Rooted In Christ - Sermon 6

Rooted To Live Differently

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

Introduction

Sit, soak, sour.

Sit, soak, serve.

“Chosen” for a purpose!!!

You have received His life! Therefore, you have taken on His purposes for your life! This all happened at the same moment.

Paul is taking the believers of this local church through a particular thought pattern. Paul is starting at one point and going backwards. Let me break it down:

Living out the characteristics of Christ.

Allow the benefits of Christ to rule your heart.

Learn from His word and allow it to take up residence in you.

Counsel one another by means of praise to God.

1) Authentic Christian Clothing

VERSE 12-14

Let’s understand the “Therefore” first:

Go back to verse 10.

“Christ is all and in all” (v11)

Paul’s call to action has to do with two things:

To believers without exception.

To believer without distinction.

“Put on” (this is a summary of the Christian life)

Don’t forget (v10)

“put on” = characteristics of Jesus (v13)

Compassion (bowels of mercy)

Matthew 9:36 “36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Matthew 14:14 “14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

Kindness

Ephesians 2:7 “7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Luke 6:35 “35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Humility

Philippians 2:8 “8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

James 4:6, 10 “6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Meekness

Matthew 5:5 “5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

Galatians 6:1 “1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Titus 3:2 “2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”

Longsuffering

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 1:16 “16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

Bearing (forbearing)

Hebrews 9:28 “28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Forgiving

Acts 26:18 “18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Matthew 6:12 “12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

“Forgiving” — to forgive graciously v. — to forgive someone on account of the goodwill one has toward a person.

VERSE 14

“Put on love” = the love of Jesus

Love comes from the very nature of the Trinity.

Love is the life source of the Christian clothing.

Love is the roots which keep the fruit alive.

“bond of perfection” = connection ⇔ bond n. — a connection based on kinship or marriage or common interest understood as something that fastens various parts (as on a ship) together.

Question: Why would God think it necessary to provide us with such a bonding agent?

God’s goal is to bring you and (us) to PERFECTION.

A divided body can’t work together! (2:19)

2) Authentic Christian Authority

VERSES 15-16

“let the peace of God”

You must take ACTION!

“peace” = tranquility ⇔ peace n. — the absence of mental stress or anxiety; especially that results from a proper recognition of salvation’s worth.

“let....rule” = to factor decisively v. — to be the factor determining an outcome (as if arbitrating).

“hearts” = heart (internal feature) n. — the locus of a person’s thoughts (mind), volition, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong (conscience) understood as the heart.

Anxiety in context: They were anxious about following what is the real true revelation from God.

This begins individually and extends corporately!!!

“called in one body” (aka the church local)

“called” = to be summoned (state) v. — to be or become subject to an authoritative demand for one’s presence or participation.

Pastoring Moment:

Based on your actions (or lack thereof) up to today toward the commands of your Savior (including His character), are treating them as a simply OPTIONAL invitation? Or, are you viewing them as a SUMMONS FROM YOUR KING?

(v16) Paul now brings us to the NEW MAN MOTIVATIONS.

(v15) “be thankful”

Notice verse 16:

“word” = all things related to the gospel of Jesus.

“dwell” = take up residence in you.

“wisdom” = wisdom (trait) n. — the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.

“teaching and admonishing one another”

Could be said without the semicolon, “as you teach...”

Psalms — the sacred songs God has given us to praise Him.

Hymns — hymn n. — a musical composition with words of a religious nature praising God.

Spiritual songs — spiritual (mature) adj. — of or characterized by the Holy Spirit; especially of the mature, Christian life and its relation to the Spirit.

“sing with grace (thanksgiving)”

3) Authentic Christian Purpose (v17)

This does NOT SAY, do whatever you want in Jesus’ name!

In other words, this is not permission to tag Jesus’ name on anything you want to make it spiritual or religious.

It means, whatever (in accordance to his word, calling, and character) you do, give all the credit, glory and thanks to Him.