1. PUTTING ON CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 Part 2

2. Meekness A lot of people think that meekness is weakness. Meekness is being mild and patient even when being mistreated and provoked. Meekness is also having the courage to stand for what is right and not backing down. The meek person believes the will of God is the supreme good. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

3. Longsuffering Other versions translate this word as patience. Webster’s says it is “long and patient endurance.” As Christians we need patience. With othersWith situationsWith ourselves. We need patience as we wait for the Lord’s return. This will help us stay faithful to the Lord. Steadfastness and endurance is a key to patience. We are commanded to have these two characteristics in our lives.

4. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

5. Forgiveness Forgiveness is not optionalIt is a command. Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Christ forgave those who put Him on the cross. Surely we can forgive those who wrong us. Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” In Matthew 18 Jesus tells a parable to show the importance of forgiveness. We must forgive to be forgiven.

6. Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Love You can haveKindnessCompassionHumility MeeknessLongsufferingForgiveness But if you do not have love they do you no good. I Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

7. What is love? LOVE IS THE THEME OF THE BIBLE! I Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; It is love that caused God to make us in His own image. It is love that causes Him to care for us. It is because of love He sent His only begotten Son to die for us.

8. Romans 5:6-10 While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man--though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. GOD LOVES YOU!

9. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE?

10. Given by David Hamlin on 10-4-09 pm Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org