Because He changed us, we love the People of God (vv.

12b-14)
Paul is clearly talking about unity in the church. He is talking about the kind of harmony that should exist among
those people who really love the Lord, among those people in whom the Holy Spirit is living.
Verse 14 sums it up, and the preceding characteristics should all be seen in light of the love God commands us to
have for one another. Remember that love is the sash or belt that binds all of these garments together.
A. Heartfelt compassion
This is mercy or sympathy. As Christians we are part of the same family and we should not be indifferent to one
another. We should not be cruel, harsh, and cold toward one another. One of the characteristics of a genuine
Christian is that he or she possesses heartfelt compassion for other Christians. This is nothing less than feeling
towards others as God feels towards them.
B. We are to put on kindness
This is a sweetness of disposition. It is also translated generosity or goodness. A person who is kind has good things to
say about others, is considerate of the feelings of others. Their words are tempered with grace and with tenderness.
A kind person is not abrupt or harsh but is soft-hearted, and genuinely cares about others.
Everyone of us knows someone like this, someone whose manner and smile communicates kindness, even if they
never said a word. This, too, is evidence of the Holy Spirit living inside of a Christian.
C. We are told to put on the garment of humility
This means that we are to submit ourselves one to another. Putting the other person before ourselves, to have a
proper estimation of ourselves. It means to be lowly. In God's economy it is the lowly that are exalted and the proud
who are brought down. If Jesus humbled Himself, even to death on the cross, we too must humble ourselves.
We live in a world where we are constantly told we must promote ourselves. People today are seeking to "one up"
the next guy. Their pride is easily wounded. In this crazy society people even shoot each other if someone disrespects
them on the freeway. The Christian should never be possessed by this type of attitude.
It is interesting to me how we have come to understand sin. In many Christian circles mortal sins are always defined
by sins of the flesh. Those who drink or smoke, watch R-rated movies, and other such worldly things are looked down
upon as the dregs of society. While sins of the heart sins such as pride, arrogance, anger, envy, hatred, and mean
spiritedness - are tolerated. Self promotion and boasting may be seen as marks of a "secure" or well adjusted person
in the world, but in the church such attitudes create division and discord. Humility enables us to be servants instead
of insisting that others serve us.
Remember that God is always more concerned with the condition of our heart for it is the heart that determines the
actions and course of our lives.
D. We must put on the garment of gentleness or meekness
It is the willingness to suffer injury instead of inflicting it. What a contrast with the way the world thinks. The world
sees meekness as weakness.
Sometime ago humorist J. Upton Dickson said he was writing a book titled Cower Power, and that he had also
founded a group for submissive people called Doormats - an acrostic for Dependent Organization of Really Meek and
Timid Souls, if there were no objections. Their motto was, "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that's OK with
everybody." Their symbol was a yellow traffic light." That's the way the world sees meekness, as weakness. But the
Bible says Jesus was meek, and we know He was not weak. Meekness, from a biblical perspective, is strength under
control. It takes a greater strength to exhibit meekness than to burst forth with anger and lose control.
E. We are told to clothe or envelop ourselves with patience
This is longsuffering, especially in the face of injury or insult. It is marked by the ability to respond in love when others
treat us poorly.
William Barclay writes, "This is the spirit which never loses its patience with its fellow-men. Their foolishness and
their unteachability never drive it to cynicism or despair; their insults and their ill-treatment never drive it to
bitterness or wrath" (The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians [Louisville: Westminster, 1975], p.
158).
Patience in our own strength is impossible. Patience is not something the world teaches us to practice. In fact, while
the world may give lip service to these characteristics in a kind of patronizing kind of way, it looks down upon these
traits and ascribes them to weak, timid, insecure losers.
So the question is this: Will we give in to worldly pressures and act like the world, or will we allow Christ to have
control of our lives, and live according to His mandates, regardless of what the world thinks? Forgive and forbear one
another
When we put on these traits two specific things take place:

1. We forbear with one another

That means to put up with or tolerate one another. It can even mean "to endure." Have you ever know those people
you simply had to endure. Being around them is never any fun, it is never a joy or pleasure. But we are told to
tolerate, to have patience with or endure these people. There can never be unity in the church unless we are willing
to tolerate one another. The only way we can do this is through forgiveness.

2. We forgive one another

That's the second thing that happens when we clothe ourselves in these traits - we forgive one another, even as
Christ forgave us. Even if you have a valid complaint against someone, forgive.

I have seen people who call themselves Christians who have unforgiving spirits. Their pride and ego was wounded
and they cannot bring themselves to forgive another Christian for some offense. One author puts it this way:
"Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me." (Archibald Hart, quoted in James Dobson, Love
Must Be Tough.)

To forgive someone involves three things. First, it means to forego the right of striking back. One rejects the urge to
repay gossip with gossip and a bad turn with a worse turn. Second, it means replacing the feeling of resentment and
anger with good will, a love that seeks the other's welfare, not harm. Third, it means the forgiving person takes steps
to restore good relations. (Alexander C. Dejong, Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1.)

For the true Christian, forgiveness may not be easy, but it's not optional either. It is an essential characteristic of the
transformed life. Forbearance and forgiveness are never a problem when we are talking about people we really love.
Because He restored us to fellowship with Him, we love the people of God even as He loves them..