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Response
In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul offers practical guidance on the believer’s transformation from the former life before salvation to the new life now “hidden with Christ in God” “For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”, (Colossians 3:3). He compares this process of “putting to death” or discarding the old sinful way of life to removing old clothes (Colossians 3:5-11). Instead of their old rags, believers are to put on new garments: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14;ESV).
Each aspect of the newly worn clothing (compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, etc.) pertains to the believer’s relationships within the Christian community. Paul recognized the significant challenge of fostering peaceful, harmonious coexistence among individuals—whether slaves and masters, Jews and Gentiles, or rich and poor. For the church to authentically embody the body of Christ on earth, a true spiritual transformation must occur within the hearts and lives of its members.
Fostering Christ-honoring fellowship is achievable when believers bear with one another in a spirit of love. The term “bear” in the original Greek denotes “enduring something unpleasant or difficult.” Bearing with one another signifies a readiness to endure alongside fellow believers, despite differences.S and frustrations. We are to live in a spirit of humility and treat one another with patience and compassion. Real relationship, especially in a community as diverse as the church «where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. », (Colossians 3:11), will always require forbearance. But this isn’t just putting up with each other or glossing over difficulties while harboring bitterness or allowing sinful behaviors to run rampant (Colossians 3:5–11; Galatians 6:1–5; James 5:19–20). We are to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” «endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. », (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). This is based on the work of Christ and grounded in the truth of who God is and what He has done (Ephesians 4:4–6; John 17:20–23). To that end, believers are called to forgive one another as the Lord forgives us (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus Christ is our standard in bearing with one another and demonstrating forgiveness «And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; », (Colossians 2:13). He never compromises truth and He always acts in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Paul saves the most crucial garment to put on for last: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” «And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. », (Colossians 3:14, NLT). Self-sacrificing, agape love is the type of love Paul speaks of here. Only unconditional love can spin a thread strong enough to stitch the tapestry of believers together in perfect unity. Paul issues a similar admonition to the Ephesian church: “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” «and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. », (Ephesians 5:2, NLT).
Paul also prays for the believers in Rome to bear with one another: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:5-7). Our readiness to accept one another with patience and to live together in peace and harmony brings praise and glory to God.
Bearing with someone, or forbearance, is a character quality of God that humans have benefited from: “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4;NLT;see also Psalm 103:8)
. God calls us to be holy, like He is, in all we do «but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; », (1 Peter 1:15), but we all fall short. Since God’s nature is to be tolerant, gracious, and longsuffering with us, we must be the same with others. As we cast off the old sinful self and put on the holy attributes of God, we are transformed into His image. We become “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” «and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.», (Ephesians 4:32).
As members of Christ’s body, “each member belongs to all the others” «so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. », (Romans 12:5). We endure difficulties and unpleasantness with one another because we are all one—parts of the same whole. We bear with one another when we forgive, when we allow love to cover a multitude of sins «Hatred stirreth up strifes: But love covereth all sins. », (Proverbs 10:12), and when we reach out to a brother or sister who is caught in sin and restore that person gently «Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. », (Galatians 6:1). Only when we “let the peace that comes from Christ” rule in our hearts can we bear with one another and live in unity as we are called to do as members of one body «And let the peace of God rule in your he
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful., (Colossians 3:15).
