An Old Challenge For A New Year

Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV)

“An Old Challenge For A New Year”

Spurgeon said, “Paul’s marvelously rich expression indicates, that Christ is the source of our life. “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb raised us to newness of life. He is now the substance of our spiritual life. It is by his life that we live; he is in us, the hope of glory, the spring of our actions, the central thought which moves every other thought. Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus’ flesh and blood? “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” O wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin, you never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your spirits, except ye find it in him! Christ is the solace of our life. All our true joys come from him; and in times of trouble, his presence is our consolation. There is nothing worth living for but him; and his lovingkindness is better than life! Christ is the object of our life. As speeds the ship towards the port, so hastes the believer towards the haven of his Savior’s bosom. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies the Christian towards the perfecting of his fellowship with Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his captain, and is crowned in his captain’s victory, so the believer contends for Christ, and gets his triumph out of the triumphs of his Master. “For him to live is Christ.” Christ is the exemplar of our life. Where there is the same life within, there will, there must be, to a great extent, the same developments without; and if we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus we shall grow like him. We shall set him before us as our Divine copy, and we shall seek to tread in his footsteps, until he shall become the crown of our life in glory. Oh! how safe, how honored, how happy is the Christian, since Christ is our life!”

Paul concludes chapter 2 with “if you died with Christ” where he is discussing our spiritual position! Paul teaches in Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:” We died to the penalty and the power of sin when Jesus died on the cross. But we must never forget that our Salvation was not free! Sin is expensive, but Jesus paid it all, Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But because we have died with Christ, chapter 3 begins with we have also risen with Him! Paul says, “If then you were raised with Christ.” You see, we died to sin but were raised to life eternal! As we reflect on this past year and anticipate the new year to come, let us consider this text in that there are some things that need to be retained, there are some things that need to be released and yes there are some things that need to be remembered. I want to open these verses today and show you that God has a plan for your life; that He wants certain things from your life; and that He demands that you let some things go. Notice the challenges contained in these verses as I preach to you on the thought An Old Challenge For A New Year.

I. v. 1-2 THINGS TO BE RETAINED

- Paul tells us that we are “risen with Christ”. In this verse, Paul reminds us that we have also been raised up with Jesus. When He died, we died. When He rose from the dead, we rose from the dead as well! When He got up, every person who would ever believe in Him got up as well! We must never forget that we are dead to sin and alive to a new life in Jesus! This knowledge will help us live for His glory. Since we have been raised to a new life in Jesus, we are told to “seek those things which are above”. The verb “seek” is in the Present Tense, Imperative Mode. In other words, we are told to “continually be seeking those things which are above”. Verse 2 builds on that thought by telling us to “set” our “affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” We are told here to seek out heavenly things not earthly things. We are to set our minds on the things of God and on the things that bring glory to Him. In other words, we are to live like Jesus lived. God’s people are called upon to become heavenly minded. Philippians 4:8 NKJV Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. This is possible because of our Lord’s presence in Heaven. From His place at the Father’s right hand, Jesus makes intercession for us and He gives us all that we need to live for Him in this world, Romans 8:31 asks, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”