Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

(14) But above all these thing put on love which is the “bond of perfection.  (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(18) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as if fitting in the Lord. 

(19) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

(20) Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

(21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul in response to news that heresy was threatening the Christian church at Colosse. This heresy preached strict obligation regarding food and drink and observation of ceremonial days: a denial of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ Jesus; and a “super knowledge” of a few privileged insiders.  Paul, alerted to these distortions, wrote to the Colossians urging them to preserve true doctrine and to beware of anyone who tries to cheat them/us out of their/our salvation according to man’s rules – we are to follow Christ’s principles, not those of the world.  To Paul, Christ is all in all and his audience is urged to seek things above, not things on earth.  Through faith, Christians are alive with Christ.

The faithful are told to put off the clothing or attributes of the old man’s sinful nature and to put on – as the elect of God – qualities of mercy, kindness, humility.  This concept of rejecting the old sinful nature and acquiring the qualities of a new man is accomplished only through conscious love as an intellectual choice, not an emotional reaction.  We are urged to do all – everything – in the name of Christ Jesus as a new man/woman.  Saints (Christian faithful) are to live differently from the world which is passing away.  Christians are expected to be different because we are different – the life of Christ is in us.  The faithful do not elect themselves – they do not make themselves holy but they become so only through the love of God and the finished work of Christ which led to sovereign election and free forgiveness and grace.  We are to never forget what God has done for us in Christ.

Christian belief should be followed by Christian conduct.   We are God’s creatures.  The Bible aims all it’s commands at turning from the self to God and others.  We, as debtors to God, should not hesitate to cancel the debt others owe us. God did not spare His own Son as our substitute and man, as a beneficiary of such a great gift, must also freely give to others the gift of forgiveness – this is not an optional part of Christian life.

The transforming power of grace to do what we could not do alone is not earned but comes through faith in Christ Jesus.  We cannot forgive as the “old man” but, as a new man in Christ,  forgiveness flows through.  In this conscious choice to release others, we can be set free.  Think of how little we know of each other – too little to be censorious or harsh.

Beyond all these things we are told to put on the new man in love.  Virtues without love is legalism.  We are only acceptable to God through love- without love we are as a “sounding brass and a tinkling symbol”.  The new man/woman in love has the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.  This peace of Christ is the redeemer’s legacy – the ultimate peace of Christ is the presence of Christ and Paul urges the faithful to not let people deprive themselves of their reward as if they are unworthy.  The peace with God is a result of the acceptance of Christ as Saviour.  We are to be one with Christ and one with Christians.  The possession of peace/harmony is the prime end of Christianity for which we should be habitually grateful.