Christ Exalted (ch. 4)

Introduction

We have spoken about living out who we are in Christ. God has called us to be genuine in our faith, and to bring forth fruit.

Colossians 1:10 KJV 1900

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

God wants us to be fruitful. God wants to see change in our lives.

I believe on of the primary ways that we are to be changed is in or witness for Christ. We have so many of those around us that are unsaved, that we must be a light towards.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 KJV 1900

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Don’t be an undercover Christian. But how often do we seek to look more like the world than Jesus Christ.

Tonight we will se the responsibility that we have towards unbelievers that are around us.

Title: Proclaiming Christ.

Paul gives some final commands towards

Be in Prayer

Colossians 4:2 KJV 1900

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

With alertness

We are to be alert to the dangers around to us.

Dangers from the world. Dangers from sin.

We should be alert to the needs of others

With Thanksgiving

We must be thankful for everything that God has given us. Paul brings this up often in his epistles.

Colossians 1:12 KJV 1900

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

We have so many things to be thankful for!

With the gospel in mind

Colossians 4:3 KJV 1900

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Paul’s primary request for prayer was so that God would open doors to the gospel.

This is why Paul is imprisoned

Paul was be imprisoned for the gospel’s sake! When we make the gospel a priority, the world will not accept us.

Reference to these being prison epistles.

We see the evidence of this point in the life of Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:23–30 KJV 1900

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

True Christianity can be hazardous.

We are blessed to live in America, where this type of persecution has not made into our country. But it might.

We must not seek out persecution. In the first century church, being persecuted for your faith was the height of faith.

Origen was an early Christian, born somewhere around 185 A.D. We know he grew up in the home of Christian parents, because church historians tell us his father was arrested for being a Christian and condemned to die.   

When he learned of his father’s arrest, imprisonment, and fate, Origen reserved himself to die alongside his father. But his mother wouldn’t have it.

So she did what any quick-thinking mother would: she hid his clothes.

Not being able to find his clothes, Origen was forced to stay at home. (I guess Origen was willing to die for Jesus, just not willing to die for Jesus naked!) From home, he wrote an impassioned treatise on martyrdom addressed to his father in prison, encouraging him to remain faithful till the end. That would be the first of many important documents Origen would write.

Paul wants to present Christ clearly

Colossians 4:4 KJV 1900

That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Be a Witness

Walk in Wisdom

We must walk in wisdom with the unsaved in mind. We must be smart in how we interact with them. We can not live anyway we want to. We must live as an example.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 KJV 1900

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

We must be a good testimony for Christ. We must have discernment in all that we do.

Redeem the time

People say that time is the most valuable

Have tactful speech

We must thing before we speak

We cannot be ignorant about biblical issues.

Conclusion

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central idea

meaning - in our own words

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overall Themes

Outline

application