From Right Belief to Right Practice: Why and How Theology Matters

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:21-23

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Philosophy

“The ends justify the means” AKA - Consequentialism

deontology (from Greek δέον, deon, "obligation, duty") is the ethical theory that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action.

One sentence

Three points

Symmetry

Exposition

Remember our context

v. 3-14 Thanksgiving and prayer

v. 15-20 Christological Hymn

Colossians 1:21 ESV

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

In verse 21, “And you” brings a turn of attention in the letter to another subject, but with the previous context in mind

I. Mankind is naturally unbelieving and sinful

Notice the words in the verse

Alienated

Hostile

Doing evil

Mankind, because of the sin of our “father, Adam” is in a state of sin...

Illustration: Natural rivals

Application:

Anticipate but don’t accept sin

Don’t try to Change an unbelievers actions for merely moralistic reasons

Older to younger

Reconciliation in needed…transition

Exposition 2

Colossians 1:22 ESV

22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

Reconciliation

Real body opposed to gnosticism

Pointing to Christ’s person and work in the “hymn”

The purpose...”in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him”

Legally innocent in judgment

II. Believing mankind is supernaturally made perfect

Blameless and above reproach

Illustration: Overheard a discussion in the Men’s class about people being qualified for a job vs. just being placed there for political reasons.

Why is this an issue? It becomes a real issue when someone ends up being hired for purely demographic reasons and rather than being “less qualified” they are “un-qualified”

God’s standard is perfect qualification

Application:

Humility

Realize that God is the one who makes people right and not “being good”

Respond in thankful praise

Be a believer

Colossians 1:23 ESV

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

If ?

Does this mean that our continued salvation is dependent on our obedience? If not, what is meant by this statement?

If we are “holy in status” we should also become “holy in reality”

III. Having been made perfect, believers live faithfully

What we believe about God impacts how we live for God.

Believers

Continue in the faith

Are stable and steadfast

Don’t shift from the hope of the Gospel

Because it is God’s eternal plan

Conclusion

So we don’t simply do right because it is told to us but in response to who God is and what He has done.

We do right because we strive to reflect the Character and holiness of our Lord.

Prayer of Thanksgiving