Right Belief Produces Right Behavior
Notes
Transcript
ME:
Last week we talked about “What occupies your mind can take residency in your heart.”
Transition Statement:
WE:
Transition Statement:
GOD:
Colossians 2:6–8 (ESV)
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Paul is writing a letter to the church ....
It’s the email of the late 1990’s
It’s the texting of the 2000
Its the Face Timing of today
When they received a letter back then they responded by gathering a crowd and reading it out loud in front of the people.
You got an email back then and you told you whole family about it.
You get a text and you show someone .... “Look at this.”
You FaceTime today and you are showing the person who FT you where you are at and who you are with.
The point is .... YOU SHARED.
Paul writes a letter, sends an email, texted, is FT this church.
I want you to get this ....
Not to an individual but to a group
Not just to this church in Colossae but to US TODAY.
Understanding this then ...
Paul has just finished commending the church of their “firmness” in the faith in Christ as well as their standing “In CHRIST.”
Christ is Lord!
Colossians 1:15 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
What did it mean to make the proclamation, “Christ is Lord?”
New relationship to God as “saints” (1:2)
Christ making the Kingdom available to God’s people through redemption. (1:13-14)
Christ incredible Lordship over creation (1:15-17)
His Headship over the church (Body) (1:18)
When Paul and others acknowledged Christ as Lord this is what they were saying ......
(6) “..... as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord,”
Received (Lambano)
It is an indicative (Fact)
It means to Acknowledge
Not just pointing something out
It means to “take to oneself” (Great picture)
(6) “..... So walk in Him”
Walk (Peripateo)
Compound word - Peri (About) & Pateo (Stepping movement of the feet)
Literal : Walk About
Paul uses it here figuratively : To LIVE
The other thing about Greek is the structure of the sentence ....
Greek would read ..... “So, in Him, LIVE.”
Go back and read (Vs6) Therefore, as you have taken unto yourself Christ Jesus as Lord ....
.... the one who gives you the status of Saint ....
.... the one who gives you access to the Father again ....
.... the one who is Lord over creation and head of the Church,
.... in Him......, LIVE!
When you look at the Greek a little closer you are going to see something even more astounding.
You have three different Greek words that could have been used for the word “IN” (Him).
Eis - implies motion into
EK - implies motion out of
But the word Paul uses here is the word “EN” which means to remain in place.
This church didn’t just take Christ unto themselves for a period of time and then moved on.
They have found Christ and has remained in HIM.
Paul goes on to paint a picture for the reader of what “Them living in Christ looks like.”
(7) … rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in Thanksgiving.
In this verse we find 4 participles.
I am going to go quickly over these 4:
Rooted - Rhizoo: to take root / strengthen with roots
Passive (The subject receives the action) The church is taking root!
This gives us a picture of roots under the ground extending out and going deeper as the get bigger.
This is what should be taking place with us as believers.
Taking root, extending out, going deeper, as we grow in our faith.
Built up - Epoikodemeo: build on something / build further
Passive
This gives us a picture of a foundation and a structure being built on it.
This is what should be taking place with us as believers.
We should be adding to our faith.
Established - Bebaioo: Established; rendered constant and unwavering
Passive
This gives us a picture of something that cannot nor will not bend or break (SOLID)
This is what should be taking place with us as believers.
Our Faith should not waver.
Finally, the last participle is ....
Abounding - perisseuo: to be made more than enough, abundant, plentiful, exist in large quantity, Beyond the regular number or size.
Paul tells us that the church is to exceed above and beyond what might seem required, when it comes to thanksgiving.
Open up the flood gates of thanksgiving.
From Pauls perspective, this is what it should look like when it comes to living in Christ!
Be rooted, built up, established, and giving thanks all over the place.
Verse (8) Paul gives out another warning for this church ..... (1:28)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ
Paul states “see that no one takes you captive ..”
What we understand is that “In Christ” we are set free.
Free from bondage ....
Free from sin ....
Free from the enemy ....
Paul using this phrase “take captive” metaphorically means “to be made a victim of fraud”
Drawing someone away from the truth of Christ into slavery again.
Pauls use of this word gives a picture of a prisoner being led away with a rope around their necks.
Hieroglyphics on walls
How will the false teachers of this day (Enemy) tried to do this?
The false teachers threatens to take the believers captive through a teaching Paul characterizes as a hollow and deceptive philosophy.
Philosophia is the Greek word meaning “Love of Wisdom.”
Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (In the Text)
In this context philosophy constructs a vision of the universe in which knowledge of the divine being (God) is attained through secret revelation. During Paul’s day the meaning of philosophia could refer to what today would be identified as a religion catering to the educated classes
Deceptive wisdom is what Paul is warning them about (A wisdom that draws them away from Christ)
It amounts to nothing more than an illusion.
Paul adds the dynamic of Human tradition ....
Tradition becomes a problem only when it is separated from or distorts the message of Christ.
Paul finishes with this phrase “elemental spirits” of the world ....
NIV translates it as “Basic Principles of this world”
This church would have known what Paul was meaning which was “Demonic forces” of this world.
Draws us away from Christ.
Paul is saying the church must guard itself from these teachings.
Just as this church was being warned, so are WE!
To maintain a life that is IN CHRIST we must maintain being ....
ROOTED, continuing to be built up, Established, in our faith
With thanksgiving pouring out from us.
Let us not become prisoners again because of the enemies lies ....
hollow and deceitful illusions
traditions that are distort or lead us away from Christ teachings
Stay alert of the Demonic forces that are out there.
We must pursue and maintain a life that is IN CHRIST.
LIVING IN HIM.
When we are living in Christ ....
.... when our faith and belief is in Christ ....
We just don’t think like Christ but we act like Christ.
Right beliefs (Faith) produce right behavior.
Transition Statement:
YOU:
Transition Statement:
WE: