Living the Life

Colossians 3:1-17

We want to take a moment to remind those getting baptized today the serious call to the Christian life that Jesus makes to us when He fills us with his Holy Spirit.

Colossians 3:1–4 (NKJV)

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set habitually your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

What an amazing promise and we celebrate what Jesus has done for us but we must also Cry out for His Spirit to enable and strengthen us to walk as called in the next section of verses - because Paul definitely makes it a requirement, not a suggestion. And the first call is a severe one.

Colossians 3:5–7 NKJV

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Notice his verbiage. We are no longer to live like we did. If we dont, we still live under the law. Paul explains in Galatians 2:19–21 “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20I 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. 21I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.””

Colossians 3:8–11 NKJV

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Have put on the new man. Christ is that man! Not a new you but Him. Notice says Put-off/Put-on. What do you tell your kids every morning before you head to the door put your what and what on?

no type of anger is proper. political, ethnic, familial, no separation of any kind because Christ is all and in all. Unless you didn’t put Him on?

Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.”

Colossians 3:12–17 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 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. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

we are elect - this is when we trust in jesus through faith, we are in Christ which guarantees our place. 1 Peter 1:2 “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

Now, as to baptism, I want to look quickly at:

1 Peter 3:21–22 (NKJV)

21 There is also an antitype representation which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Your salvation is not dependent on this act of baptism, but you are being baptized as an act of obedience and associating yourself with the Church (Christ) and with Calvary San Angelo. Titus 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” Jesus Himself is our baptism. The act we do represents what has happened inside and give our conscience a chance to tell everyone what Christ has done for us!

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

In Jesus name Amen!