Know Who You Are

INTRO

Illus: Identity

The culture has become increasingly focused on IDENTITY over my lifetime.

men vs women

white vs black

Cis vs non-conforming

Democrat vs Republican

Evangelicals vs Progressives

The enemy of what is good and godly wants us all to focus on what divides us, but in this series we are focusing on what unties us as Everyday Saints.

Because of the polarization and division in our society, we can fall victim to a false teaching that places us in a category of “Identity Politics” instead of an Identity in Christ.

So we live out our faith on Sunday, but between Sunday’s we struggle to live in the light. We begin to believe false teaching and are lead away from Christ who is “the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18)

In this series, you will learn your identity in Christ and how to live your faith between Sundays.

 SERIES BACKGROUND 

THEME VERSE

Colossians 3:23–24 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

 SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY 

READ: Colossians 1:1-8 (9-14)

  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Introduction:

Paul - Saul, written from Prison in Rome (61-66 AD)

Timothy (Paul’s companion) may have helped deliver the letter

Colossae - Not one of the seven churches in Revelation,

but is in a tri-city valley with neighbor Laodicea who had lukewarm water, and lukewarm faith and Hierapolis who had natural hot spring baths.

Colossae - however had cold mountain spring water from snow topped mountains to drink. And some of this water was tainted with unique colors used to dye garments.

Laodicea known for it’s commercial trade and politics

Hierapolis was known as a place for health, pleasure, and relaxation.

Colossae was known as a “small town”

The Bible never says that Paul visited Colossae, so the church here, may have been started by Epaphras after converting in nearby Ephesus, where Paul did stay and minister for a long time.

“TO THE SAINTS” - That’s what you are.

Grace = Charis = Kindenss, unmerited Favor of God (Play on Words, Greek salutation = Charin = Greetings)

Peace = Eh-Reh-Neh = which is the greek translation of the Hebrew word shalom = state of being at peace, contentment

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

PRAY

1 - You Are Filled with Faith

Faith "within" Christ Jesus (trust & belief, not blind, but grounded in evidence) I have Faith that my wife loves me based on evidence of her eyes, her actions, her touches, therefore I am faithful to her.

One of the reasons Paul wrote this letter, is that false teachers were causing the Colossians to lose hope. Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge, secret rituals, & secret initiations.

Paul’s Prayer is that we Understand the Grace of God in Truth

Understood = epignosis = full knowledge, all you need

No secret unknown knowledge, rituals, or initiations

Where does this full knowledge of faith come from?

v 5 | hearing the word of Truth, the Gospel (LIT. Good News)

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Paul says we will know we are living in Grace and Peace if we are INCREASING in spiritual wisdom and spiritual knowledge.

Colossians 1:9-14 | And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

You are a person of faith who is filled with knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and understanding.

This isn’t just who you are on Sundays

This is your Everyday Identity.

You are filled with Faith!

Trans: Everyday Saints are Filled with Faith and ...

2 - You Are Filled with Love

READ: Colossians 1:7-8 | just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

Paul reveals that the Everyday Saint will be bearing fruit, specifically the fruit of Love.

God is love. If anyone says he is of God but does not love, he is a liar and the light is not in him.

He thanks God for their “love for all the saints” and their love for him in the Spirit.

Trans: Colossians 1:4-5a ”since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Everyday Saints are filled with Faith, Love, and ...

3 - YOU ARE FILLED WITH HOPE

READ: Colossians 1:11-14 | [We pray that you are] being strengthened with all power, according to [God’s] glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Our Hope in Heaven, ,in God’s glorious might

Jesus says, to “lay” up your treasure where moth and rust cannot destroy.

Between Sunday’s when darkness is all around us, we have hope because of our inheritance of saints in light.

Our Hope is found in nothing less than Jesus Blood and righteousness

/ Where is your hope found?

/ Are you growing the fruit of love?

/ Has your faith been increasing?

Empty or Filled Up. An empty coffee cup is never empty. And neither is your heart. If it isn’t filled with hope the despair and discouragement find their way in. How do you empty the cup of air? By filling it with your favorite brew.

/ Some are filled with anger instead of Grace

/ Some are filled with chaos instead of peace.

/ Some are filled with fear instead of faith.

/ Some are filled with hatred instead of love.

/ Some are filled with despair instead of hope

Worship Team Come

Take this time now, as we respond to the word in worship. Stay here, and seek God for your between Sundays everyday identity.

Trans: 

 CLOSING 

1 - Jesus’ Salvation from your Past

2 - Spirit’s Power to Help you Change

3 - Spirit’s Power to Serve to Others