Good morning, and a blessed Thursday to you.

Would you please open your Bibles to Colossians, chapter 3 for our time in God’s Word today?

I recall a wonderful professor from my seminary days who used this portion of Colossians in his teaching on premarital counseling. He referred to several verses in chapter 3 as "the wedding garment." By God’s grace, he said, this garment is something a husband and wife can give to one another—something they wear and share with each other.

Of course, these verses aren’t just applicable to marriage. They are deeply relevant to all relationships and to all of life.

Let’s look together at Colossians 3:12:

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Isn’t that a beautiful portion of God’s Word?

Let’s take a closer look at it.
Verse 12 begins: “As God’s chosen ones…”
This reminds me of Ephesians 1, where we read:

“He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love. He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

What a powerful and comforting truth—to be chosen by God.

Back to Colossians 3:12: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved…”
Because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, God now sees us as holy, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. His perfect life has been credited to your account, dear baptized child of God. That is a beautiful reality.

Then comes the call to clothe yourselves—in other words, to envelop yourselves—with:

• Compassion: Pity, mercy, and sympathy.

• Kindness

• Humility: Counting others as more important than yourself.

• Meekness: A powerful word. It doesn’t mean weakness or passivity. Meekness is strength under control.

• Patience

• And then: “Bear with one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other.”

It’s no wonder my professor called this the “wedding garment.” It’s a beautiful picture of what we’re called to extend to one another in marriage, but also in all our relationships—compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness.

Which brings up the question: Is there a limit to forgiveness?

Jesus says in John 20:

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

At first glance, that might sound like there are limits. But what Jesus is referring to here is what we call “the Office of the Keys”—the authority given to the Church to proclaim forgiveness to the repentant and to withhold it from the unrepentant. This is about the Church’s public ministry, not about placing limits on personal forgiveness.

Remember when Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive—seven times?” And Jesus responded, “Seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21–22)

Forgiveness, for the Christian, is not optional.
We forgive because Christ has forgiven us. Through His blood shed on the cross, our sins are completely and eternally forgiven. And so we, in turn, are called to extend that same grace to others.

Back again to Colossians 3:

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another. And if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

This is not something we can do in our own strength. God empowers us—through His Word and Sacraments—to live out this calling. And when we put on this garment in our interactions with others, we bless them deeply.

Let’s pray.
Gracious Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth. Thank You for this powerful exhortation in Colossians, chapter 3—a garment we are called to clothe ourselves with. Lord, empower us to wear this garment and live it out, so that we may be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless you today.
Go and encourage someone!