A Purposeful Mindset

This morning we begin a new series, it is our Advent Series as we prepare our minds for celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have always been leery of Advent because it seemed to me to be such a Catholic idea. But wanting to understand Advent better, last year I did some personal research on the topic. My research led me to understand that the Advent season looks forward to the second Advent of Christ. And since I am so longing for His return I proposed to the rest of the church leadership that we consider using the Advent readings with this focus in mind.

Last year I drew my sermons from the passages that were a part of the weekly reading that we were doing. And it was my intention to do so again this week as well. But then I read the following:

In this first week of Advent, our goal is to set our minds on what is coming. Remembering and considering prophecies about Christ’s second coming is about preparing our minds and our thinking—about setting our minds on what is above.

The statement about setting our minds on what is above led me to a text which is not part of our readings for today. Please turn to Colossians 3:1-17.

This morning we are going to consider how the purpose of celebrating the Advent Season is to encourage believers to have a purposeful mindset as they await the return of Christ. As we go through this passage we will consider a heavenly focus, a shift in paradigm, and a Christ-like demeanor.

A Heavenly Focus

The mindset of believers is to be purposefully focused on heavenly things.

Let’s look at

Colossians 3:1–4 NASB95PARA

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

The Reasoning

Looking ahead to the advent of the Lord requires remembering why He needed to come in the first place. Jesus came to save His people from their sins. He accomplished this by dying on the cross of suffering.

Colossians 2:13–14 NASB95PARA

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Jesus was able to accomplish this because His people have been united with Him.

Colossians 2:9–12 NASB95PARA

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Our passage picks up with this theme

We died with Christ (vs. 3)

Our life is hidden with Christ

We were raised with Christ (vs. 1)

So far we’ve been looking at the reasoning for this heavenly mindset, now let’s consider

The Revealing

Look again at verse 4.

Colossians 3:4 NASB95PARA

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Because of our union with Christ, we as believers are to have mindset that is focused on heavenly things.

Next, let’s look at

A Paradigm Shift

A paradigm is a perspective or a way of looking at something. In our previous life — outside of Christ — we looked at things through a self-centered perspective. But in Christ we are to shift from a self-centered paradigm to a Christ-centered paradigm.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon B. Guidelines for the Christian Life (3:5–4:6)

The underlying thought is: Let the life that is in you by virtue of your union with Christ work itself out and express itself in all your thoughts, actions, and relationships.

While we are not actively involved in the work of salvation, we are actively involved in this paradigm shift. We often refer to this as progressive sanctification. This paradigm shift involves both negative and positive actions.

Negative Actions

As we consider the negative actions we find two distinct lists of sins. The first can be referred to as sins of covetousness, and the second to sins of attitude. Let’s look first at the

Sins of Covetousness

Colossians 3:5 NASB95PARA

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Paul’s statement about considering “the members of our earthly body to be dead” calls for a decisive action. Such an action was pictured at the time of the Conquest of Canaan. The Israelites were commanded to rid the land of its old inhabitants, lest their false religions become snares to God’s covenant people. The same is true of believers in Christ. We are to rid ourselves of the things which belong to our old life.

The first four sins listed as sins of covetousness have to do with sexual sins:

Immorality refers to any form of sexual sin

Impurity goes beyond sexual acts of sin to evil thoughts and intentions

Passion is the physical side of sexual lust

Evil desire is the mental side of sexual lust

Perhaps the most shocking statement here is that greed = idolatry. The word translated “greed” has to do with an entire disregard for the rights of others.” One commentator sees it as “the arrogant and ruthless assumption that all other persons and things exist for one’s own benefit.”

Elsewhere Paul stated that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. When we allow money to be the ruling focus of our lives we practice idolatry. That means that we in effect are worshiping money. And Jesus told us that you cannot serve both God and money.

When the Rich Young Ruler came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus instructed him to sell all that he had and give it away. Jesus understood that this man struggled with greed. And the best way for this particular man to combat greed was to get rid of his great wealth. Now, I’m not saying that we all have to do that. Jesus used this instance to point out to this self-satisfied man that he was not as righteous as he thought he was. That he had underlying sin in his life. And that any form of sin was an offense against God.

We all have issues with underlying sin. It may not be greed, although I would say that greed is one of the most prevalent of all forms of sin. All forms of sin have to do with lust. We might lust after sexual pleasures, such as immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, etc. We might lust after power, prestige, or a whole list of other self-serving desires.

In order to put such things to death in our mortal bodies we must first acknowledge our struggle with them. Acknowledge our sin and offense against God. That’s what confession is. Then we need to seek the strength of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us combat our sinful desires. We need to be diligent in our struggle against sin. We need to be vigilant in our struggle against sin. Or as my dear friend used to say (by accident) we need to be viligent!

Understand that sin can be either individual or corporate. When I say corporate sin, I’m referring to a group of people. The nation of Israel, as a whole, sinned against God. And men such as Isaiah, Ezra, and Daniel confessed the nations sin in prayers which are a part of the written Word of God. How often do our prayers confess the sin of our nation against God? Of course it’s not just nations which can sin against God. Individual churches can sin against God. Christ’s letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 emphasize the need of specific church to recognize their sin, confess it, and repent of it. And if they don’t, there is the warning that Christ will close the disobedient churches.

The shift in paradigm, from our old manner of life to our new life in Christ, is necessary because the things which belong to our old life will bring that wrath of God. Look at verses 6-7.

Colossians 3:6–7 NASB95PARA

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

The shift in paradigm forces the believer to purposefully stop engaging in things which are not proper for those who belong to Christ.

We’ve looked at the sins of covetousness. Now let’s look at the

Sins of Attitude

Look at verses 8-9.

Colossians 3:8–9 NASB95PARA

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

Anger is a deep smoldering bitterness

Human wrath is a sudden outburst of sinful anger

Malice refers to the damage caused by evil speech

Slander, abusive speech, and lying are related to malice

Whether it be sins of covetousness or sins of attitude, the believer needs to drive these sins out of their life. Since we have died to sin, sin is no longer to have mastery over us.

Let’s turn our attention from the negative actions that are needed, to the

Positive Actions

Not only are we getting rid of actions and emotions which belong to our old way of life. But we are to replace these things with things which belong to our new life in Christ. Look at verses 10-11. Paul said that “since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

Colossians 3:10–11 NASB95PARA

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

In verses 12-15 Paul instructs his readers to incorporate the fruit of the Spirit into their daily lives. The first grouping has to do with the heart. Look at verses 12-13.

Colossians 3:12–13 NASB95PARA

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Compassion

Kindness refers to goodness to each other

Humility thinks of others as more important that oneself

Gentleness has to do with the willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than to inflict such hurts

Patience is the opposite of a quick temper

Bearing with one another includes helping the bear their burdens, thus fulfilling the law of Christ to love our neighbor as ourselves

Forgiving each other

Christ is the example for forgiveness

The second grouping, while closely related to the matters of the heart, has to do with unity. Look at verses 14-15.

Colossians 3:14–15 NASB95PARA

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Love — this is the supernatural love of God which is poured out in the hearts of believers

Peace refers both to the call of God to salvation and consequent peace with Him, and the attitude of rest or security believer have in Christ

All of these negative and positive actions, which are integral in the shifting from an earthly, sinful paradigm to a Christ-centered paradigm, come about as we allow the Word of Christ to have its way in our lives. Look at verse 16.

Colossians 3:16 NASB95PARA

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

So far we’ve looked at a heavenly focus, and a paradigm shift. Now let’s turn our attention to

A Christ-like Demeanor

Look at verse 17.

Colossians 3:17 NASB95PARA

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Let’s consider first how we, as believers, need to be

Living Consistent Lives

To do all in the name of the Lord Jesus means to act consistently with who He is and what He wants.

While the Incarnate God was living on the earth He accomplished many things. His primary purpose for coming was to save His people from their sins. He accomplished this work when he hung on the cross and absorbed God’s wrath against the sin of those who embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He also provided victory over sin and death when He was raised from the dead.

Along with these things, and many others which are so essential to our redemption, Jesus also provided us an example of how to live.

He gave us an example of how to humbly serve one another.

John 13:12–15 NASB95PARA

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

He gave us the example of how to do things for the sake of others.

Philippians 2:3–8 NASB95PARA

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He gave us the example of how to endure suffering in such a way as to glorify the Father.

1 Peter 2:21 NASB95PARA

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

Our lives should be consistent with the example which Christ provided for us. Look next at

Giving Expressions of Gratitude

Look again at verse 17.

Colossians 3:17 NASB95PARA

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

One might be tempted to think that Thanksgiving was so yesterday (literally, today is Black Friday as I finish preparing this message and record it for our YouTube listeners). But the attitude of gratitude should be expressed constantly, and not just once a year.

I am personally thankful for your prayers for our family at this season in our life. Just to give you a quick update, my wife and I met with the Oncologists on Wednesday. She gave us some information that neither the surgeon nor the radiologist had given us. My wife’s cancer was caught so early, it would actually be considered Stage 0. In other words, the tumor is precancerous. If left alone it would turn into an invasive cancer. But, as best as they can tell until after the tumor is removed and they receive the pathology report, it has not yet become invasive. This was obviously a great relief to us. The interesting thing is most women my wife’s age no longer need to have yearly mammograms. But because my wife had a fibrous, benign tumor removed from the other side 20 years ago — she’s had to continue with the yearly mammogram. And because of that, they were able to catch it very early. Perhaps the Lord caused her to have the benign tumor 20 years ago so that they could catch the cancerous tumor at an early stage?

Anyway, how does all of this text reflect on the Advent season? The first week of Advent is about making preparations for the return of Christ. One of the steps in preparation is to deal with the sin that still lingers in our lives. Just as Israel never fully drove out the former inhabitants of the Holy Land, so you and I have never fully driven out sin in our earthly lives. If it were even possible for a believer to reach a stage of sinless perfection (which it isn’t) then there would be no need for Christ to be our Advocate with the Father.

As we prepare for the revealing of Christ, let’s purpose to be actively engaged in ridding ourselves of the sinful actions and attitudes which still persist in our lives.

Let’s pray.

Closing Song: #656

Take Time to be Holy

Romans 11:33–36 NASB95PARA

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.