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The Teacher’s Purpose
April 5, 1998
Colossians 2:2-7
Kids, I am so proud of you! I am encouraged by your faith. I am delighted by your spiritual growth. In some way, you have all exceeded my expectations. You have learned much. I also know how anxious you all are to get through the questions and be done with confirmation. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you about the questioning. You don’t mind, do you? … It’s a joke, okay!
You might have thought at times that you had to learn too much. Believe me, I understand. I was your age at one time. That might be hard to believe, but it’s true. I remember how I went through the motions of confirmation without getting very much head knowledge about the Christian faith and the bible. Even so, the Lord is very gracious to protect, nurture and nourish that which he has begun in us. He has a plan all prepared for us. Twenty some years after my confirmation I had the honor and privilege to preach in the church where I grew up. Some of my confirmation class was there. What a thrill it was to be on the pulpit side of the congregation that day. For me, it was a totally amazing experience. Who would have ever thought? Richard Laeder, a pastor!
All of you will see the day when God will totally amaze you. He will draw you into His Word. Some of you will be called by God to serve Him in a very special way. Maybe as a pastor, a teacher, or a Christian counselor, but all of you have already been called to be devout members of the body of Christ. As such, you have only begun to experience God’s unconditional love for you.
In confirmation, you might have thought my purpose was to get you to observe certain Christian rules of dos and don’ts. Such things are actually contrary to my purpose and to the Word of God. My purpose for you is probably best explained in the words of the teacher Paul. “My purpose” he says, “is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love.” The “they” Paul speaks of are the believers in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.
These Christians needed encouragement because they were being troubled by false teaching. Some people were trying to convince these young Christians measure faith by the things they did right. If they held to certain dietary and religious practices; if they didn’t touch or handle certain things; if they worshipped angels; if they held the secret knowledge of God, then they were judged to have a proper faith. The problem with all of these outward observances of ritual and rules is that they are based only on what human wisdom thinks, not on God’s wisdom.
You however, have learned that human wisdom is not sufficient to get anyone into heaven. You have learned that human wisdom does not have power to unite in Love. You have learned that human wisdom does not have the authority to encourage the hearts of God’s people. You have learned that only the Grace of God in Jesus Christ has the authority and power to encourage your hearts and unite you in Love.
Are any of you wondering what all this stuff from the 1st century AD has to do with you? I mean you are people entering the 21st century. I think I can explain. Believers, all over the world are still being troubled by false teaching. These teachings still want people to measure faith by what a person does. This is only human wisdom and speculation. You have learned that God’s wisdom imposes no such measurement. God measures faith by what is happening to you and for you in His Son Jesus Christ. It is a matter of grace, not choice, not works. If you understand this basic Christian teaching that you learned in confirmation, all the teachings of the Devil and Hell will never be able to take you away from God’s love in Christ.
You see, you are like those young Christians Paul was teaching in the first century. Through the word, he has been your teacher, in a sense. More importantly, God is your teacher through the written word of the Bible. From Him you have learned the purpose of Paul’s doctrine and teaching. The Teacher’s Purpose is not to measure your faith. It is so you “may have the full riches of complete understanding. This is God’s wisdom in Christ. You have been taught that the things of God do not come from human wisdom. Neither are they learned with human education. The things of God come only from the Spirit of God. Your confirmation instruction is vital to this purpose. It seeks to move you toward the full riches of complete understanding. That is, understanding that is complete in Christ.
The Teacher’s purpose has never been about teaching you or anyone to observe certain religious behaviors. That much can be learned by anyone whether believer or unbeliever. Christian instruction is about knowing the mystery of God. It is about Christ, just as Paul says, “that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.”
In Christ, all the riches of wisdom and knowledge exist. This wisdom brings forgiveness, fulfillment, contentment, and eternal life. This wisdom brings the hope of glory, Christ in you. This wisdom confirms you in the faith by the Spirit of God. In baptism, you received the promised Holy Spirit. Having believed the Gospel message you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. By this wisdom and knowledge we can all understand the Teacher’s Purpose. It is quite simple. It is to present everyone perfect in Christ, even you and me.
No wonder the apostle is excited about the faith of young believers. No wonder he wants them to be encouraged in heart and united in love. No wonder he teaches the word of God that says, “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness (that is, completeness) in Christ.” It is an already accomplished fact that continues in all who live in Christ. All of you have been chosen to be made alive in Christ through God’s grace when he baptized you with the water and Spirit. The Spirit says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
Because of this wisdom, and with Paul, I also want to say to you, “Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, (that is by grace through faith), so continue to live in Him, (by grace through faith).” In Him your roots have been established. In Him, you have been built up and will continue to be built up. In Him, you have been strengthened in the faith and you will continue to be strengthened. Stand firm, then, in that strength. This strength is your confirmation of glory, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, Jesus Christ.
Kids, pride wants to be recognized. However, the boast of any teacher is not him or herself. The Teacher’s boast comes out of the real Teacher’s purpose. Therefore, I do not want you to remember me. I never saved a soul and I never will. I do not want you to even remember your confirmation education. It is only a process. But there is something that I do want you all to remember. Remember, the Teacher’s Purpose is to present you perfect in Christ. If you remember that, your hearts will always be encouraged, and you will always be united in love. Amen.