GROW - Because Of Who You Are Called To Be
OPEN: We've been working our way through the book of Colossians. A letter written by Paul to a church he never really visited. It isn't a very long book, only four chapters long but it contains some of the most powerful teachings in the New Testament. It's a letter, like all the letters written by Paul, designed to help believers grow in their faith. And how is Paul going to help the saints in Colossae grow? -- by reintroducing them to Christ. Instead of introducing formulas, and new methodologies and writing a new philosophy of ministry or coming up with a new 5 year plan for the church --Paul does something unique and powerful. He launches into one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament and reminds them of who it is they were serving. Paul re-presents Christ, who is the only really, true, graphic, perfect, flawless, absolutely accurate image of the invisible God.
Last week we looked at how he presented Christ to the congregation at Colossae. He said
- He is our Rescuer. Jesus said, "I've come to set the captive free. I've come to proclaim freedom for the prisoner" He is the Revealer of God. The Son is the image of the invisible God, God is only made visible in Jesus. "God was please to have all His fullness dwell in Him." The word "dwell" means to "take up residence" and points to the incarnation. He is the Preeminent One. the firstborn over all creation. preeminent -- the most exalted -- the prestigious one.
-He is the Creator of All things. everything was created by and for him. He created by Himself and for his own glory and enjoyment.
- He is the Sustainer. He is not only the Creator of the world; He is the cohesion that keeps it all together. By Him everything came to be, and by Him everything continues to be.
- He is the Head of the Church. The church is not about man's rule at all. The church is about submitting to Christ's rule -- and his rule alone. The church is not ruled by Robert's rules of order - but Jesus' Rule of Order. The Church is a group of people who gather together because they are overwhelmed and amazed at the splendor and majesty and grace and love of a savior who pulls them out of darkness and places them as heirs in his kingdom and then they gather together in reconciled loved submitting joyfully to the comprehensive rule of Jesus Christ as they seek to accomplish the mission that has been entrusted into their hands for the short period of time they have on earth. That's the Church -- It's a place where he has supremacy in everything that is going on.
- He is our Peace. John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Why is Paul going through all this reintroduction? Because the church was facing pressure on the outside and congregation compromise was beginning to develop on the inside and there were conflicting ideas being brought to the church as a response to the pressures they were facing. And by way of re-introducing Jesus Paul in way is saying, "Have you forgotten who you serve?" When the Church begins to lack certainty of who Jesus is or begin to drift away from focus on Jesus -- it begins to grow weak and inefficient.
- Jesus is not just a good teacher
- Jesus is not just a great prophet
- Jesus is not one among many paths to God
- Jesus is not the great Life-enhancer
- Jesus is God Incarnate (in the flesh) Occasionally you'll run into a person who says, Jesus never claimed to be God. Oh, yes he did. Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." (John 10:31-33)
They got the message -- He had claimed Divine authority over them and they didn't like -- they wanted to kill him because of it. A great portion of Jesus' earthly ministry was getting men to understand who he was. He claimed divine authority over the Sabbath, over the tradition of the elders, over the Law of Moses -- he claimed power to forgive sin -- he said all authority in heaven and earth was given to him -- he claimed power to raise the dead --himself included and he proved it.
So Paul is saying to the church: "Hang on to who Jesus is -- don't loose sight of who it is that you serve -- don't let that reality shrink in your mind or in your heart" "Don't listen to the lies and false doctrines of the world as they try to change the truth of who Jesus is." Who Jesus is --is sufficient for the needs you and I have in our lives. Now if that wasn't enough -- look where Paul goes next - All of that leads to the cross.
- He is the One Who Reconciles Us To God. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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 (Col. 1:21-22)
Paul never lost sight of a place called Calvary. Everything in Paul's life flowed out of what he understood about Christ and the Cross. Paul's thinking and Paul's mind were never very far from the cross of Christ and what it accomplished for him. I don't think he really ever got over it. Every time he thought about the cross of Jesus he was just as amazed as the first time he understood it. That's the way it is, isn't it? The value of the cross of Christ never really fades as time goes by. If anything, the more you understand it -- the more amazing it gets.
Once you were alienated from God -- you were estranged -- you were cut off -- separated from God. And notice he underlines whose fault it was. What cause the distance between us and God? Our own evil behavior. Here's what he is saying: #1, I'm a sinner, and #2, God hates my sin, and requires punishment. You say boy that's a tough problem. You're right. You've got a holy God on one side who hates sin. And you got unholy people on the other side who are addicted to sin. How are the two parties going to be reconciled? It tells you right there -- by Christ's physical body through death -- to present you holy in his sight. Verse 20 says peace was established through his blood -- shed on the cross. Christ came as a man and died for man -- paying the price that was due from man for the evil behaviors in a man's life. Basically he is reminding them about the Gospel -- the good news.
Now again - why does he bring the subject of reconciliation at this point? -- Remember the backdrop. Remember the context.
-The Picture of Reconciliation Has Been Painted on Top of the Canvas of Christ.
He is our Rescuer. He is the Revealer of God. He is the Preeminent One. He is the Creator of All things. He is the Sustainer. He is the Head of the Church. He is our Peace. He is God himself -- incarnated in man. This one who is beyond and above everything and everyone -- this One, who created all by the power of His word -- this is the One who has reconciled you. This is the One whose beauty is beyond description, who possess all glory and all honor and all excellence and infinite majesty and supreme power -- this is splendor -- this is magnificence -- brilliance -- a radiance beyond the stars which he created -- a grandeur beyond the highest throne -- perfect perfectness -- the Supreme Sovereign One - He is everything the heart thirsts for but never finds on earth. Anything compared to him shrinks in utter insignificance - He is the supreme treasure of your life - This is the All Sufficient One - This is Christ -- This is The Christ -- This is Your Christ -- This is the Only Christ.
And in all that He is what does he do? What is it that occupies His affections? What is it that captivates his attention? In light of all that Christ is and all that Christ can accomplish and all that Christ has the power to manifest -- what is it that compels him? What great task is it that calls him to turn aside from the glory and the majesty and honor and the dominion of all creation? What mission could call him to turn aside from angelic worship and offer himself on a Roman cross - to be scorned and taunted and humiliated by people whose hearts were filled with evil and hatred? What was on his mind as he was whipped and beaten and nailed to the cross? It was you and his endless love and everlasting mercy and amazing grace towards you and me. He was willing to endure it all because you and I were alienated from him because of our evil behavior. So Jesus sets his heart to become the Peace Maker -- the Reconciler -- the One who bridges the gap between Holy God and sinful man.
Jesus looks at all the treasure of heaven and then he looks at you who will never know any of the treasure of heaven because of the sinful behaviors in your life and then he looks at the price that needs to paid to bridge that gap -- the very cross itself -- and he says -- you're worth it. You're worth it. Don't think anything about the cross came as a surprise to him -- he knew what awaited him. He weighed out all the glory of heaven without you there and the sacrifice that was required to get you there and he said, "I'll pay it."
He looked beyond the cross and look at what it says, He looked forward to the time when He could present you to God the Father -- holy and blameless -- "without blemish and free from accusation." He has all treasure -- all power over all nations -- all the silver and all the gold -- he has above every king who ever lived and what he wants to present to the Father as his greatest treasure is you. "Father, let me introduce you to the most precious thing I have -- I present you -- my daughter -- my son. Aren't they wonderful!"
An Understanding of the Value of the Cross Can Only Come From a Comprehension of the Greatness of the One Who Made the Sacrifice.
When you begin to comprehend the incomprehensible person of Jesus Christ -- when you begin to understand the irrational love that has come our way through him -- you will begin to know how to deal with the trials and the difficulties and the hardships you are facing.
Have You Accepted Your Responsibility?
Remember the Gospel and continue in what you already know to be true. - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Col. 1:23) Paul says don't move from this. This is bedrock for the Church. This is non-negotiable for the Church -- this is what gives persevering power for every issue every generation faces. This is all the motivation anyone needs to grow and to face the challenges that have come their way.
The NIV doesn't do a great job at translating the end of this verse -- the NIV says, "I Paul have become a servant" -- a better translation is "I have been made a minister" Paul says, God has given me a task. God has given me a divine responsibility, and I'm obligated to fulfill it. Down in verse 25 he says "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me" He's saying, "I've got a calling on my life - God has appointed me to a task -- and I have accepted that responsibility." And really what he is saying to the Colossians is, "Just like I have accepted my responsibility - You accept yours." "I am a servant -- I have been appointed as a minister and I and working out that calling in my life." Paul is saying you do the same thing - no matter who you are as a Christian, the Spirit of God has given you certain gifts which are to be exercised for the greater good of the Body of Christ -- you continue in that. He's like a military commander saying to a soldier -- "Carry on" -- Keep on doing what you are doing." Paul is saying I've been appointed to fulfill my responsibility and you've been appointed to fulfill yours. Remember the Gospel -- Accept Your Responsibility. Paul Turns From Who Jesus is to How He Responds to Who Jesus Is.
Are You Willing To Pay The Price?
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
How far are you willing to go in suffering for the gospel? Now if you look at this verse doesn't this seem a little odd to you? He says, "I rejoice in what I am suffering for you" Most of us try to get rid of suffering when it comes our way. When we're in pain, we want to relieve it. Paul was different. He found joy in what he suffered. How can he say that? because he does exactly the same thing that Jesus did. When Jesus faced the cross -- he weighed the pain of the cross against the value of your salvation -- and when he did he said, "Your worth it." So Paul is facing that exact same situation, He simply weights out the pain of the sufferings he faced and he compared it the value of seeing God's people growing in Christ and he said, "It's worth it."
What does Paul mean in this verse? What he means is this, look; I am receiving in my body what is intended for Christ. This does not mean there is anything lacking in the atonement, it does not mean that there's some kind of short change in the value of the death of Christ, it means this. The enemies of Christ were never satisfied with what they did to Jesus. They hated Jesus with an insatiable hate. They wanted to add to their, suffering. And as soon as Jesus ascended back into Heaven and He wasn't around any more, and the world hated Him so much, who did the world attack? The Church, didn't they? They began to persecute the Church and persecute the Church. Why were they whipping the Church and burning the Church at the stake and throwing the Church to the lions - why? Was it because they hated those individual personalities, no. It was because they stood in the place of Christ and since Christ wasn't around to get they got the people who stood in His place. That's what it means.
Paul is saying this, look: the world isn't done persecuting Christ, but since He's not here, whatever is lacking in what they want to do with Him I am receiving into my body and standing in His place who stood my place is a cause for joy. To take the blows meant for Him who took the blows meant for me makes me happy. If Jesus Christ could hang on the cross and take my sin and the punishment I deserve, I think I can take a few punches for His sake. That's what he's saying. And you see, in that sense all Christians are in His place. As the enemies of Christ attack Christ they attack us, and what is left lacking in their minds in the affliction that Christ deserves they give to us and we ought to joyfully say, if I can take a blow for Jesus who took all the blows for me that's cause for joy.
There Will Never Be A Time When Christian Growth Will Occur Apart From Struggle And Sacrifice.
Never. We live in a world that makes ministry difficult. And it's always been that way. If you know anything about Christian history -- has there ever been a time in the history of the Church where we can point to it and say, "Now this was period of time when there was absolutely no opposition to the Gospel and the saints were able to just sit back and enjoy how easy ministry was." Think about the barriers that stand in the way of growth: people's ears are dull -- you have to work to gain an audience with them so that you have the opportunity to share the message. Even if you get an audience -- while you are speaking - most people are not really listening to what you are actually saying -- they filtering what you are saying through their own preconceived ideas and wisdom. To one degree or another, every person you do gain an audience is still struggling with their own sinfulness and fallen nature that is battling within them against the things of God.
On top of that there is so much false doctrine that is the world -- and they've heard it. And on top of that there is so much hypocrisy in the Church and the enemy does his best to highlight it to undermine the integrity of the Gospel. And people have been exposed to that. On top of that there are so many cultural barriers, and political restrictions and competing agendas for people's time and energy. And the enemies of the cross are determined to the work as hard as they can confuse people and stop the growth of Christ's kingdom reign on earth. Getting people to grow in Christ is going to be hard work. It's going to be a struggle. Paul says all of this, for your sake, for the Church. All of this to win you to Christ, All of this to mature you in Christ. All for you. You're the objective in this thing. I pay a price to win people to Christ. I pay a price to build the Church. They stone me. They beat me up. The world does it best to stop me.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23-29) Paul's not bragging here -- that's not the reason he's saying any of this. He's just saying that this is the price that's been paid for you -- to see you grow. And he doesn't commiserate over the price he's paid- he rejoices in it -- He looks at the pain and he looks at the value of you growing into Christ's likeness and he says, "You're worth it!"
He's saying, "I'll endure anything -- to get people saved so they can be presented mature in Christ. I'll go anywhere -- do anything -- suffer it all -- pay any price -- so that the Church is presented mature in Christ. I'll do anything that has to be done -- say anything that has to be said. Take every insult -- make every sacrifice. Because what is at stake is worth it all. "For the sake of His Body -- which is the Church" Growth in the Church is that valuable -- it is worth the sacrifice. At least it is from heaven's perspective. At least it has been from the perspective of the thousands of Christian martyr's who came and served and sacrificed and gave their all before us.
Are You Willing to Serve?
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. Again Paul is talking about his response to the glorious Gospel. He says I've become a servant. A servant to do what? A servant to present to you the Word of God. -- that's the thrust of the ministry. That defines priority, right? I've accepted my commission -- given to me by God -- to present to others -- the word of God in all its fullness. That's what the local church is all about. He's saying God has told me to do this -- to teach the whole counsel of the Word of God. He's doing it as an act of obedience. It's not that he didn't desire it -- it was his passion -- and it ought to be ours. Folks I know I've been pushing Sunday School here for a while -- and to be honest I've got a bit of a struggle as your pastor right now in this area. It is your commission to present the Word of God in all its fullness to the generations of people that make up this church. I need you to help me understand why there are so many people who have such a casual attitude towards it. Teaching the Word of God is the primary business of the Church -- helping one another grow in the understanding of the Word of God is commission God has put upon you. We all need to take a part of it. Every leader ought to be in Sunday School -- Every mature member ought to be taking a turn at teaching - Every member ought to be about the business of growing and learning. It is who we are as a people. It's not something new -- It's the way the church has always been defined. God's people have always been passionate about learning and growing in their knowledge of God's Word. Am I pressing something unbiblical upon you? Am I being legalistic in trying to get people to grow? Am I asking too much for us to follow the godly example of leaders in the Bible to serve Jesus by serving others in the church?
Look at what Paul says as he ends this section. This Is The Goal: We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Col. 1:28-29) Paul says I labor -- I contend with all the energy of Christ working within me to what -- to proclaim, admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom. Not some of the congregation -- not 30 % of the congregation -- not 60% of the congregation but all of the congregation. Everyone. We teach everyone so that we can present everyone (he says it twice) fully mature in Christ.
Now this is a very interesting statement. Paul says I work and strive and labor and sacrifice -- I teach, I admonish, I correct, I counsel, I travel on missionary journeys, I work -- to accomplish what? Look at what he says. He says for the purpose of presenting everyone fully mature in Christ. It's really a very interesting picture. Here the picture is not Jesus presenting people to God the Father. Here it is the teacher presenting the student to Jesus. He seems to be saying that it's the pastor's job to mature people under his care so that he can present them to Jesus. Does that seem a little far fetched? I don't think it is. Look at this verse from (2 Cor. 11:2) I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. Here the same idea is present -- here the picture is a father handing over his daughter to the bridegroom. You've seen weddings where the father walks the daughter down the aisle and pastor asks, "Who gives this woman's hand in marriage." The father says, "I do" He kisses his daughter and he hands her over to her fiancé. He presents her to her husband. That's what Paul says, "I want to present you to Jesus as a pure bride." In Colossians he says, "I labor with everything within me so that I can present you to as a fully mature person in Christ."
So let me just conjecture here for a moment. If it is the pastor's job to bring people to the point of maturity and present them to Jesus -- How do you want me to introduce you to Jesus during the presentation? How do you want to be introduced? Picture in mind as people come into some great ballroom - let's say it is the Whitehouse. Imagine some great state dinner and everyone who is anyone is there. All the heads of state are there and as each couple arrives there is someone who stands and announces to everyone else that you have arrived. I've never been to a dinner like that. But let's just say that's what happens and it's my job as the doorman to introduce you as you arrive. How shall I present you?
Let me put a little different twist on it. You are the church -- If I understand the Bible correctly -- you have a responsibility to shepherd each other, right? Deacons have the responsibility of overseeing the flock. Youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, Olympian leaders all have responsibility of shepherding the lambs they've been entrusted with. How are you going to present them to Christ? When you introduce the work of your hands -- when you hand them over to the bridegroom -- what will you say as you present them?
CLOSE: Perhaps more important that that -- What are you going to present to Jesus after you've been presented to him? Ill - four people. Two of them traveled together as a medical mission team in the Cameroons. They were elderly spinster ladies. They forsook medical practice in the United States, deciding not to do the American dream and settle back in a lifestyle of affluence and comfort but instead answered God's call and went onto the mission field to care for the poor in the Cameroons. And one day recently as they were traveling in their jeep from one village to the next and they had to go through this mountain pass, their jeep went off the road and down the mountain and they plunged into eternity. They were killed. Let me ask you congregation, "Is that a tragedy?"
Let me tell you the story of two other people, a man and wife who made their lifelong goal that of amassing a fortune so that they could take early retirement. And they achieved both of those goals. And at this very moment they live in Florida on the coast where they sail their yacht and they play softball and they collect shells. "There is the tragedy. When those two elderly ladies plunged into eternity and stood before Almighty God and had to give an account for what they did with what God gave them. What they heard Jesus say was, "Well done, good and faithful servants!" What will that other couple say, when one day they stand before God's savage grace? Asked to give an account, what will they say? "Lord, look at my shell collection." Lord save us from the temptation to do nothing more with this life than amass a collection of shells.
Growth -- both personal and corporate -- is a response to the cross. How I pray we all offer our Great King and Savior something that was worth the sacrifice he made on our behalf.
