Session 1: God's View of You (Colossians 3:13-23)
His Design, My Purpose • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I received one of the greatest gifts of all time.
Why do bananas have to put on sunscreen before they go to the beach? Because they might peel!
The rotation of earth really makes my day.
Last night, my wife asked me if I'd seen the dog bowl. I said, "I didn't know he could."
My wife asked me to stop singing "I'm A Believer", by The Monkees because she found it annoying. At first, I thought she was kidding...But then I saw her face…(now “I’m a Believer”)
Tonight we are going to start a 3 week series called: The Pursuit - where we learn
Today we are going to discover God’s View of You. I have talked with a lot of people who seem to have a mangled misunderstanding of how God views them. One of those people is the guy I see in the mirror everyday.
Did I Get It Right?
I grew up in church. I prayed a sincere prayer of faith as a young boy. But as a junior in high school I walked through the halls with a question echoing through my mind all day long. “If I die today…for real…what happens to me?”
Upon returning home, my mom knew something was wrong and I eventually shared my struggle with her. I was looking for her to answer my question, and my Mom wisely responded, “Jackie, I believe you understood with childlike faith. There seems to be evidence in your life that you follow Jesus. But only you and God really know.”
I hit my knees that late afternoon and prayed, “Lord, if I don’t know You, I want to. I don’t want to wonder any more.” I was struck by the Scripture in Romans 10:9 that says, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
I realized something that day: I needed to stop trusting me and start trusting God at His word. I also had to come to the realization that I had a messed-up view of salvation…somehow thinking it was about praying the right prayer, a moment of sincerity - getting the formula right. But that’s not salvation.
Salvation is MORE like a Marriage than a Wedding. It’s about a WAY OF LIFE more than a WONDERFUL EVENT.
WEDDING PIC Can you imagine talking with a married couple that goes on and on about their WEDDING but has little to say about their MARRIAGE? What would you say to the husband or wife who is flirting with another person, yet you confront them - they point back to the fact that you were at their wedding?
But because many people treat salvation like a WONDERFUL EVENT rather than a WAY OF LIFE, we wonder if we got the FORMULA just right instead of looking at the FRUIT of our lives.
So, let’s begin this retreat getting some clarity on the condition of our souls and ask this question: “Whats God’s view of YOU?”
2 iPhones - Using these iPhones as visual examples, which one would YOU say better represents God’s view of You - busted and broken OR clean & ready to do what you were created to do?
I find that many who don’t follow Jesus view themselves as somehow having cut a deal with the ‘big man upstairs’; as long as their good outweighs their bad, the God who loves them will certainly let them into heaven. Consequently, they might identify their lives as being represented by the phone with NO CRACKS.
On the flip side, many who claim to be Christians act or think as though they haven’t been fully forgiven, still wallowing in their past, hoping they will make it into heaven, but only by the skin of their teeth. As such, they don’t have confidence in Christ and identify themselves as being represented by the phone with LOTS OF CRACKS.
In just a moment, we’ll discover God’s View of You according to the Scriptures. But before we do, let’s get a glimpse at Who Jesus really is and what He has done for us.
Colossians 1:13–14 (CSB)
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
❖ “transferred us into the kingdom” Jewish people would no doubt think of being released from the darkness of slavery under Pharaoh and being transferred into the kingdom of Yahweh. The Jewish people were further familiar with how conquering kings would remove people from their homes and transfer them closer to the king. Remember Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego being transplanted from Israel to Babylon?
❖ “redemption, the forgiveness of sins” Redemption is a term used of captives who are either ransomed or released from slavery. In other words, the new master has bought the slave and brought the slave into his kingdom.
QUESTION: How is It that all this occurs? It is through the DEATH of the Son He loves that all this occurs?
As just in case you misunderstand and think of Jesus, God’s Son, as God’s kid - Paul writes these weighty words:
Colossians 1:15–16 (CSB)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
❖ “image of the invisible God”
First, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. This same Greek term “image” is used when referring to
the stamped portrait of Tiberius Caesar found on first-century coins (e.g., Mat 22:20, Mk 12:16, Lk 20:24). If you were to pass that coin around in Jesus’ day and ask, “Whose face is this?” They would say, “Caesar’s”. It is the image of Caesar.
Many people had seen Tiberius Caesar or his likeness on a coin, but the Old and New Testament both teach that no one has ever seen God. Consequently, God’s people were commanded to NEVER to form a statue or coin to represent His image (Ex 20:4).
In fact, you might remember that while God told Moses to put cherubim (angels) on the Ark of the Covenant, he was to leave a blank space in between called the “mercy seat” - representing the THRONE of God, the place where God would meet and speak with Moses. It was to have NO IMAGE OF GOD (Ex 25:18–22).
So, while Paul calls Jesus “the image of God”, one of Jesus’ closest disciples opens his gospel with this crystal clear description of Jesus.
John 1:18 (CSB)
No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side—He has revealed Him.
In other words, the God who has never been seen by human eyes, is seen in Jesus.
Paul’s 1st incredible claim about Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God”. Next, Paul says that Jesus is...
❖ “the firstborn over all creation”…so what’s THAT mean?
First, let me tell you what it DOESN’T mean. This is one of the first passages that a Jehovah's Witness will twist to try to dilute the deity of Jesus. They take that to mean that Jesus is ‘first created’ by “Jehovah” (Yahweh is God’s true name). In fact, they teach that Jesus was first known CREATED as Michael, the Archangel…to which I always respond, “Show me THAT in the Scripture" - it’s not there.
The early church did not believe that Paul intended “firstborn” to mean first created - as in chronological birth order. In fact, Paul could have used a word to mean just that (Greek prōtoktistos “first created”), but he didn’t.
Firstborn does not always refer to the one BORN FIRST, but to one who is in authority over others. Psalm 89:27 uses this same word - firstborn, referring to King David:
Psalm 89:27 I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.
Here’s what is interesting. David wasn’t even the firstborn in his family! Chronologically, he was the LAST BORN (1 Sam 16:3-13). Clearly, firstborn isn’t referring to birth order but to supremacy over all others - the One to whom all others must submit to.
We might say it this way: Jesus is the “first born” = Large and In Charge!
Watch how that fits the context with the rest of this passage!
Colossians 1:16 CSB
For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Jesus created everything in the universe - heaven and on earth, what is visible (stuff we see - e.g. trees) and invisible (stuff we don’t see - e.g. oxygen). He created the sun, planets, moons, and stars.
JESUS is CREATOR of all things that astronomers, biologists, zoologists, botanist, hematologists, archaeologists, and lots most ‘gists’ and ‘nists’ study!!
Jesus is the CREATOR of all thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - visible kingdoms on earth and in the invisible authority of angels - and even those angels who rebelled and now stand against him, including Satan.
As you read the gospels you’ll be blown away to see how demon-possessed people submit to Jesus out of fear. He tells them to shut up and they get quiet. He tells them to get out and they abandon ship!
You see, ALL thrones, dominions, rulers, & authorities…are UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR CREATOR = JESUS!
Further, all things have been created through him and FOR him!
Can you IMAGINE that claim being made about YOU or ME? All things were created THROUGH US and FOR US? That’s CRAZY!!! All things were created FOR the GLORY of JESUS! By the way - that includes YOU and ME!
We see this reality when the disciples wake Jesus up in the middle of the Sea of Galilee - afraid they are about to drown. Jesus. Jesus tells the storm to die down…and it does! The disciples were...
“In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Lk 8:25 NIV
WHO IS THIS? This is Jesus - God in skin. Listen to the rest of what Paul writes”
Colossians 1:17–18 (CSB)
He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the Head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
And now we come to the most incredible part of this passage.
Colossians 1:19–20 (NET) 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Isn’t that GREAT NEWS!!!?? That Jesus’ death, death on the cross, can reconcile relationships (i.e. restoring relationships after being broken) between the Creator and all His creation.
This is not a universal forgiveness of sins for all people, since there will be many who are judged guilty and sent to the lake of fire (Mat 25:41, Lk 20:15, Mat 7:13).
People who trust in Jesus and His death for their sins, experience a restored relationship with God (and with one another).
Paul says that Jesus’ death was making peace. Why does one need to “make peace”? A person only makes peace with an enemy. And just to make sure the audience understands Paul digs deeper and clarifies God’s view of YOU…and me.
Colossians 1:21 (NET) And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds,
In other words, we either WERE or now ARE enemies of God (Rom. 5:10, Eph 2:3), who stood against God in our minds and evil deeds.
Have you ever thought about YOURSELF like THAT - an ENEMY of God?
Most of us probably think that is too harsh as we defend ourselves saying, “I’m not an ENEMY of God. I believe in God, I pray every now and then, I go to church, I even give money sometimes. And besides all that, I’m a pretty good person.” That however, is NOT the standard that God uses to judge.
In fact, we aren’t as good as we think we are. We often give ourselves a pass along with those who clearly disobey God and mistreat others.
A man steals money from his own parents to briefly satisfy his drug addition,
a lady consistently berates others with her words,
a teenager lies to parents in order to participate in some sinful activities…
and we say, “But, they…have a good heart.”
NO they don’t! They have wicked hearts. They are thieves, gossips, and liars - people who spit in the face of God and His commands - enemies of God.
Have you ever lied, stolen, or committed sexual sin? You have sinned against God and have been, or currently are…an enemy of God.
Until you realize that, you will never see your desperate need to be reconciled to God, for God to offer peace to you; until you realize the depth of your sin, how you have spit in the face of your Creator, you will never truly appreciate the death of Jesus on the cross.
And if you continue to live in sin, it just proves that you don’t love Jesus (John 14:15) and don’t appreciate the awesome price He paid for you to be right with God.
Every person in this room, starting with me, has at one time been an enemy of God. Our evil deeds demonstrated that we were strangers and enemies in our minds. This is super clear throughout the Scriptures - even in John 3.
John 3:36 (NET) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
But, that is what we once were. Now, for the follower of Jesus, that has all changed.
Colossians 1:22-23a but now He has reconciled you by His physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before Him— if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.
Think about how significant this is! Jesus can present us to the Father - not as sinners who barely escaped a horrific hell - but because of Jesus’ death - we are now viewed as holy, without blemish, and blameless!
❖“holy” God sees us as holy (same word translated “saints” (Col 1:2) - set apart for Him.
❖“without blemish” And just as sacrificial animals given to God were to be without blemish, God sees us without blemish, able to serve as sacrifices to give Him glory (Rom. 12:1)!
❖“blameless” Further, we are considered blameless - where no accusation against us could stick!
But this GREAT HOPE is also followed by a warning shot across our bow that we must pause and consider.
Colossians 1:22-23a but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him— if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.
Somewhere along the line, we bought the unbiblical idea that a person can make a commitment, get baptized, join a church, and yet live like a non-Christian and think they are okay with God.
Where did we get this from? You need to go read the Bible in context.
Read what Jesus says in the parable of the sower & seed (Mk 4)
watch disciples of Jesus walk away from Him, and never follow Him again (Jn 6:66).
Jesus warns that many will call Him “Lord” with a resumé of what they’ve done for Him, and he will say, “I never knew you.” (Mat 7:22-23)
The book of Revelation is filled with the words, “To him who overcomes…eternal life” (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).
So, based on the authority of Scripture, what is God’s View You?
2 iphones
GOD’S ENEMY - Busted and broken unable to do what you were created to do OR
GOD’S CHILD - clean & ready to do what you were created to do?
That can probably best be determined by asking this...BIG QUESTION: Are You Livin’ Forgiven?
If not, why not? It seems to me that you only have 3 options:
You aren’t forgiven and free. You haven’t turned from your sin and trusted Jesus, so sin still has power over your life. You don’t have desire to turn from sin nor the power to turn from sin. You haven’t wept over your disobedience to God nor lamented what your sin cost Jesus. You aren’t forgiven and free. You are forgiven, but you aren’t acting like it.
Some of you are wallowing in your past - like you are still tied down by your sin. You ARE forgiven and free, but you tell yourself you aren’t.
A zoo had a 400 lb. silverback gorilla was kept in a special enclosure that was thought to have walls that were too high for it to scale. One day the gorilla was missing until it was discovered near some visitors to the zoo. After tranquilizing the hulking animal, unaware of how he had escaped, he was fitted with a shock collar to keep him in the enclosure and it worked. When approaching the wall the collar would warn and then shock the gorilla, and he would submit. Within a week he didn’t venture anywhere near the invisible fence. He never escaped again living inside the same enclosure for 2 more years. Upon moving the gorilla to another facility, it was discovered that the collar’s battery had failed long before, as it was corroded. So even though the Gorilla had long been free to escape his enclosure, he never knew it and he never tried, thinking the collar still had power over him. Some of you are like that. You have been set free and it’s like you don’t even know it. Jesus has made you free yet you still act as though you are captive. You feel guilty for sin that has no longer has any power over you. He has called you a SAINT, but you have called you...a SINNER.
Did you know that the Scriptures DON’T refer to Christians as ‘sinners saved by grace’, but the Scriptures DO refer to Christians as SAINTS! (Greek word meaning “holy ones”) - almost 60 times!
On the other hand some of you are genuine Christians, yet you are living in some sort of sinful disobedience and you can’t find peace. You are feeding your sin nature instead of your spiritual nature.
Confronting a Brother Just a few weeks ago I had to confront a man who claims to follow Jesus about a sin in his life - living with his girlfriend. In talking with him it became obvious that he was miserable and didn’t have much purpose in his life.
Oh what freedom there is when we are LIVIN’ FORGIVEN! We wake up and go to sleep with PURPOSE & PURITY! We bask in the fact that we have been forgiven! We turn from temptation & seek our loving Savior. And…we tell others about what He has done for us and can do for them!
And then, by the power of the Spirit and the help of one another, may we remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. (Colossians 1:23 )
What’s God’s View of You?
Does He see you as His child or His enemy, forgiven or still under His wrath?
I would encourage you to answer that question with this one:
BIG QUESTION: Are You Livin’ Forgiven?
The greatest evidence of genuine forgiveness & being made right with God, is a person who is livin’ forgiven.
FEET2FAITH
Memorize & marinate on Colossians 1:22-23a this weekend.
Colossians 1:22-23a but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him—23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.
PRAY
discussionquestions
Share what most challenged or surprised you from this teaching.
Read Col 1:19-21 and Rom 5:10. Why did Jesus come to make peace? Have you ever thought about YOURSELF or any other friend or family member as an ENEMY of God? If so, how? If not, why not?
Work on memorizing Colossians 1:22-23a together. Then spend some time chewing on what that passage that really means.
How can answering today’s BIG QUESTION: “Are you livin’ forgiven?” - help you understand God’s view of you?
Read Col 1:23, Mark 4:1-20, Mat 7:22-23, Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26. Based on these passages, what would you tell a person who made a commitment, got baptized, joined a church, and yet lives like a non-Christian, saying they are okay with God?
Share what your plan is to read Scriptures this coming week or ask for some help on what to read. Share other prayer needs and lift one another up right now.