"A Matter of Life and Death"
Col. 3:1-17
Intro.
How many men remember what their wardrobe looked like before they got married?
How many “favorite” shirts or jeans did you have?
How many do you have now that you’re married?
How many still seem to disappear every now and then?
I had a practical wardrobe. It wasn’t fancy, but it fit the purpose.
But when I got married, I soon found out how “impractical” it was.
Chris realized that if she was going to be seen with me, my clothes had to change!
Before I knew it, I had a whole new wardrobe.
In many respects, that’s how it is with Christ, too.
When we’re born into His family, our spiritual wardrobe needs to change, too.
Christ says, “If you’re going to be seen with Me, you need to change your outfit”.
That’s what spiritual maturity is all about.
It’s about giving up your old clothes and putting on new clothes.
It’s about giving up our old life and taking on a new life.
We’ve been looking at the five purposes that God has given us that we need to fulfill if we’re ever going to be the Church that He wants us to be.
3 weeks ago, we spoke about the purpose of Fellowship.
Today, we’re going to look at the purpose of Discipleship or spiritual maturity.
3 weeks ago, we asked the question, “How can we grow warmer through fellowship”?
Today, we’re asking the question, “How can we grow deeper through discipleship?”
How can we change our wardrobe?
One of the best passages that helps us answer this question is Col. 3:1-17.
Turn there with me please (Col. 3:1-17)
In this passage, we’re going to see 3 key steps to growing closer to Christ (deeper through discipleship).
These steps are life-changing! In fact, it’s a matter of life and death!
Cf. Men’s Retreat – how can we continue that passion for God?
They should be used to govern every decision we will ever make!
Prayer
Read: 1SINCE, THEN, YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. 2SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS. 3FOR YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. 4WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS YOUR LIFE, APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
I. Look Up! (vv. 1-4)
Look up with physical vs. spiritual glasses. What/Who do you see?
You should see Christ. You should see the glory of heaven that awaits you.
LASB – “Setting our sights on heaven means striving to put heaven’s priorities into daily practice. Letting heaven fill our thoughts means concentrating on the eternal rather than the temporal” (p. 1905).
SINCE THEN YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, (i.e., and you have) SET YOUR HEARTS (keep seeking, keep pursuing, keep striving after) THE THINGS ABOVE,
Our heart is the center of our emotion, our passion, our desire.
Our passion needs to be set on Christ.
“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You!”
Why should we always look up?
A. Because we have been raised with Christ v. 1
This explains who we are in Christ and how we should live in Christ (position vs. practice).
Before we came to Christ, we were dead in our sins and when we met Christ, He
“raised" us up to new life.
B. Because that’s where Christ is. v. 1
WHERE CHRIST IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
We need to look up intently, focused on Him.
2 SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, (be of the same mind, be like minded, give your minds to things above,) NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS.
Not only are we to set our hearts on Christ, but our minds as well.
Not on recent events, not on the impending war, not on the economy.
Does that mean we completely ignore current events or the present world? No.
We need to look beyond these events and prepare for the events of eternity. Why?
C. Because we’re dead. v. 3
3 FOR YOU DIED (i.e. your earthly nature/your life before Christ/your old self died) AND YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.
When people are buried, they’re buried face up - they can’t help but look up.
But what does this mean that we’ve been raised and that we’ve died?
Which is it? Are we alive or dead?
Looking around here, I find myself asking the same question!
Before we found new life in Christ, we were dead to Christ and alive in sin.
After we met Christ ("born again"), we became alive to Christ and dead to sin.
Our life is now concealed; we are safe in Him.
Gal. 2:20 I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. THE LIFE I LIVE IN THE BODY, I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
Phil. 1:21 FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.
If we’re a believer in Christ, we are DEAD to our old nature.
When people see us, they should see Jesus. Our life is hidden in Him.
How many of us can say that is true in our lives?
4 WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS YOUR LIFE, APPEARS (i.e., is revealed at the second coming) THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
Now, our "life" is hidden; then, it will be revealed.
1 Jn. 3:2 DEAR FRIENDS, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND WHAT WE WILL BE HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE KNOWN. BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.
If we’re going to grow deeper and be mature disciples in Christ, we need to constantly look up.
Paul now gives us a warning; an exhortation.
II. Look Out! (vv. 5-11)
5PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY.
Lit. put to death once and for all whatever belongs to your earthly members (your old self, your sinful nature); kill them, destroy their strength
It’s idolatry because we "worship" our own desires and self-gratification instead of Christ.
If we’re dead, we need to act like we’re dead!
How do dead people act?
They don’t go on living/acting as if they’re alive.
They don’t care what others think or how others behave.
They’re no longer concerned with the concerns of this world.
We need to have the same desire for this world as a dead person has.
As believers in Christ, our old self has been nailed to the cross - it’s dead!
The problem is, we keep trying to resurrect it.
Illus. 3 Buddies discussing death.
What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?
He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community.
He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow.
"Look, he’s moving!"
We’re always trying to resurrect our old nature.
Paul says, “Look out!” Why? (v. 6)
A. Because that’s why God’s wrath is coming. v. 6-7
6 BECAUSE OF THESE, THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING,
Some MSS says “coming on those who are disobedient”
This is a real emotion of God we don’t like to admit. (elaborate)
His anger, vengeance, and fury will be poured out because of sin against Him.
And He will be perfectly just and righteous when He pours it out – we deserve it!
Our sin nailed His Son to the cross.
He’s waiting to bring vengeance upon all who continue to disobey and reject Him.
This is a promise!
7 YOU USED TO WALK IN THESE WAYS, IN THE LIFE YOU ONCE LIVED.
No matter how good you were before Christ, you were just as guilty as Ben Laden.
Jas. 2:10 FOR WHOEVER KEEPS THE WHOLE LAW AND YET STUMBLES AT JUST ONE POINT IS GUILTY OF BREAKING ALL OF IT.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)
8BUT NOW YOU MUST RID YOURSELVES (once and for all) OF ALL SUCH THINGS AS THESE: ANGER, RAGE, MALICE, SLANDER, AND FILTHY LANGUAGE FROM YOUR LIPS.
Treat your old self like it is - DEAD! So stop trying to resurrect it.
9 DO NOT LIE TO EACH OTHER (speak deliberate falsehoods with the intent to mislead)
We need to look out because God’s wrath is coming, but also…
B. Because we’re dead. v. 9b
SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OFF (literally stripped off as a garment) YOUR OLD SELF WITH ITS PRACTICES
You already killed it - dead men tell no lies.
Illus. He doesn’t want you better, He wants you deader (Rob Frazier)
Dead people don’t mind the pain, Don’t get offended so they never complain
They’re not concerned about personal gain, Does that sound like me or you?
The truth is rising from the mist And the word is this;
That when Jesus calls a man He calls him to come and die!
He doesn’t want you better, He wants you deader.
Illus. Filthy clothes - working w/ sewer/drainage
Our old nature, our sin nature is like filthy sewer rags to God.
Why would we ever think of putting them back on again?!?
SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OFF YOUR OLD SELF WITH ITS PRACTICES 10AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW SELF, WHICH IS BEING RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE IN THE IMAGE OF ITS CREATOR.
Don’t you feel good when you can dress up and look your best?
That’s why I dressed up today!
When we grow and mature in Christ, our new self continually becomes more like the One Who created us.
We are being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator.
Our conduct should match our faith (LASB 1906)
Our walk with Christ should be as natural as putting on clean clothes every day.
11HERE THERE IS NO GREEK OR JEW, CIRCUMCISED OR UNCIRCUMCISED, BARBARIAN, SCYTHIAN, SLAVE OR FREE, BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IS IN ALL.
Barbarians were those who couldn’t speak Greek – lacked social standing.
Scythians were the wildest of the barbarians.
Both groups were present in the Church.
We are no longer distinct from Christ.
Our lives are hidden in Him (v. 3)
NIV SB - Christ transcends all barriers and unifies people from all cultures, races and nations. Such distinctions are no longer significant. Christ alone matters." (p. 1816)
If we’re going to mature and grow deeper in Christ, we need to look up and look out!
III. Look in! vv. 12-17
In order to grow closer to Christ, we need to take a look inside our hearts.
We need to examine what’s there and what should be there.
As we look inside our hearts, there are certain “spiritual clothes” we need to put on.
A. Put on a new attitude. V. 12-13
12THEREFORE, AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED, CLOTHE YOURSELVES (NOTE THE PUTTING ON/OFF THEME) WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. 13BEAR WITH (suffer with, put up with, endure) EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU.
As God’s chosen people – Eph. 1:4 FOR HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS IN HIS SIGHT.
Some of us need to confess and forgive and seek restoration today.
If we’re going to be mature disciples in Christ, we need to put on a new attitude.
B. Put on love. V. 14
14AND OVER ALL THESE VIRTUES PUT ON LOVE, WHICH BINDS THEM ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT UNITY.
Put on “agape- unconditional, sacrificial” love.
Love is the "super-glue" of all of life’s virtues.
1 Cor. 13:1-3 IF I SPEAK IN THE TONGUES OF MEN AND OF ANGELS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I AM ONLY A RESOUNDING GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL. 2IF I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND CAN FATHOM ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE A FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I AM NOTHING. 3IF I GIVE ALL I POSSESS TO THE POOR AND SURRENDER MY BODY TO THE FLAMES, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I GAIN NOTHING.
If we’re going to grow deeper in discipleship, we need to put on love.
C. Put on the peace of Christ. V. 15
15LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE (be the judge/umpire/referee) IN YOUR HEARTS, SINCE AS MEMBERS OF ONE BODY YOU WERE CALLED TO PEACE;
Does peace rule in your heart? Is peace the judge/umpire in your life?
Demonstrating the peace of Christ is a mark of spiritual maturity.
If we’re going to be mature disciples in Christ, we need to put on the peace of Christ.
D. Put on Gratitude. V. 15b
AND BE THANKFUL.
Imperative/Command!
Put Gratitude in your Attitude!
If we’re going to grow deeper in discipleship, we need to put on gratitude.
E. Get into the Word of Christ.
16LET THE WORD OF CHRIST (the teachings of Christ, God’s Word) DWELL IN YOU RICHLY (abundantly) AS YOU TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER WITH ALL WISDOM, AND AS YOU SING PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS WITH GRATITUDE IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD.
The early church didn’t have commentaries, theology books, Bible on CDRom.
They didn’t even have the written Word - so they taught doctrine via songs.
cf. Phil. 2:6-11, Rom. 11:33-36
We don’t sing songs here just to get us excited or wake us up or make us feel good.
We will only sing songs that are true to the Word of God; songs that teach us something.
Ex. My Life Is In You, Lord
If we’re going to be mature disciples in Christ, we need to get into the Word of God.
That means daily, quality time with Him.
cf. WOL Quiet Time.
You will never grow spiritually without being in the Word.
We pity the mentally retarded who behave like infants all their lives.
But what’s more tragic are the countless “believers” who never outgrow infancy.
F. Do everything in the Name of Christ. V. 17
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.
Everything! No exceptions.
If we’re going to grow deeper in discipleship, we need to do everything in His Name.
Give Ex.
Heb. 12:2-3 LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD. 3CONSIDER HIM WHO ENDURED SUCH OPPOSITION FROM SINFUL MEN, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
Conclusion.
How can we grow deeper through discipleship?
By Looking up and constantly focusing on Christ.
By looking out and treating our old sin nature as it is – dead.
By looking in and putting on a new attitude, a new love, the peace of Christ, and gratitude.
By getting into the Word of God DAILY and doing EVERYTHING in His Name.
What are some specific, practical steps to help us do that?
Daily time with God in prayer and His Word, small groups, corporate worship, read Col. 3:1-17 every morning, put on Christ whenever you put on your clothes.
Spiritual maturity means that we can never stop growing in our relationship to Christ.
The moment we stop growing, we begin to die.
If we don’t grow spiritually, I would question if we were ever born spiritually.
But the more we grow, the more we want to grow.
The more we grow, the more realize how incredible and awesome our Lord is.
The Christian walk is a process of putting off the old nature and putting on Christ.
It’s trading in our old, filthy, ragged clothes for our new, tailor-made clothes.
But it’s more than that. It really is a matter of life and death.
We need to take off and put to death anything that hinders our pursuit of Christ.
We need to put on everything that Christ stands for. We need to live for Him.
So what does this involve for you?
Maybe you need to do some serious house cleaning to get rid of those filthy rags.
… to confess those acts of the old nature that you keep resurrecting.
Maybe you realize you need a whole new spiritual wardrobe.
It’s so hard to get rid of that old shirt or jeans that we finally have broken in.
Jesus says if we’re going to be associated with Him, the old clothes need to go.
It boils down to this – we have a choice.
We can keep those old rags from our old nature and never grow in Christ.
Or we can trade them in for brand new suits made especially for us by Christ.
We can choose to remain in death and disobedience, or we can choose life by looking up, looking out, and looking in.
The Bottom Line is this: Choose Life!
Take off the old clothes, the old nature, and put it to death once and for all.
Put on the new nature, put on Christ, clothe yourself with Christ.
Present Gospel. (no assumptions)
This Church can’t save you. Your family can’t save you. I can’t save you.
Only placing your complete trust in Jesus Christ can save you.
New life can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Easy as ABC (Rom. 3:23, Jn. 3:16, Rom. 10:9)
Some of you have found new life in Christ, but you haven’t begun to grow in Him.
You keep putting on the old rags. You keep living in sin.
It’s time to take them off and leave them at the altar.
Prayer
Ask God to search your heart.
Do I really know you? If not, do it now.
Show me my spiritual wardrobe (unconfessed sin, bitterness, lack of love, peace, gratitude, no spiritual growth, no daily QT, not doing everything for His glory).
Confess it before Him. Take it off and commit to leaving it at His feet.
Cut the root. Bury the dead nature.
Humble yourself before the Lord so that He can lift you up.
Renew your commitment to Christ and your desire to choose life in Him.
