Now to Live the Life
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Waiting in this New Life
Waiting in this New Life
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
As sinners saved by grace we have been crucified with Christ, buried with him in baptism, and he has raised us to new life in him.
17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Having been raised with Christ to new life in him, how then should we live? As we eagerly await the second coming of Christ, what do we do while we are waiting?
Not much is known about the struggles in the Colossian church, but some speculate that there was impatience growing for the return of Christ. The early church believed the return of Christ was imminent, it could happen any day. As Christ did not return within a few years of his resurrection and ascension there was increasing uneasiness about the future. In this waiting period Paul writes this letter to the Colossians to keep loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Colossians chapter 3 tells them and us how we should live our new lives in Christ, while we wait. We continue to allow the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to transform us into the image of God, which is Christ. As God’s holy people loved by God we must reflect Christ in all we say and do.
Living the Life
Living the Life
The Colossian church was tempted by competing “gospels” . Paul at the end of chapter 2 explains how these competing gospels fail to develop a life worthy of Christ. The work of Christ opens a way of that finds it pattern in the gospel itself.
Unfortunately even today there is an “easy” gospel that cheapens the grace of God. This gospel cheapens the death and resurrection of Christ to fire insurance or a monopoly get out of jail free card. It’s the gospel that focuses primarily on Christ salvation from hell and escaping the wrath of God, which God’s grace does do, but it fails to develop what we are saved for. We are saved by grace from the judgement and wrath of God, which he poured out on his son, saved for the good works he created us for.
From the initial moment that one enters new life in Christ (i.e., conversion / justification), the believer enters the life of sanctification.
Paul in Chapter three reminds the church that they have been raised to new life with Christ. That they have died to their old life, and to continue to put to death whatever in you is earthly. Paul rattles off a list of things we must get rid of. Things that because of them the wrath of God is coming.
18 But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, then our lives need to reflect Christ. As we continue in the faith, and grow in this new life we are being remade into the image of God, Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
Paul in chapter 3 explains what this looks like.
his teaching leads to an understanding of holiness as a practical way of life that reflects the character of Christ.
Verse 12 is the turning point of this chapter and explains how we should live as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. The words clarify God’s intention for members of the body of Christ to live out the character of God in the world. They are able to do this because they know who God is through Christ
George Lyons, Robert Smith, and Kara Lyons-Pardue, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, ed. Alex Varughese and George Lyons, New Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 2019), 384.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
LOVE once again sums up all that Paul is trying to say. Above all clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
LIGAMENTS NOTE
Love (agapē; BDAG, 6–7; Stauffer 1964a, 1:49–52) stands at the center of Paul’s theology because, in the gospel, it becomes the “bond” that creates unity out of diversity within the church
What does this love look like? It looks like the judgement and wrath of God hanging on the cross in the person of Jesus Christ. It is love that knows no limits, It is love that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. As we grow in Christlikeness may our love look more and more like Christ.
Love holds together the five previously mentioned virtues (Aristotle, Eth. Nic. VII 7.1162.28). In so doing, it maintains the corporate nature of the church, which is composed of individuals
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Love Sums up holy living
Love Sums up holy living
Billy Graham had a quote that helps me understand the church’s role in holy living. This is that quote, “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, it is God’s job to judge, it is my job to love.”
Brothers and sisters having been crucified with Christ, raised with Christ, hidden with Christ we eagerly await when we will appear with Christ. Our one job as the church is to love like Christ. Holiness unto the LORD isn’t kept through a list of do’s and don’ts but it is found in Christ.
As God’s holy people whom he loves, while we eagerly wait for Christ to appear in glory, lets continue to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of God. May the love we show to others be the same love God showed through Christ.