Sermon Tone Analysis

We avoid death at all costs.

And we should!

God built in us the fear factor to help keep us safe (imagine if we had no fear of anything whatsoever?

We would die because we would do dumb things unwittingly.

Text:

Main Idea: Obedience to the Gospel Brings Death and New Life!

We avoid death at all costs.

And we should!

God built in us the fear factor to help keep us safe (imagine if we had no fear of anything whatsoever?

We would die because we would do dumb things unwittingly.

Second, He builds in us an innate desire to stay alive.

This is why, when someone is in the process of drowning, they fight for survival.

This is who we are!

We fight for survival!

Introduction

So, when we come to biblical Christianity, and we hear phrases like we see in Colossians, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” or in other passages that tell us to “Die to self” or what Luke tells us in 9:23 “Deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.”

Attention (Why should they listen to you?)

When we hear these commands, there is a part of us that rails against them.

There is a part of us who fear this death of self and fight for survival.

But, until we do what Paul and the other authors of the Scriptures tell us, unless we put these things to death, we cannot truly live!

Today, I invite you to start the process of truly living for Christ.

We’ll be talking about this for the next two weeks.

What is the Biblical Solution?

This week will focus more on the “put off” and also consider one profound implication of “putting on” of the new self.

Next week will focus on the practical ways to “put on” the new self.

What do the hearers need to know?

Main Textual Idea:

Main Idea: Obedience to the Gospel Brings Death to the Old Life and Identity to the New!

Interrogative:

There are three thoughts I’m excited to share with you from this text and the first is...

Transition:

Body (Satisfaction)

1. Obey the Command to Kill Sexual Sin (vs.

5-7)

Lead in...This is a huge challenge, folks.

Take a look...

Col

Explanation -

A command from Paul to actively put to death (verb - active, aorist, imperative) Meaning Paul has an expectation of completion.

If someone tells you to plow and uses the present imperative then they expect you to go

and do some plowing but they aren't too bothered about how much you do.

If they say plow that field and use the aorist they are giving you a task that they

will expect to be completed.

Believers are to pursue “mortifying the flesh”

Why are we to put to death the deed of the flesh?

So we can truly live!

What is Paul referring to when he commands them to “Put to death the earthly in you?”

He give a very specific list that focuses on the sexual.

Just a note before I go into Paul’s list.

Sex is a gift from God and should be celebrated and cherished only in the confines of biblical marriage.

It’s not dirty and it’s not shameful or evil.

Sin has perverted sexual activity.

God, on the other hand delights in the marriage bed.

And the perversion of sexual activity is what Paul is preaching against.

Look at his list with me...

Sexual immorality - porneia (πορνεια), “illicit sexual intercourse in general.”

(Wuest)

porneia (πορνεια), “illicit sexual intercourse in general.”

Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol.

6 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 220.

Impurity - akatharsia (ἀκαθαρσια), “uncleanness in a moral sense, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living.”

(Wuest)

akatharsia (ἀκαθαρσια), “uncleanness in a moral sense, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living.”

Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest

Passion - pathos (παθος), “depraved passion.”

(Wuest)

pathos (παθος), “depraved passion.”

(Wuest)

Kenneth S. Wuest)

Evil desire - epithumia kakē (ἐπιθυμια κακη), “evil, wicked cravings.”

(Wuest)

epithumia kakē (ἐπιθυμια κακη), “evil, wicked cravings.”

Kenneth S. Wuest)

Covetousness (aka idolatry) - pleonexia (πλεονεξια), “greedy desire to have more, avarice.”

“Idolatry” is eidolatreia (εἰδολατρεια) “the worship of false gods,” used here of the worship of Mammon.

pleonexia (πλεονεξια), “greedy desire to have more, avarice.”

“Idolatry” is eidolatreia (εἰδολατρεια) “the worship of false gods,” used here of the worship of Mammon.

pleonexia (πλεονεξια), “greedy desire to have more, avarice.”

“Idolatry” is eidolatreia (εἰδολατρεια) “the worship of false gods,” used here of the worship of Mammon.

Notice the reason Paul gives to avoid these activities and attitudes?

Take a look at verse 10...

The point?

GOD TAKES SIN SERIOUSLY!!!

So seriously that he will, sometime in the future, clean the slate.

The first time His wrath manifested in a world-wide flood.

The next time will be fire...

His wrath is coming!

It may not be today.

It may not be tomorrow.

But don’t be a fool and think that just because you haven’t seen His wrath come, doesn’t mean it will not come.

That’s like saying just because I haven’t had cancer means I won’t get cancer!

God promised His wrath will come and it will come.

And the reason it will come is because of sin!

Paul says, the old way is not how you are to walk.

It’s not how your life is to be characterized!

Why would you live your life for something that is not only against God’s holy character but is the causation of His terrible wrath!

Wrath of God - A term for God’s displeasure with human beings and their sinful actions.

The word “wrath” is a concept represented by many different words and idioms in the original languages of the Bible, all of which express the notion of justifiable anger for unjust actions.