Sermon for October 7, 2012 - Basics For Living In Christ

Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Sermon for this week is: Basics For Living In Christ - Colossians 3:1-11

INTRODUCTION

1. In chapters 1-2, Paul maintained that Christ is “all-sufficient” in matters of salvation and overcoming sin - cf. Colossians 2:10 - And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

2. Beginning in chapter 3, Paul gives some basic and practical admonitions that pertain to living a life in Christ

3. When carried out, these “Basics For Living In Christ” will assure that we find in Christ everything we need for this life and the one to come

[The first admonition is found in vs. Colossians 3:1-4 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.]

I. SEEK THE HEAVENLY (Colossians 3:1-4 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.)

A. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE... (Colossians 3:1-2 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.)

1. Why is this so important?

a. It is essential if we desire to be “transformed” - cf. Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

b. It is necessary if we want to be able to “live according to the Spirit” - cf. Romans 8:5-6 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2. How do we “seek those things which are above”?

a. By directing our minds’ attention to such things mentioned in Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

b. More specifically, by setting our attention on the Word of God, where we find:

1) Christ foreshadowed and foretold in the Old Testament

2) Christ’s life and teachings in the Gospels

3) Christ’s church in the Book of Acts

4) Christ’s fuller teachings in the Epistles

5) Christ’s encouragement and ultimate victory in the Book of Revelation

B. FURTHER REASONS TO SEEK THOSE THINGS ABOVE... (Colossians 3:3-4 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.)

1. We “died” (Colossians 3:3 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.)

a. This occurs when one is baptized into Christ, which is a burial into His death in which we are “crucified with Him” - cf. Romans 6:3-6 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

b. We “died” to sin , that we might be free from sin and now live with Christ - cf. Romans 6:7-13 - For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

2. Thus, we were also “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.)

a. Which occurs when one comes forth from baptism - Colossians 2:12 - Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

b. We were raised so that we might “walk in newness of life” - Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

3. Our life is “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.)

a. As Paul wrote to the Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

b. We have denied self, crucified self, so it is now Christ Who is to live in us!

4. When Christ appears in glory, so will we! (Colossians 3:4 - When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.)

a. The first three reasons for us to “seek the heavenly” were based upon what has happened in the “past”

b. This motivation is predicated upon what is promised for the “future”!

[And what a wonderful promise that is! But to obtain that promise requires not only that we set our “minds” on things proper, but that we properly deal with our “bodies” as well. To put it another way, from vs. Colossians 3:5-9 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;]

II. SLAY THE EARTHLY (Colossians 3:5-9 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;)

A. WE MUST “PUT TO DEATH” THE SENSUAL SINS... (Colossians 3:5-7 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.)

1. Those that appeal to the “lust of the flesh”

a. Fornication

1) Grk., porneia {por-ni’-ah}

2) A general term for any illicit sexual intercourse; includes adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality

b. Uncleanness

1) Grk., akatharsia {ak-ath-ar-see’-ah}

2) Uncleanness in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living

c. Passion (inordinate affection, KJV)

1) Grk., pathos {path’-os}

2) Used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense; in the NT in a bad sense, it means depraved passion, vile passions

d. Evil desire (evil concupiscence, KJV)

1) Grk., epithumia {ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah}

2) Desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust

2. Also that which appeals to the “lust of the eyes”

a. Covetousness

1) Grk., pleonexia {pleh-on-ex-ee’-ah}

2) Greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice

b. Described by Paul to be equivalent to idolatry!

1) For covetousness puts things in the place of God

2) We are to set our minds on things above (where God is), but when we covet things we have our minds on things below, making such things our idols!

3. Motivation for putting these things to death

a. To avoid the coming wrath of God! - Colossians 2:6-7 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

b. It’s one thing to do these things when we “lived in them”, but in Christ we have “died to them”!

B. WE MUST ALSO “PUT OFF” THE SOCIAL SINS... (Colossians 3:8-9 - But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;)

1. Sins of the “emotions”

a. Anger

1) Grk., orge {or-gay’}

2) Movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger

b. Wrath

1) Grk., thumos {thoo-mos’}

2) Passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again

c. Malice

1) Grk., kakia {kak-ee’-ah}

2) Malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure

2. Sins of the “tongue”

a. Blasphemy

1) Grk., blasphemia {blas-fay-me’-ah}

2) Slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name; impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty

b. Filthy language (filthy communication, KJV)

1) Grk., aischrologia {ahee-skhrol-og-ee’-ah}

2) Foul speaking, low and obscene speech

c. Lying

1) Grk., pseudomai {psyoo’-dom-ahee}

2) To lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods; to deceive one by a lie, to lie to

3. The reason for putting off all these things: we must complete in practice what we started in principle - Colossians 3:9b - seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

a. When we were baptized, we “put off” the old man with his deeds (in principle) - Colossians 2:11-12 - In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ; Colossians 3:9 - Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

b. In practice, it does not occur overnight, thus the need for such admonitions as: “But now you must also put off all these...” - Colossians 3:8 - But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

[Finally, and briefly, we notice in vs. Colossians 3:10-11 - And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. - an admonition by Paul which will be expanded upon in the next section (Colossians 3:12-17 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 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 whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.). He encourages us to...]

III. STRENGTHEN THE CHRISTLY (Colossians 3:10-11 - And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.)

A. FOR WE HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN... (Colossians 3:10 - And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:)

1. In baptism into Christ, we “put on Christ” - Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

2. Thus, in principle we also put on “the new man” who is renewed “according to the image of Him who created him”

3. What we have done in principle (Colossians 3:10 - And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:), we will need to do in practice (cf. Colossians 3:12 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;)

B. FOR THE GOAL IS “CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL”... (Colossians 3:11 - Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.)

1. To be renewed according to the image of Christ! - cf. Romans 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

2. To become like Christ, and in so doing, destroy the barriers that have long divided man!

CONCLUSION

1. This is what might be called “the whole duty of man” in New Testament terms: to be renewed according to the image of Christ!

2. To accomplish this goal, we must heed the admonitions of Paul and...

a. Seek The Heavenly

b. Slay The Earthly

c. Strengthen The Christly

3. We will examine more what is involved in “strengthening the Christly” in the next study - Colossians 3:12-17 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 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 whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

4. For now, did you notice that everything in this chapter assumes that one has been “raised with Christ” (cf. Colossians 3:1 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.)?

a. How are we raised with Christ?

b. Paul has already described how, in Colossians 2:11-13 - In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; - where we learn that it is in baptism that God will raise one who has faith in the working of God!

Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.), and to be able to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-5 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:)...?

Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Prayer: Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Ephesians 6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

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