Col. 3:12-17

Welcome and Announcements

No Youth Fellowship this evening, However, we still have an evening service. Join us to hear our very own Ben Rush open the word of God.

One other announcement, The Wilson family covets your prayers. Earlier in the week, Sara’s aunt died from a sickness that she has had for quite some time. Tragically, her uncle took his own life that night as well. Sara was very close to her Aunt and Uncle and I know that this has not been easy for them. They are having the funerals today and desire that we pray for them.

If we have no other announcements, let us continue to prepare for worship.

Preparation for Worship and Prelude

Call to Worship

English Standard Version Psalm 66

1  Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2  sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

3  Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4  All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name.”

Hymn 53 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Hymn 76 Pra

Invocation w/ Lord’s Prayer

Eternal, immortal, and invisible God, You are infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness. You’re so holy and righteous that you are unapproachable without Christ. In your Majesty you are served by thousand upon thousands. Yet in your dwelling you humbly take pleasure in calling us your people. You have made for us a new identity lord, and have given us a new way of living. We can now enter your presence with boldness by the blood of our savior. Therefore, we come to you by your call and worship you with gladness. See us in your tender mercy. While we are unworthy, do not despise us.

For we recognize our unworthiness and confess our sins to you this morning. We have not lived in a manner worthy of the gospel. We have not loved our neighbor how we ought and we fail to exult you in a manner worthy of your name. So with all humility instill Christ in us as we learn to be your people.

Let us draw near to your heart this morning. As we approach your throne of grace, let your word be spoken and heard. Give us attentive ears. Give us hearts that understand. So that we will no longer reject your call in our lives. Place your law into our hearts as we worship you this morning. Write them on our minds and let us all be taught the ways of God. Let your word be for us living and active and powerful. Raise our knowledge of God by taking every thought captive in our minds. You are most holy is all of these things. Therefore, let us magnify your name with thanksgiving and triumph in your praise. Let us rejoice in your salvation and glorify in your Holy name. Open our mouths and let our mouths show forth your praise. Let the words of our mouths, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.

Even as he taught us to pray, saying,/ Our Father who art in heaven// Hollowed be thy name// Thy kingdom come/ Thy will be done in earth//, as it is in heaven// Give us this day our daily bread// And forgive us our debts,/ as we forgive our debtors// And lead us not into temptation,/ but delivers us from evil,//For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,// forever.

Amen

Old Testament Lesson:

Our Old Testament lesson comes from the very beginning of bible. It is the fall of mankind into sin. We are looking at this text this morning, because Paul draws heavily on this text in . We have heard it: Take off the Old self and put on the new self. Well Paul gets that idea from . Adam and Eve eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil. Upon doing so they realize this own nakedness and experience shame. In order to remedy this, they create their own clothing and cloth themselves in their own self righteousness. This is the Old Self that Paul talks about. But God, who is rich in grace and mercy removes those clothes from them and replaces them with new clothes that were divinely made by God. Paul calls this the new self. Notice in the text this morning that the removal of the old clothes and the gift of the new clothes are not chosen by Adam, but given by the will of God alone. Hear the Word of God:

3 Now the serpent/ was more crafty than any other beast of the field/ that the LORD God had made.//

He said to the woman/ “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”/ 2 And the woman said to the serpent,/ “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,/ 3 but God said, /‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ /” 4 But the serpent said to the woman,/ “You will not surely die. 5/ For God knows/ that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,/ and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”/ 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, /and that it was a delight to the eyes,/ and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, /she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,/ and he ate. /7 Then the eyes of both were opened, / they knew that they were naked. /And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths./

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God/ walking in the garden in the cool of the day,/ and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden./ 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, /and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” /11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? /Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”/ 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me,/ she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” /13 Then the LORD God said to the woman,/ “What is this that you have done?”/ The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” /

14 The LORD God said to the serpent, / “Because you have done this, /cursed are you above all livestock,/ and above all beasts of the field; /on your belly you shall go,/ and dust you shall eat/ all the days of your life.

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,/ and between your offspring and her offspring;/ he shall bruise your head,/ and you shall bruise his heel.”

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

15  I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

16 To the woman he said, / “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; / in pain you shall bring forth children./ Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,/ but he shall rule over you.”

16 To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,

but he shall rule over you.”

17 And to Adam he said, / “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,/ and have eaten of the tree/ of which I commanded you, / ‘You shall not eat of it,’ /cursed is the ground because of you;/ in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;/ 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;/ and you shall eat the plants of the field. /19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,/ till you return to the ground,/ for out of it you were taken; / for you are dust,/and to dust you shall return.”

17 And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

19  By the sweat of your face

you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground,

for out of it you were taken;

for you are dust,

and to dust you shall return.”

20 The man called his wife’s name Eve,/ because she was the mother of all living./ 21 And the LORD God made/ for Adam and for his wife/ garments of skins////// and HE clothed them.

20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Here ends our Old Testament lesson and this is the word of the Lord.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

Hymn 644 “May the Mind of Christ My Savior”

Prayer of Intercession and Offertory Prayer

Jesus Christ, your intercession is perfect and holy. With that said, you call your church to intercede regularly. Therefore, as your Holy Spirit has called us from darkness to light. We pray for the salvation of all man. We think of the men and women in Asia. These were once very hostile nations to your gospel of truth and some still are hostile, but you have done a great and mighty work on that continent. The church of china has grown greatly in the past hundred years. However, we pray that you continue to enrich the church there and in all of Asia. Make the men and women of Asia hunger for gospel truth and may they find that truth in your church. Lord, we pray from the lost in Asia. Call them to Christ. Bring their hearts to repentance and give them the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Lord, Equip your church in faithful gospel witness. We think of our sister congregations in Yazoo City. We think of the ministry done by our neighbors next door at First Methodist. We pray for Brother Lauren Porter. May the ministry that he leads prosper and may the gospel transform all who attend that church. Use your word regularly to convict their hearts and renew their minds. May biblical fidelity characterize their church and all the churches is our town.

Lord, also Sanctify your people. We think particularly of our covenant children. Use the wonderful Wednesday ministry this summer to encourage our children. Convict these children and remind them of their need for a savior. May a day not go by that they don’t know that you as their God. Call our children to yourself and give them fruitful lives devoted to your glory. You are a God of the family and we pray that you sanctify our families to communion with you. We are reminded of the fathers in our midst. Bless them as they lead our families and equip them to teach the Word of God in the home. And keep them from everything that distracts them from you.

We also think of the leadership of our country. We pray for the state of Mississippi. That you bless her with prosperity and that you use our ruling officials to retain evil and to promote peace. Keep our government accountable to the people and instill in those who govern us with a fear of God.

We pray for the afflicted among us. We specifically think of the Wilson family. I know they have experienced much pain by the death of their Aunt. As we grieve with them. Remind the Wilson family of your sufficiency. For in death, life is found in Christ. Therefore, bring them peace and truth in your gospel. Give them an extra portion of your Holy Spirit to console them at this time. We also pray for Mary Teague. She is unable to be with us and we pray that your work is a nourishment to her soul. We think of her daughter Pat as well. She has had surgery to help her move around better without pain. We pray for a quick and painless recover for her this this morning. Give that family patience as they heal.

Lastly, we pray over the offering this morning. Use this gifts to glorify your name in our church and community. Purify our hearts as we give and enable to give in gladness from the firstfruits that we receive. For we give back to you what you have already given to us. In your name, Amen

Freely you have been given and now freely you may give.

Offertory and Doxology

Sermon Text Introduction

If you have your bibles, I invite you to turn to . While you do that, lets orient ourselves to the text. Last week we saw the Identity Crisis of . We have inherited a new Identity in Jesus Christ, yet we are still troubled by our former lives apart from Jesus Christ. We have a sinful nature that must be put to death day by day. However, today we turn our attention to the expectations of our new identity. But before we hear about this new Identity, let us pray!

; Hear the word of God,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Here ends our Epistle lesson and this is the Word of the Lord.

Sermon Introduction

We continue this week focusing on our new Identity in Jesus Christ. Like the Colossians, we have received a new identity that changes our lives forever. No longer are we slave, but we are free in Christ. Receiving this new identity does not stop with merely this new status though. It requires a little more from us. Yes, we receive new privileges and opportunities. Yet we are also expected to live our lives in the standards of the new identity.

Belonging to a new community always has its expectations. For Example, It is like going into college. You were once an outsider but now you are associated with the college in a way that was once foreign. You receive a new status that allows you sit in certain areas for sporting events, allows you to attend classes, to use the Library, or join certain clubs on campus. At Moody Bible Institute, students often were hired in the city, because of the name recognition of the school. I received many benefits for being a student of that prestigious school. But guess what! We were also called by the school to live our lives in a manner that maintained the school’s reputation. We were not aloud to drink or go bar hopping in the city. We had to wear certain clothes as we represented the school and act a certain way. Moody students were given much, but also much was required of us. So too God has given us much in Jesus Christ, and he expects much from us as his people. This morning we look at some of the perks and obligations that we receive in this new identity.

Christianity makes a shift from the world by not

Proposition: Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. How do we do that? Paul gives us a few ways to achieve this:

A New Manner of Life (11-14)

First we receive a new manner of Life. Let’s look at verse 11-14,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

A New Status (12a)

I know this goes without saying, but it is a good reminder. Our new identity precedes good works. Since you are chosen by God. Since you were made Holy. Since you are beloved. Our new Status before God has altered our relationship with him. Since he chose us. He has made us Holy. He has set us apart for special use. Not only that, we are now his beloved. This is vastly different from your old status. Paul tells us earlier in Chapter 3 that we were enemies of God and deserved “the wrath of God.” We were in open rebellion against God. But now our status is changed, because God chose us. And since God chose us, we are called to a new manner of life. Our lives are fundamentally changed forever. Now, we are also called to achieve the new identity in practice. Luckily Paul does not leave this to our own imagination, but gives a code of conduct to live by.

Instead we are also called to achieve the new identity in practice. Luckily Paul does not leave this to our own imagination, but gives a code of conduct to live by.

A New Code of conduct (12b-14)

Paul provides a list of virtues for the christian and the community. Therefore we are called to privately live out these virtues in our lives, but these virtues also characterize our community as a whole. Let’s briefly look at some of these virtues:

Paul starts with a compassionate heart. A Compassionate heart is a heart of love characterized by mercy. It is being concerned for those among us that have experienced misfortune. Our response to the suffering of others must be merciful love. This can be tied to the compassion of God for his people in the sacrifice of the son.

Next, we have kindness. Kindness generally describes human goodness and generosity. It is knowing the needs of others and helping fulfill those needs. This church does that very well.

Next, we have humility. Humility was transformed by the church. Before the church, humility was a bad characteristic. Humility comes from the word humiliation. It represents an estate of lowliness. Christ is the perfect example. The almighty sustainer of all creation takes upon himself human flesh. we are called to lower ourselves in the service of others like Jesus Christ.

Kindness generally describes human goodness and generosity. It is knowing the needs of others and helping fulfill those needs. IMO kindness is a virtue of this church. Seeing the women in the church care for a family during a funeral is a prime example of compassion and kindness.

Humility was transformed by the church. Before the church, humility was a bad characteristic. Humility comes from the word humiliation. It represents an estate of lowliness. Christ is the perfect example. The almighty sustainer of all creation takes upon himself human flesh. That is cosmic lowliness. Christ sets aside his majesty in order to save you. This teaches us that we are called to lower ourselves in the service of others like Jesus Christ.

We see that Paul includes meekness. Meekness or gentleness tends to be viewed as a weakness in our culture. John Piper defines meekness as “Meekness is the power to absorb adversity and criticism without lashing back.” Are you meek? Our response to criticism and adversity is often revenge and insult. We are called to absorb the worst this world throws at us!

Patience is right after meekness. Patience is enduring meekness. Our God is abounding in steadfast love and slow to anger. He is patient. Patience delays judgment and anger. It does not repay evil for evil, but seeks the good in the midst of evil.

Patience is enduring meekness. Our God is abounding in steadfast love and slow to anger. He is patient. Patience delays judgment and anger. It does not repay evil for evil, but seeks the good in the midst of evil.

Verse 13, provides for us with a picture of the product of these virtues. What does this produce? If we are compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient, then we will be people that bear each others burdens and forgive one another. You see, each of these virtues allow our community to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. It is the first step towards community. Bearing each others’ burdens like a family. Forgiveness is a free act of grace the we extend to other believers in our midst. It is not option, rather it is the very response of God’s love in our lives.

This is beautifully done in the church of Christ. People from very diverse backgrounds come together as one people of God. Before Christianity. Religion was defined by nation or distinct people groups. Christianity was the truly first transnational religion, because it brings all peoples before the throne of God. All kneel down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Let us not forget the most important virtue in verse 14. The virtue of love that binds us together. It is the very glue the keeps us in communion together. Love connects and binds each of the virtues together and brings us into unity. What is compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience without the act of love?

C.S. Lewis perfectly summarizes this well in one of his radio broadcasts:

"...the Christian life is simply a process of having your natural self changed into a Christ self, and that this process goes on very far in time. One's most private wishes, one's point of view, are the things that have to be changed...As long as the old self is there its taint will be over all we do. We try to be religious and become pharisees. We try to be kind and become patronizing. Social service ends in red tape of officialdom. Unselfishness becomes a form of showing off. I don't mean of course that we're to stop trying to be good. We've got to do the best we can...The real cure lies far deeper. Out of our self and into Christ we must go."

Out of the self and into Christ is represented in our new identity and its code that defines our lives. Lewis is getting as something fundamental in this process of Sanctification. We are not pursuing this alone. It is tied directly to our savior. Apart from the Love of God which binds us together, all of this is vanity. As i have said last week, this new identity is grounded in Christ. Yet, we are responsible to put this into practice moment by moment. We are to actively pursue this because we desire to. For we love our God and desire to glorify him in our lives. Therefore, every morning, I encourage you to activly dwell on the things of heaven. Make it a priority in your life, because this priority is pleasing to your heavenly father.

Proposition: Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. First, by embracing the new manner of life in Christ.

A New Rule of Peace (15-16)

We also receive a new ruler of the heart. Let’s look at verse 15-16,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Therefore, in addition to putting on the virtues described above, we are also to “let the peace of Christ rule our hearts.” Peace is often tied closely to reconciliation in the New Testament. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers peace to the believer, because the believer now has peace with God. No longer is believer under the judgment and wrath of God. No longer are you ruled by the nature that brings the wrath of God upon you. You are now ruled by Christ that brings the peace of God upon you! Therefore, Paul is saying that you now have peace in your innermost being (In your Heart). The deepest part of you is now filled with the peace of Jesus Christ.

The text goes on to say the mode in which we experience that peace. We experience peace by being one body. Notice how this is both focusing on each individual while also focusing on us as a whole. It focuses on the individual by emphasizing the peace in the heart. It goes on to recognize the importance of the community as the body of Christ. Therefore, we have gratitude to God for this calling.

No longer are you ruled by the nature that brings the wrath of God upon you. You are now ruled by Christ that brings the peace of God upon you! Therefore, Paul is saying that you now have peace in your innermost being. The deepest part of you is now filled with the peace of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, As Christ rules over us we delight and respond in worship. We delight in our new king. So much so, that his words penetrate deep within us. It is the very power that transforms the life of our community. We are to let these words of our king dwell in us richly.

The text goes on to say the mode in which we experience that peace. We experience peace by being one body. Notice how this is both focusing on each individual while also focusing on us as a whole. It focuses on the individual by emphasizing the peace in the heart. It goes on to recognize the importance of the community as the body of Christ. Therefore, we have gratitude to God for this calling.

These verses here give us a beautiful window into the worship life of the early church. We learn that our worship on Sunday is to be conformed to the message about christ. More broadly we could say the word of God. We also learn that music is vital part of our gathering together. Singing praises to God. Lastly, that the congregation receive instruction and teaching from a pastor. Christ is both the ruler of our heart and governor our community. The Word of God is to lavishly dwell among us.

Our youth just finished our study of Second kings. I have one king in mind that had the rule of peace in his heart. It was king Josiah. He becomes king at the age of eight years old. That is a pretty young age, but God did great and mighty things in Israel during his lifetime. The political landscape was disastrous. Egypt and Assyria pressure judah from all sides. But when you read your bibles, you don't get overwhelmed with that information, because of the character of Josiah. He was chiefly concerned with his people and their God. He rediscovered the book of the law, he destroyed the idols built in the land, he restored the holy calendar created by God to remind the people of his faithfulness. As the king of Judah, he guides the people back to God. He understood that God was the true king of Israel and desired to implement the laws of God. In the midst of political uncertainty, Judah thrived because the peace that Josiah experienced as a man of God.

We are tasked with the same challenge. Our live can be chaotic and full of uncertainty. Children going to college, broken marriages, deep trauma and pain. Each of these things causing great stress and doubt. However, we have a great high priest that sympathizes with our pain and extends peace to you. This peace is achieved by recognizing the sovereignty of God in his Holy Word. The psalmist say the word of God is like a stream and we are the tree planted by the stream. The closer to the water, the more it nourishes us. The further we are from the water or the word of God, the more deprived we become. Therefore as trials or storms come, we need the word of God to grant peace in our lives. Apart from it, we will wilt and fade like a tree during a drought.

Proposition: Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel; by embracing the new manner of life in Christ and the new rule of peace in Christ

A New Motivation in Christ (17)

Finally, we receive a new motivation in Christ. Let’s look at verse 17,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul concludes this section with a summary verse. This summary verse points to the motivation for all that we do as Christians. The Desire or motivation behind every action and deed is Jesus christ himself. This is a fitting conclusion to this section. What is our motivation or desire? It is that we do everything in the name of Jesus Christ. What encourages us to practice the virtues in this text? It is in Jesus Christ that we live changed lives! Moreover, this combination of “word” and “deed” is a simple way to say that we are to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just as our gathering for worship is characterized by the message of Christ. So the entirety of the christian life is governed by the risen savior. All that we say and all that we do should bring honor to God. He is the very substance which we draw from. Since we put on the new self, which is Jesus Christ himself, we are under his authority and begin to see experience a life that is conformed to Jesus Christ. The totality of our existence is to live with Christ constantly in mind.

The Desire or motivation behind every action and deed is Jesus christ himself. This is a fitting conclusion to this section. What is our motivation or desire? It is that we do everything in the name of Jesus Christ. What encourages us to practice the virtues in this text or rule of christ in our hearts? It is in Jesus Christ that we live changed lives! Moreover, this combination of “word” and “deed” is a simple way to say that we are to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then we respond in thankfulness, because of all that Christ has done for us. Since he is the powerful stimulus that we need to achieve all that we have talked about today.

As we read these texts, they remind us that while God chooses his people. It is not simply to be his people, but also to live a certain kind of life. The calling of the christian life cannot be separated from the kind of life that we are called to live.

This is most evident in the life of Paul himself. A man that was once a persecutor of Christians. A man who sought to destroy the church of God. Is now an Apostle in the church of God. From killing Christians and growing the faith in Christians. Paul is only able to do this in Christ. Christ appears before him on the road to Damascus and he is forever changed. Paul’s life was not partially changed by Jesus Christ, but wholly changed by Jesus Christ. His entire life became consumed by Christ. Everything that he said and did was for Christ. “To live is Christ and to die is gain” That came from a man that once sought to destroy Christ and his church. But christ interceded and changed his entire identity and in that new identity Paul glorified God.

We too are to live like Christ (like the Apostle Paul). We are to have our entire lives devoted to our dear savior. It is simply living out the new Identity. Sometimes we find it convenient to compartmentalize the Christian faith. We emphasize a christian identity while we are at church functions or with church friends, but live differently elsewhere. However, The christian life is not to be isolated or compartmentalized. We live in a community that calls for entire life to be changed. As Abraham Kuyper once said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” This means that all that we say and all that we do is under the dominion of Jesus Christ. Maybe a practical question is this, what areas of your life do you withhold from Jesus Christ? or What areas of your life have you made more important than Jesus Christ? Ponder on that and as you ponder, think of verse 17.

Proposition: Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel; by embracing the new manner of life in Christ, the new rule of peace in Christ and the new motivation in Christ.

Conclusion

Like the Colossians, we have received a new identity that changes our lives forever. No longer are we slave, but we are free in Christ. This new identity transforms the way we live our lives. No longer are you slaves of the flesh. This life expects much, but much has been given to aid you in this endeavor. The Holy Spirit dwells among us and gives us peace and encouragement. Therefore, Go and live in a manner worthy of the gospel. Let us Pray.

"...the Christian life is simply a process of having your natural self changed into a Christ self, and that this process goes on very far in time. One's most private wishes, one's point of view, are the things that have to be changed...As long as the old self is there its taint will be over all we do. We try to be religious and become pharisees. We try to be kind and become patronizing. Social service ends in red tape of officialdom. Unselfishness becomes a form of showing off. I don't mean of course that we're to stop trying to be good. We've got to do the best we can...The real cure lies far deeper. Out of our self and into Christ we must go."

Hymn 672 “Trust and Obey”

Benediction: Number 6:24-26

English Standard Version Chapter 6

24  The LORD bless you and keep you;

25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Response