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Review:

• Christ is established as the sole difference maker in making peace with God for mankind.
  
  
• Now, we are charged with being established as followers of Jesus. Embodying the life and spirit of Christ.
  
  
• Last week we were exhorted by Lem to shed the skin of sin. We must lose some things to take on some new things.
  
  
• Today we will put on a whole new wardrobe.

Pray

Read Colossians 3:5-14

Who you are in light of the gospel—understanding your identity matters. (You need to see you as God sees you!) 

• God chooses who his people are. (12a)

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

• God’s people will look and be different from the world. (12a)

Colossians 1:22 “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…”

• God knows and cares for His people with deep affection. (12a)

Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Put on the new family wardrobe—this is how we roll!

Biblical context

• Isaiah 61:10 “He has clothed me of garments of salvation.
• Job 29:14 “I put on righteousness as my clothing.”

Family dynamic

READ Philippians 2:1-5 Same mindset of Christ.  Doing things the way He did them.

• Compassion- sympathy that leads to action birthed out of affection (love).

For the benefit of another.

• Kindness- goodness toward one another; friendly, generous, caring, considerate.

For the benefit of another.

• Humility- not thinking highly of yourself; thinking of yourself less.

For the benefit of another.

• Gentleness- kindly tender and soft; mildness of temper.
  • Football player holding a baby—acknowledging vulnerability and being protector.

For the benefit of another.

• Patience- ability to endure, and wait amidst difficulty.
  • Example- waiting in a long line or waiting for changed behavior in someone.
  • How did you do at your family gatherings in patience or any of these Christ-like identifiers?

For the benefit of another.

• Bearing with and forgiving one another. (13)
  • How long of an account do you keep with your spouse, a brother/sister, a former friend?

For the benefit of another.

• Put on Love—the coat that covers over all of these layers and pulls it all together. (14)
  • Love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional commitment to the well being of another.
  • Love leads us to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient with others.

For the benefit of another.

Questions to ask of yourself:

1. Do you identify as a child who has been chosen by God?
   
   
2. How are you doing with wearing these Christ-like garments: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love?

3. What is one garment you need to work on this week to better identify with Christ? For the benefit of another!

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

We shed the old skin and put on our new clothes!