Turned
Jeffery Anselmi / General Adult
Turn / Repentance / Colossians 3:1–7
Once we have turned to God in repentance, how do we stay turned?
INTRODUCTION
OPENING TITLE SLIDE
• Today we conclude our series entitled “Turn,” which has focused on the heart of repentance.
• In the conclusion today, we will explore a concept of repentance that is vital for us to grasp.
• The word we translate as “repent” from the Greek means to change one's mind or purpose.
• This involves a transformation in thinking and living.
• The word often involves recognizing that something done was wrong, feeling sorrow for it, and making a decision to change one's behavior or actions in the future.
• In religious contexts, it often includes confessing the wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness.
• Hence, this is why the series is entitled Turn.
• Our concluding message in this series is called TURNED.
• Hook: We often talk about repentance as a turning from something.
• But what about the turning to something?
• And more importantly, what about staying turned?
• Is repentance a single U-turn or a continuous journey?
• Context: In our "Turn" series, we've explored the initial act of repentance—that moment of turning away from sin and towards God.
• Today, we're going to dive into what it means to stay turned.
• Paul, in Colossians, gives us practical insights into this ongoing spiritual discipline.
• Passage Introduction: Colossians 3:1-7 provides a powerful framework for understanding this "staying turned."
• It's not just about what we don't do, but profoundly about who we are in Christ and how that transforms our desires and actions.
› Big Idea: True repentance isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process of actively aligning our lives with Christ, empowered by His resurrection, and evidenced by a radical shift in our desires and actions.
• Let’s begin our journey with verses 1 and 2!
Colossians 3:1–2 NET 2nd ed.
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,
SERMON
MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE
I. Keep your mind turned toward heaven.
• The thing that we turn to is the fact that we have been raised with Christ; therefore, we are called to keep seeking the things above.
• Why?
• Because that is where Christ is seated, at the right hand of the Father!
• Colossians 2:12 reminds us:
Colossians 2:12 NET 2nd ed.
12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.
• The word translated “raised with” literally means to be “co-resurrected.”
• When we have been raised with Christ, everything in our lives needs to be changed, and that happens when we seek the things from above.
Romans 12:2 NET 2nd ed.
2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
RENEWING MIND SLIDE
• The renewing of the mind will only happen when we keep our minds turned toward heaven!
• We are speaking of a mindset transformation: "Keep seeking the things above" is translated in many versions as "set your minds," which speaks to a deliberate and continuous act of focusing our thoughts.
• It's an active choice to direct our inner world towards heavenly realities, rather than earthly distractions or sinful desires.
• The purpose of keeping our minds turned toward heaven is so that we not only know heaven's priorities but also work on putting them into daily practice.
• Knowing the priorities means nothing unless we work to put them into practice.
• We need to realize that seeking the things from above is not chasing phantoms, but it is gathering treasures.
• Our faith struggles come from the fact that we are not always in active pursuit of the things from above.
• Think about things you have had to repent for; those issues were not caused by properly seeking and striving to live in line with the things above.
• We get ourselves into trouble when we lose sight of what is important and we start using people to get what we selfishly want instead of loving people as we are called to do by God.
• Upward Gaze: Because we are raised with Him, our orientation shifts.
• Our desires, our goals, and our focus should be "above" on Christ and His kingdom.
• This is where our true life is found.
• Think of a compass.
• If we're truly turned, our needle constantly points North, to Christ.
• A compass always finds north—even if it wobbles when moved.
• Our hearts should be “magnetized” to Christ.
• What are the things that pull our needle off course?
• How can we regularly recalibrate?
Philippians 4:8 NET 2nd ed.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
• This is how we recalibrate, by turning our minds toward heaven!
• Our thoughts will drift, but repentance resets our focus daily on Christ.
• This is about focus, not perfection.
• What are you feeding your mind with?
• What daily rhythms are shaping your focus?
• Let’s move to verses 3 and 4.
Colossians 3:3–4 NET 2nd ed.
3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE
II. Keep your life turned toward your new identity.
• This is an important thought.
• Who are you?
• I don’t mean, What is your name?
• Who are you, and what makes you who you are?
Galatians 2:20 NET 2nd ed.
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• We need to realize that when we are immersed in Christ, when we clothe ourselves with Christ, we are then added to His family.
Galatians 3:27 NET 2nd ed.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
IDENTITY SLIDE
• Do you know who you are?
• You are a born again, saved by the blood of Jesus when you are baptized into Him!
• If we do not embrace or keep our lives turned to our new identity in Christ, we will never stay on track!
• Our identity has changed.
• When we repent, we don’t just turn from sin—we turn to Christ.
• We are in Him.
• Being baptized into Christ is not simply an external act or something we do and walk away from as the same person.
• Paul is saying that since you have been baptized and the old self is dead, it is time to move toward conforming to the new life we have in Him.
• When we think our baptism is just symbolic, we can miss out on our true identity.
• We also need to realize that our security and strength to stay turned comes from this union.
• Our security and strength do not come from our willpower but from Christ’s power.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NET 2nd ed.
17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!
• So I ask you again, who are you?
• In our society it seems fashionable for people to identify as something that they are not.
• I am not a cat, or a woman, or six foot five and good-looking.
• I am a child of God through the blood of Jesus!
• By faith we are crucified to ourselves, die to our own life, and appropriate the life of Jesus and live his life, reproducing the life of the Son of God in our own bodies and lives.
• This is simply a summary of two truths: “Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20) as the source of life, and “for to me to live—as the actual condition of life—is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).
• It is but a brief expression of faith in the truth which Jesus declared in these words: “I am the resurrection and the life: … and whosoever … believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25, 26.)
• Hence, our spiritual life is not only being “with Christ”; it is also unity with Christ, who is seated at the right hand of the Father!
• When we are baptized into Christ, we are a new creation; the old things have passed, and new things have come.
• We MUST keep our lives turned toward our identity in Christ because something special is coming!
• Look at verse 4 again.
Colossians 3:4 NET 2nd ed.
4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
• I love verse four; it says that when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, you TOO will be revealed in glory with Him!
• That's what it is all about.
• Jesus, who is our life.
• When Jesus is our life, our life will change, our life will be different, our faith will have meaning, and our lives will have purpose!
• When we focus on the fact that we are a part of God’s family, we will be inspired to reach for greatness in Christ.
• The glory will come as the crown of the hidden life.
• Glory is coming.
• Our hope of glory is a reason to stay turned today.
• Are you living from your position in Christ or striving in your own strength?
• Let’s move to verses 5-7.
Colossians 3:5–7 NET 2nd ed.
5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.
MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE
III. Keep yourself turned away from your old life.
• Since we have TURNED, we must stay TURNED, and this means that we must turn away from our life.
• Listen, this is a struggle because we find comfort in what our old routines were.
• However, when you clothe yourself with Christ, you must not focus on returning to the old life.
• I see so many who try to live in the world, be of the world, and yet want the blessings God has to offer.
• If your old wardrobe is in tatters and no longer fits, and then you purchase a whole new wardrobe, does it make sense to keep wearing the old ill-fitting clothing?
• As Christians, we have to fight that temptation.
• Repentance is active, not passive.
• Repentance is not just turning away once, but killing sin every time it resurfaces.
• In Christ we are to be sin slayers through Him!
Colossians 3:5 NET 2nd ed.
5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.
• When you examine the short list Paul offers us to turn away from, when you look at each item, other than some momentary pleasure that fades, is there anything good that comes from pursuing anything on that list?
• Will anything on that list make your life better, strengthen your marriage, make you a better parent, or enhance your career in any positive way?
• Think of all the pain and hurt these things cause people.
• They not only hurt you, they damage other people.
• Our identity is found in Christ; we MUST run from these destructive sins.
• To put these items to death means we are to hold them in check and restrain them.
• Left unrestrained, they will lead us in the wrong direction.
• We will struggle with these issues as long as we live in a fallen world.
• The way to tell if you need to get rid of something is by asking, Is this act befitting one who belongs to Jesus?
• Verse five tells us we are to put to death these insidious things.
• Why?
• Not only do they hurt us in the short term, but verse six tells us the wrath of God will come on those who practice such things.
• When we reject the true God of the Bible, we make up one of our own imaginations; we make our desires, appetites, and lusts our god in the pursuit of them.
• What sins are you tolerating that Christ is calling you to terminate?
• How can you invite others (accountability, community) to help you in the battle?
CONCLUSION
• Colossians 3:1–7 presents a paradigm shift for the Christian.
CONCLUDING SLIDE
• We are called to “seek” and “set their minds on” the heavenly realm, showing the reality of being united with Christ.
• This union involves both a hidden, secure life in God and an expectation of future glory when Christ is revealed.
• Because of this new identity, we must proactively put earthly passions and sinful desires to death.
• In doing so, we demonstrate faithfulness to Christ’s lordship and obedience to God’s righteous standards.
• Such a call to holiness stands in stark contrast to our old life, underscoring the transformative power of the gospel and the hope of future glorification.
• We need to embrace a transformed life and see the joy we can experience from it instead of trying to hold on to the old tired lives we used to have.
• Is your faith seemingly empty?
• Maybe it is time to go all in with Jesus, you will be surprised what you will find.
