Living Life in Christ

Introduction: August is a month of new beginnings for many people, and I want us to think about what it’s like to start something new. When a person begins something new, he or she has lots of questions and most likely some concerns. What I am going to experience? Will I like the people I will be around? Will I be able to do what is asked of me? What will I get out of this?

It is normal for us to have questions about Expectations, and there are ways to answer questions and share expectations.

For the new student, there is open house - a chance to meet the teacher, get the supply list, and discover what is expected of the student.

For college freshmen, there is the Orientation process that deals with some of the same issues.

For those who are starting new jobs, there is an employee handbook that covers all of the necessary information.

These are all means of answering expectations, and they can be effective. But what about the Church? What do we offer in the way of sharing expectations for new (or existing) members? Do we even have expectations of our members? Whether the Church gives out expectations or not, God has expectations for His people.

Over the next four evenings we are going to examine some of God’s expectations for His people as found in . In this section of Scripture, Paul gives us a blueprint for the Normal Christian life. I want to give you an outline for our time together so you can know where we are headed. Our four messages are going to be tied to action verbs: seek & set, put off, put on, and let.

Tonight, we are focusing on verses 1-4 and we are going to seek and set our minds on things above. Monday night we are going to examine verses 5-11 and we are going to mortify the flesh and see what that looks like. Tuesday night our focus will be verses 12-14 and we will be putting on the new man, obtaining the positive in Christ. And finally, on Wednesday night we will let our actions flow through the filter of Christ.

With that in mind, let’s read the text: Colossians 3:1-17

Background Info on Colossians

Paul is writing this letter to believers () and the working assumption is that they are genuine. Paul has given the theology lesson in Chapter one, with an emphasis on the Deity of Christ. He has shared the revealed truth that Jesus is the Eternal Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and in Him is found the full essence of the God-head. Jesus is Supreme in Creation, and Jesus is (not will be, but is now) the Preeminent One!

In the second Chapter Paul teaches the Truth of the Crucifixion. He tells his readers how they as believers received a supernatural circumcision, one performed on the heart, and how they died to themselves and were raised with Christ through faith (). Paul reminds them that, in Christ, they have been forgiven through faith in His substitutionary death ()

Paul reminds them of these truths because someone or some group has introduced an empty and legalistic way of life amongst the brethren. Paul has been made aware of this false teaching and he is warning the believers against falling into a wrong way of thinking (, ). Paul does not want to watch these believers, ones that he has been praying for () lose their way or their reward. Instead, Paul wants for them to “be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” ()

Paul ends this section with a warning. He tells his readers that no amount of legalistic behavior in refraining from certain type of food or drink (2:16) or holding to a specific belief / worship of angels (2:17), or even refraining from human relationships (2:20) will be helpful in living the Christian life. Paul warns them that these man-made regulations “are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (2:23)

Paul begins a new section in Chapter three. Following the general pattern of his letters, he lays out the teaching, then gives the application. What follows in the first seventeen verses of chapter three is a blueprint for living the Normal Christian life. It is an applied teaching of our expectations as Believers, and we would do well to meditate on these truths and ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to live them out.

Our Status in Christ determines our direction in life ()

Explanation: Our chapter divisions are not inspired, and almost all of the NT books were written as a single letter. What was written before this is expected to have been read and understood. So Paul continues with this train of thought concerning these believers. Since they are believers, Paul is reminding them of their position in Christ. Paul focuses on their status as those who have been redeemed by Jesus. As such, these believers, (just like modern believers) are empowered to live out a normal, biblical life.

Our Status in Christ is such that Paul can say that they “have been raised” - which is in the past tense, not present or future. Genuine believers have already been spiritually raised in Christ Jesus! Do we not witness and celebrate this truth in the waters of Baptism? Do we not declare that we are buried in baptism, raised to walk in newness of Life? We say these words, and they are biblical (). So the question is, “do we actually believe what we say?”

Under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul is saying that since this is our status, then we are expected to live in a focused manner. This is not the empty legalism that he described in Chapter Two. No, this is a vibrant manner of living that is directed by the two verbs: seek & set. Believers are to seek the things of heaven where Christ is, and we are to set our minds on things above.

Illustrate: 8-10 year olds during an easter egg hunt. When they get released they get at it. And woe and betide the 4 year brother who gets in the way!

Argument: We who name the Name of Christ and profess to be His followers should lead lives that reflect our Status. We should have the some intensity in our lives. Instead, we are more like the 2’s - 3’s who are wandering around aimlessly. Mom is standing next to them saying, Look right here! Here it is! And the 2 year old is pulling up a dandelion or picking up a shiny rock.

The direction and focus of our earthly pilgrimage should be apparent to those who know us. Unfortunately, too many of us are confused about the final destination. We get way too distracted by shiny things with no real value. Reminder - this world is not our home, and we should quit living like it is.

Application: Allow God to remind you or your position in Christ - you are justified with Christ’s imputed Righteousness! Rejoice in the privilege of being a child of God.

Our Security in Christ frees us to live for Him ()

Explanation: Paul is declaring that their status of being in Christ is secure. He is telling these believers that their very life is hidden with Christ in God. This phrase is declaring the Eternal Security of the believer. When a person has a genuine conversion to Christ, he or she will remained saved. What a glorious truth! What a powerful source for confidence!

Whatever the specific type of false teaching that was being taught in Colossae, Paul is combating it with the truth. When a person is a believer, when he or she has been convicted of sin and the Holy Spirit has revealed the need for a Savior, and when he or she has repented and trusted in Christ as Lord, that is all that is necessary. There is not a need for deeper, secret knowledge or a following of a specific code that involves doing this, but not that. Christ is sufficient, and Jesus is the One who declared “this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up on the last day” (). Jesus also gave another powerful declaration of Eternal Security in His teaching on being the Good Shepherd. Read .

While these believers in Colossae may not have had a copy of the Gospel of John, what Paul was teaching was the same truth. Genuine believers are secure in their position of being in Christ. This truth grants confidence to the individual believer and allows him to serve King Jesus, free from the anxiety that is part of a works - salvation approach

Illustration: analysis- paralysis. Our anxiety plagued culture has so many of us doubting our own salvation that we are unable to do anything for the Kingdom. Many are fearful that committing a particular sin or failing to pray will be the “final straw” that causes God to cast us away as unusable.

Argument: The confidence is in Christ, not ourselves. We did not save ourselves, but God sent Jesus to seek us out and save us. Christ is the One who has redeemed us () and He is the One who has reconciled us to God ( ). We cannot add anything to the process of salvation, because Jesus triumphantly declared, “It is finished!” (). These benefits of the Cross are applied to our life through faith ().

If we are unable to add anything to the process, if we do not even start the process, why do we fear that we can change the process?

Application: Rest in the promises and power of God. He is the One who said, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)

Our Service for Christ will result in Glory for Him and rewards for us ()

Explanation: Paul encourages the believers with a reminder of how their lives as believers will turn out. He gives them a glimpse of their glorious future be telling them of their future union with Jesus in Eternity. Paul explicitly tells these believers that they will be Jesus in Glory. Paul speaks with great confidence about the return of Christ. He does not say IF, but he says WHEN Christ appears. Paul doesn’t know the timing of Jesus’ Return, but he knows it is coming.

Illustrate: Many people look forward to Friday. For most, Friday is the end of a work week, but it is also pay day. We like getting paid, and most of us are eager and ready to see that check or to see our account balance go up (direct deposit). Knowing that Pay Day is coming keeps us going and motivated. We put up with things that are uncomfortable, we get up earlier than we want, and we work for people we may not even like. Why? Because we are getting paid!

Argument: How much more should the believer look forward to being united with the Savior? (cf ) How much more should we be motivated to serve King Jesus now because we know His future for us? Even though we don’t deserve anything like Heaven, Jesus has gone there to prepare us a forever home. None of us have enough “credit” to make it to heaven, but Jesus is graciously securing our inheritance. What a joyful thought! His grace should motivate us to serve () that we might please Him.

Some of our folks just returned from a mission trip to NY. The cost of living is incredible

As we come to the close of this service, I want to speak to the Church for a moment. And by the Church I mean those among us who are Christ-followers. I want you to imagine what it would be like if all of us would just live out our lives with Christ as our Supreme Focus and Priority.

Can you imagine the positive impact for the Kingdom if we collectively set our minds, our hopes, and ambitions on things above?

What if we sought Jesus instead of being anxious about what might happen tomorrow or next week? Jesus told us that if we would “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto [us]” (Matt 6:33)