Living Is Christ

Christ must be our singular focus.

Sum total of life is Jesus.

Orthodoxy leading to orthopraxy.

Vs.21 may be the most important vs…shows Jesus as centerpiece of life.

Life and death framed in personal good vs. good of others…only way to live for others is to live for Jesus.

Faced with the choice, which would we readily choose: life or death? Choice for Paul was easy — death.

BUT, Paul opts for/is confident that he will live — his concern is for others.

Growth in the gospel still a chief concern for Paul…wants the church to progress and have joy in the faith. Here’s a good test — “saving faith savors Christ.”

Character must be worthy of the gospel.

Citizenship language familiar to loyal Roman patriots.

Paul prays for a worthy life for the Colossian church: Col.1:10-12 “so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.”

Worthy isn’t perfect living…it’s DIFFERENT living.

Before any action/decision, ask, “Is this choice worthy of the gospel?”

What is the chief characteristic of a Christ-follower? Love.

1 Cor. 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.”

This leads right into Paul’s desire and our next concern:

Unity must be protected.

Divided motives and selfish concerns do NOT exhibit love, damages the body of Christ, and takes our efforts away from what truly matters: contending for the faith and the gospel.

Contending = fighting shoulder to shoulder. Fight for the gospel in every aspect of life.

Standing side-by-side, why do we need to fear? Paul has already given us a great outlook on life: fruitful ministry or death and gain. What is there to fear?! Fellowship gives one another strength.

A sign of destruction/salvation. Persistent opposition to the gospel proves a person’s lack of faith; patient endurance in the face of opposition is a sign of a person’s genuine faith.

Suffering must be expected.

Granted = “graced” to you.

Consider the gift of suffering:

It takes our eyes off of earthly comforts.

It weeds out superficial believers.

It strengthens the faith of those who endure.

It serves as an example to others who may follow us.

Contrary to popular belief, suffering isn’t the evidence of sin. In fact, it may very well mean the opposite.

Do you embrace the good gift of suffering?