Sunday Morning in the Word Sunday May 14, 2017

Sunday Morning in the Word Colossians 3:1-17

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that Can Radically Change Your Family (Paul David Tripp) Principle #5 – If you are not resting as a parent in your identity in Christ, you will look for identity in your children.

Results of finding one’s identity in one’s kids? Too much focus on success Too much concern about reputation Too great a desire for control Too much emphasis on doing rather than being Too much temptation to make it personal 

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! 1:13-14  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! 2:11-13   In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! The word “Christian” occurs only three times in the New Testament and never in Paul’s letters. But do you know what does occur 80 times in Paul’s letters? “in Christ” (and “in the Lord” occurs another 40 times)

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! Who are you? “I am in Christ, united with him and therefore sharing in all that Jesus Christ has accomplished for me!”

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! The Story of Joe Nobody

Question #1 – Who am I? This is a question of IDENTITY! The Story of Joe Nobody Somebody

Question #2 – How should I then live? This is a question of CONSISTENCY! v. 6 - Put to death what is earthly in you . . . v. 9 - Put off the old self . . . v. 10 – Put on the new self . . . v. 12 – Put on, then, as God’s chosen ones . . .

Put off (or put to death) in your inner life Colossians 3:5-6 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 

Put off (or put to death) in your inner life Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,     for from it flow the springs of life.

Put off (or put to death) in your everyday life Colossians 3:7-10 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

Put off (or put to death) – motivation to do so Colossians 3:5-6 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 

Put off (or put to death) - motivation to do so Colossians 3:7-10 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

Put on the graces of our new identity Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  

Put on the graces of our new identity Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.   This is a call to become like Jesus!

Question #1 – Who am I? My identity is “in Christ!” Colossians 3:1-17 Question #1 – Who am I? My identity is “in Christ!”   Question #2 – How should I then live? I must live consistent with the fact that I am leaving the old me behind as I have been given a new identity – IN CHRIST! Question #3 – How can you and I do this putting off the old and putting on the new and thereby live in a way which is consistent with our new identity in Christ?

Colossians 3:1-17 Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The People of Christ Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Peace of Christ Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Basics Conference 2017 for Pastors

The Peace of Christ “Paul is thinking here about Christ's peace serving as a referee, as an umpire in the church. In other words our life together in Christ, the decisions we make, the way in which we are shaped as a fellowship, are to be determined according to this rule: the peace of Christ. That is, by the answer to this question: ‘What will best promote the shalom, the peace, wholeness, and well-being of the gospel here in the life of our fellowship?’”

(Sinclair Ferguson, Devoted to God) The Peace of Christ “This means being willing to deny ourselves, to silence insistence on our own way or our personal desires, and to pray: ‘Lead us on whatever path will bring the most glory to your name and harmony in our fellowship.’” (Sinclair Ferguson, Devoted to God)

The Word of Christ Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  “to put in mind”

Admonishing . . .

The Word of Christ Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

A call to live out our identity “in Christ!” Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is a call to live out our identity “in Christ!” We can ONLY do this as we: • Remember who we are … Our identity is found “in Christ!” • Live consistently with who we are … putting off the old and putting on the new … seeking to become increasingly like Jesus Christ!

A call to live out our identity “in Christ!” We are helped to do this as we commit ourselves to a body of believers (Yes! A church!) • Enjoying the fellowship of the people of Christ • Seeking the rule of the peace of Christ • Immersing ourselves in the word of Christ All to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!