Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 7: Live as Those Made Alive in Christ

Paul's Epistles – Colossians - Part 7:

Live as Those Made Alive in Christ

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Paul’s letter (Epistle) to the Colossians was a letter to correct Heresy.

Heresy is having an opinion which is in opposition to true doctrine. In other words, the Colossian church had, as many other early churches, fallen prey to false doctrine.

THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH

We see a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, Asceticism, Angel worship, etc.

Judaism would be the adherence to Old Testament teachings while ignoring the completed works of the cross.

Gnosticism is the belief that “secret” knowledge existed, specifically that the world was created by a lesser divinity, and ruled by an emissary of the remote Supreme Being. This belief system, which was carried over to Christianity, placed God the Father as the Supreme and Jesus as the lesser ruling divinity.

Asceticism is the severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.   The doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification (embarrassment and shame – “mortified”) and the like. Rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; in a severe nature.

It is obvious why this is false doctrine, and has no place in a Christ following church.

The heresy, destroyed the Supreme lordship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it dethroned Him, destroying the mediator-ship of Christ, making Him only 1 of a multitude of mediators, (such as the Hindu belief in avatars, a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.)

However, we know Jesus is so much more than that, He was, is and always will be God.

TODAY’S SERMON

Paul’s Concern about the False Teachings

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Colossians 3:1-17

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Supreme Glory, Deity and Dignity of Christ Jesus”.

I. SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED (SPIRITUALLY) WITH CHRIST

         a. Set your HEARTS on things above

                                                                 i. Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God

                                                              ii. We need to develop a heavenly mindset

                                                           iii. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” Matthew 11:12

1. Every move we (followers) make will be criticized by non-believers lead by the devils spirit to stop the advancement of the Kingdom of God

2. Matthew 11:18, 19 “John came neither eating nor drinking (did not obey any of the Old Testament observances), and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man (Jesus) came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 

a. Because He ate non-kosher and drank wine

b. Because He allowed anyone (sinners) to come to Him and be forgiven

                                                            iv. John the Baptist was “heavenly minded” and did not concern himself with earthly practices that were obsolete because the Messiah they pointed to had arrived. He only concerned himself with teaching about Christ, not what people thought or said about him.

                                                               v. Jesus Christ was “heavenly minded” and did not concern Himself with observing mans rules (created by the Sadducees and Pharisees) which only kept people from God.

                                                            vi. Both were criticized, but both are right in the sight of God.

                                                         vii. Our HEARTS (desires) must be to serve the Kingdom however we can.

b. Set your MINDS on things above, not earthly things

                                                                 i. Our MINDS (which take our desires and put them into practice) must also be finding ways for us to serve the kingdom, thus, keeping us heavenly minded.

c. For you died (old you) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God

                                                                 i. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory

II.      PUT TO DEATH THEREFORE WHATEVER BELONGS TO THE EARTHLY NATURE

a. Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed which is idolatry

                                                                 i. Acts (fruits) of the flesh – Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

b. Because of these the wrath of God is coming (older manuscripts: on those who are disobedient)

                                                                 i. The wrath of God is justice for sin against Him

                                                              ii. Judgments Day, God will pass down the penalty for those who have chosen to reject Christ, who already paid our debt for sin

c. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived

                                                                 i. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these:

                                                              ii. Anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 

                                                           iii. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

                                                            iv. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, 

                                                               v. but Christ is all, and is in all.

III.   THEREFORE AS GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED

a. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience

                                                                 i. Clothe yourselves…meaning a “covering”

                                                              ii. These are fruits of the Spirit of God Galatians 5:22-23

1. We “cover” ourselves with the fruits produced by the Spirit of God

b. Bear with each other and forgive one another

                                                                 i. if any of you has a grievance against someone

1. grievance – complaint, accusation, criticism, objection, gripe, grumble or injustice

2. We forgive our brothers and sisters

                                                              ii. Forgive as the Lord forgave you

c. Over all of these virtues, put on love

                                                                 i. What virtues? – Covering yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving one another…

                                                              ii. Over all of these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity

CONCLUSION – let the peace of christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace

Paul’s instructions here are given to believer’s, and focuses on how they are to live as a person who has received Salvation.

be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish (to caution or give warning) one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

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.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!