Living Above This World
Notes
Transcript
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
I. We must be careful to develop a Biblical standard of holiness in our lives to protect us from the world.
I. We must be careful to develop a Biblical standard of holiness in our lives to protect us from the world.
Legalism is not, holy living, or having separation standards for living. These are there to keep teh world frominfiltrating ourhearts to teach us its ways.
These are there because it will bring a reproach on teh Word of God or Christ
I understand that it is not right to think you are somehow spiritual becauseyou have high standards, but they are necessary, and people reacting to teh pride of Christians begin to discount their benefit.
Many people today try to equate legalism with the implementation of biblical standards of holiness or separation. This has swayed many Christians to disregard what God has said about living a lifestyle that pleases Him. It has also laid waste many churches, families, children due to allowing darkness of the world into our lives.
A. . God commands us to live holy, free from defilement, consecrated in every area of our lives.
A. . God commands us to live holy, free from defilement, consecrated in every area of our lives.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
B. God expects us test everything and abstain from the very appearance of evil.
B. God expects us test everything and abstain from the very appearance of evil.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
C. . God commands us not to stumble other believers with the things we allow.
C. . God commands us not to stumble other believers with the things we allow.
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
We just must be careful that our personal standards, church standards are not a point of pride in our life, or a way to impress others. We need walls of separation and standards to protect us because we are weak in the flesh and to maintain fellowship with God and glorify God.
We just must be careful that our personal standards, church standards are not a point of pride in our life, or a way to impress others. We need walls of separation and standards to protect us because we are weak in the flesh and to maintain fellowship with God and glorify God.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
II. Identifying a Worldly Focus
II. Identifying a Worldly Focus
1. You believe salvation must be earned in this world.
1. You believe salvation must be earned in this world.
Legalism is whther you believe you do somework to earn salvation, or whether you must work to keep your salvation.
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
The true Gospel makes you dead with Christ in His crucifixion. It crucifies you to this world. Everything cursed in this world is left behind, everything that is blessed is through eth resurrection in Christ.
A false Gospel is the eiptome of self exaltation, and seeking to be accepted by God through our own merit.
a. We are dead to rudiments of the world by Our baptism into the death of Christ
a. We are dead to rudiments of the world by Our baptism into the death of Christ
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
There is nothing we glory in this world. Nothing is worthy, it is all dead to us, much less worthy to use to purchase our salvation.
rudiments are the rules and regulations that govern our world.
Thereis nothing in the earth, in water, in any other element that makes up your body that can save you.
adding anything to the death burial and resurrection is legalism. It is a shift away from Christ to self. If your Gospel message has anything more than Jesus Christ, it is false, and you are a legalist.
The poor sinner trying to be saved by law is like a blind horse going round and round a mill, and never getting a step further, but only being whipped continually. The faster he goes, the more work he does, the more he is tired. charles spurgeon
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul
2. You emphasis what you do in this world more than what You are to the Lord
2. You emphasis what you do in this world more than what You are to the Lord
What you do is important, but what you are is the source of what you do. Two people can do exactly the same things but it looks completely different and they are blessed differently because of the humility of the heart or pride of the heart
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Grace is not given by what you do, but in what heart you do it.
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Taste not— To cause to taste, to let taste
Touch— to connect, bind. To apply oneself to, to touch
Handle— To touch so that one can exert a modifying influence on it
I know people that will not let their children eat candy at Easter because they think it honors the Greek God Astarte
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
3. You worship or serve God your own way
3. You worship or serve God your own way
Will worship—coming up with new and sometimes strange ways to worship God
Not all self control is spiritually motivated. Some worship the abilty of their will discipline themselves in religious practices.
Some glory that they don’t do it teh way eveybody else doesit. They are essentially worshipping their own will.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
When we just do what God asked us to do, we call it boring or putting God in a box.
Sometimes these new ways look impressive, but they have Originated in man’s will not God’s.
Some people do not submit, you know when they get involved they have to change it or make originate from themselves.
4. You make much of disciplining your body
4. You make much of disciplining your body
neglect — Not sparing, severity, austerity, refers to ascetic discipline, courageous exposure to hardship
Some place the emphasis on disciplining their body things that make themselves look spiritual. perhaps not eating meat, or being a vegetarian to save the animals.
Christ in you is not only about restraining the desires of the flesh, especially for a show of the flesh. It is about the new desires He places in you.
There is a man in the Philippines that gets nailed to the cross each year for 5 minutes. He beleves this is God’s will but it is foolish.
Munks will inflict pain on their body to disipline their body.
This is wrong. It is asceticism.
“...not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.”
“...not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.”
Some will look at going on vacation a waste of God’s resources, they will drink water and eat bread because we do not need coffee and ice cream.
This is the pride of ascetism
People that practice asceticism have a reputation of spirituality. this is not just the monks and eastern mystics, these are within our Baptist churches, because they think they are so great because of what they do not do, and how they discipline themselves.
This is not to say that we do not follow rules, and deny our flesh its cravings, but we must never think these things are what brings salvation, or will bring blessings into your life.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Your flesh must not be controlled by a set of rules and strict Laws. It must be controlled by Christ in the spirit
A saved person that is deadto teh wrldin Christ has not been set free to sin, but has been set free from sin
We should nothave to have a list of rules for things that you know in your heart and soul by teh Word of God and teh indwelling Spirit that you should not do.
We need to live in the enabling grace of God not the retsricting Laws of men.
5. You lack true joy
5. You lack true joy
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Joy is a product of the Spirit of God controlling our lives, as long as we look to ourselves and what we can do, we will never truly have joy.
You will never have true joy until you know you have been forgiven of all of your sin by Christ’s mercy
III. How To Live Above This World
III. How To Live Above This World
A. Sit with Christ — Acknowledge you are resurrected. “If ye then be risen with Christ”
A. Sit with Christ — Acknowledge you are resurrected. “If ye then be risen with Christ”
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Paul now begins the practical instruction for teh believer. He had laid eth foundational work and teh first words that revealedteh secret to a successful practical Christian life is “If ye then be risen with Christ.”
1. The tense of “be risen” is something that has happened at a point of time in the past.
1. The tense of “be risen” is something that has happened at a point of time in the past.
It has already happened to one that has been born again at the time of salvation
If you are risen — Those that are legalistic havent recognized they are risen
The resurrection is the secret for living above the world.
The resurrection is the secret for living above the world.
If you are saved, you are already seated, but you need to reckon it so.
If you are saved, you are already seated, but you need to reckon it so.
2. A child of God is dead to this world and must reckon himself raised as well.
2. A child of God is dead to this world and must reckon himself raised as well.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
reckon — account. To reckon, impute, number.
Impute it to your mind that you are already resurrected.
We need to stop thinking that tis world has somethign taht God accepts. He wants you to live in the reality of teh resurrection.
B. Seek Those things which are Above
B. Seek Those things which are Above
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Seek — to seek after, look for, strive to find
Once you have your position settled from where you focus, you now seek forteh blessings in that place
1. The Lord does not want you to concern yourself with the things of this world.
1. The Lord does not want you to concern yourself with the things of this world.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
2. Seek the blessings from Heaven not the earth
2. Seek the blessings from Heaven not the earth
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When you find yourself getting ancxious about this world, give it to the Lord in prayer.
The true blessings are with Christ in Heaven. Don’t only expect forHim to blessyou suing earthly means. The realblessings are in Heaven.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Spiritual blessings are in Christ
Chosen to be holy in Christ
Adopted by Christ
Made accepted in Him
We have redemption and forgiveness in Christ
C. Set Your Affections Above
C. Set Your Affections Above
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
set your affections — mind. To think, have a mindset, be minded. The activity represented by this word involves the will, affections, and conscience.
1. Your heart is where the decsion is made of what is your treasure in life.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2. What you set your heart on is what will determine what you will be.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.
3. If you have your heart set in this world, you will not love God.
D. Settle What Life you will Live
D. Settle What Life you will Live
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Our life is hid with Christ
We will manifest with Christ when Christ is manifested
The life that all of us could experience today is the one that Christ has hidden with Him. We must seek what this life is andhowwe can experience it now, not only when we die.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
People that willnot lode their life for Christ, will try to pressure you to keep your old life as well, but you must refuse to put them first, no matter who they are.