After a repentant sinner experienced justification by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and has shown evidence of new life (new birth), this is a sermon on "Sanctification (Practical Holiness)" for the believers already.

1. “Grow in Christ-likeness:
Our Good Manners
Attract People
to Christ”
Colossians 3:12-15
by Ptr. Jonavern P. Lungub

3. The words such as character, behavior
and manner here are used as:
character
: in accord with a person's usual qualities
or traits behaving in character.

4. behavior
: the way in which someone
conducts oneself or behaves.
manner

5. manner
: habitual conduct or deportment
: BEHAVIOR; mind your manners

6. SCRIPTURES
Colossians
3:12-15(NIV)

7. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen
people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience
(v.12).

8. 13 Bear with each other and
forgive one another if any of
you has a grievance against
someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you (v.13).

9. 14 And over all these virtues put on
love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity(v.14).

10. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, since as members of
one body you were called to
peace. And be thankful(v.15).

11. 3

12. Principle No.1:
When the Peace of Christ rules the
human heart, his manners become
Christ-like (v.15).

13. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, since as members of
one body you were called to
peace. And be thankful.
- Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

14. ILLUSTRATION NO.1:
“Real Peace Comes from
Trusting & Following Christ”

15.  Application 1:
a. When our heart is ruled by the
peace of Christ, our desires,
thoughts, manners and actions
are guided by Christ’s presence,
power and teachings.

16.  Application 1:
b. The daily yielding or submission to
the peace of Christ, shape our desires,
thoughts, attitudes or manners even
actions.

17.  Application 1:
c. When the peace of Christ rules in
our heart, Satan cannot disturb our
thoughts, desires, behaviors and
actions which he seeks to destroy.
The peace of Christ helps us not to
panic, not to retaliate evil for those
who do evil against us. By this we
overcome evil by doing good.

18. Principle No.2:
Your inward nature defines
your identity, shapes your
manners toward all people
(v.12).

19. “Therefore, as God’s chosen
people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and
patience.” – Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

20. Interpretation 2:
+ Christians are defined by their
identity in God.
“God’s chosen people, holy and
dearly loved ”

21. + Christians express their identity
in God by good manners.
“clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.”

22. Illustration 2:
“We do not draw people
to Christ by loudly
discrediting what they
believe, by telling them
how wrong they are and
how right we are, . . .”
– Madeleine L’Engle

23. Illustration 2:
“. . . but by showing them
a light that is so lovely
that they want with all
their hearts to know the
source of it.”
– Madeleine L’Engle

24. Application 2:
+ Christians are not defined by their
social status (position), not by their
material wealth (possessions) and not
by the world’s recognition of them
(prestige) because of connections with
big people in politics and in the
business world.

25. Application 2:
+ Christians are defined by their
identity in God through Jesus
Christ (children of the true living God)
and are known by their characters
(Christlikeness) which show to the
world who we are as co-heirs of the
eternal Kingdom of God.

26. Principle No. 3:
3rd Principle: Live together as a
Community of Christians who unites
in forgiveness and in the love of God
to create a good impact to the society
(vv.13-14).

27. “13 Bear with each other and forgive
one another if any of you has a
grievance against someone. Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over
all these virtues put on love, which
binds them all together in perfect
unity.” – Colossians 3:13-14

28. Interpretation 3:
The Apostle Paul reminds the Christians in
the Colossian Church that as forgiven
sinners, forgiven by the Lord, they should
also learn to forgive others. Above all our
good values, love should be the cord that
unites or binds all our good characters,
behaviors and attitudes.

29. Illustration 3:
“Love Forgives”
Real Story of Corrie Ten
Boom in forgiving a former
Nazi Soldier who became
Christian

31. Application 3:While the world increases
in unforgiving spirit, anger, hatred and
violence, unbelievers or unchurch when they
see the Christians, they should see among
us what is to be a true human created by
God to love their Creator and love their
neighbors. The world is so desperate to see
real Christians who love and forgive even
their enemies.

32. CONCLUSION:
“Christians’ Christ-like behaviors
or good attitudes are like strong
and beautiful bridges that
attract unchurched or
unbelievers to come & hear
the Gospel of salvation.”