Represent Christ By Showing
Notes
Transcript
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Introduction: One student spent the day studying for the final exam. Another student spent the day playing video games. The first student focused on the material, and the other student did not. It is not surprising that the student who studied could produce the information and apply it to the test. The child that played games was not successful. As followers of Christ, our focus and thought directly affect how we represent Christ in this world.
To change things, we should represent our Savior by seeking first, then setting our minds, then showing. This message emphasizes that representatives of Christ think, feel, desire, and act differently than those in the world. The uniqueness of a saint's life should never be hidden but must be placed on display. Jesus taught that His disciples must let the light shine before men
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Represent Christ by Seeking
Represent Christ by Seeking
Look at verse 1
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Paul phrase this statement in a way that causes the reader to decide his or her standing with Christ. He wants us to determine if we have been risen with Christ, meaning that when God raised Jesus from the dead, every believer was also raised to walk a new life through Him. Look at Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Paul also expressed that Christ's resurrection was for our justification or our being declared righteous in God's sight
who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
After determining whether you have given your life to God so that He as Paul said in
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
God has delivered believers out of the kingdom of darkness into the realm of His dear Son. Look again at our text.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Saints are called to represent Christ by seeking things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
As saints of God, our focus should be on heavenly things. As a subject of Christ, His kingdom, rule, and reign ought to be paramount, which is evident by what and who we seek. Remember the words of Jesus, who said
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Saints are instructed to seek what? The kingdom of God and His righteousness
If you have been risen with Christ set your focus on the kingdom of God and focus on His righteousness.
Focus on God’s reigning over your life
Focus on God’s righteousness, which is what Paul hinted at in 2 Cor 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
As Christians with an unveiled face, focus on the glory of the LORD, Christians are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Disciples of Christ are you looking to Jesus for direction
Represent Christ by Setting
Represent Christ by Setting
If you are saved, God is calling you to represent Christ by setting your minds on things above and not on earthly things. Look at verse 2
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Set your mind is one word in the greek “phro-nA-o” The basic meaning is to think by giving serious consideration to something (Louw-Nida) In this case to give serious consideration to things above. Our thoughts should be on God's kingdom. Looking for it to come and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Saints should set their minds on the ways, works, will, and Word of God. Why? Because He has saved our lives. The Lord has renewed our hearts. Believers' works have been created by Him (Eph 2:10). God orders all saints' steps (Ps 119:133). His ways now direct Christians' attitudes, and His will now shapes our wants.
Represent Christ by Showing
Represent Christ by Showing
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
When God's people seek and set their minds on things about, it makes it easier to show the world that we have replaced the corruption with bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and patience.
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
We treat one another differently. We forgive each other because we know that we have been forgiven. As believers, we saturate everything with love so that the world will see that we are His disciples
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
As a result, the peace of God rules every believers' heart and are thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When the Word of God dwells fully with wisdom, we will strengthen and encourage one another in worship and allow our fixation on Christ and heavenly things to impact everything we do
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Conclusion: The body of Christ does not have a great witness because we are not seeking where Christ abides and setting our minds on things above. God's kingdom and His will must be our focus so that our lives will then become what we behold.