THE SECRETS ON LIVING A VICTORIOUS RISEN LIFE Colossians 3:1-11
Proposition: God’s people are to live a victorious risen life which is vastly different than the world which brings honor and glory to God in this life.
Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s people to fully live the risen life in Christ.
INTRODUCTION:
Illus: A mother looked out a window and saw Johnny playing church with their three kittens. He had them lined up and was preaching to them. The
mother turned around to do some work. A while later she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She went to the window and saw Johnny baptizing the kittens. She opened the window and said, "Johnny, stop that! You’ll drown those kittens." Johnny looked at her and said with much conviction in his voice: "They
should have thought of that before they joined my church."
Ray Stedman tells of attending a Men’s Retreat and enjoying the wonderful ministry of encouragement by Tim Hansel. “One thing he said struck me forcibly. He declared the symbol of a Christian life ought to be ‘thumbs up.’ Not only does that mean ‘all is well,’ but it also, according to Hansel, is a reminder to Christians of where our true resource lies.” He shares that this fits this passage! Twice in this short section the apostle urges us to set our minds and our hearts on "things above, where Christ is sealed at the right hand of God." Just as the thumb points upward, so Christians are to look to "things above" for their help in living life.
Doctrinal truth (in chaps. 1 & 2) must always bear fruit in practical conduct (chaps. 3 & 4). We must keep in mind that the pagan religions of Paul’s day said little or nothing about personal morality. A worshiper could bow before an idol, put his offering on the altar & go back to live the same old life of sin. What a person believed had no direct relationship with how he behaved, & no one would condemn a person for his behavior. The Christian faith brings a whole new concept into pagan society: what we believe has a very definite connection with how we behave!
The baptism of the believer is a beautiful picture of our new relationship with Christ. We have become identified with Him. We who were dead is trespasses & sins were co-crucified with Christ, co-buried with Him, co-resurrected with Him & are now seated with Him in the heavenlies. Our old life was buried & we are now alive in Christ. The ordinance of baptism portrays that change in the believer when he puts his faith in Christ & was born again. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. We who were dead are now alive. We have a new relationship with Christ Jesus & a new position before God.
Illus: I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I. DECISION: SEEK THE HEAVENLY (vvs. 1-4) “Set your mind on things above”--We know that the Christian faith brought a whole new concept into pagan society. Faith in Christ means being united to Christ; and if we share His life, we must follow His example. .The false teachers were instructing the Colossians to concentrate on temporal observances ( 2:16-23), in contrast, Paul instructs them to concentrate on the eternal realities of heaven. The emphasis here is on the believer’s relationship with Christ. Our goals shape our priorities.
1. A new reality (v. 1a) “You were raised by Christ”-- To encourage his readers to turn away from their false teachers, Paul reminded them of their union with Christ. He also urged them to continue living in keeping with their position in Christ (Note: "If" could be "Since"). Paul returned to his thought about the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (2:9-15). The spiritual meaning of all this is that we have said goodbye to the former way of life, and have entered upon a completely new type of life, that is, the life of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We are still on earth, but we should be cultivating heavenly ways.
2. A new reason (vvs. 1b-2) “Seek those things that are above”--To set the heart on ("seek") things above is to desire and to strive for those things. It is to see to it that one’s interests are centered in Christ, that one’s attitudes, ambitions, and whole outlook on life are molded by Christ’s relation to the believer, and that one’s allegiance to Him takes precedence over all earthly allegiances. The verb suggests a continuing action: "Keep on seeking." Decide to do what you know from your knowledge of the word of the Lord he wants you to do. That is the secret of a life that has discovered how to really live. Your life, your daily activity, your thoughts are now tied to Christ. You do wrong if you separate yourself from him. You belong to him. The old godless, self-directed life is over, if you have become a Christian. "The Christian has to keep his feet upon the earth, but his head in the heavens. He must be heavenly-minded here on earth and so help to make earth like heaven."
Illus: "An article in a San Francisco newspaper reported that a young man who once found a $5 bill on the street resolved that from that time on he would never lift his eyes while walking. The paper went on to say that over the years he accumulated, among other things, 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 12 cents, a bent back, and a miserly disposition. But he also lost something—the glory of sunlight, the radiance of the stars, the smiles of friends, and the freshness of blue skies. Some Christians are like that man. While they may not walk around staring at the sidewalk, they are so engrossed with the things of this life that they give little attention to spiritual and eternal values.”
3. A new relationship (vvs. 3-4) “You died…You will appear”-- At the present time we are raised with Him & enjoying a life that is not understood by men. But the day is coming when the Lord Jesus will return for His saints. Then we will appear with Him in glory. Men will understand us then & realize why we behaved as we did.. We have been saved & raised with Christ, Paul proceeds to instruct the believers in other truths associated with being raised with Christ:
1). Dead in Christ (v. 3a) “For you died”—This speaks of our past. This means that we can have victory over the old sin nature that wants to control us. “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:2) 2). Hidden in Christ (v. 3b) “Your life is hidden with Christ” --This speaks of our present. This suggests not only that the believer’s life is secure, but also that it belongs in a very real & profound sense to the invisible spiritual realm. For the false teachers, the treasures of wisdom were hidden in their secret books, but for believers Christ is the treasury of wisdom & our life is hidden in Him.
3). Alive in Christ (v. 4a) “Christ who is our life”—This speaks of our future. Eternal life is Jesus Christ Himself. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). We are dead and alive at the same time—dead to sin and alive in Christ. Someone has said, “Life is what you are alive to.” A child may come alive when you talk about a baseball game or an ice-cream cone. A teenager may come alive when you mention cars or dates. Paul wrote, “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). Our hope is sure.
Illus: Two sisters who enjoyed attending wild parties. Then they found new life in Christ. They received an invitation to a party and sent their RSVP in these words: “We regret that we cannot attend because we recently died.”
4). Glorified in Christ (v. 4b) “You will appear with Him in glory”—Paul: “The day is coming when Christ will return in glory & then the Chris-tian whom no one recognized will share that glory & it will be plain for all to see.” Paul refers to the 2nd coming of Christ as something to look for & long for, but wholly uncertain as to time. We will be alive forever more. PTL!!!
Illus: Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, called “Disneyland for the Dead” because many of the early Hollywood stars are buried there. Tourists take trips through the cemetery to view the ornate & unusual monuments. One wealthy Holly-wood producer was buried sitting in his Cadillac with a cigar glued in his mouth. As the car was lowered into the grave, one of the attendants was heard to say, “Man, that’s really living!” No, that not living –that’s death. To have life, you must believe in Jesus who gives you eternal life. "Christianity does not remove you from the world and its problems; it makes you fit to live in it, triumphantly & usefully." - Chas. Templeton
My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
II. DETERMINATION: SLAY THE EARTHLY(vvs. 5-9) “put off the old man”— While obedience to rules cannot bring salvation, those who are saved ought to live worthy of that salvation. Thus Paul gives the Colossians instruct-tions concerning proper conduct. Three imperatives indicate Paul’s main points: consider as dead (lit. put to death, v. 5), put aside (v. 8), and do not lie (v. 9).
1. The charge (v. 5a) “Put to death”-- Since you died to the world and the flesh, slay also the earthly lusts and passions which belong to the flesh. They belong to the old nature, not to the new creature. “People may doubt what you say, but they don’t forget what you do.”
2. The catalogue of carnal sins (v. 5b) “fornication, un-cleanliness, passion, evil desire, & covetousness”—We are to destroy the old earthly urges. He speaks of carnal sins which includes sexual sins which belong to the old life & have no place in our new life in Christ:
Illus: A pastor preached a series of sermons against the sin of the saints. A member challenged him when he said it would be better if the pastor preached those sermons to the lost. "After all, sin in the life of a Christian is different from sin in the lives of other people." "Yes," replied the pastor, "it’s worse!"
3. The considerations (vvs. 6-7) “The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience”-- Paul mentions factors that point to the impropriety of sins listed in the previous verse. Remember the coming wrath of God (v. 6) and past forgiveness (v. 7). By referring to what they once were, Paul is certainly reminding the Colossians of what they presently are in Christ.
4. The commitment (vvs. 8-9) “Put off the old man with his deeds”—He points out the dangers of social sins – After warning us of the sensual sins, Paul often pointed out the dangers of the social sins. He wants them to discard the old ugly practices. Paul’s second list deals with sins of speech. 1). Sins of a bad attitude toward others (v. 8a) “Anger,” “wrath” & “malice.” 2). Speech that tears others down (v. 8b)—“Blasphemy” slander. 3). Speech that is worthless (v. 8c) “filthy language, out of your mouth”
4). Intent to deceive for personal gain (v. 9) “Do not lie to one another”
Illus: Bishop Warren Chandler, preaching about the lies of Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5), asked: "If God still struck people dead for lying, where would I be?" The congregation snickered when he said that, but smiles disappeared when the Bishop shouted, "I’d be right here-preaching to an empty church!"
I want to live above the world, Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground.
III. DEVOTION: STRENGTHEN THE CHRISTLY (v. 10-11) “Put on the new man”-- Paul describes our former unredeemed life as the old man & our life as God’s child as the new man. The old man is under an old master, Satan, while the new man has a new master, the Spirit of God living within.
1. Renovation (v. 10) “Put on the new man”—This is a transformation. Because we are alive in Christ, we must seek the things that are above. Because we died with Christ, we must put off the things that belong to the earthly life of past sin. The picture here is that of a person changing clothes: "Put off...put on." The result is that we can become like Jesus Christ. We are formed in God’s image and deformed from God’s image by sin. But through Jesus Christ, we can be transformed into God’s image. "Knowledge" is a key term in vocabulary of the Gnostics. The better He gets to know Christ, the more he becomes like Him (Phil. 3:10). Holiness, love, humility, meekness, kindness and forgiveness--these make up the divine character.
2. Recognition (v. 11) “Christ is all & in all”— “Christ is all & in all” is the emphasis in this letter. This is identification. “That in all things He might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18). Because we are complete in Christ, we can look beyond the earthly differences that separate people and enjoy a spiritual unity in the Lord. The Gnostic false teachers, like the false teachers today, tried to rob God’s people of the richness of their oneness in Christ. Beware!
"The new man lives in a new environment where all racial, national, religious, cultural and social distinctions are no more. Rather, Christ is now all that matters and in all who believe. There are three realms, relevant to the Colossians, in which He is all. He is everything in salvation; hence there is no place for angelic mediation in God’s redemptive work (cf. 1:18-22; 2:18). He is everything in sanctification; hence legality and asceticism are out of place in the Christian life (cf. 2:16-23). He is our life (3:3-4). Finally, He is everything necessary for human satisfaction; hence there is no need for philosophy, or the deeds of the old man (1:26-28; 2:3, 9-10). He fills the whole life, and all else is hindering and harmful." Is Christ supreme in our lives and does He mean everything to us?
Illus: I want to scale the utmost height And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
CONCLUSION: In closing, remember:
1. Put your mind on things above. With two minds set on heavenly things, we have two assurances: our life is hid with Christ in God, when Christ returns, we will be with Him in glory.
2. Put off fleshly habits, namely, sensualism, pride and unbrotherly division. God will not tolerate these habits like old, tattered garments. Now that we have been saved by grace how then shall we live? How are we to walk in this new life? Are you dressed in grave clothes or wedding garments?
3. Place your total commitment in and let Christ be all in all. Let Him be your all in all.
Illus: At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in brevity and poignancy: “Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.”
Illus: Roger Benimoff, an Army chaplain went to Iraq because of his faith. He almost came home without it. He writes in Guideposts: “I strode into the Lt. Colonel’s office thinking I felt better about myself than I had in a long time…I was in the midst of helping a family whose son, wounded in Iraq, had died after surgery. I’d stood by the soldier’s bedside then worked feverishly to get his parents and brother to Walter Reed. I was keyed up, focused, purposeful, crisp…I’d been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, I thought I was doing all right…Especially tonight, when it seemed I might have hit on a solution to the depression, anxiety and self-doubt that had settled over me since returning from war…The head chaplain…said softly, “Chaplain, this soldier’s family will be here in a few hours. Are you reedy to meet and escort them?” “Yes, sir.” “You’ll be with them when they view their son’s body. Are you prepared for that?” “Struggling to keep hold of myself…to keep myself from bursting in tears…I shook my head, ‘No, sir, I suppose I’m not.’” “Okay, we’ll send someone else.” “Stunned, feeling as if I’d been punched…We’ll send someone else…meant ‘You’re not up to doing your duty.’…What was I here for/’”…”I found myself…searching for someplace quiet…I was a man of faith. Right! Faith. My job was all about faith. But what did I really believe? I’d stopped going to church with my wife and our two boys soon after coming home from my second tour. Churches were full of people. The crowds made me anxious. The sermons made me mad. All this talk about God’s compassion, God at work in the world…I hardly prayed. I sometimes wondered, was all that stuff I’d learned in seminary true? Or just a comforting illusion for people never exposed to the horrors of war? I certainly wasn’t going to ask God to help me with PTSD. Why pray into a void? I sank into a chair along one wall of the corridor…I put my head in my hands…I sobbed and sobbed, feeling at the end of my rope. If I couldn’t help myself, what hope was left? My mouth moved, talking in the midst of the tears. I didn’t even know what I was saying,…”I need you, God.” And then over and over, a desperate prayer, words I thought I’d given up believing. The more I said them, the calmer I felt. The sobbing stopped…I got to my feet and dragged myself to a sleep room for chaplains. I lay down and closed my eyes. In seconds I was asleep. Things didn’t change immediately at first….I began thinking about a basic Christian concept I’d utterly lost sight of: grace.” He helped his wife who strained her back. “I brought her food, getting the boys ready for bed,” etc. “Then I remembered: grace. Grace began turning up at work too…A soldier partially paralyzed by a bomb blast told me he felt angry, unbalanced. Then he added, ‘But my fiancée is helping me, and my psychologist. And I’m real close with God. I talk to him every day.’ I met another soldier who’d grown up in an area so violent, Iraq had just seemed like more of the same. Though one of his legs was shattered, he told me he was thinking about going back to church. ‘I could have died,’ he said, ‘I was very lucky.’ I was too. Not simply to have survived Iraq, but to have received from God, even as I was rejecting Him, a lifeline of grace. It was a slow, sometimes painstaking relearning of one of faith’s central, indispensable lessons—that when all seems logs, simply needing God is enough. I’d ground myself down trying to fix my own soul, tortured myself with impossible questions. All along, the answer was four simple words: I need You, God. Even when I though I might be grasping at nothing—that’s when I needed Him most….I’m still healing. Things are much better at home…Still, I’m hopeful, ready to learn the new mission God has in mind for me. I don’t know the whole plan. But I do know that it starts with need and ends with grace.”
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