Zambia Hunt

There’s a powerful story from the early days of missionary work in Alberta, Canada, that perfectly illustrates the transformative power of Christian virtue. A young Cree Indian chief named Mask-e-peton, once fiercely opposed to missionaries, had a profound encounter with the Gospel that changed his life. When a member of the Blackfoot tribe killed his father, Mask-e-peton’s response left an indelible mark on all who witnessed it. Instead of seeking revenge, he rode into the murderer’s village and declared, “You have killed my father, so now you must be my father. You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes.” The murderer, overwhelmed by such unexpected grace, could only respond, “My son, now you have killed me!” – acknowledging how this act of forgiveness had completely dissolved the hatred in his own heart.

This transformation exemplifies what happens when we truly become children of God. Yet, we must acknowledge a sobering reality: some who position themselves as God’s children may lack these Christian virtues, calling into question the validity of their profession of faith. As the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

The Context of Paul’s Teaching

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to address a critical issue: false teachers were suggesting that Jesus alone wasn’t sufficient for salvation. Paul’s response was unequivocal: Jesus is both superior and sufficient! This declaration serves as the foundation for his practical instructions about Christian living.

The context of our passage begins with Paul’s command to seek things above (Colossians 3:1-4), followed by the call to put to death earthly things (3:5-9) and put on a new self (3:10). This transformation results in a unity in Christ that transcends human divisions (3:11). Then comes our key text in Colossians 3:12-13: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

The Call to Embrace Christian Virtue

Paul’s words carry the weight of divine imperative. He begins by reminding us of our identity in Christ through three powerful descriptors:

1. “God’s chosen ones” – We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world
2. “Holy” – We are declared righteous in Christ before the Father, set apart for God-like living
3. “Beloved” – We are called God’s beloved, a profound truth that should shape our self-understanding

The command to “put on” is an aorist middle imperative, emphasizing a decisive, complete action in which we actively participate. This isn’t a suggestion but an expectation for genuine Christians, directly connected to our new identity in Christ.

The Replacement Principle

A key concept in Christian growth is the replacement principle: unhealthy or destructive patterns must not merely be removed but replaced with positive, constructive alternatives. This principle is crucial for lasting change. Rather than focusing primarily on suppressing sinful behaviors, we concentrate on what Christ has instructed us to “put on.” Instead of merely trying to “not be angry,” we actively practice patience, kindness, and forgiveness.

The Nature of Christian Virtue

Compassionate Hearts

The Greek term literally refers to the internal organs, considered in ancient thought as the seat of deepest emotions. This isn’t surface-level sympathy but a gut-level compassion that moves us to action. We see this same compassion in:

• The father’s reaction to the prodigal son (Luke 15:20)
• Jesus’ response to the crowds (Matthew 9:36)
• God’s character toward sinners and saints (James 5:11)

This compassion is so fundamental that 1 John 3:17 questions how God’s love can abide in someone who closes their heart to a brother in need.

Kindness

Biblical kindness means being useful, good, and benevolent. It’s active goodwill that seeks the benefit of others. Scripture emphasizes kindness repeatedly:

• As a command: “Be kind to one another” (Ephesians 4:32)
• As God’s attribute: His kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4)
• As a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
• As part of God’s saving work (Titus 3:4)
• As a ministry credential (2 Corinthians 6:6)

Humility

The Greek term combines “lowly” with “mind/thinking.” Christianity transformed this concept from a cultural negative into a virtue through Christ’s example. We see this emphasized throughout Scripture:

• Christ’s ultimate example (Philippians 2:3-8)
• As spiritual clothing (1 Peter 5:5)
• As a path to exaltation (James 4:10)
• In ministry (Acts 20:19)
• In Christ’s own character (Matthew 11:29)

Meekness

Often misunderstood as weakness, meekness is actually strength under control – like a trained horse channeling its power constructively. It’s the ability to be angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason. Scripture presents meekness as:

• A blessing (Matthew 5:5)
• A restoration tool (Galatians 6:1)
• A defense of faith (1 Peter 3:15)
• A receptive spirit (James 1:21)
• A correction method (2 Timothy 2:25)

Patience

Patience literally means “long-tempered”, patience is particularly focused on dealing with difficult people without retaliation. Scripture shows patience as:

• A universal command (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• A waiting virtue (James 5:7-8)
• God’s character (2 Peter 3:9)
• Love’s attribute (1 Corinthians 13:4)
• The Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22)

Living Out Christian Virtue

These virtues find practical expression in two key ways:

Bearing with One Another

Bearing implies holding up or enduring, involving personal investment and effort. It’s not passive tolerance but active forbearance, as Jesus demonstrated with His disciples (Matthew 17:17).

Forgiving Each Other

Biblical forgiveness involves:

• Showing favor and giving freely
• Giving up the right to hold something against another
• Active bestowal of favor, not just dropping a grievance

Scripture illustrates this through:

• Debt cancellation (Luke 7:42-43)
• Church restoration (2 Corinthians 2:7,10)
• Divine example (Ephesians 4:32)

The command to forgive is:

• Imperative: “put on”
• Conditional: “if one has a complaint against another”
• Comparative: “as the Lord has forgiven you”
• Result: “so you also must forgive”

The Impact on Community

When we live out these virtues in our local church communities, we demonstrate our true identity in Christ. As Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This love is expressed through:

• Walking worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-2)
• Showing kindness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)

The Challenge Before Us

As God’s chosen and beloved children, we face a daily challenge to actively clothe ourselves with these Christ-like virtues. The transformation seen in Mask-e-peton’s story isn’t just an isolated event – it’s the natural, expected outcome of the transfoming power of the life of Christ within every Christian, seen in community when we truly embrace these virtues.

The call is clear: we must actively put on these Christian virtues, beginning with compassion. We must replace the sins of the spirit and flesh with these godly qualities. Most importantly, we must forgive as Christ has forgiven us. The question becomes personal: Who do you need to forgive today? Christ’s example and command leave no room for holding onto grievances. It’s time to put on the clothing of Christian virtue and extend the same forgiveness we’ve received.