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“What We Are . . . ” • 5.11.14
• Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Without spending time advertising the false
beliefs of the Pre-Gnostic band of false teachers, armed with the truth, Paul
has steadily built up the church of Colossae.
- He has presented the case for the person and
work of Jesus Christ in chapter 1.
He has set up a defense and protected the Colossians from philosophies and
legalism in chapter 2.
- Here in chapter 3, he provides them with principle, practical helps in walking with
the Lord. What are we to think of ourselves? What are we to do? Remember, this
is a first century church!
- But we do well to be reminded that these
truths have neither changed nor lost their potency. We'll break this down into
four sections today.
I. What We Are Principally (v.1-4)
II. What We Are To Put Off (v.5-11)
III. What We Are To Put On (v.12-14)
IV. What We Must Do To Press On (v.15-17)
Text
I. What We Are Principally (v.1-4)
• Colossians 3:1,2 : "If then
you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." : This is a fact for Christians.
- We were raised with Christ and given a new
kind of life, free to seek those things which are above! Before Christ, we had
to seek the things of the Earth. That is no longer the case.
- "Seek" is a present tense
imperative, denoting a command which requires that you seek now those things
which are above continually. What does Paul refer to?
- It's feeding my love relationship with the
Lord, seeking to invest in and subsequently grow in love with Him. It refers to
being interested in things for His sake, that He might be honored here.
- I constantly want to be consumed with what
pleases The Throne, where Christ sits calmly!
- "Sitting" indicates a settled
dwelling upon the throne. He's not moving anywhere folks!
- There are some who feel a concern that they
will become heavenly minded that they will be of no Earthly good. Quite the
opposite, the greatest contributions on earth have come from such folk.
- Seek those things and set your mind on things
above. The KJV has the phrase "set your affection" on things above.
He comands them to prioritize their passion, to view it through heaven.
- How prone are we to be consumed with the
things of this Earth?
- When you really consider this, you are
spending a whole lot of time worrying about what you will one day have a
difficult time remembering if you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God!
• Colossians
2:3,4 : "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." : Do you realize that you are a dead person? You once were dead
to Christ. Now, in Christ, you are dead to this world, dead to sin and
certainly dead to regulations and religious rules!
- The old "you" has passed away in
the sight of God. Your true life is hidden or concealed with Christ. His life
is our true life.
- We are expressions of His life as His Spirit
conforms us toward His image.
- Now, when Jesus appears, we will also appear
with Him in glory! Paul looks forward to the day when all believers will stand
before Him in glorified bodies, fit for heaven and eternity!
- We are dead to things of this Earth and our
hearts are to be set, focused upon this moment! This is what we are
principally. How does that work out practically?
II. What We Are To Put Off (v.5-11)
• Colossians
3:5-7 : "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry. Because
of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked
when you lived in them." : SInce you are dead, united in the death of Christ, consider
your self, it's desire, the flesh, dead!
- Paul tells us here to be ruthless, to cut
down in their tracks these unruly impulses that are prevalent in the earth and
are present and ready to re-engage if you allow them to live.
- What are they? Fornication. We get our
English word "pornography" from this word.
- It's the widest word possible, an umbrella of
sorts, speaking to any and all sexually arousing activity out side of a legally
tendered, heterosexual marriage.
- If you are an unmarried Christian, sexual
activity in any of it's forms is off the table for you.
- Uncleanness speaks of seeking illicit
pleasure without any concern for what that costs you or another around you.
It's exploitive of others and a extreme for the participant.
- Passion for life and for purpose are great
things, but this is a passion for evil things. Other places this same word is
translated evil desire or vile passions.
- Evil desire speaks of craving that which is
evil, wishing that it was present.
- To speak of covetousness, one would consider
an unhealthy, unbalanced desire and craving for more. It's not need driven.
It's not even want driven. It's simply a desire to consume more!
- There is an unsatiable aspect to this and
Paul calls such a desire for things, idolatry!
- How bad are these actions? Ultimately,
covetousness claimed Judas and sent him to hell!
- They are the reason that the wrath of God is
coming upon the sons of disobedience! God's wrath is appeased towards those who
are His children, as Christ absorbed their wrath!
- But for those who choose to disregard God's
sole Savior, wrath abides and it will be rightly be directed toward those who
choose their sin over the Savior! God hates these things!
- To participate in any of them is possible for
the Christian, but not in a prolonged, enjoyable way! We once walked and lived
in them! This is a past tense relationship that isn't to be current!
• Colossians
3:8-11 : "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since
you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor
Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but
Christ is all and in all." : Paul has
delineated the "big stuff." But there are "little things"
that have to be monitored too! These things are to be put off, laid aside, like
a bunch of old dirty clothes. He begins with anger.
- The word presents a picture of a swirling
internal motion which eventually bursts out against someone. This person is
just always at the boiling point and could explode at any minute.
- Wrath is similar, but it's a quick release
snapping and then a return to normalcy.
- These two words reflect inappropriate venting.
Paul told the Ephesians to be angry, but not to sin and that's the goal. Be
angry at the right things and dispell it by giving it to the Lord!
- Malice refers to "ill will" or a
desire for anothers injury. Blasphemy refers to slander of another person's
character, talking behind their backs.
- Finally, filthy language, foul speech, low
and obscene communication. Curse words for the sake of curse words, sexual
innuendo, lowbrow humor. They don't fit in the Christian life!
- Paul tells them not to lie to each other.
This is interesting. What Christian needs to be told this? Everyone needs to be
told not to lie.
- Don't tell someone something is correct when
it's not. Don't tell someone that you'll do something when you won't. Tell the
truth!
- If you are truly seeking help with something,
ask someone to tell you honestly what they think and be willing to hear it! We're
to put these things off.
- They aren't to be a part of our communication
with one another. But we are not just to remain neutral. We're to put on the
new man!
- The idea is literally defined as sinking into
clothing. Get comfortable in it. This new man, this person in Christ, cannot
remain tied to the ways of the old man.
- The old man is corrupted and corrupting. The
new man is renewed, being strengthened and invigorated in the things of the
Lord. How is this happening?
- By the knowledge, a true experiential
knowledge of the One whose image he has been created in! Entering deeper and
deeper into relationship with the Lord radically changes you!
- The things you once loved and entertained,
get lost in His greatness and you are different! Paul tells them that it
doesn't matter who this happens to.
- Race and religion are excluded, as are social
and economic realities. Christ is in all! He had infiltrated lives in every
conceiveable strata!
- In each case, where the Lord is present,
there are changed lives which conform themselves to the image of God!
III. What We Are To Put On (v.12-14)
• Colossians
3:12-14 : "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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. But above all these things put on
love, which is the bond of perfection." :
Since you have put off the ways of the old man and have sunk into the clothing
of the new man.
- Because you are the elect of God, holy and
beloved, here are some actions that are consistent with that identification.
- Before we move on to that, notice that Paul
calls the entire church the elect, the chosen of God. He has selected us to
represent Him. We belong completely to Him and exclusively for His use.
- We're selected out from the world, set apart
for the Lord and beloved. We are the Lord's beloved, the object of all of His
affection.
- God loves the world, but He specially loves
His church! This is our motivation to love Him and loving Him issues in taking
characteristics that belong to Him, modeling them for the world to see!
- He begins with his exhortation to put on
"tender mercies." Literally, put on bowels of compassion! A person of
this time did not express feelings of the heart, but of the bowels!
- The point is to be moved with compassion for
one another and for those outside of the church. We must learn to respond with
this in spite of feelings to the contrary.
- Kindness refers to goodness in a general way.
Christians should be known for being good people who do good things for the
people around them.
- It should be no surprise when you extend your
hands to help your neighbor or respond to a need that comes across your path.
- Christians are commanded to put on humility,
the same word that Paul employed in the book of Philippians, which speaks of
keeping a modest outlook on your self.
- It's an understanding that is not concerned
with being served or being in the best light. It seeks and is delighted in the
best of others.
- Meekness we've studied at least two other
times in Matthew 5:7 and II Corinthians 10:1. There is a
strength and an ability to overpower, but is instead harnessed and used for
righteousness.
- An elephant or a horse that is tamed gives us
the idea. You and I, Christians, don't need to overpower people with our
opinions or our pressure. That's out of place!
- Longsuffering is another familiar word to us.
It's applied to God by Paul in Romans
2:4 and Romans 9:22 and is a
necessary characteristic in the life of believers according to Galatians 5:22.
- Longsuffering speaks of an enduring character
who is slow to respond to insults, perceived or actual. It's a perfect word in
that this person suffers long before responding.
- When we choose to practice these
characteristics, we are choosing to take on the Lord's character and enlightened
toward the fact that it takes all of this to love us!
- Paul continues telling the Colossians to bear
with one another. A person who is frustrated with another person might use the
phrase, "put up with."
- Paul is calling us to exercise our
longsuffering by patiently waiting, listening to others, and loving them in
spite of whether or not they have come to maturity.
- As they process their faith and have
questions as to the propriety of certain things, don't just discard them. Stand
alongside of them and patiently help them progress in their walk!
- And when bearing with one another turns
toward offense, the Spirit prompted Paul to command the Colossians to practice
forgiving each other!
- There will be offense between brothers and
sisters in the Lord. I will offend you, sometimes by accident! The reverse will
be true as well.
- The world's ties are so superficially bound.
The world is full of people who have been ditched or dumped at the first
offense. We're not to have that same kind of record.
- If you do have a complaint, the KJV renders
it "quarrel," against or with someone, you are to remember in that
moment that Jesus Christ forgave you!
- If He has forgiven you, there isn't an
option: You must also forgive! "I'll forgive if..." No, that really
isn't here. There are no conditions toward your forgiveness.
- Nothing hinders your forgiving another person
of their offense toward you. The people who crucified Jesus and spit upon Him
didn't repent or feel remorse.
- Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do!" That's our model and our mandate! They don't
know what they've done, but I know I can't hold onto this and be right with
God!
- Understand clearly that forgiveness does not
necessitate a restoration of relationship. You can forgive and perhaps
understand that a relationship isn't tenable.
- I've seen this many times, as you forgive a
person who still never quite comprehends what they have done to require that
forgiveness and therefore choose to live a life that perpetuates pain.
- Bear with them, be civil and loving toward
them, but you may understand that you are not the ones to invest in them.
- Beyond all that Paul has instructed them to
observe the chief characteristic of a Christian life: Love! What he has
described to this point is in fact love, the bond, lterally,
"ligaments" of perfection!
- Love for one another is stronger than
justice, being right or being wronged! Love covers a multitude of sins and
offenses! That's why it's the glue that holds it all together.
IV. What We Must Do To Press On (v.15-17)
• Colossians
3:15: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you
were called in one body; and be thankful." :
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!" A Christian generally
lives in a state of God's peace over the direction of their lives.
- As we go on, choices and decisions tend to
come our way and we wonder which way we should go, especially in grey areas
where there isn't a direct prohibition.
- That's where this verse really shines for the
believer. The word "rule" comes from the Greek athletic world and it
speaks of the umpire.
- In every decision, let the peace of God that
you enjoy, rule, dictate what it is that you do. Never go in a direction that
puts your peace on the altar! Let your peace have the final word!
- That same peace should govern over our local
body. We were called to experience peace together, therefore our choices will
follow our peace as well!
- Who wouldn't be thankful in a body like
that!? Who wants to be blown in every direction and wonder in confusion at
every decision? Thank God for a church at peace!
• Colossians
3:16,17 : "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. 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." : Let the person, the example
and the message of Christ dwell, have influence in you richly in all wisdom.
- As you ingest His Word, it will be concrete
wisdom for your soul! When you read it, you may not need it at that moment, but
there will come a time when you will heed it!
- How do I know it dwells in me richly? When it
comes out of me toward others! I know it dwells in me when I'm talking with
someone and it comes to mind, so I instruct with it.
- I know it dwells in me richly when I hear a
problem and admonish, or warn with it!
- I know that the Word dwells in me richly when
it's in my singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs! Incidently, this is
why we pick the songs that we do.
- I feel very comfortable singing the songs
that we do, knowing that whether they are fast or slow, they have good to very
good theological concepts in them and many are the actual Word!
- We introduce new tunes as often as we can,
but we leave the older ones in so that they get into you and come out of you.
When you are alone, sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord!
- His final command is a catch all. Whatever
you do. Whatever you say. Whatever you participate in. Do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus. Do it for His sake. Do it for His pleasure.
- View what you do or say as a venue to bring
someone to the knowledge of Christ! Do it as His representative. Let it speak
on His behalf to others!
- Listen. Can you give thanks to God the Father
through Jesus for the work that you do or the words that you speak? This is a
good final filter to lay over the decisions we make as Christians!
Conclusion
- Principally,
you and I as Christians are dead to this world's dictates and our fleshly
demands. Make up your mind that this is true and act like it!
- Put off the
big sins that everyone knows and the little pet sins that you hang onto! Kill
them mercilessly. Be heartless and brutal toward them.
- Put on the
actions that most represent heaven and that were best exemplified in Christ! As
we practice them, we are imitating the greatest Man that ever lived!
- Finally,
press on toward where your peace rules, the Word endorses and what Christ is
glorified in till He comes!
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