Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

How can we stand firm when our faith is being shaken?

When we look at this letter to the Colossians we must always keep in mind the reason why Paul wrote.

Paul wrote this letter with a specific purpose in mind.

Paul had been informed by Epaphras that the Church at Colosse what being put in danger by false teaching.

Heresy was endangering the Church and so Paul wrote this letter in order to combat the heresy and strengthen the Church.

Paul is writing to ensure that the believers at Colosse stand firm in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

In this three verses that is exactly what Paul is doing.

He does this in three ways, first he reminds them about what they were like before they came to Christ, second, he reminds them of what Christ has done for them and third he reminds them about what they must continue to do.

Remember what you were.

Remember what Christ has done.

Remember what you must do.

The faith of the Colossians was being attacked by false teaching, and Paul seeks to strengthen their faith.

In these verses there is a lot for us to learn, in our lives we have many influences trying to shake our faith in Christ.

We battle against flesh, the world and the devil.

How can you stand firm when your faith is being shaken?

Paul says; “Remember what you were.

Remember what Christ has done.

Remember what you must do.”

Three headings- Christians were enemies v.21.

Christians are reconciled v.22.

Christians must persevere v.23.

Firstly then, Remember what you were.

I. Christians were enemies v.21

Paul begins by reminding the Colossians about what they were like.

In verse 21 he says; “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,”

Here Paul reminds the Colossian Christians that they were once pagan sinners.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,”

They were alienated.

That means they were estranged and far away from God.

They were cut off from the blessings of God.

The Holy Bible: King James Version.

(2009).

(Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ).

Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

They were “Without Christ… having no hope, and without God in the world:” Eph 2:12

The Holy Bible: King James Version.

(2009).

(Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ).

Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Not only were they alienated from God, they were hostile towards God,

Paul says they were enemies in their minds.

There attitude was hostile and hateful towards God.

They were rebels again the Most High God.

Paul is reminding the Colossian Christians that they were not merely apathetic or neutral towards the things of God but they were actively hostile towards them.

They hated God.

Then Paul goes on and says that this hatred, this hostile mindset towards God revealed and showed itself by their sin.

He says “enemies in your minds by wicked works”.

They had a reprobate mind, and this resulted in their wicked works, their evil deeds.

comes to mind.

Paul could have said this about the Colossians;

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

This is a good description of what the Colossians were like before they turned to Christ.

They were pagan sinners.

Immoral.

Evil.

Surely this reminder that Paul gave them would have caused the Colossians to rejoice in the fact that they were no longer in that condition.

That is all in the past now.

Their lives were once as black as midnight but now they light has dawned, and Christ has changed them.

This graphic reminder given by Paul would have caused them to rejoice in their Saviour who has been described to them in verses 15-20.

This description of their past would have caused them to adore the God of grace who as v.13 says “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”

This powerful reminder would have served to stop the Colossians from departing from the truth of the Gospel.

It was the true Gospel of Christ that changed them from what they once were.

Paul is reminding them that they need to remain in Christ, their faith in Him must continue.

It was by saving faith in Christ that this great change took place.

To depart from Christ would mean to go back to pagan immorality.

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Those of us here this morning who know Christ, who have been cleansed from sin by Faith in Him, we could rejoice with those of Colosse had we been there.

The words used to describe them before they came to Christ could have been said about us too.

We were alienated- separated and cut off from God, we did not know God.

We were with out understanding and did not seek for God.

We were cut off from all of his blessings.

We were strangers to him, darkened in our understanding.

We were also enemies in our minds.

We were rebels against God.

We hated God.

This all evidenced itself in the way that we chose to live.

The things we did, our wicked works.

Christian this is what you were like before you came to Christ.

This was the diagnosis of your life.

This was the summary of relationship with God.

How grateful you should be this morning that it is no longer true.

Just as it all changed for the Colossian Christians so it has changed for you.

Just how they needed to be reminded of this fact, so we must be reminded.

We were dead in sin before Christ saved us and changed us.

We should dread the thought of ever returning to what we once were.

Remembering what we were like should make us cling to Christ this morning.

Are you struggling with doubts this morning?

Remember what you were like before Christ changed you.

But if you are here this morning and you are not a Christian, then dear friend this is you this morning.

You are alienated from God.

You do not know him, you are a stranger to him.

The Holy Bible: King James Version.

(2009).

(Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ).

Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

More than that you are a rebel against him, you are his enemy.

Your mindset and attitude are against him.

This is proven by your wicked works as Paul puts it, it is shown by the sins you commit each day in open defiance against God.

These are strong words but these are the words used in the Word of God to describe people who are without Christ.

But thankfully all of this changed for the Colossians.

It has changed for those of us who are in Christ.

And it can change for those who will put their trust in Jesus Christ.