Let Christ Rule

“Let Christ rule”

Colossians 3:15-17

There is a true story:

of a woman who’d just given birth and

had brought her newborn to the office

to show off to her fellow office workers.

Everyone gathered around:

oohing and ahhing and

totally enthralled with the baby.

In the meantime:

her 7-yr. old son had gotten bored and he

quietly came up beside his mother and pulled on her sleeve.

“Mommy, can I have some money to buy a soda?”

- The mother looked at her son and asked: “What do you say?”

- He replied “You’re thin and beautiful”... and she reached into her purse and gave him the money. (Mercury Nicks, Reader’s Digest 9/08, p. 87)

Now - why did that boy tell his mother that she was thin and beautiful?

Because he wanted that soda and

he knew that was what she wanted to hear…

The message I want you to hear today is from Colossians 3:15-17:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

The message we have been studying in Colossians 3:

- is that we Christians are new creations in Christ

- that MUST die to the unGodly things

- that used to occupy our lives

- that we NEED to put on a host of good things that are overwritten

- with a generous amount LOVE

Paul has been using the imagery of changing clothes:

- of taking off your of changing out of your old clothes (meaning activities)

- changing into your new clothes (new activities and motivations.

Galatians 3:26-27 tells us...

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There’s a custom among:

some of the churches in Africa that (after they’re baptized)

they burn their old clothes and

then put on a new white robe to show our new position in Christ

What Paul has been telling us here in Colossians:L

is that when we become Christians,

we need to change our clothes.

Our old way of living life:

is like filthy garments that need to be taken off & burned.

Then we need to clothe ourselves with a lifestyle that glorifies Christ,

because we have “put Christ on” like a new and beautiful garment.

NOW because Christ:

- is our life

- and we call Him Lord

- we need to get busy

- Letting Him take over in our lives

Can we says with Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Our old way of life was “ME CENTERED”:

- it was all about what do I want

- it was about how I FEEL

- it was all about elevating MYSELF

As a Christian everything is “God centered”:

- it is about what God wants

- it is about elevating Jesus

- it is all about Him and not about Me

Today’s text gives us 3 ways we can LET GOD REIGN IN OUR DAILY LIVES...

1- Let the peace of Christ rule.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

The Christian was once at war with God:

- before we had a relationship with Christ

- we were his enemy

- we were alienated from God

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—” - Colossians 1:21-22a (NIV)

Once we are saved by Christ:

- we have been justified through faith

- we have peace with God through

- Jesus Christ the Lord

Once save we are at peace with God:

- we are no longer at war

- Peace with God only comes through Jesus

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1 (NIV)

When we are at peace with God:

- we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit