1. Introduction
a. Over the past years, the equal opportunity and affirmative action programs have pushed the concept of the importance of ethnic diversity.
b. We have been told repetitively that we are a richer nation, a richer world, and richer as individuals, because of what a close identity with our ethnicity and its cultures brings to the table.
c. If the world at large can find such meaning and identity in being Native-American, African-American, Mexican-American, Chinese-American, or any other of a multitude of ethnic identities, why can’t we as followers of Christ, find identity and pride in being Christian-American?
d. Much as the world wants us to see and respect in individuals their ethnic heritage, does the world see in us our spiritual heritage? Do we even give credit to our spiritual homeland for being who and what we are?
e. Read
At the bottom of many of his musical manuscripts, the great organist and composer Johann Sebastian Bach often wrote the letters "INDNJC." Those letters stood for "In Nomine Domini Nostri Jesu Christi" — in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
INDNJC. They did not appear on Bach's manuscripts by accident or without purpose. He put those letters there for a reason. Considered a genius in the field of music, Bach recognized the one true Genius. Known for his extraordinary talent, Bach realized the source of all human talent. Praised for his musical gifts, Bach was aware of the primary giver of all gifts. He could affirm with the New Testament writer James that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." So at the bottom of his manuscripts he wrote INDNJC.
Most of us will never compose a Bach-like musical manuscript (or any type of musical manuscript for that matter). But each day of our lives we do compose "living" manuscripts of sorts. Each day we have opportunities to use God-given time, talents, skills, and gifts as we write the notes that collectively compose the songs others "hear" when they listen to us.
Each day we make music with our lives — composing and performing the measures, verses, and stanzas that combine to form a "living symphony" of who we are and what we are about. (Robert Baker – www.preaching.com).
f. Read Colossians 3:1-17
g. Before we can begin sharing our heritage, we have to…
2. Know Where and What We Came From
a. We have to recognize where, and more importantly, what we came from.
b. Re-read Verses 5 - 10
c. Read
As a young boy, theologian Alister McGrath enjoyed experimenting with chemicals in his school's laboratory. He liked to drop a tarnished coin into a beaker of diluted nitric acid. He often used an old British penny bearing the image of Queen Victoria. Because of the accumulated grime, Her Majesty's image couldn't be seen clearly. But the acid cleansed away the grime and the Queen's image reappeared in shining glory.
We know, to be sure, that we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), but that image has been defaced by our sin. We are still His image-bearers, however.
Once we invite Jesus to enter our lives as Savior, He goes to work to restore the original image. He transforms us to make us like Himself. This process is described as putting off some behaviors and putting on others. For example, we are to "put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language" and to "put on love".
Unless, and until, our sin-tarnished souls are cleansed by Jesus' forgiveness, God's image is obscured in our lives. But when we trust Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we are forgiven and the restoration begins (Vernon C Grounds).
d. The image of God is not seen in the shape of our bodies, but in the beauty of the renewed mind and heart. Holiness, love, humility, meekness, kindness, and forgiveness—these make up the divine character.
e. Being redeemed at such a great price, we should now shed all our earthly vices and unholy lusts (verse 5) like dirty clothes.
f. We must also rid ourselves of all forms of wicked hatred:
(1) Anger—a strong spirit of dislike or animosity, a vengeful spirit, a settled feeling of hatred.
(2) Wrath—an intense form of anger, probably involving violent outbursts
(3) Malice—wicked conduct toward another with the idea of harming the person or their reputation; an unreasonable dislike that takes pleasure in seeing others suffer.
(4) Blasphemy—strong, extreme language used against another person; scolding in a harsh, rude, or disrespectful manner
(5) Filthy language—shameful speaking that is lewd, indecent, or corrupt
g. Read
Profanity and crude language are becoming more common on prime-time television programs. Many writers and producers seem to be intent on pushing the limits of how much immoral and offensive speech the public will allow.
Profane and vulgar language is noise pollution of the worst kind. It dishonors God and degrades men and women. Conversation punctuated by cursing, swear words, and crude and dirty expressions obscures the beauty of noble ideas. Words that condemn others can inflame anger and destroy relationships. They can inflict lasting hurt to sensitive souls who are battered by verbal abuse.
Ungodly language creates an immoral and unspiritual atmosphere, which is hostile to clean thinking and living. Its deafening sound can all but drown out the voice of God's Spirit. That's why the Word of God spells out in clear terms the kind of language that must not come from the lips of followers of Jesus, as well as the kind that should characterize our speech.
Centuries ago the psalmist offered a prayer that we would be wise to echo: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). That prayer is needed today more than ever (Dennis J. De Haan).
3. Know Who and What We Are
a. Unlike the dual-ethnicity citizens of our nation who take pride in where and what they come from, we are told to divorce ourselves from our former heritage. We must cease to be Adam-Americans in order to become Christian-Americans.
b. To truly take pride in our heritage, we have to know who and what we are.
c. Re-read Verse 12
(1) First — We are God’s chosen people.
(a) Chosen before the foundation of the world to be in Christ. All of us—the world. God does not single out some individuals to be saved and others to be damned.
(b) Just as we believe in God's electing grace, we also believe in man's responsibility. He doesn’t save us against our will. The same Bible that says “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” also says “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(c) We are what we are by choice, not by physical birth, but by spiritual birth, thus superseding the effects of our physical birth.
(2) Second — We are holy and we are loved.
(a) Holy—sanctified or set apart
(1) Positionally because of our spiritual birth.
(2) Practically because of our actions.
(b) Because we are the objects of God’s love, we should want to please Him in every way we can, by following Jesus’ example and following the instructions He has given us in His word.
(3) How?
(a) An act of donning and wearing God’s graces, just as we put on our clothes each day.
(b) Tender mercies — compassion for our fellow man.
(c) Kindness — unselfishly doing for others.
(d) Humility — willingly putting others above ourselves.
(e) Meekness — not weakness, but the strength to deny ourselves and extend grace to everyone.
4. Walk the Talk
a. If we proclaim ourselves as chosen ones, then we need to act the part.
b. Re-read Verse 13
c. “Bearing with one another”
(1) Having patience with the failings and strange ways of our fellow man.
(2) Living and interacting with others, it is inevitable we will see their failures.
(3) Frequently takes the grace of God and “patience of Job” to put up with the idiosyncrasies or quirks of others, as it must for them to put up with ours.
(4) But, we are commanded to bear with one another.
d. “Forgiving one another” … “even as Christ forgave us”
(1) Read:
Old Joe was dying. For years he had been at odds with Bill, formerly one of his best friends. Wanting to straighten things out, he sent word for Bill to come and see him. When Bill arrived, Joe told him that he was afraid to go into eternity with such a bad feeling between them. Then, very reluctantly and with great effort, Joe apologized for things he had said and done. He also assured Bill that he forgave him for his offenses. Everything seemed fine until Bill turned to go. As he walked out of the room, Joe called out after him, "But remember, if I get better, this doesn't count!"
What a picture of the way we often treat one another! The forgiveness we offer is superficial, and it is given with a selfish motive. We say that we forgive, but when the least little friction arises, how quick we are to resurrect past grievances. We like to "bury the hatchet" with the handle sticking out. That way we can easily pick it up again and use it to our advantage.
If our sinless Lord is willing to forgive us--with all our faults--how can we withhold pardon from those who have sinned against us? True Christ-like forgiveness buries the hatchet completely (R. W. De Haan).
(2) Forgiveness should be extended even when we are the one who has been offended.
(3) If we had not been offended, forgiveness would not be necessary.
(4) Given our past and our present, how can we accept Christ’s forgiveness and not be willing to offer the same?
(a) He forgave us freely. So should we!
(b) He forgave and forgot. So should we!
5. Preventing a Nuclear Explosion of Spiritual Proportions
a. Re-read Verse 14.
b. Explain how binding energy prevents an atom’s nucleus disintegrating.
c. Tie to Paul’s statement that love will bind all of these Christian traits together in perfect unity.
6. Summary
a. Being a Christian doesn’t take rocket science. Its underlying concepts are likely the easiest to understand of any field of study, and, with His help, the easiest to employ.
b. Knowing where and what we came from doesn’t mean continually rehashing our past sins. If God has promised to forget them after we have confessed them and repented of them, why shouldn’t we? Knowing where and what we came from means recognizing we can easily fall back into that earlier heritage, risking what lies ahead of us.
c. Knowing who and what we are should not drag us down with the immensity of its implications, rather it should be the very thing that stimulates us and drives onward and forward.
d. Walking the talk is the standard against which we are measured. We can proclaim to the world until we are hoarse that we are Christians, but if our actions don’t match our words we not only lose our individual credibility, we also endanger the credibility of those Christians who are walking the talk.
e. Finally, doing all in love helps us to continue proclaiming our heritage. Love, in this case, is a conscious decision and a conscious action—something we choose to do.
7. Invitation
