Dress Up

Nearest cleaner. Girl, Claire well, as you know Klinger dressed up as a woman, trying to get out of the army, get a Section 8 and so he was pretending to be a woman. Although some today. I try real hard not to pretend as being a woman but the salt goes but ask me look at dressing up. Last week. We spoke about waking up today or were you talking about dressing up and that we need to dress up and dress up properly? And I'm not talking about our physical dress. I'm talking about being close with Christ, and the idea of being dressed up as something that's not Make-Believe. You know, that Jake Paul song from Conway Twitty, It's Only Make Believe talking about that relationship. He had with this woman, but the woman didn't think that way the woman didn't want anything to do with old Conway and so he was in love with her. She was not in love with him. And so, for all intents and purposes. It was all make-believe and some of us as Christians. We make believe we're Christians. We, we do things that Christians. Do we go to church? We spray and we do all the right things and all of that but for some it's just still dress up. It's still playing church and making believe and so need to be dressed up and dressed up properly. Do you know when I was younger? And I was playing peewee football. And I remember thinking about Tony Dorsett. Tony Dorsett was the running back for the Dallas Cowboys for those who don't know, but I remember thinking about the place that I saw on television that Tony Dorsett. Me and so, in my mind's eye. I thought I was Tony Dorsett and I could shoot and I could move and I could run like, Tony Dorsett. But but in reality, I was not. And same thing with playing basketball. Right? Many years ago, as a young kid growing up. I thought I was dr. J Junior, doctor J. He was the precursor to Michael Jordan. All right, and how you happen to think of the greatest basketball player of all time, but any of it. I was the one that could just glide through the air and just Jam at basketball. And once again, I'm no doctor Jay Wright, and but I felt like it. I didn't look like it, but I felt like it. And that's the thing about dressing up. You can pretend, but God tells us that we need to dress up with God by dressing up with his word. And the idea that when you put on God's word, you're putting on God, and so you're becoming Godly, you're becoming the Christ Light. I will never be Jesus, but I can be like him. I will never be to God the father, but I can be like him in the sense that I have his attributes and its characteristics. And I could become like, God and I could become like the the Holy Spirit and that I'm becoming spiritual. By living the way God wants me to live. And so that's the idea of the dress that we have under consideration this morning. And so I take us back to the text that we just read. And just noticed some of the words here. So therefore as the elect the chosen, the chosen of God, God has elected us, has chosen us to be his children and he has elected us, not as individuals, but as a class of people You see, he predetermine that anybody who wanted to become a follower of your son, Jesus Christ, would have to believe that he is the Christ. Would have to repent of their sins would have to confess and would have to put him on in baptism. I noticed that word here. Therefore as the elect of God, hold your beloved put on and literally two clothes. Close be close with Tender Mercies kindness, humility meekness. Long-suffering bearing with one another and forgiving one, another and Paul hears riding to the people at colossae, to remind them of who they were, who they are their sons and daughters of God. And so he's reminding them since your sons and daughters of God, behave like Sons and Daughters of God. and as you can see, we can see the issues in the problems that are existing in the church at class-a. By what Paul saying here, put on Tender Mercies. Evidently there wasn't much Mercy going on in the congregation. Put on tonya's. Humility meekness. Long-suffering, some of these things were missing among the Brethren that class A bearing with one another. Elsewhere in 1st Corinthians. Chapter 13, says bearing with one another in love. And then he says, and forgiving one, another, if these qualities, these Godly attributes are not existed in the church, if you're not existing in the church because they're not existing in my life. Remember. God's Church begins with me, begins with you. And to have these Godly attributes are biting in our own hearts. Aunt to show that the church collectively has those Godly attributes dwelling and its heart. So we need to have these understandings about Paul saying, concerning the brother here. Classic notice. He says, if anyone has a complaint against another even asked Christ, forgave you? So you must do my dude, it's not an option. We need to be forgiving one another, there's some things I might say or do that might offend you. And you need to address that with me. But we need to be forgiving. There's something that you might say or do that will offend somebody else, but we need to be forgiving not to go out of our way to condemn and to persecute. But to forgive remember, this is a family, a family that's brought together by the blood of Christ and therefore, because we've been forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. We ought to have. Also have that same blood. Forgive others, who done us wrong. And be forgiving. And so he says, but above all these things put on clothes be close with love which is the bond of perfection completion. It's not talkin about sinlessness. It's talking about being complete in Christ and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. You are what you think you are. I'm a dad used to tell me that you are what you think you are, son. If you want to hang out with the wrong crowd and be a part of that crowd, you are what you think you are. Well, the Bible tells us that very principle, right? I'm as a man Soul thinks in his heart. So is he? You are who you think you are? Impulse a lesson. You're a child of God. You're an heir to the throne. You're an air of righteousness along with Jesus Christ, your elder brother. Now start behaving, that way. Be that child that God wants you to be. And so begins to think that way. And so in Romans, chapter 12, Paul says, I beseech you brother by the mercies of God, that you hate your brother by the mercies of God, that you follow God, that you put on the whole armor of God, and then he goes on, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by what by the renewing of your mind. Now, we're back to the mind. We're back to the heart. We're back to how we sing. How we sing? And then the Romans chapter 8 process for those who live according to the flesh. Set their minds on things of the Flesh. And those who live, according to the spirit set their minds on things of the spirit, for to be carnally, minded is death. But to be spiritually, minded is life and peace. So, the whole point that he's talking about is this mindset, this mindset. And when you close yourself with God, when you close yourself with the things of God. You begin to act like God, you begin to do the things that God wants you to do. You become more Godly. And that's the direction. We all need to go in and being Godly means, adding these qualities that pause we talkin about to our lives and making them. A part of who we are part of our makeup part of our character. I'm so he says put on love which is the bond of affection to let the peace of God rule in your heart to adjust, you were called in one body and be thankful. Thankful. We just had a holiday about being thankful. But we are bi people of God who are always thankful. Every day, is Thanksgiving Day for a Christian need to be thankful for everything that we have, for all the people in our lives, for the Salvation that we enjoyed together with our Salvation that we will enjoy together in heaven. One day, be thankful for those things. And the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom and teaching admonishing one, another in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs singing with Grace, in your hearts, to the Lord, in whatever you do in word or deed. That is in teaching. And in practice, do all in the name of the Lord, Jesus, that is due all by his authority. Giving, thanks to God, the Father through him. and so, when we think about, Being clothed with Christ and being close with God and being close with the word of God. We can't help. But think about the influence that the word of God has our hearts. The word can compel us to be something that we should be. And I can compel us to be something that we should not be. That. Is it can change our hearts. It can change our minds and become the people that God desires noticing collections chapter 34, you're all sons of God. You can say for y'all Sons and Daughters of God through the faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have clothe yourselves with Christ. You put on Jesus Christ. Something that Christ desire that you do. And how did you do that? Well, he says for as many of you as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. You've closed yourself with Christ. That's when you put them on the porch when you were closed and when you're close with, with Christ, you became Sons and Daughters of God. You were born again, born from above? Born out of water and out of spirit. I became a new creation in Christ Jesus and all of that. He says is done through the thing with the word of God. The faith of the faith in Jesus Christ, 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, all things have passed away, behold. All things have become new. And the things that have become newer, the things in your life. Your character, your quality, your attributes. That's what he say. You've become new in Jesus Christ, and so live, like that newness demands rather than living in the old ways that you came out of. So, all things have become new in Christ Jesus. Let me just say this. Even when we mess up, we have the opportunity in Christ, Jesus to still continue to become new and that's through repentance. And again, better than Sao is the Greek word for repentance, and it simply means changing your mind. So when you change your mind you are what you think you are. You become that thing. And so God saying, change your thinking in the direction toward me and you'll become what you think. You are. We need to have that in our hearts. We need to have that in our minds and be settled upon because that's exactly what God is telling us to do. In Colossians chapter 3, beginning verse 8, notice talking about this new creation, this new creature that you and I have become in Christ Jesus, but now you yourselves are rather than put on right to put on clothes. Put on take off all these what you were. Wrapped in previously. What you chose to wear everyday before? Becoming a Christian and a child of God. He says, put off all these anger.

Anger. Husbands and wives, put off the anger. Moms and dads and children, put out the anger. Wrath malice blasphemy speaking against filthy language out of your mouth. That's interesting because even back then there was filthy language among the brethren. And Paul says that filthy language. Not be amongst the brethren. We all know better. That's why he says that we need to change. And if you haven't changed in Christ Jesus, then you haven't grown. And if you haven't grown in Christ, Jesus,

The net conversion really has done very little. And so he's pointing to them the fact that if you don't change you die. But in Christ, we have all things that we need to change and noticed do not lie to one another. Since you have put off the old man with his deeds and that put on a new man who is renewed and knowledge according to the image of him who created him. And so, rather than going back to the old ways of why we need to understand that we've been put on, we put on new garb. We got new clothes with Christ. In fact. We have all have been given white robes. White robes. Are you saying you keep that white robe on and keep it why?

Don't go back to the old man. Don't dress up again in that old man's clothes. Don't go back to being angry. And vicious and rude and unkind. That's not how Jesus lived and neither. She'll God's children live in that manner, but the Live Like Jesus to be more like Jesus and to be more loving and kind like the Jesus. And as we think about this new creation.

Paul says Romans chapter 6, 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. Knowing this that our old man was crucified with him. Old man was crucified with him.

But sometimes as we go through our journey with Jesus, we allowed at old man to come back to life. We allow him to resurrect himself in our cells doing things. We ought not to do the things that we did.

And so what can we do when that happens? Well, remember the words of Jesus and Matthew 16:24. Jesus was telling his Apostles is all those who desire to follow me or to come after me. Let him deny himself.

Let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me. Now. The idea of denying self is this I really, really want to do something. I really want to do this.

But I can't. Now, the old man would do that in a heartbeat.

But now you have a new man, a new way of living a new creation. And now that new creation is fighting against that temptation. That new man says, I can't do it. I'm not going to do it. Because I have a new life in Christ, Jesus. And that's my life. That's who I'm married to. That's the person to whom I said, I will be with you forever, and I can't break my dolls. That's what denying self is about. And then he says that you have to pick up your cross. Here's a direct relationship and a reference to crucifixion.

You got a crucify, your passions and your desires and all those W. Then all those things that you once did and put him to death. And by doing so you put to death the old man. Because you still have a white robe. You're wearing a white robe that God has given you. Metaphorically speaking. And so why stay lit up? Why I get it all dirty again, when the blood is already cleansed that rope. The lady says, and then you were raised with Christ. 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 of the Earth. Girl, we just talked about Romans 8:5. For those who live according to the flesh. Set their minds on things of the Flesh. And those who live, according to the spirit, set their minds on things of the spirit. That is the teachings of the spirit, what the spirit is taught in the faith, in God's word. You set your mind on those things and you'll become more spiritual. You become a less and less carnally minded flesh, reminded. And so he says, here's here's the list. Simple answer set your mind on things above and you won't fall into temptation. But the hard part is setting our mind on things above, right? We got to strive to do that and he can't do it, nor Willy do it for us. You have to do that. Notice he says 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 and Glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness passion. He will desire covetousness, which is idolatry because of these things. The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. The sons of Disobedience for children of God. On one hand and the children of Disobedience on the other. Children of God are those in Christ. Jesus. Those sons are the children of Disobedience. Are those outside of prized? Those still living in the world? Those who behave and act like the world. and those unfortunately are still attached to seitan. He said he says because of these things. The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. The polls are saying this. Don't be a child of God and a child of Disobedience. At the same time. You can't have both at the same time. You can't straddle the fence. It's either you go to serve one, or you going to serve the other, but you can't serve both. So, you have to make that decision. Jesus told some stories about counting the cost. Not a person that goes out and buy some property in about a person who goes to war. They have to make plans. You have to make plans and realize what you're up against.

So we have to count the costs. What's it going to cost me? And is it worth giving it up? Is it worth giving it up? so, he says, For the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience in which you yourselves, once walked, when you lived in them, talking about their way of life talking about you live that way. You might not have done it every day. But over the course of your lifetime during those that goes that during that duration of time, as sons of Disobedience, you live that way. and you couldn't wait to do those things, but now,

Paul goes on to show them something. That's remarkable. And him you're also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of a of Christ buried with him in baptism, and what you were also raised with him through the faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead and you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He has made a live together with him having forgiving you all trespassers. All soon has been forgiven because of the blood of Christ that you contacted, you reminded him of this that you contacted when you were buried with him in baptism. To the working of God. and so, That's how we were raised. We were raised in Christ Jesus, because we were first buried in Christ. Jesus. As we consider those things. And what Paul is talking about. Reminds me of The Story of Lazarus.

Was a dear friend of Jesus, who died and you remember the story? From John chapter 11. The Jesus was way when Lazarus died and all the people and all the disciples including Mary. They wanted Jesus there.

But Jesus would come 4 days later. And they said Lord, if you're too late. It's 4 days since he died. Panda. Jesus told him, I am the resurrection and the life and if you believe that Lazarus will come forth. You're so low and behold Lazarus has come forth out of the Tomb. How do you say this? Death guard his clothes, but yet he's come forth out of Darkness, out of Beth out of sin and into the blood of Jesus Christ. But he still has a death guard on. And many of us are like that today. We've been resurrected, we've been made alive again by the blood of Jesus Christ. And yet we still walk as if we still have that death garb.

Black rhinoceros. We need to understand that when Jesus said that we've been forgiven and that we have a new life in him that we are New Creation in him. There is no death guard. So understand, we need not live like we have the death Garb on we need not live like the old man is still trailing us still being still following us. Know the old man is dead. You just have to be willing to take off that clothing and to keep the white roll of Jesus Christ on YouTube. And everything is going to be fine. Will you be perfect? No, you're still going to send you still going to fall. You're still going to snuggle, but that blood of Jesus comes with that what role and it's that detergent, that blood that cleanses us from all sin. We have that. And never be ashamed of it. And so that gives us the motivation to continue and to carry on to keep holding down that old man. To keep want to keep our desires down to keep us from 1 to put on that old, Garb of sin. No, the blood of Christ and all that he's done for us to keep all of that all that, it pay. We're able to resist because of the white rose. We had in Christ Jesus and it all begins brother on the day that you put Christ on for all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of the baptized into Christ have clove yourselves with price. That's the day that Jesus covered you and he covered you with his blood. Some of you today have done that, but some of you have continued to wear that Old Guard crabs.

And Jesus says, put away the Old Guard live, the new life live, the Abundant Life that Christ has given to each of us. If you'd like to make that change in your life today, and you would like to put Jesus Christ on a baptism today is the day today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody. And perhaps you like to make a change in your life, you like to make the church to make the church known about that. You can do that today by faith as together. We stay.

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