The verse that we looked at last
week, which was verse 12, but I'd like
to read the context of the verse. The name of the message is God's
conforming grace. God's conforming grace. So let's read the context, and
I'll make a quick comment on verse 10. And then we'll read
down to verse 14. And have put on the new man which
is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created
him. Note that this new man we see
is created by God. This is a new man that was never
before. The old man has been around a
long time, right? And that's our flesh. Been around
a long time. And we're familiar with the works
of our flesh, aren't we? We're familiar with the old man's
will and the old man's ways. They're mentioned in verses 5
and 8. But this nature spoken of here,
this new man is a divine nature created by God in the image of
Jesus Christ. And this man grows, as the Scripture
says, and we're renewed. Scripture says, "...which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him."
We're renewed, and this man grows in the grace and knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ daily. He grows daily. He grows in wisdom
and knowledge after the will of Him that created Him. Now
it says, "...put on the new man, John Gill." mentioned something
that's very interesting. He said, when it says to put
on, we know it's the Holy Spirit who's regenerated us. But the
things that we're going to look at tonight that are spoken of
in verses 12, vows of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, long-suffering, And Gil said it's like putting clothes
on, in the sense that each day, daily, we're to put these things
on. Because we're going to, this has to do with how we interact
with people in the world. We're to be merciful. We're to
be kind. We're to be long-suffering. We're
to be gentle. And so that's what he said, that
put-on aspect, knowing that it's God, the Holy Spirit, who creates
in us the new man. But also that these things, these
things we daily, Daily desire is the new that the new creature
in us the new the new person in us desires these things But
we battle the flesh stone every single day Every day So the new man, scripture continues
to proclaim, who this new man is, look in verse 11, where there
is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all in all. This new
man is created by God. He's part of the body of Christ,
of who Christ is the head. And as we see, the diversity
in the body of Christ, we're one, aren't we? We're one. Put
on, therefore, as the elect of God. We looked at that last week. We looked at elect, holy and
beloved. So put on, therefore, as the
elect of God, holy and beloved, vows of mercy, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving
one another. If any man have a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all
these things put on charity, which we know is love, which
is the bond of perfectness. We'll be looking at the latter
part of verse 12 tonight. We looked at last week, elect
holy and beloved. Tonight we'll be looking at bowels
of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering. So last week we looked at those
three words. And they are very comforting
and sweet words for the saint of God, because we are not deserving
of being the elect of God. We are not deserving of being
made holy in Christ, and we're not deserving. We're not deserving
of being beloved by God, but we are. And it's all bestowed
upon his people in Christ, in Christ. So knowing that God chooses
us in Christ before the foundation of the world and knowing that
we are unholy within ourselves, but we are made holy in Christ
and knowing that we are beloved in Christ, we should therefore
put on with one another vows of mercy. kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, long-suffering, and we should be forbearing with
one another. When we look at what God has
done, we should be this way. We should be forgiving one with
another. And if any man have a quarrel against any, even as
Christ forgave you, so also do ye. We should be quick to forgive
one another. keep short accounts with each
other, with each other. As we reflect in the way that
we can do that, is as we reflect on how much Christ has forgiven
us, it becomes easy to forgive other people. Because think of
this too, the very shortcomings that we might get worked up about
in people, we have them too. We all do. Or we might not have
the exact same shortcomings as them, but I got my own. I got
my own. I'm telling you, I do. And I
know I do. Oh my. We are to show forth the
praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous
light. Why? Because we were sometimes
darkness. But now, now are you light. Now are you light. Your light
in the Lord, walk as children of light for the fruit of the
spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving
what is acceptable unto the Lord. Beloved, we are born again by
the Holy Spirit of God. Born again by the Holy Spirit,
created anew. By God's sovereign power, and
we see that in verse 10, it's God's sovereign power that's
done this. It's God's sovereign power. We've
been regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God, born again, and
now the Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ, the things
mentioned in Scripture, and we see Christ, don't we? He reveals
Christ to us. And sometimes this word, sometimes
this word is for edification, and sometimes this word is for
correction. It really is. It's for reproof
sometimes. And that's the thing, as a preacher
who's preaching the gospel, I know how I felt putting this message
together. I got it right between the eyes
in a few of these issues. And I don't know how the Holy
Spirit uses it in your life, but He takes the words of the
preacher and He uses it for however He's pleased to use it. And it's it's marvelous. It's
wonderful. And God's people rejoice. We
rejoice. Think of this. Think of this.
The Holy Spirit of God regenerates us. We're born again. And then
the Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ from the scripture
and reveals them to us. And at the same time, we're being
conformed to the image of the sun. As we daily go through this life,
this well, we're being conformed. We we who are God's elect are
being conformed to the image of the sun. Now, think of this
in light of what we're looking at. We'll get on a little bit
more into that. But these these very things reflect
Christ. And we're going to see that they
reflect Christ. So the grace of God that created
the new man in us will manifest itself in our outward conduct. it will manifest itself in our
outward conduct, in our walk before others. So let us also
reflect that all these things pointed out in the next two verses
were perfectly embodied in the wonderful, merciful Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Henry Mahan comments
this way. Turn, if you would, quickly to Romans 13, 14, and
look at this verse here. And then I'll read a little comment
that Brother Henry made on this verse here. Romans 13, 14. It says, Put on the Lord Jesus Christ
and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. put on the Lord Jesus Christ
and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Clothe yourself. And the reason
I bring this up is because the verse we're looking at says,
put on, therefore, is the elect of God. Brother Henry says this
about this passage in Roman. Clothe yourself with the Lord
Jesus Christ. This is not only to be clothed
in his spotless, imputed righteousness by faith and to make a strong
public confession in him, but it is to imitate him in the exercise
of grace, to walk as he walked, to love as he loved, to forgive
as he forgave. To submit to the father's will
as he submitted. Make not provision for the flesh
to fulfill the lust thereof. That is to give less thought
and attention to this body of flesh. As we think of the flesh,
as we dwell on the passions and lusts of the body, we somehow
arrange for those desires to be met." End quote. So let us
ponder this, beloved. that the same purpose of God
that predestinated us into the adoption of children also predestinated
us to be conformed to the image of the Son. Look at look at our verses again
versus 12 and 13. We're being 12 tonight, but I'm
going to read the both verses together. Put on, therefore,
as the elect of God, holy and beloved vows of mercy, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering for bearing one
another and forgiving one another. If any men have a quarrel against
any. Even as Christ forgave you, so
also do you keep short accounts, beloved. Keep short accounts. Now we know that we're all sinners,
don't we? We all know that. God has revealed that to his
people, that we're sinners. And we know that our walk can
never be as it should be, or even as we desire it to be. But let we who are redeemed praise
God that it's not what it used to be. It's not what it used to be.
We're growing daily in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. And I know those of us who are
the Lord's sheep go through the same struggle every day. The
old man, our nature, wars against the Spirit of God who dwells
in us. And the old man struggles for
supremacy. And we must crucify him daily.
We must, don't we? We do. We all should. Like I
said, if we all got together, we'd find it. We're all struggling.
Every one of us. And we will until the day we
go home to be with the Lord. And there won't be no struggle
because it won't be no sin. Oh, my, what a day that will
be. So we cry out, we cry out daily as the apostle Paul did,
by the grace of God, I am what I am. I am what I am. And we do not draw attention
to ourselves as we try to abstain from sin, right? We don't draw
attention to ourselves, but we battle every day. We cry out
to the Lord to give us grace and strength daily to overcome
it. But we never draw attention to ourselves. Now, religion does
that. We don't do that in grace. No. We ask God to strengthen us.
The fact that our heavenly father loves all his blood-bought children
in the Lord Jesus Christ and let us remember that God loves
every single one of his blood-bought children in the Lord Jesus Christ
And his love for and our love for him His love for us and our
love for him motivates us to serve him Motivates us to to
hate sin and to obey him Thus is the apostle Paul penned, it
is the love of Christ which constrains us. So in our text, in the context
of our text, knowing that Christ is all, knowing that Christ is
all, look at verse 11, but Christ is all in all, the latter part,
knowing that, knowing that, is the elect of God, let us put
on vows of mercy. kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another. If any man have a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, so do ye. Let us remember, let us always
remember, that we who believe, again, are being conformed to
the image of the Son. And let us see how much Christ
is magnified in these points that we'll look at tonight. Our Lord God is full of mercy. Turn, if you would, to Mark chapter
1. Our Lord God, our Savior, is full of mercy, full of compassion,
and we see it all through the Gospels, but here's one example.
Mark chapter 1, verses 40 to 42. And there came a leper to him.
And we know these lepers, in order to get to Christ, they
had to cry, unclean, unclean. Besieging him and kneeling down
to him and saying unto him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me
clean. And we know from another portion
of scripture that this man was full of leprosy. Beloved, we're
full of sin. And Jesus, look at this. moved
with compassion, put forth his hand and touched
him and saith unto him, I will. There's in every believer's life,
there's an I will by God. I will be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken,
immediately leprosy departed from him and he was cleansed. So let's go back to our text
in Colossians chapter three. And let's see in our text that
as the elect of God, holy in Christ, and beloved of God in
Christ, we are to have the first point is bowels of mercy. Bowels of mercy. Those who have
been shown mercy, those who are the objects of God's sovereign
mercy, those who have experienced the sovereign mercy of God will
show mercy to others. They will. In Matthew 5, 7, our Lord said
this, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. So let us never forget. Never
let us forget. The mercy believers have for
others comes from the new man that God has created in us. And it is referred to in our
text as bowels of mercy. It bows as reference to the inward
parts, the very inward parts of us. True heartfelt concern. True heartfelt concern for those
who are in need, for those who are suffering, for those who
are hurting in any way. Bows of mercy is an inward pity
and tenderness towards the needs, misery, and infirmities of others. And we as God's people have a
genuine concern for one another. When I tell you I'm praying for
you, I'm praying for you. And 1 John 3.17 says this, But
so whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels with compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him? So turn, if you would, to Galatians
6. Now we've often heard this verse,
but think of it in light of what we're looking at here. Heartfelt
compassion for one another. Do you know, beloved, we bear
one another's burdens, we bear one another's infirmities, one
another's frailties, one another's weaknesses. The reason we do
is because we all have them. We all have them. Galatians 6.2,
bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. What's the law of Christ? Turn,
if you would, to John 13, verses 34 and 35. We don't desert our
brothers in a time of need. Religion does that. Religion
deserts people in their time of need. Grace doesn't do that.
No. We don't desert our brothers.
We don't kick them while they're down. No. This is a hospital
for sinners. Right? I'm a sinner. I need Christ desperately. We don't boot someone when they're
down, but, oh, I've been in religious circles where they do that. They
put the boots to you. Not in grace. We don't desert
our brothers and sisters in time and age. We don't withdraw and
condemn them if they fall into sin. Love beareth all things.
That's why I say, if anyone is left here and they come back,
we treat them like they never ever left, beloved. That's how it is. We we. We keep short accounts. We keep short accounts. But Scripture
says, bury one another's burdens and we bear one another's burdens
by comforting the brother or sister, by helping them, by praying
for them, by sympathizing with them. And forgive. If needed in genuine mercy. And in doing so, we fulfill the
royal law of Christ. Look at John 13 verses 34 and
35. A new commandment I give unto
you that you love one another. God's people love one another. And it's not something that has
to be mustered up. It's genuine. You guys are my family. Now I'm
going back to Canada to visit my family of my flesh, but you're
my family. You're the ones I'll spend eternity
with. I love you guys, and I know God's
people. We love each other, we do. that
ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples." They're known by that love. That's what
set Christians apart in the early days, was their love for one
another. And we know that love is only
in Christ, right? So it's Christ who's the only
one who makes us to differ. It always goes back to Him. If ye, look it, by this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. One to another. Let's go back
to our text in Colossians chapter three. The next word, and think
of that, think of how merciful Christ is to us. All our sins are forgiven. The
next word is kindness. And in light of the bowels of
mercy, think of this, one last point is when our brothers and
sisters hurt, we hurt with them. We do. Colossians 3, 12, put on therefore
as the elect of God, holy and beloved bowels of mercy. Kindness. Kindness. Turn if you would to
2 Samuel chapter 9. Kindness. Do you know that kindness
was shown to this mercy beggar right here? And if you're a believer, you're
a mercy beggar too. And kindness was shown to you.
Kindness. In Christ Jesus our Lord. Here before us in 2 Samuel chapter
9, God, like David, now David's a picture of God showing us mercy
in Christ, and He does it because of Jonathan. David shows mercy
to Mephibosheth because of Jonathan, and he shows mercy to Mephibosheth
because of a covenant made between Jonathan and David before he
was even alive. What's that point to? Before
the foundation of the world, we were given by the Father to
Christ. Look at this. 2 Samuel 9 verses
1 to 7. And David said, Is there yet
any that is left of the house of Saul that I may show him?
Kindness for Jonathan's sake. Kindness. And there was at the house of
Saul the servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called
him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And
he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not
yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness
of God unto him? Oh, beloved, we have been shown
the kindness of God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what God did for us in
Christ. And Ziba said unto the king,
Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on his feet. And the
king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Makar, the son of Emiel in Lodabar. Then King David sent and fetched
him. Now there's fetching grace. What
does the Holy Spirit do? He goes out and He draws us lovingly
to Christ, right? With cords of love. He fetches
us. The old timers call this fetching grace. Fetching grace. Fetched Him out of the house
of Machar, the son of Emeo from Lodabar. And now when Mephibosheth,
the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was coming to David,
he fell on his face and did reverence. There's a picture of us before
God, falling on our face. God be merciful to me, the sinner. And David said, Mephibosheth,
and he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, two
words here that are so comforting to God's people, Fear not. The king said, now
remember, this is an heir of Saul. Back in those days, they
would kill every single heir because they'd be a threat to
the throne. But David made a covenant with Jonathan. What a picture of God tells us
in Christ. Fear not. Fear not. For I will surely show thee,
there it is again, kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and
restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt
eat bread at my table continually. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the
epitome of kindness. What kindness and mercy he's
showing you and I. And going to the cross, and dying
as our substitute and paying everything that God demanded
for us. Kindness. Mercy. And we who are born again,
regenerated by the Holy Spirit, will not only have inward feelings
of mercy to others, but there will be an outward show of that
in kindness. In kindness. And this will express
itself with tender words, benevolent deeds bestowed upon those who
are in need. And our sympathy towards others
should not only be inward, but outward. Not only inward, but
outward. Expressed in words, conduct,
and deeds of kindness. Especially to the household of
faith. Especially to the household of faith. Kindness is mercy put
into action. One commentator said that, I
love that. John Gill said that, kindness is mercy put into action
and exercise, especially to those who are of the household of faith,
showing mercy with cheerfulness. John Gill, what a statement.
Kindness is mercy in action. Paul continues to write in our
text, put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved
vows of mercy, kindness, Now he comes to humbleness of mind,
humbleness of mind, which is lowliness, lowliness of spirit. Now think of this, beloved. We
all battle with pride, don't we? But remember how prideful
we were before the Lord saved us? I do. And here we see Matthew Paul
comments, this is humbleness of mind, sincere lowliness of
spirit. What a picture we have of Christ,
who is the meek and lowly one coming to this earth and dying
in the place of sinners. Dying, turn if you were the Philippians
chapter two, Philippians chapter two. Look at what look what's pen
here in verses one to one to eight Philippians chapter two.
Oh, this is wonderful. And remember that that God, the
Holy Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ, right?
He's working this out in us, too. It's amazing. It's amazing. And we. We should always, always, always
esteem others better than ourselves. Look at Philippians chapter 2
verses 1 to 8. If there be, therefore, any consolation
in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any vows and mercies, fulfill ye my joy that ye be
like mine in heaven, the same love being of one accord of one
mind. There's that unity in the body
of Christ, right? Let nothing be done through strive
for vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves. Now that's the opposite of the
world, beloved. The world tells you be all you can be. Get all you can get. Look out for number one. That
was when I was growing up. That's what it was all about.
Look out for number one. But the Scriptures tell us to esteem
others better than ourselves. Look not every man on his own
things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ, who being in the form
of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made
himself of no reputation. That's esteeming others better
than yourself. of this he set his glorious side and came to
this earth to redeem sinners like like me and like you but made himself no reputation
he didn't come in he didn't come in with pomp and circumstance
did he he's born in a manger shepherds had it revealed to
them Well, the learned men were in
Jerusalem ignorant of his birth. But made himself of no reputation
and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the
likeness of man. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. But note in verse 3, Paul exhorts
believers to have a humbleness of mind, As in Colossians 3,
we are to look upon each other and esteem each other better
than ourselves. Better than ourselves. Like I
say, this is the opposite of the world. Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind, let
each esteem other better than themselves. Now this humbleness
of mind in the believer arises from the fact, now think of this,
because this is not natural to us, is it? But this humbleness
of mine spoken of here arises from the fact of our own sins,
and our own infirmities, and our own shortcomings being revealed
to us, right? But yet, knowing that God has had mercy upon us in Christ. In Christ. Turn, if you would,
to 1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. We know it's God who's made us
to differ. we look upon ourselves every
single one of us who's believers look upon ourselves as the chief
of sinners as inferior to others in gifts and knowledge and we
esteem others better than ourselves look at look at first Corinthians
chapter 4 now usually I read verse 7 by itself but let's read
6 and 7 let's read these two together And these things, brethren,
I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for
your sakes, that he might learn in us not to think of men above
that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one
against another. For who maketh thee to differ
from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory if thou hadst not received it? We're not to be puffed up one
against another. We're to esteem others better
than ourselves. When one draws attention to themselves
for things that they do in ministering to others, and this happens in
religion all the time. I don't see it much in grace
at all. But in religion, I see it. When I was in religion, I
used to see it all the time, all the time. Now, the reason
I said we don't see it in grace much is because we're all prone
to the flesh and to sin. But I remember in religion, and
I see it with some of the guys I talk to who are in religion,
they want to tell you what they're doing. and they want to tell
you what they've done. And sometimes it's almost like
they're, like they're blowing a trumpet before you. You don't
see that in grace. You don't see that. We do things
for God's glory. We don't want to be noticed in
the things that we do. We do it for his glory and for
his honor and for his praise. And that's putting on the humbleness
of mind. But think of this, when people
toot their own horns, That's not putting on humbleness of
mind, is it? That's not. That's simply a proud and self-righteous
spirit. And we are not to be puffed up
one against another. We are to serve and to do whatever
we do to the glory of God in humbleness of mind. Always remembering,
always reflecting, always considering what Christ has done for us.
and how much we've been forgiven. And we'll look at that next week
in the next verse. It's so clear there. That's why we're to keep
short accounts because of how much Christ has forgiven us. So let us always remember this. That we are the elect of God
because of his unconditional election. And this is pure mercy. And we are loved of God because
of His eternal love. And this love stems from Himself.
And that's pure mercy. Pure mercy. And Jesus Christ
by Himself purged our sins from God's sight forever by redeeming
us with His precious blood. by purchasing us with his precious
blood, by his perfect work of redemption for his chosen people. And he did it willingly. And
this is pure mercy. It's pure mercy. And our deliverance from darkness,
from the spiritual state of deadness, the spiritual deadness that we
were in, was accomplished by the sovereign life-giving power
of God the Holy Spirit, regenerating us, and we're born again in the
Holy Spirit of God. And that's pure mercy. That's pure mercy. Every blessing we have, both
spiritual and physical, comes from God Himself through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who is our heavenly Joseph. And we looked at that
in Sunday School, right? They had to come to Joseph to
get anything. All spiritual blessings are in
Christ, beloved. They all flow from Him. He has
the key to God's treasury, to His storehouses. And by God's mercy, we receive
mercy. And God's sovereign grace humbles
every believer. It brings us low. It brings us
low. But we're built back up in Christ,
aren't we? Yeah? Because we marvel at what He's
done for us. And we need to be reminded of
these great truths which are in the Gospel. Because we're
so prone to forget. We're so prone to forget. And
may God, the Holy Spirit, remind us and teach us by God's amazing
grace and mercy towards us. May He keep that ever before
us, of what He's done for us, what He's done for His people.
And may we keep looking to Christ, who is the author and finisher
of our faith. The next point I'd like to look
at is meekness. Look on verse 12 again. Put on therefore as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness. Meekness. As the elect of God,
we are to put on meekness. Now, meekness is the opposite
of pride. It's the opposite of pride, beloved. And if we remember
the pit of sin we were taken out of, if we remember the spiritually
dead state we were in when God the Holy Spirit regenerated us,
and when we know When it's been revealed to us that we had no
ability to move ourselves from that pit that we were in, that
pit of sin, and that salvation is all of God's grace, it'll
kill pride in the believer. It'll kill pride in the believer.
Real fast. Real fast. Meekness will keep
us from being puffed up against others. It'll keep us from being
arrogant and boastful. Meekness is not weakness. Our
Lord Jesus Christ was weak. He was meek, but he was not weak. He was meek, but he was not weak. Let me tell you a story about
meekness quickly. Vicki, a long time ago, made me, I think I've
told you guys this, but I'm gonna tell you again. She drew me this
drawing of this lion. Beautiful picture, just a beautiful
picture. And she put on it meekness. And
she told me, I'm going to give you this. And I called it meekness
because you're meek, Wayne. Well, you know what that did
to me? I wasn't realizing. It blew my head so big. If there
was even a squint of meekness in me, it was gone. It was gone. I was so proud. Practically,
if I had suspenders, I'd be pulling them out. Meekness is the opposite of pride.
It's the opposite of pride. My meekness is defined in the
Greek as this, gentleness, gentleness. Several commentators bring up
the point, when you're being reviled, you do not lash out
in anger. That's hard to do. It's hard
for me. Oh, my. Oh, by God's grace. And strength. We sometimes can
do that. What a picture, though, we have
of our Lord Jesus Christ, turn, if you would, the first Peter,
Chapter two. What a picture, though, we have of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. He's the perfect
spotless lamb of God, perfect beloved. Do you see how all these
points point right to Christ? Look at 1 Peter 2, verses 21-24. For even hereunto were ye called,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, reviled
not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously.
who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we being dead to sin should live under righteousness by whose
stripes ye were healed. Our Lord Jesus Christ, beloved,
was meek. He was a meek and gentle, humble
servant. With a desire to bring glory
and honor to him, to the one who had sent him, he came to
do the Father's will. He came to do the Father's will.
Lord Jesus Christ became a man of sorrows by subjecting himself
to the sufferings of this life even the sufferings of cross
And he did it willing And he did it to redeem my eternal soul
and and if you're one of his people to redeem your return
so He did this knowing that everything
he experienced now think of this I He did this knowing that everything
he experienced in this life was the perfect ordained will of
God. The will of the Father. What
meekness our great King has. No wonder our Lord proclaimed
that He is meek and lowly in heart. And what rest our souls can find
in Christ in Him alone. He's the one we repose unto.
He's the only one who's meek and lowly in our day. And think on this, beloved God,
that the Lord Jesus Christ reveals to us. That he works all things
after the counsel of his own will. I read something tonight
that was just, the person said, as the day closes, God has turned
another page in the book of his decrees. Of his purpose and his will.
Every day. Isn't that amazing? Because everything
that happens, happens according to his will and according to
his purpose. It's amazing. And this is why
we're to do all things without murmuring and disputants. Philippians, chapter two, verses
13 to 15, says this, for it is God which worketh in you. Now,
listen to this, for it is God which worketh in you. He works
in you. God, the Holy Spirit conforms
us to the image of Christ. but which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without
murmurings and disputions, that ye may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
The last point I'd like us to look at is long-suffering, long-suffering. Let's read again verse 12. Put
on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, vows of
mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering. We as the elect of God are to
be long-suffering with others. We're to be long-suffering with
others. And this ties right into our last point, as one commentator
said this, the spirit of meekness will enable us and will lead
us to be patient and long-suffering with others. They tie in. With others, with ourselves,
with things in general. A jealous, envious person is
not one who is patient. Those who want to argue and quarrel
over every little thing they don't agree with are not manifest
in a meek spirit. They're just not. Therefore, they are not patient.
Therefore, they're not long-suffering. This is why we have to keep our
eyes on Christ. We have to. We have to, beloved. A meek and quiet spirit will
lead to patience or long-suffering. We don't feel it necessary to
avenge ourselves or even to defend ourselves, do we? Because God
is our refuge and strength. He is. Matthew Poole defines
long-suffering as this, patience, bearing affronts and outrages
and other vexatious afflictions without anger. Wow. Think of this. How long, with
that definition, how long suffering is God with us? Before we are saved and now that
we are saved. Especially before we're saved,
how long suffering was God with me? But I knew Him with you. My goodness. Now that we are saved and we
cry out this in light of how long-suffering as we grow in
grace and we learn of God's long-suffering with us and with others, we cry
out, oh, what wondrous love is this. Oh, my soul. Oh, my soul. It's wondrous. So let us be patient. and long-suffering with God's
children, remembering how patient and long-suffering God is with
us. The love of God is shed abroad in His people's hearts by the
Holy Spirit, and this is how love works, beloved, by being
gentle and kind and patient and long-suffering with others. The
words of our Master, John 13, 34, And I read this
earlier. A new commandment I give unto
you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye
also love one another. And in 13.35, By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have loved one to another. When we put on the new man, the
faults of others won't seem as offensive as our own faults. Knowing that God has forgiven
us for Christ's sake will cause us to love and forgive one another.
And we'll look at that more in depth next week when we look
at verse 13. But let us remember this. But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And let us take note of these
five points that we looked at tonight, these five things which
Paul mentioned. They all flow in and out of one another. And they're all connected one
to another. They all are. One commentator
said this, they're like circles which are interlocked. They're
like circles which are interlocked. They are not separate things
that have nothing to do with one another. But if you have
one principle in you, the others naturally flow and they are all
found in the Lord Jesus Christ in him. Perfectly. Perfectly. Now we are being conformed
to the image of Christ. Turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter eight, verse twenty nine. But these are all perfectly found
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put on, therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, vows of mercy, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, longsuffering. And let us never forget that
this is all the fruit of the Spirit working in us, as we are
by grace and the power of the Holy Spirit being conformed to
the image of the Son. This is conforming grace, beloved. Romans 8, verse 29, for whom
He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of His Son, that we might be the firstborn among
many brethren. May God's people say, Amen. Gracious Heavenly Father, oh,
we come before Thee with thankful and grateful hearts,
knowing that we are not what we used to be. Knowing that we are not what
we used to be, we're so thankful that we are being, although we
don't see it in ourselves, we're being conformed to the image
of Christ. And one day, Lord Jesus, we will
see you face to face. And oh, what a day that will
be. No more struggle with sin. No more struggle with this flesh,
but we will be in thy presence forever and ever. And we will
sing with the saints, worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb. And we love you and praise you,
in Jesus' name, amen.