Putting On the New Man Colossians 3:12-15 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO of the ten attributes of the new man.

After getting saved, the only way to get a new life is to put off the old man and put on the new. Many worldly organizations try to get you away from sin on your own, but their programs and philosophies ultimately fail.  We can’t get rid of sin on our own; we need to put on the new man.  This lesson shows you ten attributes of the new man.

There are those that are better at handling human nature than others, so they get the misleading idea that they are saved.  The result of someone controlling his flesh without God is pride, which is worse than any other sin.  We need to go to Jesus humbly, acknowledging that we have no power over sin.  Saved people are sinners just like everybody else, and they don’t clean up by their own power, but by God’s grace.

There are ten attributes of the new man found in Colossians 3:12-15.

Mercy (Col 3:12) “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies”.  Bowels refer to the trunk of the body.  Jesus Christ had to have mercy on us, otherwise he would have thrown us in hell.  Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Mercy is a characteristic that allows you to extend others forgiveness and love.  You can get mercy from prayer, the throne of grace, fellowship with God, and from the wisdom of God. James 3:17 says that the wisdom that comes from above is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

Kindness (Col 3:12) Jesus demonstrated kindness.  Luke 6:35 says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”  Kindness is not commonly extended.  Many Christians fight.  The Bible says that we are to love our enemies.  How much more should we love our brothers in Christ!  This is one of the great attributes of the new man.

Humbleness (Col 3:12) Many problems are caused by pride.  2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  Jesus went without possessions so that you and I could be saved.  He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, Phil 2:8.

Meekness, (Col 3:12) people often mistake the word meek for mild and wimpy.  Paintings of Jesus depict him as effeminate.  Jesus grew up working with tools, so he was not physically weak.  Meekness is power under control.  A horse weighs ten times the weight of its rider, but it submits to the rider.  This is meekness.  We need to submit ourselves to God’s control.

Longsuffering (Col 3:12) longsuffering is found coupled with charity.  Longsuffering is the ability to suffer with a situation for a long time.  Paul had to suffer a long time with his thorn in the flesh. In 1 Corinthians 13, Charity suffereth long.

Forbearance (Col 3:13) is a delay in enforcing, or refraining from enforcing, debts, rights, or privileges.  In Matthew 18:23 the master refrained from enforcing the debt.  God has the right to tell us what to do and we don’t always do it.  Instead of punishing us instantly, he waits for the judgment hoping that we’ll change in the meantime.

Forgiveness (Col 3:13) We need to forgive others. Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  This is another of the great attributes of the new man.

Charity (Col 3:14) 1 Corinthians 13 is filled with descriptions of charity.  It doesn’t matter what you do for God.  If you don’t do it with charity it won’t count in this life or the next.  This is one of the greatest attributes of the new man.  Charity is impossible apart from God.

Thankfulness (Col 3:15) 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Peace (Col 3:15) Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  If you put on the new man, you will have peace.