Ruth: 1:20-21; The doctrine of bitterness, part 11 - put on the new man.

Title: Ruth: 1:20-21; The doctrine of bitterness, part 11 - put on the new man.  

 

Vv. 1-4: who you are and what life you have been given.

 5-11:What you have put off

12-17: What you have put on

 

COL 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

 

COL 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

 

COL 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 

COL 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

COL 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead [put to death now] to immorality, impurity, passion [pathos - pathology (disease)], evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

 

COL 3:6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

 

COL 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

 

COL 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside [aorist middle imperative]: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

 

COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another [stop lying to one another], since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

 

COL 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

 

COL 3:11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

 

In EPH 4:22,24 "lay aside" and "put on" are infinitives. They are the unchangeable background of every believer's existence. It is up to us to fit into that background by faith and grace.

 

COL 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

 

"holy" - the elect (chosen) are set apart unto God.

"beloved" - perfect passive participle of agapao = sacrificially loved forever by God.

 

Some get the idea that God loved them sacrificially at the cross and now that that is done, His love changes to an affectionate one. While it is true that God has a pleasurable love with His children, and that His children do for Him, JOH 16:27, the sacrificial love never fades. "Beloved" is a perfect participle, which means that sacrificial love goes on forever, even after His sacrifice on Calvary is completed.

 

COL 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

 

COL 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

 

Joseph Thayer comments on the use of the verb "put on" both here and in verse 10 (put on the new self) says:

 

"put on" - "to become so possessed of the mind of Christ as in thought, feeling, and action to resemble Him and, as it were, reproduce the life He lived." [Thayer]

 

This is another aorist command, which means it is to be obeyed at once. All believers are elect or chosen of God. They are set apart [holy] and loved by God forever. As such people, we are commanded to immediately put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness. These make up the character of the Lord Jesus and the new creature that the believer is. He is to wear Him like a garment.

 

This is the character of our Master, Jesus Christ. How could I be bitter if my heart was like this? God did not make people who simply followed a list of rules. He made people of a certain character.

 

COL 3:14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

 

All the virtues of Christ are knit together in love. In agape love nothing is wanting and so there cannot be bitterness.

 

Agape is sacrificial and giving. It is never looking to receive. Christ died for the sins of the world regardless of what people would do in return. He did not come into the world demanding anything. He came into the world offering something.

 

COL 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule [literally: umpire] in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

 

How could we be bitter if the peace of Christ ruled in our hearts?

 

COL 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 

"Let the word of Christ be at home in you in abundance …"

 

So much of the early church's truths were put into verse and song. Very few could afford to have a copy of the epistles and if a person were illiterate, such expense wouldn't matter. It was easier to remember verses and truths if they were put into poems or songs. It is not that they were to sing to each other, but they were to teach and encourage one another with the truths that they knew in verse and song. Tertullian described as early as the second century that at the Christian love-feast, "after water for the hands and lights have been brought in, each invited to sing to God in the presence of the others from what he knows of the holy scriptures or from his own heart."

 

We could imagine the early church's individually compiling a number of spiritual songs composed of scripture, OT psalms, promises, etc. These are the words that would be remembered and sung throughout the week by each member as they worked in the fields.

 

Hence, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs refer to the word of God that we have accurately planted in our own hearts. Paul says that the bride of Christ should speak thus to one another.

 

This is another way in which bitterness would never find ground to be planted within someone's soul. It cannot simultaneously exist in the heart of a person who is focused on God's word. Keep your eyes on Him!

 

COL 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

COL 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

 

COL 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.

 

Those who walk in the way of COL 3:1-17, the way of Christ, are qualified to be the husbands and wives of vv. 18-19.

 

If you got married before you either knew of the way of Christ or matured in it, that is not the ideal, but it is also not the end. Obviously, married people can grow up in the full knowledge of Christ and glorify God in their marriage. If it is the case that only one member of the marriage matures in Christ and the other does not, the one who loves Christ must understand that the Lord knew this would happen and He has provided supernatural help and deliverance.

 

If the marriage doesn't look like Christ and the church, one positive member can look like Christ.

 

In fact, the likeness to Christ would shine more so in such a situation.