The duty of putting on all the characteristic qualities of the new man.
We must not only "cease to do evil" in putting off the old man, we "must learn to do well." "Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering."
I. THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN POSITION. "As God's elect, holy and beloved." They are chosen unto holiness that they should be without blame before him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). The saints are:
1. The elect ones of God. They are chosen to final salvation (Matthew 24:22, Matthew 24:24, Matthew 24:31; Revelation 17:14; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:33).
2. The elect are
(a) consecrated to God,
(b) subjectively holy (2 Corinthians 7:1);
(a) the election is connected with God's love (Romans 11:28);
(b) it is a free love (Hosea 14:5), a tender love (Joel 2:13), an everlasting love (Zephaniah 3:17).
II. THE DISCHARGE OF THESE CHRISTIAN OBLIGATIONS. We are to put on:
1. A heart of compassion; not a head of high knowledge, after Gnostic perception. The apostle begins with the natural and universal instinct of pity, which is here more an act of grace than of nature, for it springs from love to God. We ought to cultivate it,
2. Kindness. This is the temper of mind which produces a sweet and happy intercourse with others. Our English word is derived from "kin," and thus a kind man is a kinned man; we ought to regard the saints as kinsfolk, for they are children of God and brethren in Christ.
3. Humility. This is the temper of mind which affects our estimate of ourselves. It is closely allied to kindness, for it takes an unselfish view of personal interests. We ought to "seek lowliness" (Zephaniah 2:3), because:
4. Meekness, long suffering. They affect our outward bearing towards others, especially in the case of injury or insult. They are linked together as companion graces in Galatians 5:22. They are eminently illustrated in the life of Christ, and are both fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). God will guide the meek in judgment and teach them his way (Psalms 25:9). It is the praise of Christian love that it suffers long (1 Corinthians 13:4).
5. Forbearance and mutual forgiveness. "Forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any." This temper is eminently conducive to peaceful relations and diminishes the natural friction of life. It implies
6. Love. "And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness." This love to the brethren is to be put on as the cincture to bind the other graces together.
(a) It is the proof of faith (Galatians 5:6).
(b) It tends to the increase of the mystical body (Ephesians 4:17).
(c) It makes us like God himself (1 John 4:16).
(d) It is a demonstration of the reality of religion to a godless world (John 15:8; Matthew 5:16).