169 Colossians Talk 4 - Living for Christ - What we should do for him - a podcast by Dr David Petts - Pentecostal preacher, former AoG Bible College Principal

Talk 4. Living for Christ - what we should do for him

Welcome to the fourth talk in our series on Themes from Colossians.

 

In Talk 1 we saw the Supremacy of Christ - who he is.

In Talks 2&3 we considered our Freedom in Christ - what he has done for us. We saw that:

 

On the cross

Jesus defeated the enemy

He has redeemed us from his power

He rescued us from his dominion

 

As a result

He has forgiven our sins and set us free from the Law of the OT

He has made us alive with Christ

He has qualified us to share in his inheritance

He has brought us into his kingdom

He has given us fulness in Christ

 

Today and next time we’ll be considering Living for Christ - what we should do for him.

The passage we’re considering today is Colossians 3:1-17

 

Colossians 3:1-4

1. 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.

 

v 1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ

Then = therefore. Paul is referring back to what he’s already taught about who Christ is and what he’s done for us (cf. Talks 1-3).

 

The supremacy of Christ is summarized by:

Christ is seated at the right hand of God (v 1)

 

What he has done for us is summarized in 3 different tenses:

Past.   Present.   Future

1. 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.

 

These wonderful facts must affect our entire way of thinking:

 

1. 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.

 

And a change of attitude will result in a change of action:

 

Colossians 3:5-9.   Things to be avoided

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 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

 

Colossians 3:9-14.   Things to embrace

9. 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 Greek 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 whatever grievances you may have against one another. 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.

 

But what’s the secret to avoiding the bad and embracing the good? Notice what Paul says:

 

5. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

 

8. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

 

12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

 

14. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity

 

Notice that in telling us to do these things, he’s telling us to do what we’ve already done!

 

9. 9. …you have taken off your old self with its practices
10. …have put on the new self

 

So why does he tell us to put on what we’ve already put on?!

He’s telling us to be what we are!

In Christ we already are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Paul is telling us to live accordingly.

If Christ had not already changed me, I could not possibly be what he wants me to be. But because he has already made us holy, we can live holy lives.Trying to live a holy life doesn’t make us holy, but because God has already made us holy, we can live holy lives.

Colossians 3:15-17

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 word of Christ dwell in you richly 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.
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.

 

It’s as we allow the word of Christ to dwell in us that the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts. As Christians it’s God’s word that informs and authenticates our beliefs and actions and to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus means that we seek constantly to live our lives subject to his word.

 

Summary

Because of who Christ is and because of what he has done for us, Paul encourages us to set our hearts and minds on heavenly things rather than earthly things.

 

This is possible because, since we received Christ as our Saviour,  God sees us as identified with him in his death, burial and resurrection. We have been raised with Christ, who is seated at God’s right hand.

 

So we’re to stop thinking and behaving in an earthly way. A right attitude will lead to right actions. Paul calls this putting off the old self and putting on the new. We’re to be what we are in Christ.

 

Things like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lying are totally incompatible with our heavenly status. Whereas compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love and peace are qualities that reflect who we truly are in Christ.

 

Whatever we do we’re to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. We can only do this as we let his word dwell in us and as we teach and encourage one another in love.

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