. “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” is a wise policy to follow if you want to have a happy home (Eph. 4:26).