Markers pt5

We have arrived at the last marker. Over the last few weeks we have talked about different ways that Jesus shapes our interaction with Him and with other people. (speaking/singing, holiness, humility, serving others) What “marks” us as His people in a world that is more and and more confused when it comes to what that really means.

The last one- the one we will talk about today- is possibly the most challenging and rare of all. It is the practice of Unity.

If I am honest, this is the one that I probably would not have even thought about 20 years ago. funnily enough, all thru the NT unity among believers is a common theme.

Go all the way back to the beginning of the expansion of the Church from the Jews to the Gentiles, and you will see the push for unity. they actually hold a council in Acts 15 to settle issues that threaten to split the church in two.

Jesus never intended for His people to be at war with one another.

Before we get into the text today, I want to share something that has become a vital guiding factor for me as I try to navigate a global church that threatens to fracture. It has served me well, and it has its basis in 2 passages of scripture- 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Philippians 1:15-18.

That if someone proclaims Jesus as the only hope for salvation, we can work together. We may disagree on a myriad of other issues- and be fiercely in disagreement over some key issues, but if we can agree on that essential, then we can call one another brother and sister, and work together for the Kingdom.

But that takes some particular maturity and shaping that only comes from Jesus. That kind of unity is hard won. So that is where I want to focus this morning.

Turn with me to Colossians 3:12-15.

Paul is addressing a mixed congregation- with folks from all kinds of backgrounds- kind of like us. And he starts this section of his letter with a series of attitudes that can only be adopted by a certain kind of person- a follower of Jesus.

That’s the opening of verse 12-

God’s chosen ones- who we are

Holy and beloved- what God calls us

I want to pause here for a few and remind you of how spectacular these words are.

God chose you- He came and found you in your sin. You did not seek Him until He came and tapped on your shoulder (Gospel message here)

And He made you into 2 things:

Holy- free from sin

Beloved- His child- a part of His family

That is your IDENTITY!

And because of that identity it is possible for you to become someone new.

I know some of us always seem to be in conflict- Phill calls it his battle axe- for me it is war posture- when I am not operating out of this identity, my default is fight.

For some of us it is the opposite- when we are not in this identity it is Flight- we run away from relationship- conflict scares us- and when there is disagreement we withdraw.

Neither of those is the identity Jesus wants from us.

Instead, Paul lays out a different way- a 3rd way if you will- that empowered by the Spirit we can embrace and live out

compassionate hearts

kindness

humility

meekness

patience

bearing with one another

forgiving

There are 3 patterns here we need to pick up on:

Showing care for others in their pain and struggle

Servant hearts- death of me first

Grace

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Social Relationships in the Church (3:12–14)

The new clothing of the Christian begins with personal attributes: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Their inclusion suggests the need for long-suffering with others in the group. The entire context is slanted toward harmony in the church

These should sound really familiar because they are how Jesus comes to us.

He meets us where we are in our sin

He dies for us

He gives us grace

In other words, when we know Jesus we are shaped to ACT like Jesus. Hence the emphasis at the end of verse 13- …as the Lord has forgiven you…

We are emulating what we have experienced.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Social Relationships in the Church (3:12–14)

“Enduring” is putting up with others even when they fail or act differently from what is expected. “Forgiving” is based on the root word for “grace.” It carries the idea of a free forgiveness, perhaps because of grace

This is in direct contrast to the culture. Particularly grace. We do not do grace well, because grace is not normal.

But when it is extended, it lowers walls and restores hope.

Stop and think for a moment- can you see how all of these attitudes would be essential to unity?

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Social Relationships in the Church (3:12–14)

They are especially appropriate when one is offended. The text says, “whatever grievances you may have against one another.” It obviously speaks to the offended party, not the offending one. It may be that the offending person had little, if any, awareness of what he had done. The offended should take initiative in enduring and forgiving, rather than waiting for the offender to apologize. By enduring and forgiving, the conscience is cleansed and the matter forgotten. The burden is lifted, and the offended can think and act like Christ even toward the offender. Harboring resentment and ill will toward another does little good, and to do so is beneath Christians. Anyone can hold grudges, but the mark of Christians is that they do not. They forgive regardless

Unity cannot be achieved without everyone giving up a bit of themselves for the sake of the whole. Willing surrender is a necessity for unity.

(the difference between the Durant/Harden era of the Thunder and the Shai/JDub version)

Go back with me to verse 14.

There is one attitude that binds all of these together and from which all of these flow:

Agape love.

When we LOVE one another- in our imperfections and shortcomings and quirks and general weirdness- we can be unified.

Because love trumps all else.

That word harmony there is better translated Unity. Love unifies us.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Harmony in the Church (3:15)

Paul stated that love uniquely tied them together. The NIV says, “which binds … all together in perfect unity” (3:14). The expression means that mutual love would bring the group to perfection. In parallel of

Church some of the toughest seasons we have been thru as West Metro we have survived because we loved each other too much to separate. When we could not agree easily or had conflict, we leaned into love- and that has restored us to one another.

Unity is not the absence of conflict- it is the absence of quitting, abandoning, hating, and dismissing. It says- “you are a mess, but you are MY mess, and we are going to get thru this”

Love lets us have hard conversations, confrontation, disagreements over non-essentials, conflicting preferences, and a host of other things- while still focusing on the main thing.

And it is a Marker of maturity.

The result of unity is in verse 15.

Peace.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Harmony in the Church (3:15)

The peace is to “rule” in the congregation. The term for “rule” is often translated “umpire.” That was its original use and may well be the meaning here. However, the term became associated more broadly with any judgment to be made. The fact is, the congregation was to do nothing without the peace of Christ as the environment which overshadowed the action

West Metro is loud. We are messy. We are imperfect. But we are place of peace. Where we can lay down our swords outside the door, not run away from the hard things, and know we are in a place of respite- where we are known and loved because of Jesus.

And that is a reason to be thankful.