Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (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.  (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. The verses we study today present the vital and basic principles of Christian living.  We, as believers in Christ Jesus, are the elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world. Immediately after calling the faithful the elect of God, Paul tells the faithful they are also to be holy or apart from this world – and beloved of God.

Accordingly,  Paul is very specific as to our new eternal lifestyle as we are sanctified in this world. Paul characterizes our new behavior as akin to discarding our old worldly clothes and putting on new “clothes” of tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, and forgiveness of others. And all these godlike new behaviors are motivated by love. We have been transformed by faith; at the moment of faith we are regenerated and made right with God in  our new position in Christ; righteous behavior will match our new righteous position.

Love is not just an emotion but an act of the will. Emotions are never expressed as abstract in Scripture but as a physical feeling. Psychologically, love is translated into a physiological state. Our gratitude and love can know no bounds and “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the  Father through Him.”