A New Outlook
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
What is your focus? Where is your heart? Since you made your profession of faith, accepted Christ, have you changed? Have you changed in word and deed? Have your desires and focus changed?
We are told that when we accept Christ, we become new. We find a new life. Our desires should change. Our focus should change. We should no longer focus on the things of this world, but we should focus on the things in heaven. But do we? If we don’t, why? For many, we are like the church at Colossae, we’ve allowed ourselves to be succumbed by false doctrine and theology. We think it’s about us and what we can do, but in reality, it’s about who Christ is and what He has already done. Let us see this biblical call to a new outlook that all Christians should have.
Focus Passage
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth.
We Need a New Outlook (vv.1-2)
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
Our new outlook is based on a new mindset – ‘if you have been raised with Christ’
As Christians, our mindset should be changed as we mature in our relationship with Christ; We are to have the mind of Christ
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
In this new mindset, we realize that works do not sanctify us
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
In this new mindset, we realize that what Jesus did at Calvary is the saving grace that we all are in need of
13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Out new outlook calls us to action
We need a change of desire – ‘keep seeking the things that are above’
Other translations translate the following text as, “set your hearts on things above’
Within this translation, we see a clearer understanding of Paul’s words to the church at Colossae.
The idea brought forth is having a change of desire and intent.
We are to realize that all our desires and ambitions come from the heart
15 there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person.”
Thus we need to change our desires toward heaven rather than earth
Our desires should be heavenly, not earthly – ‘where Christ is seated at the right hand of God’
Through our relationship in Christ, we find three things in which we share with Christ Scripturally speaking
We share in the mind of Christ
We share in the power of Christ
We share in the glory of Christ
We need a change of mind – ‘keep seeking the things that are above’
Whereas the first change was moral, this is logical
It pertains to our individual values
It is within this theological change of values that Paul calls the believer at Colossae to change in their day-to-day lives in which every believer needs to have applied to their live.
5 Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
8 But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth.
When we allow this change and cultivate this change in our life because of our new mindset in Christ. We come to the realization that these values, emotions are to be in our past. We realize that these selfsame values and emotions are such things that merit God’s judgment.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Our New Outlook is not Without Reason (vv.3-4)
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
As we begin with verse three we are reminded of one of three identifying markers that each Christian has – ‘For you have died…’
As Christians, we identify with Christ in three ways and Paul has expressed these three ways previously to the church at Colossae.
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Three ways in which Christians identify with Christ
Death (Pictures the satisfaction for the law and penalty of sin through Christ at Calvary)
Burial (Pictures our old man dying with Christ)
Resurrection (Pictures our new life in Christ)
With these identifying characteristics, let us focus on the reason(s) behind our new outlook.
We find that we are dead to the world, but alive in Christ – ‘For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God’
The life source that sustains all Christians is Christ
We find many Christians living as their dead and not alive, not because of Christ, but because they have unplugged themselves from the power source.
We find that we have received power to live out this new heart and mind in Christ Jesus
20 I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.
Through Christ living within us, we now have the power to live out the Gospel
Through Christ living within us, we now have the power to seek out the Gospel
We find that we will share in the glory of Christ and His resurrection – ‘When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory’
The sustaining power of the Christian is vailed to the those who are lost
The world sees Christians being martyred, persecuted, and mocked without end and have no understanding of why or how they continue to be faithful and willfully submit even to the point of death. As Christians, we understand why. We know that our power source is not self, but Christ Jesus.
When Christ returns, we will return with Him. Presently we glorify the Lord through our life, but in the resurrection, we share in that glory as His bride.
Conclusion:
Where is your power source? What is your focus? What is your desire? Have you truly become a new creation, with a new mindset, and a definitively new power source? Have you truly been transcended from the kingdom of darkness into our Savior’s marvelous kingdom of light?
To be new in mind and heart, one must accept Christ as Lord and Savior. That is where it begins. Without Him, there is no answer. Without Him, there is no change. So, if you claim to be a Christian, yet you have not changed since you accepted Christ, it might be that you are not saved. And you must do as Peter stated, Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble (2 Pt 1:10).