Pursuing or Performing?

My Testimony - 3 mins. (Keep it short)

Read Text out loud:

Colossians 3:1-4 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

This is one of my favourite passges, cause it pulls back the curtain on realities that are unbelievable except by the miracle of God’s Spirit — realities that you cannot know from any other source than the Bible.

Question: Yall, ever struggle with some of the “Christian traditions” ? or find yourself out of place? or ever heard someone say “now that ain't very Christian?” or the worst of them all, “you are not doing enough”

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Paul writes this letter to a church that is struggling with that. So, if that's you today, just know you are not alone. you are not the only one struggling with this.

I am sure we have all heard at least one person tell us “there is freedom in Christ” and which is 100% true and yet we all more often find ourselves buried under the burden of self-righteousness.

As Christians, we all struggle with something, called legalism.

Colossians 2:20-23 “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

The idea of gaining salvation apart from what Jesus has done. the idea of being saved apart from grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the scriptures alone. Instead, having to do a list of things without failing.

Point 1: If ----- it's this “if” which determines our view of God’s work in our salvation. Colossians 3: 1

Colossians 3:1 NASB95

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

The first and the most important thing is the reality of God. As John Piper puts it “ Without the objective, external, self-existent reality of God, nothing in these verses is real. It is all religious make-believe. ”

You see, once we are in Christ. It all begins to make sense. It’s no longer puzzling, instead, the picture becomes clearer.

Paul makes it very clear for us in this passage, and here is the most important word to remember “If”

This is important, listen once you understand this it’ll begin to make sense. “If” is where it all starts

once we understand this “if” you’ll begin to see how less one contributes to his/her own’s salvation. Knowing the truth of salvation is real freedom.

(ch 2: 20-23 blends well with 3:1)

Point 2: Now then: “Seek the things above”

notice how it doesn’t say “do,” it says “seek.” The idea here is to pursue, and not perform! As much as we hate to admit it, the truth is we Christians at times are great at performing and Terrible at pursuing! You see Christianity isn't about doing instead it's about being.

You see, the route to maturity as a believer/follower of Christ is not self-punishing practices, secret revelations, nor a certain amount of steps one ought to follow. Instead, it consists in understanding and living on the basis of the believer’s death and resurrection note “with Christ” verse 1. Paul addresses a church that is struggling with the idea of gaining God’s acceptance other than Christ.

What are these things, you may ask?

what do you think? Anyone wanna take a guess? (Pause)

I bet if we were to make a list of things we could or should seek, the list would go and on, it could have so long that nothing would get done. That’s somewhat the picture we get in the Old Testament, and looking back at our biblical heroes, ain't nobody perfected the law, or stood the test of time. But there is one who did. There is one who perfected the law, who stood the test of time.

Answer: Hey, the one only we oughta seek our whole life is none but Christ, Jesus our Lord.

He is at the right hand of God, the place of highest honor, dignity, power, and authority — not below, not above God, but acting like God, and God acting through him, as chapter one (verses 15–20) so beautifully describes. Peter describes the power of this place at the right hand like this: “[He] is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (1 Peter 3:22). All the powers of the universe are under Christ. And Paul adds that this position authorizes Christ to intercede for us (Romans 8:34): “[He] is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Seeking God in the right direction helps us become better followers.

Point 3: Hope: Colossians 3:3-4“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

“You have died.”

Seems like bad news, but is it really bad news? Think about it, though death is the most painful event, nonetheless the Christian life begins with it.

1Cor 15: 54-57

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NASB95

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Application: Growing as a believer is not about pursuing new spiritual directions instead it is cultivating our relationship with Christ.

(Paul in chapters 3-4 describes, that growing as a believer happens not by pursuing some new spiritual direction, but by cultivating our relationship with Christ on a daily basis.)