The Bottom-Line Principle for Christian Living

Colossians 3:12–17 (NLT)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE PRINCIPLE (Colossians 3:17)

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

A- The principle applies to what we say.

1- About God

(Psalm 19:14)

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

(Psalm 119:46)

Psalm 119:46 (NLT)

46 I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed.

(Psalm 145:5)

Psalm 145:5 (NLT)

5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

2- To others

(Colossians 4:6)

Colossians 4:6 (NLT)

6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

(Ephesians 4:15)

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

3- About others

(Exodus 20:16)

Exodus 20:16 (NLT)

16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

(Psalm 15:3)

Psalm 15:3 (NLT)

3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

B- The principle applies to what we do.

1- What we do must be done with the authorization of the Lord.

(1 Samuel 23:2-4)

1 Samuel 23:2–4 (NLT)

2 David asked the Lord, “Should I go and attack them?” “Yes, go and save Keilah,” the Lord told him.

3 But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!”

4 So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.”

(2 Samuel 5:19-23)

2 Samuel 5:19–23 (NLT)

19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).

21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

23 And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.

2- What we do must be done with thanksgiving. (Colossians 3:17)

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

II - THE PRACTICE (Colossians 3:12-16)

Colossians 3:12–16 (NLT)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

A- Let the peace of God rule in you. (Colossians 3:15).

Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

1- You and I are called to live by a higher standard.

a. Recognizing that we are part of the body of Christ.

b. Replacing ungodly attitudes with godly attitudes. (Colossians 3:12)

Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

c. Relinquishing anger with forgiveness and forbearance. (Colossians 3:13)

Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

d. Realigning unloving hearts with loving hearts. (Colossians 3:14)

Colossians 3:14 (NLT)

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

B- Let the plan of God live richly in you. (Colossians 3:16a)

Colossians 3:16a (NLT)

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

1- Live out God’s Word in everyday life.

(Luke 8:24)

Luke 8:24 (NLT)

24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

(Mark 7:13)

Mark 7:13 (NLT)

13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

(1 John 2:14)

1 John 2:14 (NLT)

14 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

2- Learn and apply God’s Word and help others to do so. (Colossians 3:16b)

Colossians 3:16b (NLT)

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

3- Lyrically praise God with thankful hearts. (Colossians 3:16c)

Colossians 3:16c (NLT)

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

a. This will redirect and refocus the heart and mind and change the altitude of our life.

CONCLUSION: