Mindless Living (Part 3) - Spiritual Knowledge that Leads to Spritual Living
1) 11-25-07…..PM…..SBC 2)
“Spiritual Knowledge that Leads to Spiritual living”
Avoiding Mindless Living – Part 3
Colossians 1:11-14
Introduction: Continuing the thread of Paul’s letter to the Colossians
1- Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colossae (about a.d. 60) to counteract false teachers.[1]
2- In Colossians we have seen:
· from Paul, a persistent prayer life 1:3, 9
· the faith leading to love for each other by the Colossian believers 1:4
· how spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding lead to knowing God’s will 1:9
· how pleasing God in everything is the end for which we were created 1:10
Tonight we want to finish up the section of verses 11-14 and see how…
Proposition: Knowing God more can change the way we think and respond so that we may see more
clearly see the work of the Cross.
Transition: Paul shows us what kind of actions and attitudes can abound when we increase in our knowledge
of God.
1) Results of Spiritual Knowledge v11-12
Transition: The first result is…
A- Spiritual Strength v11
1- “to endue with power,” “to make strong,” “to strengthen.”[2]
2- Believers are continually strengthened with all power throughout their Christian lives.[3]
Illustration: Being in a Hot Air Balloon vs. an Airplane
- in the hot air balloon you just use the gas when it is needed and float off it’s power
- in the airplane the power is always needed to maintain altitude
3- The power available to us is the limitless power of God Himself.[4]
4- God’s power is manifested in us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.[5]
Application: When fighting sin you have the power of God on your side
Transition: A second result of Spiritual Knowledge is…
B- Spiritual Stamina v11
1- Knowledge of God’s promises and purposes revealed in Scripture gives the strength to endure trials and suffering.[6]
2- “Endurance” is “the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circum-stances.”[7]
Illustration- the cross country runner who broke her leg 10 yards from the finish line and crawled
the rest of the way
3- “patience” is “a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaining or irritation.[8]
Illustration: the soldier in boot camp being yelled at by the commanding officer who remains
calm
4- Paul does not have in mind a stoic, teeth gritting endurance. The strength provided by knowledge of God’s Word allows the believer to endure trials joyously[9]
Application: How cool, calm and collected are you under difficult circumstances or around irritating people?
Can you find joy in your trials? You can when you know God’s promises and purposes.
Transition: A third result of Spiritual Knowledge given by Paul is…
C- Spiritual Satisfaction
1- genuine thankfulness that grows out of the experience of salvation. [10]
2- Here the thanksgiving is directed to God himself, rather than Jesus Christ. Paul wanted believers to realize that the plan of salvation was initiated by God the Father.[11]
3- In this context, however, Paul pointed first to the Father’s role. The role of the Son is described later (1:15–20).[12]
Application: What is your first attitude in pray to God? Is it thanksgiving or just a bunch of “gimmes”?
Transition: Paul, in all his letters, desires the work of the Cross to be seen clearly. Paul desires that the Colossians
Clearly God’s work of….
2) Redemption v14
A- Before we could be fit subjects for Christ’s kingdom we needed redemption, the forgiveness of sins.[13]
1- [redemption] describes the riches of our salvation.[14]
B- Redemption carries the idea of payment of a price to secure freedom – a ransom.
1- The term “redemption” speaks of emancipation from slavery.[15]
Illustration: President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1862.
- this proclamation freed slaves and lead the ultimate abolition of slavery
2- Redemption is our deliverance as the result of the payment of a ransom.[16]
a- through spiritual union with him (Col. 3:1–3), redemption full and free is ours.[17]
C- The result of Redemption is the forgiveness of sins
Though, according to the best textual evidence, the words “through his blood” (cf. Eph. 1:7) must not be inserted in Col. 1:14, the idea, cannot be excluded. Büchsel. to be sure, denies that in any biblical reference to redemption the idea of a payment of a ransom is present (article ἀπολύτρωσις, Th.W.N.T., Vol. IV, pp. 354–359). But the evidence is clearly on the other side.[18]
1- The chain that held us fast has been broken.[19]
Application: this is your position in Christ since salvation – Live as you are!
Conclusion:
1- Knowing God more can change the way we think and respond so that we may see more
clearly see the work of the Cross.
2- Through God’s power we can be patient and endure while being in the middle of very difficult circumstances
3- When we see God’s power can change us into the image of His Son, then we begin to more clearly understand the work of salvation that God did for us
4- We see that Christ paid the ransom for our slavery to sin and purchased to himself and we were released from the dominating effects of sin
Don’t stop fighting the sin (wrong attitudes and actions) in your life because you have the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer the deceit of the Deceiver
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[1]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Col.
[2]Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vols. 5-9 Edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 Compiled by Ronald Pitkin., ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey William Bromiley and Gerhard Friedrich, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-c1976), 2:286.
[3]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 32.
[4]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 32.
[5]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 32.
[6]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 32.
[7]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 204.
[8]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 204.
[9]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 32.
[10]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 205.
[11]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 205.
[12]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 205.
[13]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 39.
[14]John MacArthur, Colossians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1992), 39.
[15]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 208.
[16]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 6, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Colossians and Philemon, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 64.
[17]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 6, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Colossians and Philemon, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 65.
Th.W.N.T. Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament (edited by G. Kittel)
[18]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 6, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Colossians and Philemon, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001).
[19]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 6, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Colossians and Philemon, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 65.