Sermon Tone Analysis
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Last time we were together in our text we began with a question.
“What comes to your mind when you think of the church?”
And spoke of the reality for some (most, if not all at the fair had very poor experiences in the church).
For some it makes for painful memories, when they think of the church.
We said that it was like pulling a scab off a wound.
For others, we said that coming to church was their duty.
But it was a duty that didn’t really bring them joy.
Church is looked at by these folks as brushing their teeth, a necessary thing to which they are committed to doing but few are excited about it.
For the final group, we said that some are like telling a dog that they are getting a treat.
The church for these folks is a reminder of whom they love.
They are willing to alter their lives just to be able to be involved in this believing community.
The church for them is one of their greatest delights!!
With all these different reactions that we’ve experienced that we can be thankful for the book of Colossians.
The biblical authors spend so much time instructing us on how to relate to one another, as part of a local church.
Particularly (in vv12-17), Paul focuses on the Colossian believers to labor together as a community of believers in preventing and fighting against those things that stand to destroy such a community.
We saw that if we want to sum up Paul’s picture of what makes a thriving church community, is found in v17 of our text.
Paul closes this section of exhortations by noting in verse 17,
— And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
How do we live as a Christ-honoring community of believers?
Last time, we began to mention four points from our text which will enable us to do so.
FIRST, IN ORDER TO LIVE AS A CHRIST-HONORING COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WE MUST LABOR TO DEMONSTRATE THE PEACE OF CHRIST IN OUR MIDST
— And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts.
And be thankful.
The nature of obeying vv12-15a, if obeyed would bring about peace amidst a community of believers.
I think that his aim is for the Colossian church to be one characterized as a community of peace,
where the gathering of believers together is a haven of peace.
But how do they get there?
We see this in the opening verses of our text.
Paul exhorts them first to “put on” those qualities that characterize the nature of Christ.
He writes in verse 12,— Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
I would dare say that
all of us would want to be part of a community of believers
characterized by these qualities.
Yet, that means that each one of us must labor to ensure that we ourselves are characterized by such qualities.
This must be a focused and disciplined goal on the part of each one of us.
Yet, Paul is realistic as well.
He knows that we are prone to failure.
He knows that he’s calling us to link arms together with people who will hurt us, even as we will hurt them.
We will sometimes be careless with our words and offend.
We will sometimes look past our aching brother or sister because we’re focused on our own needs.
Therefore, Paul reminds us that we must bear with one another.
He writes in verse 13,— bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another.
Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
We should note here as well that walking together in peace with other believers is always necessarily undergirded with the gospel.
The only reason we will be able to live like this is because we recognize that we are not doing these things so that we can be right with God.
We’re living this way because we’ve already been declared right with God.
And the only way we’ll find strength to forgive others when we’ve been wronged by them
is by recognizing and remembering that
we’ve been forgiven for much greater evil than anyone has committed against us.
So, Paul sets for us a vision of a covenant community.
We are to be a people characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, who are willing to bear with and forgive one another.
This is what unity and peace among a believing community requires.
Where it is present, we delight and love the church.
Where it is absent, we are simply mirroring those around us who have not died and been raised with Christ.
Yet, Paul continues.
Next, he mentions an element that we must not simply assume, namely the reality of love in our midst.
SECOND, IN ORDER TO LIVE AS A CHRIST-HONORING COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WE MUST LOVE OTHERS GENUINELY
After mentioning these virtues and characteristics that we must put on, Paul says in verse 14,— Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
The greatest reality that must characterize those of us in this covenant community of believers is love.
Every responsibility we bear before Christ stems from love.
We said that, if we demonstrate kindness, patience, humility, patience, and compassion and yet do not have love,
it is worthless.
So we handed out several ways in which we could practically love each other.
Let’s look at that together.
First, Love People Who Are Not Like You
— “Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
(cf.
; , 4:2)
The sense of these instructions is not that believers should hold exactly the same opinions but that they should think and act in ways that promote harmony and agreement.
Second, Love Sacrificially
— Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
This does not merely mean “Tolerate each other,” or “Put up with each other.”
It means: “Jointly shoulder each members burdens.”
Every body should put his shoulder under the burdens under which this or that individual member is groaning, whatever these burdens may be.
They must be carried jointly.
Though the term “one another’s burdens” is very general, the point of this exhortation (see on 6:1) is the duty to extend help to the brother so that he may overcome his spiritual weaknesses.
in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.
This law of Christ is the principle of love for one another laid down by Christ (; see also on ; cf. ).
Third, Love By Speaking the Truth
Paul wants all of them to be members of a ‘confessing’ church,
with the content of their testimony to be ‘the word of truth’, the gospel of their salvation (1:13).
This truth, which is guaranteed by God and is depicted as part of his own armor,
is the belt which believers are to buckle around their waist as they resist the onslaughts of the evil one (6:14)
— No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
“good” is described here as what is beneficial to another.
“foul” is described as bad, worthless, and rotten.
Some people only seem to have rotten words to say.
It doesn’t even enter into their hearts to speak for the benefit of others.
Fourth, Love by Showing Humility
Fifth, Love the Whole Congregation
Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001).
Exposition of Galatians (Vol.
8, pp.
232–233).
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
, — “Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
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