What Matters Are Eternal Things

Introduction

The series we are covering is When it comes down to it, what really matters. Paul spoke two weeks ago on Where are our priorities and Larry spoke last week on What you do every day in life. Today I will speak about What matters are eternal things.

Col 3:1-4 - 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. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians his book theme was truth. Chapter one talks about the truth of Christ, chapter two about the truth of cults, and chapter three about the truth of Christianity. Chapter 3 in verses 1-4 about the practicality of Christian living as it pertains to a focus on heaven with the remainder of chapter 3 and all of 4 about the Christian's walk in this world. Today I am going to focus on verse one, Col 3:1 - If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Prayer

If then you were raised with Christ - lets look at this phrase.

Baptism - if we are truly raised in Christ, we are baptized

Rom 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,.

The death, burial, and resurrection - churches are minimizing the importance of these three things, but they are the very cornerstone of our belief. Without these there is no Christianity, without the atonement, we cannot have grace, and without grace we do not have salvation. There are certain doctrinal essentials that cannot be compromised for anything. Christ died for these, the Apostles died for these and many Christians died for these through the years, if we are raised in Christ, then we cannot compromise for the sake of toleration, or any other reason. Truth is truth and it cannot be changed.

Discipleship - if we are truly raised in Christ, then we are His disciples

Joh 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

What it means to be a disciple is several classes in itself, For this message just know that a disciple is someone who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another

Seek those things which are above -

The word 'seek’ marks aspiration, desire, and passion, Sometimes we say, “Music is his life” or “Sports is her life” or “He lives for his work.” When we hear these things we know the type of person that is, of the Christian it should be said, “Jesus Christ is his life.”

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

We need to be in the same mind of Christ

Php 2:1-7 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

We need to live for His will

Rom 14:7-8 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's

But the two are not separate thoughts, the apostle Paul was a pretty straight forward guy and the word IF of the first statement denotes the fact that provided the statement is true, you have no choice in part two Seek. It is like a computer programmed If-Then statement, for there to be logical progression of the program both have to be true, otherwise something else will happen.

Seeking God is not a matter of seclusion - Martin Luther "monk", after years of Monasticism with their ascetic form of religion (severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence) , he found that you cannot be in Christ and be separated from the world. Colossians chapter 2 Paul tells us there is no real value in restraining indulgence of the flesh. The only remedy for sinful passions is found in the believers’ experience of union with Christ.

Because we were raised with Christ, we should act just as Jesus did when He was resurrected. The job is not finished Jesus did not just return to heaven, he meet with people and made sure that the church was taken care of, His disciples were on the right path, and He expressed the fact that He will return

Sitting at the right hand of God - (a psalms of David referring to Christ and His time between ascension and return) Psalms 110: 1 The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."

This phrase, focuses attention on the sovereign rule which Christ now exercises, He has ultimate authority. Now (Gal 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Therefore the devil has no power over the children of God, his power lies in our inability to live in Christ

The command to aspire to the things of heaven is a command to meditate and dwell upon, as well as live Christ’s sort of life, and on the fact that he is now enthroned as the Lord of the world.” (Wright)

Conclusion - as we prepare for the invitation I want to leave you with this verse to ponder.

Rom 8:1-11 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.