3:11
This verse is reminiscent of Gal 3:28, with some differences, though the sentiments are the same. It seems a bit of a sudden jump from lying to “there is neither ...”. Maybe it was the “being renewed” which caused Paul’s thoughts to jump to this. For just as lying is deeply ingrained, so are cultural differences. In the last election in the UK there was a lot of talk about whether Boris Johnson was truthful or not. One did tend to think “they are politicians, what do you expect?!”. Today with things like identity politics there is a desire to split society up in to all sorts of group
3:12
Why should we live differently than the world? Because we are religious? Because God might beat us up if we don’t? Because there are a set of rules that we have to obey? No, no, and no. It is because we are “God’s chosen people”, because we are “holy and dearly loved” and because we are to “clothe ourselves with compassion”. God has chosen us for a purpose, He has chosen us to be involved in His holy purposes. And we are dearly loved. We have a much higher purpose than to be grovelling around in the mud and the mire. But notice also that we are to “clothe ourselves with compassion”. So often Christians can be viewed as “holier than thou”, or judgemental, and so many Christians are afraid of speaking the truth, We are to speak and live the truth with compassion. Kindness, humility, gentleness and patience are to characterise our lives and attitudes.
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