GOSPEL NARRATIVE AND THE REMAINING EFFECTS OF SIN

GOSPEL NARRATIVE AND THE REMAINING EFFECTS OF SIN - COLOSSIANS 3:1-5--

ILLUSTRATION OF COMPETING NARRATIVES

Judges 2:7 ESV

And the people served the Lordall the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lordhad done for Israel.

Judges 2:10 ESV

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

How could this be? How could one generation so love God and see God and the next generation not know Him?

Well the answer is found in chapter 1: when from verse 27-33 : it says that when the people when to possess their territories that “they did not drive out” the enemies of the land. Whe Joshua died, all the enemies had not been conquered but those that followed Joshua did not complete the mission by wiping them out.

So, what was left were enemies who go against knowledge of God with their competing gods

When you allow a competing story to challenge God’s story you are playing with fire.

See, when you leave stuff alone that needs to be dealt with it will deal with you

THAT’S THE CHALLENGE WITH BELIEVERS EVEN TO THIS DAY! WHOSE REPORT ABOUT LIFE, REALITY, TRUTH AND MORALITY WILL YOU BELIEVE?

Paul is seeking to help believers deal with this tension in their lives.

Some of us are here today and we are engrossed in the tension of stuff we left behind; stuff we let longer that we should have slaughtered

E CHRISTIAN TO STAY IN POSITION.

I. AS A BELIEVER YOU HAVE A GREATER POWER

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER: Right hand position of authority

SEATED: = Finished

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

• Since you are the right hand of God that means that you have authority

• Seated: Finished

YOUR AUTHORITY IS IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON YOUR BEHALF. THAT’S YOUR POWER TO OVERCOME THE SNARES OF THE DEVIL AND THE FLESH TO SIN

ILLUSTRATION: Wanting to be like my dad)

· The way he walked … cause I loved my dad and wanted to be like my dad; make my dad proud that I was his son

· He wore a suit everyday, I dressed up to go the school everyday cause I loved my dad and wanted to be like my dad; make my dad proud that I was his son

· One day, as a little boy, my dad was working on something in the basement..i wanted to help: cause I loved my dad and wanted to be like my dad; make my dad proud that I was his son

o He said I got three nails already in the board, why don’t you hammer them all the way in.

o So I started wacking, wacking the screws in with a hammer

o After a while my dad came in and said, man, what are yo…

THE LESSON

WHEN YOU SEEK TO DEAL WITH THE SCREWS OF SIN WITH THE HAMMER OF YOUR FLESH, YOU WILL WORK HARD AND YOU WILL WORK LONG, BUT YOU WILL SPLIT THE BOARD AND HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN!

Today some of us are fighting the sin of our lives with the power of our own flesh

Paul says in Colossians 2:20-23-

Colossians 2:20–23 ESV

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

BUT PAUL SAYS – YOU HAVE A GREATER POWER! THE HAMMER OF THE GOSPEL, WORKED IN YOU AND OUT OF YOU BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SEE, WHEN YOU ARE SITUATED IN THE GREATER POSITION, IT IS ONLY THEN THAT YOU CAN WALK IN A GREATER POWER

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 1:19–20 ESV

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Philippians 3:10 ESV

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

YOU WERE RECREATED NOT ONLY TO WANT THIS POWER; YOU WERE RECREATED TO EXPERIENCE THIS POWER AND TO WALK IN THIS POWER DAILY, IN THE LORD WHO HAS ALL POWER.

THAT IS WHY PAUL SAYS SEEK..

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

WHERE YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT IS WHERE YOUR INTENTION WILL BE

PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE LORD AND THAT WILL INFORM THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE

THIS IS WHY THE DEVIL SEEKS TO DISTRACT…OR, ACCORDING TO PAUL IN 2 COR 4 - THIS IS WHY HE SEEKS TO BLIND

BLIND PEOPLE CAN’T SEEK

AND THE WAY HE SEEKS TO BLIND BELIEVERS WHO SEE CHRIST IS TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF HIM AND PUT THEM ON SELF OR EVEN OTHERS

II. AS A BELIEVER YOU ARE IN A GREATER POSITION (VERS 3)

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Life is hidded. This is powerful: LISTEN TO THIS.

To have your life hidden in Christ means that Jesus causes you to not be seen

• protected by hiding you

Psalm 27:5 ESV

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

Psalm 31:20 ESV

In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT WHEN WE ARE IN CHRIST

HE CAUSES US NOT TO BE DISCOVERED

• Like when Rahab hid the spies

HERE IS THE POINT: WHEN WE ARE IN POSITION (ACTIVELY AND DAILY) WE ARE PROTECTED FROM THE ASSAULTS OF SIN (OF THE DEVIL, MAN AND EVEN OURSELVES)

AND WHEN WE ARE IN POSITION: SIN CANT EVEN FIND YOU.

SO… IF SIN HAS FOUND US AND IF SIN IS HITTIN US IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF POSITION

NO, YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST CANNOT CHANGE IF YOU ARE SAVED; BUT DAILY IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TH

DONT SAY THE BELOW:

PETER ON THE WATER (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21)

Mark = Jesus saw them straining

(All) = Jesus came to them on the water

It was the disciples’ problem, but Jesus was walking on it. As long as your eyes are on Jesus (seek/set) you can walk in the authority of Jesus and walk over and on your temptations, struggles, problems, fears, anxieties, whatever they may be

Only Matthew records Peter walking on the water

• PETER SAID: LET ME COME TO YOU

• Came struttin on the water

• As long as His eyes were on Jesus he was cool but....)

Thats the ticket: as long as you are “seeking those things above…and Setting your mind on things above you will have an exeperince victory over sin and temptation.

BUT when what is around you becomes greater than he that has saved your soul

• you dont have to wonder WHATwill happen

• and when it happens you dont have wonder HOW it happened

III. AS A BELIEVER YOU HAVE A GREATER PURPOSE

A. THE CALL TO LIVE OUT AND IN GLORY NOW

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Titus 2:11–13 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

2 Peter 3:13–14 ESV

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

B. THE CALL TO HOPE IN THE PROMISE OF GLORY TO COME

THE BUT NOW OF

Colossians 3:8 ESV

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

HERE IN IS THIS HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CONTINUAL BATTEL WITH SIN

John 6:39–40 ESV

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 14:3 ESV

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jude 24ESV

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,