How should we concern ourselves in light of the history of the Lycus Valley?

Introduction: This morning we’re in Colossians 4.13-16; Revelation 1.9-22; and 3.14-22; So, we’re done with Colossians. I thoroughly enjoyed going through Colossians. Pray for me and our church as I make plans for our next study. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming.

Context: This is the 7^th and final letter to the 7  Churches in Asia Minor from the Apostle, John. Some folks view this letter in light of the other 7 letters as presented in dispensations. The term is Premillennial Dispensationalism. The idea is that each of these letters represents time periods in Church History. For example, the first letter represents the church from 30-100 AD. A time of struggle and growth. The 2^nd church represents the time period of 100-300 AD – a time of severe persecution. Etc.

Just FYI, I am not a dispensationalist. I see this letter written to a real church with real problems. That is how I will approach it this morning.

Read: Revelation 1.9-20; 3.14-22

Focus: Christ reproves this church (Laodicea) for relying on itself (17a) and thinking that it was doing so well because it was doing so well by worldly standards. His reproof was based on the reality that they were in bad shape (17b) and needed to rely on Him and not themselves and their ‘success’.

Need: We need to evaluate ourselves and insure that we’re not relying on ourselves in any way; but, rather relying totally on Christ. We need to observe the churches in the Lycus Valley when they started and how they ended up. Likewise, each church must not rely on its laurels, but rather continually seek to humble itself, totally relying on Christ.

History: of Laodicea; Hierapolis – 6 miles north; Colossae – 10 miles East/Southeast; looking from Laodicea Eastward and slightly south toward Colossae, the mountains rise in the distance to some 8,000 ft. These three cities were located in the Lycus Valley on the Lycus River in what is modern day Turkey. In those days, it was the region of Phrygia.

1. Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs – famous for medicinal purposes.
2. Colossae had cool springs to feed it’s city on the river.
3. Archeological evidence indicates that Laodicea received its water via a remarkable aqueduct system made of stone pipes. It was hot at the source, but would cool as it flowed some six miles to Laodicea, being lukewarm when it got to the city. The problem is that the water contained a “calcium carbonate content’ that resulted in the water being impure and emetic – thus it made them sick to their stomachs, and even caused vomiting.

We know very little to nothing of the church in Hierapolis; she is referenced in Col. 4.13, as is the church at Laodicea; we also know whose house they met in; & that they get another letter that Paul wrote. rd 4.13-16; A couple of interesting historical facts about Laodicea:

1. In Roman times, Laodicea was the wealthiest city in Phrygia. Their financial independence was renown; the region was hit by earthquakes from time to time; and in particular, there was an earthquake the decimated the city in 60 AD, when Nero was emperor; Nero had, what we would call “a stimulus package” that would help them rebuild their city, but according to Tacitus, they accepted none of it, choosing to take care of things themselves; And they were successful at rebuilding their city without Govt. Assistance.
2. This particular area in the Lycus Valley was fertile and with rich soil, producing a wonderful agricultural economy; they also had a type of ‘black sheep’ that grazed in the area and produced beautiful, black wool used in making garments.

Ill.: rd Bruce: pg 8; his relation to Bruce Demarest;

3. There was a banking system in Laodicea which was second to none. The Roman Statesman and Philosopher, Cicero, wrote of cashing his treasury bills there.
4. Laodicea was also famous for its Medical School. It boasted of famous teachers and produced special ointments for medicinal purposes. Most specifically, this school produced an ointment of spices for the ears and a salve for the eyes.

Some of this History is probably review for some of you. But, I wanted to give a brief history, and acknowledge some of their successes because, as you’ll see, it applies to our text in multiple ways. It also gives us an understanding of the pride these people had.

t.s.: For Convenience, I’ve divided my message up into two main points this morning. As we look at this letter, we see how Jesus confronts the Laodiceans for their Self-Reliance and then calls them to abandon that and begin to rely on their Savior.

I. Relying on One’s Self (3.15-17)

exp.: Rd v 14-16; I know your works; let me just say that ‘works’ in themselves will always be insufficient in and of themselves! They give a sense of satisfaction that is simply momentary. I hear Jesus saying to them: You’re just like the putrid water that comes to you through your fancy aqueduct, and so you sicken me. But what is it that sickens Him?

1. I grew up hearing that Christ was sickened by a ‘half-hearted’ commitment; Christ is demanding here an unwavering, or undying commitment (hot) or a complete turning away (cold).
2. A newer, more recent interpretation is also that the terms hot and cold and lukewarm represent the waters from the other towns – Hierapolis and Colossae. Whereas the cold referred to as totally abandoning Christ, here the cold is beneficial. I wish that you were beneficial to me, but you’re not!
3. So what is it? Jesus says in verse 15, I know your works. So, it must have something to do with the work they were doing as a congregation.

Ill.: GK Beale believes that all of the works listed in the previous churches’ letters deal with their witness. And so, that must be the ‘work’ Jesus is talking about (their witness). He says, here’s what you think: rd v 17a;

• You’re rich
• You have prospered
• You need nothing

But the reality is (rd 17b) that you’re:

• Wretched – appears one other time; Rom 7.24; who can save me?
• Pitiable – also appears one other time; 1 Cor 15.19;

Consider from WEBS: (Source unknown)

• If there is no Hell, then there is no punishment for sin, and
• if there is no punishment for sin, then God is not just and
• if God is not just, then we do not need a Savior, and
• if we don’t need a Savior, then Jesus died in vain and
• if Jesus died in vain then He was a fool and we of all men are to be pitied because we have placed our faith in someone who was not who He said He was and did not do what He said He could do and did not come for the reason He claimed to have come and cannot give us what He said He could give us.

I get the idea that someone who plays the game of Christianity is no better off than the fool who is to be pitied because he’s wasted his life.

• Poor – worthless; Gal 4.9; going back to slavery!
• Blind – No surprises here; τυφλὸς; I was blind, but now I see;
• Naked – nothing surprising here: exposed, open, nothing to cover with;

ill.: we see this ‘ultimate sign of being in sin’ back in Gen 3; I’m amazed that Gen 1-2 we see them ‘uncovered’ and yet it was all ok;

app.: Our minds struggle with how it was originally designed – in their purity; but in their sinful state, we see they needed to be covered; that’s the picture here of how we appear in reality before God when we chose our own self-reliance. We are like the emperor who had no clothes!

t.s.: But Christ calls them to no longer rely on their own self sufficiency and, instead, to

II. Relying on One’s Savior (3.18-20)

exp.: Look at his titles in v 14; These self-descriptions of Jesus are here to declare his faithfulness; you can trust him;

• Perfect Faithfulness; You can trust him! He offers:
  • Perfect Counsel (v 18)
    • Purchase:
      • Gold – so you can be rich; not relying on your own finances7
      • Clothes – so that you won’t be naked; white vs. black wool
      • Medicine – So that you can see! Not that ointment you produce, real healing!
  • Perfect Provision – ‘from me’; your provision is lacking, mine is perfect.
  • Perfect Love – (v 19) displayed in discipline & reproof; we understand this, as we teach our children, as we discipline (disciple) our children
  • Perfect Relationship (v 20);
    • He initiates
    • But you got to respond!

Conclusion: I want to give you a chance to respond today – as a church and as individuals. Invitation to come to Christ.

Take away:

• Self-Perception is critical in determining Self-Reliance. That is, How do you see yourself as an individual and as a church? Listen, I want to be proud of Tarpley. I want to have a sense of pride in my walk. I do! I want to hold my head high at the mention of this congregation. I want you to do the same. But, in that same breath, I want my pride to stem from our walk with Christ. these people saw themselves as perfectly sufficient to meet their own needs.

Humility is a difficult trait to master. False humility reaps its own rewards which neither satisfy the soul nor the Master. It is different than humiliation, which comes when pride is the trait behind the actions.

• Be careful when measuring success and blessing. Neither of these is truly visible with the naked eye. Don’t confuse beauty of facilities and numerical growth as blessings and success. And by all means, don’t measure your success by the earthly standards set when comparing yourself with other communities of faith. What you have in savings doesn’t mark your success or failure.

Relationships: There is nothing more important in the church!

Title: Relationships: Nothing is more important!

Text: Colossians 4.7-18

CPT: Relationships are vital to ministry and function within the local church.

CPS: Nothing is more important than relationship in the church!

Introduction: I want to share with you today, the greatest theological teaching concerning the church that I’ve ever learned. I wish someone would have taught me this valuable tenet of the faith early on. I’m standing her wondering if this should be the first lesson of every disciple. I’d dare say a hearty “Amen.”

We learn early on, “What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “To glorify God and enjoy him forever.” The Westminster Confession

I wonder if the 1^st question should be: What is the most important activity of the church? There are 107 in the Shorter version – for children. We should make it 108! What is the most important activity of the church? Relationships!

In our text today we see people listed. This list is more than just some names. These are people who play a vital role in the on-going activity of the church. Let’s spend a few minutes getting to know each of these folks and then pull them all together at the end.

Transition: This first short list is classified as

I. The Carriers (7-9)

exp.: rd 4.7-8;

1. Tychicus – Acts 20.4; Eph 6.21; Titus 3.12; 2 Tim 4.12; The entrusted brother from Asia, who accompanies other brothers with the ‘collection’ to Jerusalem. We first meet him in Acts 20.4. Being selected to serve as one of these ‘Band of Brothers’, he is a trusted individual. And Paul is pretty tough on the men who serve with him. Tychicus is there in Ephesus when Paul tells the Ephesian leaders that he is headed to Jerusalem – even though he knows persecution and imprisonment await him. Tychicus travels to Jerusalem to deliver the gift from the Gentile churches. Paul entrusts him with this letter, the letter to the Ephesians. So entrusted is Tychicus, that he is selected to take Timothy’s place in Ephesus, as their pastor. He also pastored in Crete. And those are just the ministries we know of from Scripture.
2. Onesimus – rd. 4.9; Phm 10; ‘Useful’; When you read Philemon, you get the idea that Onesimus escaped from Philemon, and worse, stole from Philemon. What? We don’t know. Maybe food for his escape? Maybe clothes, or something of value that Onesimus could sell and get some money to make a new start. While in this new city, either Ephesus or Rome, Onesimus meets Paul and Paul leads him to the Lord. Whether they met in prison or outside, we don’t know, but what we do know is that Paul is imprisoned and Onesimus is of great service to Paul during that imprisonment. It appears Philemon hosts the church in his home. I’m guessing that would be in Colossae.

It must have been a great witness for Onesimus, which finally sunk in after he had already made some disastrous decisions. I wonder if Philemon ever thought about that as he hosted, served, gave and lived his life before Onesimus.

I wonder if Philemon prayed for Onesimus? I wonder how he prayed, what he prayed. Lord, bring Onesimus to you. Touch his heart. Convict him of his sin. Lead him to confession and commitment. Lord, do whatever it takes. And then, I wonder how he reacted when Onesimus hurt him.

ill.: I remember years ago hearing the story of a missionary who served overseas. She hired a servant to come and work in her home while she tended to the work of a missionary. It turned out that he was a hard worker and did a great job. One day, after only 6 months, he came to give her notice that he was leaving. She, was taken aback. She had no idea he was leaving. She offered him more money. He explained that he only took the job because he was searching. He wanted to find God – so, he chose the best way to observe someone would be to live with them. He was leaving because he was now going to live with a Muslim family and serve them. He had spent the last 6 months, unbeknownst to this missionary, simply observing her to see if your Christianity was real. Now, he would turn his attention to Islam.

app.: it appears that Philemon’s witness had a positive impact on Onesimus’ conversion. PTL! I think his greatest witness was yet to come, as he would have to display compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to this new believer.

t.s.: So, we’ve met the Emissaries. Now, Paul turns his attention to those who are with him.

II. The Companions and Coworkers (10-14)

exp.: Paul mentions 6 brothers, coworkers with him. The first three are Jewish, the 2^nd three are Gentiles.

1. Aristarchus – is actually mentioned before we meet Tychicus in Acts 19.29; You probably remember the story where Paul had been leading many Gentiles to the Lord. So many so, that it was having a financial impact on the idol industry. Demetrius, a silversmith, saw a cut in his profits and didn’t like it. He caused such an uproar that the whole city had come together and wanted to kill Paul and his companions. ²⁸ When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. I think a more humorous part of the story is that there were thousands of people crowded into this theater – thousands. And they all want Paul dead! So, what does Paul do? He’s like, “Hey, look, a crowd of people who need to hear about Jesus.” Let me go out there and preach to them. Aristarchus, probably Tychicus, Gaius and the others were like: NO!

Aristarchus is one of the ‘Band of Brothers’ delivering the collection to Jerusalem in 20.4; He is a traveling companion of Paul’s to Rome. My favorite story of Aristarchus is when he is mentioned in Acts 27.2;  that is the story of Paul’s travel to Rome to appear before Caesar. They had traveled north and Paul wanted to see some old friends. They would be a while, as the ship unloaded and loaded cargo. The Centurion in charge of Paul let him leave to go visit some friends at or near Sidon. Aristarchus was there to witness the shipwreck, Paul getting bit by a viper, and so many other miraculous stories.

Aristarchus is mentioned in Philemon 24, as well. He’s an important, integral part of Paul’s ministry and mission. Oral tradition has been passed down that Aristarchus was released with Paul after his Roman imprisonment and was sent by Paul to pastor the church at Thessalonica. He would return to Rome at some point and be put to death under the hand of Nero around 70 AD.

2. Mark – (also known as John Mark; Nephew of Barnabas; mother’s name is Mary); Mary, evidently was a wealthy woman in Jerusalem, who hosted the church in her home. John Mark would have witnessed many of the early church activities in Jerusalem. The church met in his house. He would have seen first-hand how the church gathered to pray for Peter’s release and how he knocked on the door, but Rhoda didn’t answer because she was so shocked that Peter was at the door.

Barnabas and Paul took a short Missionary Trip from Antioch to Jerusalem to help the believers there. They must have left an impression on Mark, because afterward, Mark left with them when they returned to Antioch (Acts 12.25). My guess is that he would serve with them as they continued to disciple the new believers there. Later, Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to go on a Mission Trip (aka: Paul’s 1^st MJ). John Mark would accompany them, but he would struggle early on. We don’t know what happened, but Mark would quit the trip and return to Jerusalem. Whatever happened, it left a bad taste in Paul’s mouth. When they loaded up for the 2^nd Missionary journey, Barnabas invited Mark to come along – that is so like Barnabas – the Son of Encouragement. But Paul would not have it.

³⁶ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

This story has a sad and a happy ending to it. The sad part is that we never hear from Barnabas again in Scripture. He and Mark sailed off to Barnabas’ native island, Cyprus. He wanted to go to his own people. In a twist of irony, it would be the Jews in Salamina (a large town on the island of Cyprus), who would drag Barnabas by the neck out of the city and burn him at the stake. He was martyred around 63-64 AD.

But Mark’s ministry would continue. He would serve and learn under Barnabas, and later, under Peter. Mark’s contribution to the Gospels (a book under his own name) was written with the help of the Apostle Peter and his stories. Peter mentions him in 1 Peter 5.13.

Paul’s attitude would change toward Mark and Mark would eventually win favor with him, helping him in the ministry and mission. Listen to what he writes in his last letter before his death: Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

3. Jesus, also Justus – We know nothing about this Jesus, called Justus. There are other Justus’, but I doubt any are this one. 1^st, Acts 1.23 (probably not the same), this is one of the men who followed Christ and was up for the position vacated by Judas; he lost and that went to Matthias; the other is found in Acts 18.7 (higher probability not the same) because this guy wasn’t Jewish; Col 4.11

Gentiles:

4. Epaphras – Col 1.7; 4.12; Phm 23; Some folks think that this Epaphras is one and the same with the Epaphroditus in Philippians. Php 2.25; 4.18; however, I think the probability of this is negative; Understand, I could be wrong, but I think we’re talking about two different folks moving in two different regions at about the same time.

Epaphras is recorded as having been Martyred in Rome about 70AD; however, when I was reading about his story, there is just too much speculation to be definitive about the specifics and details.

5. Luke – The quiet, unassuming Luke. He serves, he gives, but very little is known about him because he told us so much about others, and not himself. Our text this morning tells us that he was a Physician. I believe it is the only place we read this, and how valuable! Luke is scrupulous in his details. That information alone gives us insight to his personality.

ill.: In Acts Paul travels by boat from one location to another and it takes him 2 days. On the returning journey, the same distance (in the opposite direction takes 5 days). Many used just such details about Luke’s information to claim that it was all made up. Until Sir William Ramsey stepped forward to attempt in-depth research that would definitely prove Luke to be wreckless and imaginative in his writings. Skeptics cite Acts 16.11 and 20.5f as an example of this. 16.11 says 2, 3 days at the most. 20.6 is recorded as taking 5 days to cover the same distance. Sir William Ramsey and his expedition set sail from Troas, stopped at Samothrace and on to Philippi. They covered the distance in two days. Next, they made a return trip, here hoping to discredit Luke. It took them 5 days, just as it had Paul. His experience was the same as that of Paul’s journey. Ramsey would spend the next 15 years trying to find information that would discredit Luke and the Bible. He traveled all over that area of the world, mimicking and copying and retracing Paul’s steps, attempting to find errors in the details of Luke’s records. Ramsey never would find it. He was converted from skeptic to true believer.

Listen to Josh McDowell: Sir William Ramsay, who spent 15 years attempting to undermine Luke’s credentials as a historian, and to refute the reliability of the New Testament, finally concluded: “Luke is a historian of the first rank . . . This author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.”

There is so much to talk about with this doctor, but time limits us. So, let’s move on.

6. Demas – Phm 24; Demas was a coworker and partner in ministry. He evidently suffered with Paul and served well – for a while. At this stage, Demas is with Paul. But, something happens in the coming years.

ill.: Demas grows weary of… your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he got tired of the people always taking and grumbling, never expressing their gratitude – nor displaying it. Maybe he grew tired of sitting in a jail cell while the church just watched. Too many observers and not enough workers. Maybe gossip finally chipped away at his faith enough to just walk away. Paul tells Timothy, at the end of Paul’s life that Demas wasn’t with him anymore. 2 Tim 4.10: ¹⁰ For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. This word “deserted’ is a heavy word in Scripture. Matthew & Mark use it to quote Jesus on the Cross: My God, My God why have you and here’s that word forsaken me. Peter uses this word when quoting the OT prophecy of Christ recorded by King David: You will not and here’s the word abandon my soul to Hades… The writer of Hebrews uses this word when he quotes from the OT passage where God promises: I will never leave you or forsake you.

I don’t know why people leave the ministry. I mean, I do. I’ve felt the sting of betrayal by the very people you’ve entrusted your life to. I’ve given of myself so deeply, and then to watch people just walk away – to say things that just aren’t true – I mean out and out lies! It just kills the soul. People make fun of your haircut, or your car or you kids or your…

I’ve heard repeated statistics that say 90% of men who graduate from Seminary and become pastors, are not in the ministry 5 years after they graduate. So I get it. It’s hard. People are mean. Failure as seen in earthly terms is prominent and repeated. It is a valid reason to get those who serve you a break from ministry – so that they don’t burn out, like Demas.

app.: Whatever the reason, Paul’s last words in this world record the abandonment of Demas from the ministry to pursue the things of this world. Can you imagine what it will be like for those who destroy God’s church for their own personal pleasure – because of jealousy or loss of power or whatever reason… can you imagine what it will be like to give an account for that kind of destruction – destroying the church, destroying people’s lives…

One last word on Demas. I couldn’t find anything in church history that reports his repentance and return. No word on him. Historians list him with Judas. That’s sad. I wonder what it would be like if we had no more report of John Mark after Acts 13.13. What if Mark did everything he did in history, but there was no record of it. Would we assume that Mark was like Judas and Demas? My point is, we don’t know any more about Demas. And, I like to always hold out hope that God’s grace and mercy found its way back into his life. And, just because he didn’t serve as minister in the church, doesn’t mean that he didn’t settle down and serve the Lord in a local church.

t.s.: Well, the last group here is a short list of people not even affiliated with the Colossian church, but with the Laodicean church.

III. Others at Laodicea

exp.: rd v 15; Greet your sister church and the sister who hosts this congregation in her home; rd v 16; the exchange of letters might possibly be the beginning of collecting Paul’s letters, so that we have them here with us today. The letter to the Laodiceans has been lost. For those of you familiar with Revelation, it would be interesting (and can I say ‘fun’) to compare and contrast the state of the church in the 60’s compared to the 90’s. Finally, he mentions one last person, who is evidently from Colossae: Archie… Ἄρχιππος; rd v 17 – “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” He’s also mentioned in Phm 2, and appears to be a leader in that church. We don’t know what his ministry was, nor why Paul felt the need to say something here.

Conclusion: I find it interesting that Paul never traveled to the Lycus Valley, but he had a relationship with people from there (Nympha and Philemon, who hosted the church in their homes in Laodicea and Colossae); maybe he knew them intimately from Onesimus’ descriptions and details. Maybe he was able to put together what he needed to know from Onesimus and Epaphras.

Whatever the process, Paul had intimate relationships that made his mission and ministry work.

So, what do I want you to take away with you today:

These are not just names; they are people. And they are not just people, they’re people in relationships.

1. Nothing you do in church is more important than your relationships with each other. Nothing.

Can you imagine anything harder for Onesimus to do than to return to the one he abandoned and stole from? Can you imagine the difficulty of Philemon, people coming into his home and the man who betrayed him comes into his home and reads with authority the letter Paul wrote?

• Notice I said ‘do’. We have to work through any difficulties we encounter over time. Do you hear me? There are many in your lives who no longer are in relationship with you through this body. Can I be so bold as to put them in the category of Demas? They didn’t put the work in to strengthen the relationships that make a church work. In selfishness or embarrassment, certain individuals abandoned you, to leave you to finish whatever ministry you had begun together.
• How can you strengthen the ties that bind us together – for the benefit of the ministry and mission? As a church, that has to be figured out. It takes great humility. It takes great faith. It takes surrender and obedience. There are many who simply can’t humble themselves to that point. So, they blame others and walk away.
• Here is a moment when you as a body must determine in your hearts that we will not allow anything to separate us: not pride, not money, not gossip, not (you fill in the blank).

The Christian’s Work

Title: The Christian’s Work: Prayer & Proclamation

Text: Colossians 4.2-6; Ephesians 4-6

CPT: Paul’s mission and the Colossians’ evangelism efforts begin and are sustained through prayer.

CPS: Attentive Prayer (talking to God) is foundational to Our Mission (preaching to people) and our ministry (conversing with outsiders).

Introduction: We’re in Colossians 4.2-6; We will also stroll through Ephesians 4-6;

I remember as a kid hearing about the Cowboy’s Philosophy. I’m talking about Randy White, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Bob Hayes, Lee Roy Jordan, Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Harvey Martin… I believe it was Harvey Martin who said it: The Cowboys never lost a game, we just ran out of time.

I guess most games are like that. I went to Leighton softball game a couple of weeks ago. I thought the game was timed at an hour. I told Lisa I’d be home by this certain time, because the game was sure to be over. If I had been right, Leighton, your team would have won. But, I was wrong and it lasted an hour and a half. That extra 30 minutes was what the other team needed to come back and win. I guess they were thankful for the extra time.

Time is an interesting commodity we possess. And, we have a limited amount of it. Someday, it will be gone. Someday, time will come to an end, just like it had a beginning.

But, in a very real sense, it runs out on us and we miss finishing what we were supposed to be doing. Like in a game, like when dinner was supposed to be ready, like when the teacher says, “ok, time’s up! Put your pencils down and pass your papers forward.” I can almost hear the groans of the students…

I feel that most mornings Sunday mornings when I preach. I’m not really under time constraints, not really. But in some sense, I am. Lisa, John and Robert are, too – with teaching. I’m sure they feel that pressure. Gaynette, I’m sure does with the children and the time she has with them.

You feel it, too, don’t you? When you’re under the pressure of the time clock. It raises your blood pressure. It’s creates that anxious, panicky feeling inside.

Transition: So, what do we do with the time we’ve been given. Let’s not waste it!

Here’s the Big Idea for the Day: The Work of the Christian is attentive prayer and it is foundational to our Mission and our Ministry. Attentive Prayer (talking to God) is foundational to Missions (Great Commission) and Ministry (conversing with outsiders).

But we only have a limited amount of time to get this done. And, with the way our world is today, I’m thinking this time is shorter than most people imagine.

Two commands in our text: Busy yourselves in prayer (2)and Walk in Wisdom(5).

Let’s look at these two commands as we consider the Work of the Christian:

1. The Command to Pray (How to talk to God)

exp.: rd 4.2; actually, the command isn’t prayer, it’s busy yourself.

How: 1^st, busy yourselves in prayer; illustrated: being watchful; this is really an illustration; these words are the words used to describe a watchman on the tower; the idea is to stay awake and alert;

ill.: did you guys know that Hamas has been launching 1,000’s of rockets into Israel? Israel has an army of watchmen who are keeping an eye in all directions for incoming rockets. They have been for years. What would happen if those at the tower fell asleep? People would die.

What would be your thoughts if the Mexican Cartel decided to wage war on the US? Really, I think we’d be in trouble because I’m not sure our current leadership would do anything to protect us! But, you’d hope we would set up defenses and start an offensive against those who would hope to destroy us!

I wonder how many planes the terrorist could fly into the Government buildings in Jerusalem and succeed? I would wager not a single one!

app.: Israel is acting like any normal country would. I’m not sure we’re normal anymore. When you think of this idea of prayer – think of Israel. You’ve got to be awake and alert like your enemy is out there and wants to destroy you. He wants to create division, He wants to create dissension, he wants to create distractions so that you’ll focus on other concerns and not concern yourself with the task ahead.

Transition: How to pray? Busy yourselves in prayer, and you do this like a watchman on the tower – stay awake & alert;

exp.: What to pray? Rd 4.3a; Pray for your preachers; 1^st, that God would open a door for the Word;

This is really good advice! Pray for doors to be open! I think this takes wisdom and insight on the part of the preachers to discern open doors. Add that to your prayers: Lord, open doors for our preachers to preach your Word and grant them the discernment to know when that door is open.

I love this phrase he uses – to declare the mystery of Christ. Paul is still in the relationships mode.

Do you remember last week how I spent some time on how the Trinity is the perfect example of relationships, demonstrating for us how roles and relationships work? Listen to Paul in Ephesians: 5.28-33; Husbands love your wives; there is a mystery to it all – most people don’t get it. But, it has been revealed and that is what we proclaim – the mystery that has been solved, if you will. This is what Paul declares to the People. This is what we declare to the people – the mystery of Christ.

So, 1^st, pray for an open door for the Word to be proclaimed; and 2^nd, rd the last part of v 3 –  on account of which I am in prison. Perfect Voice – a present state because of a past action; If I said, “I am running” – that is present tense. But, if I said, “I am running from the law” you get the idea that it is something I’m doing because of a past action. One more item concerning this phrase: the literal translation is on account of which I am in chains/bonds. Same idea, but you really see his suffering in the literal.

All of that to say, 2^nd, pray for your preachers who are being persecuted. Pray for those guys in Canada who are being imprisoned for allowing their churches to gather. Pray for other pastors/preachers around the world who are persecuted for their preaching. Pray for me. Pray for an open door, pray for the persecuted and 3^rd, pray the preacher would present it in a clear and understandable way. Rd 4.4

app.: consider yourselves sentries or guards who have been situated in the watch tower, keeping watch, staying awake and alert; busy yourselves with prayer for those who preach God’s Word. Think of missionaries, of which Paul was one. Think of pastors and their responsibility to proclaim God’s Word. Pretend that their success is all on you.

Ill.: Lord of the Flies: Jack took his boys hunting and let the fire on the hill go out. A plane came by and they missed being rescued! What’s even sadder is that Jack volunteered his boys!

t.s.: Now, Paul turns the tables and informs the Colossians, that missions isn’t only someone else’s job… which brings us to #2…

2. How to talk to your neighbors about God

exp.: rd 4.5

Paul’s conclusion to his letter to the Ephesians is similar to the letter to the Colossians; read 4.2-6;

I mentioned last week that the Ephesian letter is a twin letter to this one. It’s like Paul wanted to share the same information with both churches. But, here is a major difference: Ephesians is so much more in depth. Let me show you what I mean. Keep your place here in Colossians 4. Ephesians 6.18-20; Look at 5.15f;Turn to Ephesians 4. Walk (παριπατέω) in:

Then, after challenging them to ‘walk’ in these different ways, Paul concludes this challenge with the call to walk in wisdom, redeeming the time (5.15f). The same challenge he has offered to the Colossians. But it is interesting here – Paul has couched his conclusion statement with the Household Code and the Armor of God.

In our text, Paul has been talking to the Colossians about their relationships, too. Now, he tells them why these are all important. This is the message in Ephesians, as well.

Their Mission is the same as his: to reach lost people with the Gospel (and this means using their words which match their walk).

How, you might ask? Rd 4.5b – lit.: by redeeming the time. This word appears 4x’s in the NT. All 4 by Paul. Here, Ephesians and 2x’s in Galatians: 3.13 – ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” and in 4.5, let me begin in v 4: ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Lit.: In wisdom walk toward those outside, the time redeeming. It is that same feel of the watchman – staying awake and alert – don’t fall asleep and waste the time you’re at your post. Make the best use of your time.

2^nd, rd 5.6a; that is, let your word always be filled with Grace. Let your conversations be grace laced. This sounds like you are gracious in your conversing, but that isn’t it. Grace fills the word you speak. It isn’t your attitude toward your neighbor. Verse 6 doesn’t have a verb – so in English it is an incomplete thought. To make sense, we have to supply the verb. The verb comes from 5.5 – Walk. How do you walk? Redeeming the time, grace fills your word, seasoned with salt; that’s a metaphor – the word you speak is the meat – grace is the salt you spread on it. What a great picture!

And finally, rd 5.6c – so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Just like Paul – it is the same wording here as in v 4; Paul has the same expectations on the Colossians as he does himself, the preacher.

ill.: Do you ever look back and think about a time you wasted? You didn’t do what you were supposed to do?

For me, her name was Michelle. It’s funny that I’ve never forgotten her name. I was traveling each week to Dallas from San Antonio and taking classes all week at Seminary. Each week before I got on the plane to fly to DFW or to return home, I would pray for the person God wanted me to sit by. God never disappointed. I either had presented the Gospel to someone or I was an encouragement to a believer who was down.

Not this particular night: I can’t even remember why I was down or mad or whatever, but I told the Lord in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t talking to anyone. Leave the seat empty! But he didn’t. He put me next to this girl, about my age. Her name was Michele. She was searching. She was hurting. She was inquisitive – all of the components you look for when presenting the Gospel to someone. But no, not me. I would have none of it. I wasn’t mean. We talked for the whole 45 minute flight. But God wasn’t letting me off the hook. I rode the shuttle from the Airport to the Seminary. She lived a couple of blocks from the Seminary. Guess who was on the van and who I ended up sitting next to on the van? That’s right.

She asked me all kinds of questions – leading questions that were underhanded pitches for me to hit. But I wasn’t swinging. I was showing God who was boss. I never told her the one thing she wanted to hear. I never told her about Jesus.

app.: That was almost 30 years ago and I still relive that night in my mind from time to time. And I still have the deepest regret for not redeeming that time. I always end with a prayer that God would send someone who was obedient to Michele – to share the Gospel with her. I pray that she has come to faith in spite of me. And I repent – again, in shame.

t.s.: people, Walk in Wisdom by redeeming the time God gives you with outsiders. And let your word be smothered in the grace of God. And you know that grace, because it is what you’ve experienced it yourself…

Conclusion: So, what are our take-a-ways for the day…

1. Pray – prayer is the foundation for all we do. Will you commit to pray like a watchman on the tower, protecting this body.
2. Pray – like the success of our mission is all on you! Even though you know nothing good will happen without the hand of God at work. Pray like it is all on you!
3. Pray – to walk in wisdom (redeeming the time; conversations that are grace laced; and knowledgeable responses)
4. Pray specifically…

Let’s pray… We’ll have a time of invitation… Come pray, commit, surrender – let the Lord have his way in your life today.

The Christian’s Relationships

Title: Lord, even over the household.

Text: Colossians 3.18-4.1

CPT: Colossians, when you confess Jesus as Lord, that confession must be manifested in and through the relationships with the people closest to you as you are serving the Lord in your marriage, with your children, and in the relationships you share with your master and servants.

CPS: As those who confess belief in Jesus as Lord, that Lordship extends over every aspect of our lives, including the relationships with the people who are closest to us: in ours marriage, with our children, and in the relationships we have with those with whom we work and serve.

Introduction: Let me begin by openly talking about Dysfunctional Families – I shared my story last week, not to summon sympathy, but just to share my experience. I find two areas at work in my life: The Word of God and my experience. When I was younger, I would find these two appeared to clash. As I get older, I find the Word of God validates my experience.

Let me ‘splain… What I preach and proclaim from God’s Word isn’t about how I feel or what I think. As I open God’s Word and share, it comes from faith that what God says is true – even if I don’t understand. And, I find experientially, this has played itself out in my life.

Many of you could feel what I spoke about last week, because it is your story, too. And, as you’ve watched these same scenarios work themselves out in your lives, the lives of your parents, the lives of your children, the lives of your friends and their families, you concur.

I wish there were more stories like the girl I spoke about who was adopted in her family and I mean truly adopted. Not just on paper, but experientially. Not just by the courts but into the family.

What we’ll look at today is the perfect home – the perfect family. I know ‘that’ family doesn’t exist in real life. I believe there are some families who come close. I know there are some families who try real hard. But, the fact is that we’re all sinners and when sinners get involved, well, things just don’t go perfectly.

———————————————-

Next, let me offer a caveat here, as well? Now listen carefully, because what I have to tell you relates to how you receive this message. I’m going to make a statement that you know to be true and I worry you’ll just gloss over it. Oh, yeah, I know that. You have no control over other people. Let that sink in, because I’m sure most all of you said, “Yeah, I know.” I’m not sure you really do. I say that because the responses I see in people is just the opposite – you want to control other people and their decisions. I’m going to say it again: You have no control over other people. I can only control me. Say it with me: I can only control me. And that’s a hard enough task as it is!

When we look at this text, we see that Paul doesn’t say to anyone here – here is what you make other people do. Can I re-read this with the take some folks get here? Bear with me…

¹⁸ Wives, make your husbands love you, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, force your wives submit to you, and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Fathers, make your children obey you in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Try not to provoke them in the process, lest they become discouraged. ²² Masters, make your Bondservants obey you in everything…

You get the idea. Right now, as we begin, do me a favor, do yourself a favor. Don’t think of anyone one else – focus in on you and your role as it applies in your life. Maybe you’re younger, you’re not yet married or don’t have children. Think and apply these to your life as you prepare for those things. Pray and ask God to lead you as you surrender and submit to His Will for your life.

Let me give you a focal point: take your pencil, pen, highlighter and note the following phrases. This actually begins in 3.17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24; 4.1

Jesus is Lord of the House…

We see this in three different relationships within the home:

1. The Marital Relationship of Man and Woman
2. The Parental Relationship of Parents and Children
3. The Working Relationship of Slaves and Masters

A word about these relationships. 1) I find it interesting that one man might be in all three groups. Indeed, that might even be Paul’s thinking here. That man can be husband, father, and master. He has great responsibilities in relations to his wife, his children, his slave. 2) Each of the others, the wife, the child, the slave, are subservient, they are submissive not just to their husband, parents, master, but their actual service and submission is to the Lord Jesus.

This is hard, I know, but note what God is doing in each relationship.

t.s.: This last section will need some work because today, we no longer have slaves and masters. We’ll talk about that when we get there. 1^st, what is God doing in the marital relationship?

I. The Marital Relationship (18f)

exp.: rd 3.18f; Wives and husbands; lit.: men, women; typically there is a pronoun with these words, showing possession. You belong to each other. And, you serve each other.

ill.: The marriage relationship is foundational to our society and as God has designed, it is a picture of the Gospel. Have you heard me say this before? Let me demonstrate with a graph, an image of The Trinity.

exp.: turn with me to Ephesians 5.21; the parallel letter to this one; read through 5.33; The Church is a Picture of the Gospel.

app.: Married Couple – you are a picture of the Gospel to the rest of the world.

t.s.: next, we have the parents…

II. The Parental Relationship (20f)

exp.: rd 3.20f; The trinitarian function is the same in this relationship; That further reflects the church; The Roles of the Elder and Deacons; why there is dysfunction in the church; Example is Saddleback, who ordained 3 women to the pastoral ministry this past week; Society forces its way into the church and wields its power over her – just as the society forces itself into the family and wields its power of it. Then you have dysfunction. And, you no longer present a picture of the Gospel.

ill.: I want to take a moment to address something, I didn’t handle right last week. I mentioned something about Mother’s Day, but I didn’t do anything special. I don’t want to say I never will, because I’m sure I probably will; however, I don’t use the calendar to plan my preaching schedule. I use the Bible and I preach through books. With that being said, after Mother’s Day, I came across a movement by a certain party in our political system to remove the term ‘Mother,’ and instead use the term “birthing person”.

Ben Shapiro sent out a tweet to show how ridiculous this has all become. He tweeted: “Happy Birthing Persons’ Day to all the egg-producing homo sapiens of unspecified gender who made the decision to bring to term a meaningless cluster of cells!”

Had I known about this, I would have said something and expressed my gratitude toward Moms. Whereas, you’re probably going to see “Happy Birthing Persons Day” instead of Happy Mother’s Day, we will recognize Mothers on Mother’s Day!

app.: Moms, you are loved and appreciated. Thank you for your sacrifices to make us who we are. Can I say a word on this to Husbands, Dads, Wives and Mom? Your relationship with each other is a picture of the Gospel, but so is your relationship to your children. Let me demonstrate once again with an image. Your relationships mirror the church and her relationships.

t.s.: Finally, a word about this last grouping…

III. The Working Relationship (3.22-4.1)

exp.: read 3.22-4.1; Two points:

1. This is in no way an affirmation of slavery by Paul, or by the Word of God. When one reads the book of Philemon, it becomes apparent that Paul isn’t for slavery at all. But it didn’t matter how he felt because… and this is my 2^nd point:
2. Christianity was birthed into a world where slavery was the law of the land. Historians estimate that there were some 60,000,000 slaves in the Roman Empire at the time of this letter. This was a situation that existed and the Church had to deal with it.

Slavery was one of the ways the economy functioned. A person had the right to sell themselves into slavery for a period of time. Think of military service. A person could become a slave for a period of time – usually a pretty long time – and money would be then given to the family. I know not all of the slaves were this way, but there were a good many who were.

So, don’t think that Paul is approving of or condoning slavery. His relationship with Philemon and Onesimus (4.9) confirm his distaste for slavery. But, it was the law of the land and many new Christians needed to know how to deal with that situation.

Slavery is no longer the law of the land. In a situation where slavery does exist, it is abhorrent and wicked. That is a topic that should be addressed, but I’m not prepared to deal with it this morning. For time’s sake, let’s focus in on how we might apply this to our situation today.

ill.:

app.: for sure, we can do our work without just giving eye-service or being people pleasers, but instead to perform our tasks with sincerity. We would do well to perform our work as to the Lord. In all of our work, we should work heartily, because it is indeed the Lord we’re serving. And, your life, your response, your actions with your employer and employees will communicate the Gospel to those who are watching.

Conclusion: But the context of the text is household relationships. These relationships have a purpose and a function.

I’m guessing most of us don’t even think one bit about how our family life communicates the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We probably don’t consider how our marriages and our families give credibility to the Gospel story.

For sure, we miss out on how much damage is done when the home doesn’t communicate the gospel.

The following is from Dr. James Dobson, Hide or Seek

He began his life with all the classic handicaps and disadvantages. His mother was a powerfully built, dominating woman who found it difficult to love anyone. She had been married three times, and her second husband divorced her because she beat him up regularly. The father of the child was with her third husband; he died of a heart attack a few months before the child’s birth. As a consequence the mother had to work long hours from his earliest childhood.

She gave him no affection, no love, no discipline, and no training during those early years. She even forbade him to call her at work. Other children had little to do with him, so he was alone most of the time. He was absolutely rejected from his earliest childhood. When he was thirteen years old a school psychologist commented that he probably didn’t even know the meaning of the word love. During adolescence, the girls would have nothing to do with him and he fought with the boys.

Despite a high IQ, he failed academically, and finally dropped out during his third year of high school. He thought he might find acceptance in the Marine Corps; they reportedly built men, and he wanted to be one. But his problems went with him. The other Marines laughed at him and ridiculed him. He fought back, resisted authority, and was court-martialed and thrown out of the Marines with an undesirable discharge. So there he was—a young man in his early twenties, absolutely friendless. He was small and scrawny in stature. He had an adolescent squeak in his voice. He was balding. He had no talent, no skill, no sense of worthiness.

Once again he thought he could run from his problems, so he went to live in a foreign country. But he was rejected there also. While there he married a girl who had been an illegitimate child and brought her back to America with him. Soon she began to develop the same contempt for him that everyone else displayed. She bore him two children, but he never enjoyed the status and respect a father should have. His marriage continued to crumble. His wife demanded more and more things that he could not provide. Instead of being his ally against the bitter world, as he hoped, she became his most vicious opponent. She could outfight him, and she learned to bully him. On one occasion she locked him in the bathroom as punishment. Finally she forced him to leave.

He tried to make it on his own, but he was terribly lonely. After days of solitude, he went home and literally begged her to take him back. He surrendered all pride. Despite his meager salary, he brought her $78 as a gift, asking her to take it and spend it any way she wished. But she belittled his feeble attempts to supply the family’s needs. She ridiculed his failure. At one point he fell on his knees and wept bitterly as the darkness of his private nightmare enveloped him.

Finally, in silence he pleaded no more. No one wanted him. No one had ever wanted him.

The next day he was a strangely different man. He arose, went to the garage, and took down a rifle he had hidden there. He carried it with him to his newly acquired job at a book storage building. And from a window on the third floor of that building, shortly after noon, November 22, 1963, he sent two shells crashing into the head of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Lee Harvey Oswald, the rejected, unlovable failure, killed the man who, more than any other man on earth, embodied all the success, beauty, wealth, and family affection which he lacked. In firing that rifle, he utilized the one skill he had learned in his entire, miserable lifetime. [James Dobson, Hide or Seek (Old Tappan, NJ: Revell, 1974), pp. 9, 11. As told by R. Kent Hughes]

This is why we, as Christians, have been called into relationships – to demonstrate and communicate the Gospel with our lives. It validates what we say when we preach that Christ is the Messiah of the World!

Take-a-ways:

1. You cannot control others. Stop trying!
2. You can only control yourself – so what are you going to do with this information? How will you respond to this?
3. When you ‘control’ you, and apply the teachings and principles of God’s Word to your life, then you are living out the Gospel before others.
4. Finally, It’s not too late for you and me! No matter what has happened in the past, God is gracious in forgiveness and compassionate in your circumstance. What a great opportunity for all of us to surrender every area of our lives to Him. Is there any area you haven’t surrendered? Is there something new you need to learn about? Give that to Him. Do you need to extend forgiveness to someone – a parent, a spouse, a child? Do you need forgiveness – from a parent, a spouse, a child?

I said last week, we are never more like Christ then when we forgive. I’d say that also goes well with the humility we display when we humble ourselves and seek forgiveness where we have failed. Humility – so Christ like. Those actions are the gospel on display before others.

Let’s pray…

The Christian’s Responsibility (Part 2)

Title: The Christian’s Responsibility: A Picture of the Church

Text: Colossians 3.10-17

Introduction:

The Big Idea for today: Believers, you are to take off the old self, lay it aside and dress yourselves with new virtues, which demonstrate toward others that same forgiveness, peace and love you experienced through Christ.

The Christians’ Responsibility is to follow a simple command: strip off and lay aside the old self and its practices, and to put on the virtues which represent the new self. Easily said. Hard work to accomplish! Easy to say, hard to do. I guess that’s the difference between those who talk the Christian life (because it is easier) and those who walk the Christian life (which is much harder).

I’m sure you’ve heard that before: don’t just talk the talk – walk the walk! I think that is where Paul is going here. This new life in Christ isn’t a word game. It’s a demonstration. We demonstrate the change in our lives through our actions. It’s what we do and how we respond.

I love the metaphor. It’s pretty common to Christian thought. Paul used it to describe dressing for war – putting on the full armor of God.

It’s an OT metaphor as well. The Lord found Israel, filthy and abused. He cleaned her up and put new garments on her. Listen to Ezekiel as he quotes from the Lord in 16.8ff: ⁸ “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. ⁹ Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. ¹² And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.

What we’re seeing is nothing new to us, but a beautiful reminder! Undress, strip away, lay aside the old garments – they don’t represent the royalty you now are; you are sons and daughters of the King!

t.s.: let’s begin with the first step in this process Paul is taking us through:

I. The rationale behind this command is that y’all are a new people in a new family with a new name.

exp.: we finished up last week’s message with this point; rd v 10-11; you used to be identified by some other nomenclature. Now, you have a new title, new family, new friends. Rd v 12a; you’ve been chosen of God (KJV: elect); you are now ‘holy’; unconditionally loved.

ill.: I remember walking on the railroad tracks between two towns. They butted up to each other, and they were the same town on a map, but they represented two different people. There were names for each ‘town’ – names I can’t repeat this day. To soften it up, to not offend, but just to communicate, we were one of two white families that lived in colored town. It was the poor side of town and it was the only place my grandmother could afford. I’m sure it is that way in some places still, but it represented the south many decades ago.

One evening, me, my older brother and a few of the kids from that side of town were walking home. It was very late. …when we came across what you would call a gang. They surrounded us and I was so naïve, so green, I had no idea the trouble we were in. I was 11 years old and out at o dark thirty! Someone from that gang recognized my older brother and asked if he was the younger brother of Ricci – my oldest sibling. Ricci was a name those boys knew. And they wanted no part of him.

Suddenly, the demeanor of these guys changed. Jerry and their leader did the handshake for that day and bumped chests. We all laughed and went our separate ways.

app.: All because of someone’s name and reputation. Someone who was well known. He just happened to be my brother. In a very different way, but you now have a new name and you’re known by your brother’s reputation.

t.s.: And, you’re expected to act like him. That’s Point #2

II. Therefore, we are to dress ourselves with these virtues which characterize his nature.

exp.: you see those 5 listed in our text; rd 3.12b;

• Compassionate Hearts: he could have just said compassion. But really, these two words are used because they describe our Messiah’s compassion toward others. More lit.: mercy from the gut. You will read that his heart went out to them or that he had compassion on them. My favorite example is when he is entering Nain, and he encounters a funeral procession. The people are carrying the body of a man, the only son of a widow. And his heart went out to her. Luke 7 describes his compassion and his action toward her: a (as we would describe it) heartfelt compassion.
• Kindness: goodness, uprightness, excellence
• Humility – Phil 2.1-11
• Meekness – not weakness (bridled power); there is this picture of a mighty stallion which is led by its bridal. The Stallion is not weak, to say the least. It is not wild! It is tame and bridled.
• Patience

ill.:

app.: Patience, notice that patience is the first trait mentioned in the next verse

t.s.: which leads us to our next point concerning our responsibilities…

III. Furthermore, the actions we now take toward each other are to be the same actions he took toward us: patience, forgiveness and unconditional love.

exp.: whereas, these other virtues in 3.12 are exhibited in our lives, this short list in 3.13f is a list which describes the actions we take toward each other.

• Patience – listed again, and yes, these are two different words in the original language. The previous word found in 3.12 is longsuffering. A compound word meaning to endure suffering of some sort for a long period of time. This word in 3.13 describes putting up with each other. It’s how you are toward others.

ill.: After he finished smoking his cigarette, he moved toward the fellowship line to get his plate and sit with his family. He stood in line behind a family he knew and loved. And they loved him, too. So, they struck up a conversation. The Mrs., wanting to chide him about his smoking habit, gently nudged him with, “I noticed you put your cigarette out and joined us.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Came the deacon’s reply.

“And just where will you put out your cigarette in heaven?”

Without missing a beat, the deacon replied, “in your coffee cup!” As if to say: Hey, I’ve got my hang-ups, but you’ve got your own set of problems!

app.: bearing with one another, forgiving each other – and what is the standard of forgiveness? Just as Christ has forgiven each of us. The actions we now take toward each other are the same actions he took toward us: patience, forgiveness and unconditional love.

I don’t know about you, but when I take a moment at introspection – I’m amazed that God put up with me for so many years. His patience – in bearing with me! His Forgiveness! I haven’t just committed one sin. I haven’t just sinned once a day! It’s truly overwhelming! And His unconditional love…

Ill.: song by Big Daddy Weave: Overwhelmed! I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by you!

t.s.: And our brothers and sisters in Christ should be overwhelmed at our patience, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Finally, we see in this passage a picture…

IV. Here is a Picture of life in the body, this new family of God.

exp.: rd v 15f; Peace rule (2.18), Let Peace umpire; Gratitude, & the Word of God; w/ teaching, admonishing, singing; Summary: let everything you do glorify Him!

ill.: Some years ago I came across a picture of me with my family as a teenager and feelings of not fitting in flooded through me. I hadn’t noticed it before, but this time, it was bigger than Dallas to me. There was my dad and stepmom with my little sister, clumped together as one happy little family. I was off to the side, not fitting into their little family. I’m sure they didn’t really want to make me feel that way – that wasn’t their intention. But there it was none the less.

I saw the same thing with my brother Fred. He was showing me pictures and we came across one of him as a teen. There was his mom, with her arms wrapped around one child, and his stepdad, with his arms wrapped around the other child, all four closely formed together for a family photo. Fred was invited in, but he was further away and trying to reach in with his body. But, he was visibly distanced.

app.: I think it is just a thing that happens with step-families. Man meets woman and one of them brings a child in from their previous marriage. Man and woman begin a new family and the child is somehow isolated. Now, I’m sure there will be those who will debate this with me. But, I’m just telling you how it appears – to me and in the photos I’ve seen.

A side note – I visited with one young woman who never fit into either of her stepfamilies. Her dad and his new bride had a couple of children. They bought a home and started a life together. Had a couple of kids – a girl and a boy. Her mom did the same thing. I think her new family had two boys. This young lady, through her early childhood and teen years spent equal time with both families. During my time of counseling, it was made apparent that she never had a bedroom. Both families put her on the couch – the foldout! And, for all those years! Her pictures show the same. Her family photos show the same – from both families.

t.s.: But this is what a family photo is supposed to look like:

Conclusion: y’all, it ain’t that way with this family. While it is true that we all come from outside the family, when you join this family, you belong! This family photo displays all of the key elements: Peace, Thanksgiving & the Word of God dwells through teaching, admonishing and singing. Finally, brothers and sisters: 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 Christian’s Responsibility: Part 1

Title: The Christian’s Responsibility

Text: Colossians 3.1-11

CPT: Paul has moved from teaching doctrine to the practice of their faith; Believers should set their focus on Christ alone, and live out their lives no longer controlled by the earthly passions and desires, but rather to participate in a common community that finds its foundation, not in race, religion or social status, but in but Christ alone.

CPS: Since you have been raised with Christ, strip away the old person and dress in righteousness and holiness, and no longer behave in a manner which reflects your former, lost state.

Introduction: We’ve come to a transition point in Colossians. We’ve moved from a focus on the pastor and his teaching – as portrayed by Paul, here, to the Believer and his actions. It was the Pastor’s Prayer, Gratitude, Plea, Struggle, etc., as he wrote of his desires for the church. Now, we’ll take a look at the Christian’s Life: His Responsibility, His Relationships, and His Work as it relates to his new life in Christ.

Paul does here in Colossians, what he does in some of his other letters – he teaches first and then, he challenges the reader to live out that teaching; There are Principles of the Christian faith and there is the Practice of the Christian faith.

• Ephesians 1-3; 4.1 – ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called
• Romans 1-11; 12.1 – ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” ³⁵ “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” ³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Likewise, we find in 3.1, a transition from the didactic to the practical. Therefore…; NASB; don’t see it in the ESV, but there is a push in the transition, that leads us from the teaching portion of the letter, to the application.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, and Paul issues two commands for the Christian in fulfilling his responsibility: Seek and Set; So, what is the Christian’s Responsibility?

I’ve listed them here as:

I. Focus on Christ (1-4)

exp.: if; a good thing for every person to do, but, the command is directed at believers; I’ve heard of stories of people who are not Christians or Jewish, but like the principles set forth Scripture and follow them because they make good economic sense. These folks like the moral compass of Scripture or the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. But this is for the believer: Command 1: seek – the things above; Command 2: Set your minds (Think or Understand) again, on things above; as opposed to the shadows (2.17), these things below on the earth;

ill.: You’re commanded to do these both because it isn’t in your nature, as a human; Paul quotes the OT in Romans 3 and says, “No one understands; no one seeks out God.”

“None is righteous, no, not one; ¹¹no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹²All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

It isn’t in your nature; but you have a new nature now! Rd v 3a; for (because) you died, and you have been hidden in Christ; rd v 4; but when he appears, you will no longer be hidden in him, you’ll appear with him in glory;

app.: your place isn’t here! You don’t belong on this earth.

ill.: C.S. Lewis said: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

app.: Stop focusing on the shadows, he says, but rather, Fix your eyes upon Jesus! Yes, you live among the shadows, but they are not reality!

t.s.: So, in v5-9, Paul informs the readers about…

II. The Reality of the Old Life (5-9)

exp.: rd 3.5a; put to death is lit.: make dead! Well, how do you make something alive, die? You kill it! If it is a tomato plant, you give it to me! I’ll kill it for you! I’m like Lenny Small in Of Mice and Men, who loved his pet mouse so much he pet it to death. I just love my tomato plants to death. Back to our text, this is what I call:

• The Harsh Reality of the Old Life – Kill it; That’s the thing about living in the shadowlands – our minds are focused on the shadows. Paul gives a list of what to kill in yourself; rd 3.5b; he’ll continue the list after v6-7 – where he gives grounds for their change; rd 3.6f; Then, he continues the list – and this is what I call…
• The Practical Reality of the Old Life – Set it aside –

This first list, Paul identifies as connected with idolatry: consider the 10 commandments – idolatry, covetousness, wanting your neighbor’s possessions and people.

This 2^nd list deals more with speech – anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another…

In reality, they all deal with relationships. This is how you used to be! But you’re not that way anymore – so deal with your relationships in a Christlike manner. Even though, some people are hard to live with!

ill.: R. Kent Hughes tells the story of a young man who fell in love with Jonathan Edwards’ Daughter. The young man sought out Edwards, 3rd president of Princeton, and asked for her hand. Edwards knew his daughter better than the outside world. Hughes writes: Edwards had a daughter with an ungovernable temper. As is often the case, the problem was not known to the outside world.

“You can’t have her,” was the abrupt answer of Jonathan Edwards.

“But I love her,” the young man replied.

“You can’t have her,” said Edwards.

“But she loves me,” replied the young man.

Again Edwards said, “You can’t have her.”

“Why?” asked the young man.

“Because she is not worthy of you.”

“But,” he asked, “she is a Christian, is she not?”

“Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live.”

R. Kent Hughes, “Preaching the Word: Colossians and Philemon”

Ouch! Of his own daughter!

app.: The Reality of the Old Life is that it must be put to death. It has no place in this new life.

t.s.: which is our last point this morning, we’ll expand on it next week…

III. The Reality of this New Life (10-11)

exp.: rd 3.9a-11; simply put – because you’re a part of a new family; you’re not classified in one of these former groups! Your new group is “Christian”!

ill.: Acts 9, the story of Paul’s conversion: – new friends – new family; the guys who traveled with to Damascus – those guys went back to Jerusalem without Paul.

Years later, when Paul is brought before his old family – the Sanhedrin – he doesn’t even know their leadership. Acts 23;

app.: Paul’s life was new – as it is with us, when we come to Christ: we get new friends and new passions; and yes, there are those who will doubt the experience, but then we see a faithfulness to the Gospel that demonstrates this new change. As you kill the passions and vices you once walked in – as you put away the old behaviors and are transformed into the image of your creator, it will become more and more evident.

t.s.: we’ll pick up here next week, in 12-17;

Conclusion:

We have brothers & sisters in Christ who are called Methodist. Every denomination is having the same struggle they’re having, it’s just their struggle is very public right now.

The conservative wing of the UMC has detached themselves from the liberal wing of the UMC and has formed a new denomination: The Global Methodist Church.

From what I understand (and I’ll admit, I don’t understand their denominational form and structure), there is a group of conservatives who have recognized for decades a liberal movement from within their denomination. They’ve fought for their denomination for decades, but have come to a point where they don’t want to continue the battle. Every 4 years, when their General Conference meets to discuss theology and practice, to make changes and challenges, the liberal movement rises up and pushes to remove traditional evangelicalism and embrace a Christless gospel that doesn’t offend. There are many on the left (Ecclesiological not political) who would contend that the Traditionalists’ battle is against the LGBTQPIA+, but I don’t think that is so. Not really.

Dr. Timothy Tennet, President of Asbury Theological Seminary wrote on this matter of separation. This is the time for the Traditionalists to remember afresh what this whole struggle has been about over the last fifty years. It has not been about human sexuality. It has not been about the terms of separation. It has not been about the Trust Clause. These have served as some of the presenting issues. The struggle has been about nothing less than the recovery of biblical, apostolic Christianity. It is about a profound and fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is the Lord of the church, and who has promised us that he will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

For them, their battle is the same as ours – it is for the inerrancy, infallibility, and wholly inspired Word of God. Either this is God’s Word, or it isn’t. Either God is powerful enough to communicate to us His commands, or He is not. He is strong enough to preserve it for 1000’s of years, or He is not. And He means what He says, or he does not.

I think of our text today. Paul said, “Kill whatever is earthly in you.” And he lists πορνεία first, trans.: sexual immorality. Πορνεία is the word from which we get our word pornography. Πορνεία is a word which describes any sexually explicit activity outside of the covenant marriage as designed by God. There are other words which are used to describe specific activity, but this one is a general term used to describe any activity not sanctioned in Scripture.

That’s pretty simple and pretty clear. I can’t say I understand everything there is in Scripture about every topic under the sun. But the truth is, I don’t have to. I have enough trouble abiding by the instructions that are clear. This one is clear! Husband, if you’re watching pornography, you’re breaking the 7^th and the 10^th commandments.

We’re not Methodist (although, some of you are). We are Christians. But their struggle is ourn; it is ours, too! As believers, something happens to us when we come to Christ. When anyone comes to Christ, the old has passed away. The New has come! And, The Word of God is our Standard for determining this new life in Christ.

Challenge:

1. Kill whatever is earthly in you. Rise up and kill it! Get radical! Remove your TV’s; change from a smart phone to a flip phone; get accountability;
2. Watch your mouth! Put a guard over it! Get accountability; if you want to stop lying, ask those who love you to hold you accountable. Then, don’t get mad, repent. If you’re a gossip – stop! Get accountability. Ask your spouse, your friends to hold you accountable. Then, don’t get mad, repent!
3. Begin to treat the Word of God as it actually is. Not a comic book to picked up and read sometimes, but, a letter from the Creator of this Universe to you.

The Pastor’s Plea (Part 2)

Title: The Pastor’s Plea (Part 2):

Text: Colossians 2.16-23

CPT: Colossians, hold fast to Christ and experience true spiritual growth and maturity. Do not submit any longer to regulations and rituals which only tend to falsely and temporarily puff you up.

CPS: Hey guys, hold fast to Christ and do not hold on to legalistic teachings and rituals, which only puff you up for a little while.

Introduction:

Philosophy should result in Practice. Therefore, a Wrong Philosophy results in a wrong behavior and practice. A Correct philosophy results in correct living and practice.

Introduction: I attended a conference 10 years ago where RC Sproul was one of the guest preachers. He spoke of his educational journey where he watched liberalism infiltrate his seminary (the one he attended as a young man) and then how it impacted the local church: Col 2.6-9; Sproul said he witnessed Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis throughout the years.

• The thesis is an intellectual proposition. – The Gospel; Christ
• The antithesis is simply the negation of the thesis, a reaction to the proposition. – This is what false teachers do with empty and deceitful philosophy.
• The synthesis solves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths, and forming a new proposition. This is Jesus plus.

The fear of syncretism arises when we see these same false teachers combining Christ with worldly philosophies;

Ill.: Tim Keller in his book, The Prodigal God, tells how weird Christianity was in the beginning. They’d meet their neighbor or some stranger and talk religion. Oh, I’m a Christian. Really? Where is your Temple? Well, we don’t have one? Then where do you offer your sacrifices? Well, we don’t really do that either. Christ was our sacrifice.

Transition: So, with spiritual practices moving inward, in a society that understood religion to be outward, there was a tendency toward syncretism or synthesis; Paul warns the Colossians not to synthesize the gospel with anything the world has to offer: not worldly philosophies nor human traditions. We want to spend a few minutes looking at Paul’s concern for the Colossians and then turn our attention to today’s similar situation;

We’re in the midst of a section I’ve entitled, The Pastor’s Plea. Beginning in 2.6,

• Paul pleads with the Colossians to continue to walk in the faith, just as they’d received that faith.  
• His plea is seeded out of his concern for those who would lead the Colossians astray
• His plea stems from power of the gospel to transform lives
• And finally, it blossoms into victorious living, because of Christ’s Victory.

Let’s pick up in 2.16 where we continue the Pastor’s Plea with three warnings; Paul’ 1^st warning:

I. Do not let anyone judge you (16f)

exp.: rd v 16; in regard to

• Food and drink (clean/unclean)
• Festivals, new moon celebrations and Sabbaths (Jewish Holidays)

exp.: it appears that false teachers have come onto the scene and are trying to incorporate a Jewish mindset into the Gospel; Jesus is good, you need Jesus, but you’re missing some things: add the Law; you must accept Christ as your Lord and savior, and oh yeah, you must observe these other things, too (circumcision; this festival, that festival; you can’t eat or drink this or that); synthesis; I love what Paul says next: rd v 17; these ‘shadows’ or practices had their purpose! They were shadows.

ill.: CS Lewis calls this world the ‘shadowlands’; you see a shadow and you know what it comes from; a tree; a car or truck; a deer; we see this theme of shadows present in the book of Hebrews; The temple, the sacrifices, the work of the priests were but shadows of the real thing, the substance;

app.: here is what I think Paul is saying: there is nothing wrong with someone who abstains from certain foods or certain drinks. And, likewise, there is nothing wrong with those who don’t abstain from certain foods or drinks; There is nothing wrong in celebrating holidays; the Passover, the feast of tabernacles; for us, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. The problem is when you insist upon these things being added to Christ in order to attain salvation; when someone says you’re not saved because you don’t do these things, too! Or maybe they understand you’re saved – you’re a Christian – you’re just not as mature as they are.

The two examples I think of are baptism and speaking in tongues. i.e., you’re not saved until you get baptized; you’re not saved until you speak in tongues; you’re not saved because you…

Now, I have some friends who believe these things. I’m sure if they happen to watch this video they’ll be offended – bothered. But we have our own problems within our denomination that is similar to these. We’ll get to those in a minute.

t.s.: he continues in v 18; rd v 18; Paul’s second warning

II. Do not let anyone disqualify you (18f)

exp.: rd v 18; disqualify; appears only here; not in LXX; καταβραβεύω; Κατα means down or against; Βραβεύω means to umpire, to rule. So you get the idea of someone who rules against you, hense disqualify;Melick writes: The word ‘disqualify’ builds on the word which means to umpire or award the prize. The NASB translates this sentence: Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind;

Note: He’s not talking about salvation here; i.e., you lose your salvation, but rather forfeiting the prizes and rewards of the Christian faith that we get each day; Who is he talking about? Specifically, he says ‘those’ who (three participles (pres. act. ptc.)

• Insisting (θέλω: will; their will for you)
  • Asceticism (fasting); ‘self-abasement’;
  • Worship (religion) of angels
    • Acts 26.5; Jas 1.26; 27
    • Religion, faith, practice
  • Going on in detail about visions (setting foot on)
    • Being Puffed up (pres pass ptc) in vain (without reason)
    • Ill.: Pastor’s Prayer group with those who speak in tongues;
  • Not Holding to Christ; they’re holding on to a shadow; rd v 19; Christ, the only one who can bring true growth to the Body;

Transition: watch out for such people; avoid them; and then he gives them this great warning; rd v 20-22;

III. Do not add anything to Christ (20-23)

exp.: Paul says: you died to the world! Why are you still holding on to some of its regulations, precepts and principles; rd v 21; and then he gives the reason in v 23; they make you appear spiritual, but you’re really not; they make you appear humble, but you’re really not; you’re actually quite proud of your humility;

ill.: it’s like the man the church honored for his humilty; they brought him forward and honored him with a pin; the next week the took it away from him because he wore it!

ill.: Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY (whom Time calls the ‘reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the US) in his sermon “How does it happen: trajectories toward an adjusted Gospel” he lists 8 identifiable trajectories. I’d like to borrow from him and list them for you so that you might be mindfully aware of what preachers are preaching and teachers are teaching. Some of these you’ll recognize:

1. The Modern Trajectory

No, modern man would believe such myths; ill.: I remember eating at a table with some liberal pastors who were speaking in favor of gay marriage and ordaining homosexual men and women to the pastorate; I asked: with all that the Bible teaches against these things, how can you possibly be in favor of them. The answer: The Hebrew people were a pre-scientific people. Modern people have medicine, science and technology. Rudolf Bultmann said: No man who uses an electric razor believes that Jesus actually walked on water!

2. The Post-Modern Trajectory

The idea of Pluralism: what’s ok for you is ok for you. Truth is relative; ‘that’s your language’; we’re now supposed to tolerate all other forms of religion;

3. The Moral Trajectory – these folks struggle with the morality of the bible or as they would call it “the immorality of the Bible”; Specifically: Hell, divine atonement; human depravity; Wrath of God; penal substitution; sacrifice; and a God who acts in History through Judgment; Washington Gladden (Social Gospel) to teach such a doctrine as this (hell and divine justice) about God is to inflict upon religion a terrible injury and to subvert the very foundations of morality. Thus, we are morally superior to the stories in the Bible; today, a movement throughout the evangelical movement is to question God’s morality in crucifying His own son; people call this divine child abuse; a father would inflict pain upon his own child to forgive sins; ‘a divine monster’; self-aggrandizing in seeking his own glory; Mohler says in his sermon that so much of this movement has injected what he calls the ‘fairness doctrine’ – God has to be fair; Mohler points out that God is perfect and perfect is better than fair;
4. The Aesthetic Trajectory – God is beautiful; this is a beautiful story; the good, the beautiful, the true; thus, man being made in the beautiful image of God (imago deo) we’re aesthetic people; we can see these beautiful things for ourselves; These folks avoid Gen 3; clean up the story; the blood of Jesus; that’s gross;
5. The Therapeutic Trajectory – everyone has a therapist; some opt for those on TV, Oprah, Dr. Phil; Dr. Mohler refers to an article about “Therapy Envy” where there are those who are signing up for therapy in areas in which they don’t suffer; the idea here is that we are sick and in need of therapy instead of dealing with sin;

Ill.: A big movement today is the condemning and outlawing “Conversion Therapy”; In Britain this last month, Boris Johnson has tried to appease the Evangelical Community by saying that Conversion Therapy will be outlawed, but that there will be exceptions for Parents, Preaching and Prayer. But, the LGBTQ+ community is outraged. They want to take away the parents’ rights, the preaching of sin and even pernicious prayer.

6. The Pragmatic Trajectory – we have a problem, so let’s solve it; we organize, we mobilize, we scrutinize the problems and create programs and ideas to move us forward (where the Gospel fails, we jump in and help); Truth and Doctrine have their place, but in order to get results we implement a program! The pragmatic trajectory says we must be practical about ministry, evangelism and church growth; Key: Rd v 19 – grows with a growth that is from God.
7. The Emotional Trajectory – we are emotional beings; Jesus wept; emotion and feeling are at the heart of who we are; pastors have been moving toward not preaching the Gospel (Thesis), but rather what they feel or what they feel their people are feeling (antithesis); we call this preaching to felt needs; the danger is when pastor allows his feelings to dictate what he preaches; Mohler asks: How do you feel about original sin? What is your emotional response to hell? Point: it doesn’t matter how I ‘feel’ about the doctrines of the Bible. The preacher’s responsibility is to preach God’s Truth – not what he feels.
8. The Materialistic Trajectory – we live in a material world; we see the synthesis of the Gospel and the material trajectory with the health and wealth gospel; the prosperity gospel;

Transition: It amazes me that we keep adding to Christ. The Colossians were struggling with this; we know through church history that it continues for them for years, decades and centuries; And it amazes me that after all this time, we’re still trying to add to what Christ has done!

Conclusion and Application: Let me review for you what I’ve done so far this morning:

1. I told you about RC Sproul’s experience over the past 70 years Thesis/Antithesis/Synthesis
2. I told you about Christianity’s misunderstood beginnings (no temple, no sacrifice, no festivals)
3. We went through the Scripture and showed you how Paul had warned the Colossians of this very thing – don’t let anyone try to make you think you need – a temple, a sacrifice, a festival, etc.  
4. Then, I listed for you 8 trajectories that we need to be concerned about in our time where the world is trying to get us to add to the Gospel.

So, what are our take-a-ways?

1. Theology Matters. As a Christian, you should be concerned with Theology. The movement to liberalism is a slow moving metric. The trajectory is there, but it usually isn’t recognizable until changes have been made. I liken it to the ‘frog in the kettle’ analogy.
2. Warning: Listen for anything that might sound like Christ plus. You know the Gospel. Recognize anything that adds to it – or takes away from it.
3. Enjoy the celebrations God has set forth, but don’t require them as a standard of salvation or even a level of righteousness or maturity.
   1. God has blessed us with festive times. We should not mourn during those times. But, they are not required for salvation. And they don’t detract from them either.  
4. Your salvation is complete in Christ. God has blessed us with so many wonderful things in this life, but none of them: not the people, not the party, and definitely not the particulars are ever needed to be added to Christ to complete our salvation.

Conclusion: Christ is all you need. Do not add anything to Christ! We are Justified by Christ alone, through faith alone. He stands alone! His sacrifice is sufficient, paying the penalty for every sin you’ve ever committed or will ever commit; He himself said, “It is finished!”

The Pastor’s Plea (Part 1)

Title: A Pastor’s Plea

Text: Colossians 2.6-2.15

CPT: As you received Christ, so walk in him. Watch out for those who would lead you astray to follow deceptive human traditions. Christ has set you free from all of that through his work on the cross.

CPS: Let us continue to walk in the same manner in which we came to Christ. We have a new life in Christ because of what he has accomplished in saving us and he has given us victory over the powers that threaten to entrap us through following the traditions of men.

Introduction: I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed, when I was younger, how I began a journey. Nor, am I sure that I noticed how the start effected my progress. I know now that I’m older and wiser to begin my journey with the car ready. Don’t travel on bad tires. Make sure the oil has been changed and the fluids are topped off and in good working order. I know this because I’ve changed the tire on a van beside the freeway on a hot summer day! I know this because I got going and realized I didn’t have something I needed.

On the other hand, when steps are in working order and plans have been made and outlined, your journey tends to go smoother. That means making contingent plans for when other, unexpected bumps in the road occur.

I think that is what Paul has in mind as he transitions from a deep theological statement of Christ – the foundation for our faith – into a plea for the Colossians to continue walking in the firm foundation of faith in which they started. 1.15, 19; 2.9. Paul then says that Christ, who is God, established the world and the church; 1.18a; And, having done that work, Christ had now reconciled them (the Colossians) and brought them into a relationship with God, the Father, through him.

In 1.24-2.5, the text from last week, Paul informed the Colossians that his passion, his pursuit, was the proclamation of this gospel that brought them reconciliation – this good news. And he ends the little passage with this statement of warning in 2.4f: that no one may delude you and 2^nd, I can’t be there to protect you.

But you know something big is coming in what he has to say because he says, “Therefore”.

Summary: Jesus is God in the flesh. He created all things (and sustains all things) – even the church, of which He is the Head. And he brought you into His Church, reconciling you into His Body through faith in Him. Therefore, and Paul makes his plea to them…

I’ve outlined this next portion of the text into two sermons (Part I & Part II). Today’s message will take on the portion of the plea as it comes from a pastor’s heart: 1^st,

I. A Pastor’s Plea is for his people to continue to walk in the faith, just as they’ve received that faith (6f)

exp.: rd 2.6f; Paul describes that journey to faith with these prepositional phrases (in him; with him); v6, 7, 10, 11, 12 (2x), 13, 15; next, Paul uses imagery to describe the action of the coming to faith and of their walk; 1^st three participles describe the action of ‘walking’ in him; When you first read them you might think that Paul is mixing up his metaphors – going from a plant (rooted) to a building (built up).

Ill.: mixed metaphors

1. We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.
2. Trying to thread a needle with a haystack.
3. Half of one, six dozen of another.
4. Robbing Peter to pay the piper.
5. Burning the midnight oil at both ends
6. It’s not exactly Rocket Surgery
7. Don’t beat a dead horse in the mouth

But, Paul isn’t doing that here. In each of these metaphors he describes the Temple – the Body of Christ. Indeed, that is exactly what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 3, where he describes God’s people as God’s Temple.

1. Like a tree: pft, pass; a present state based upon a past action; passive means it wasn’t their doing, but that of someone else; Firmly rooted in Christ; if not, easily uprooted in a storm;
2. Like a house: Built upon a firm foundation; if not, easily destroyed in a storm;
3. Established in the faith; just as you were taught; that is to say, continue in how you began
4. Abounding in thanksgiving;

ill.: I got me some tomato plants and planted them recently. Last year, I started with one plant. It died. This year, I started with 8. I thought my chances of something surviving might go up. So far, I’ve only killed two plants. I’ve got a couple of plants looking pretty good. A couple of others…. Not so good. I’m quickly losing hope in the rest.

app.: Here’s my problem – and I know what it is: I didn’t start off very well. The truth is, I need someone who knows about this stuff to help me start off correctly.

t.s.: here are two simple words you can write in the column of your Bible – Command: Walk, #2

II. A Pastor’s Plea is seeded out of his concern for those who would lead his people astray

exp.: rd 2.8; watch out! That no one carries you off as a spoil of war! POW! Now, this sentence is a hard sentence to translate. Most translations work on a literal, word for word translation. And I honestly like that. But, sometimes, word for word in the original language doesn’t make sense. And I find that here in this verse. You NIV users, well, the NIV translates the thought. That’s not always good – and to be quite honest, sometimes that is bad – because they miss the thought. But in this case, I think the NIV nails it. Rd 2.8b; See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, but technically, it should be translated: See to it that no one takes you captive by empty and deceitful philosophy, according to human tradition…

1. Empty and Deceitful Philosophy or Philosophy that is empty and deceitful; not all philosophy is bad. There are philosophers who are solid. There is philosophy that is solid. But here, Paul says that there are those who come in and kidnap many in the church with a philosophy that is empty and deceitful.

The 2^nd part of this sentence continues: according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world…

• According to Human tradition, that is to say, those things which are Elementary or basic spirits (principles, forces) of the world
• And not according to Christ. Christ isn’t simple or basic. Look at 2.3 – in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge).

app.: So, walk in him – in his wisdom and insight and knowledge. Don’t get conned by those who would attempt to kidnap you with their empty and deceitful philosophy.

t.s.: Here are two more words to write in the column of your Bible – Concern: Watch out; #3

III. A Pastor’s Plea stems from the power of the gospel to transform lives – (9-12)

exp.: rd 2.9; remember, he is God; 2.10; he, who is God and all powerful, has filled you; 2.11a; circumcision – Humm, sounds like we’re hearing some of the empty philosophy and deceitfulness coming from those false teachers. Sounds like they’re trying to make these Christians Jewish, before they can be truly Christians. Rd 2.11b; Putting off the body of flesh; Paul employees some terminology that will be repeated quite a bit over the next few paragraphs. This term means to strip away or to strip off; think of undressing. And, redressing; rd the rest of 11-12; You were buried with him in baptism – the old you has died – that’s why you buried him/her; that rascal no longer lives, but a new you lives; rd 12b; this is saying that the same powerful spirit who raised Jesus from the dead has also entered into your body and powerfully raised your dead spirit from the dead – making you powerfully alive in Christ. That’s powerful!

ill.: you guys remember the times before technology made some powerful advancements? Do you remember getting in your car and turning the engine over and all it did was go… (make slow engine noise); that’s because there was no power – your battery was dead.

app.: But you don’t have to live your life that way! You are firmly rooted, built up in Christ and established because of the power and the presence of God at work in you!

t.s.: If you’ve been writing in the column of your Bible, here are a couple of more words. Cause: Power of the Gospel – your walk is by the power of the Gospel. #4

IV. A Pastor’s Plea blossoms into victory in the lives of believers because Christ is victorious. (13-15)

exp.: rd 2.13-15; you are no longer the same! Yes, you once were that way – but no more!

ill.: this is probably Satan’s greatest tools against believers. He is always reminding us of how we don’t deserve God’s grace because we’ve been bad. He quotes the 1^st part of 13 to us: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh… And he’s right – to a point. That’s what he does, he takes partial truths and builds lies from them. That’s what makes them so believable.

app.: When he does, that’s when you say, “Yes, that’s true, but…” and then quote the rest of this verse, “but God made me alive in Christ! He cancelled the debt that I owed! He took care of my legal matters through Christ, who paid my debt for me.” You see in v 15 there – that he was victorious over them, making it possible for us to live in victory!

t.s.: last set of words for the column of your Bible – Call: to Victory – live the winning life.

Conclusion:

“The Storm on our Shores”, Mark Obmascik, pg. 154-155; (great read) “The Battle of the Pips” – July 26^th, 1943; maybe some of you remember it? The Japanese had landed on the island of Kiska and stationed some 6,000 soldiers there. The US had prepared and was sending some 35,000 soldiers and sailors to take back the Aleutian Island, some 500 miles west of Alaska.

The Soldiers on Attu, the last island in the Aleutians, had defeated the Japanese there and were loaded up on ships and sent to Kiska. However, at some point in their journey, intelligence reports came in that 7 Japanese ships were headed their way from Paramushiro. Admiral Kinkaid did not want to be surprised by an attack from the rear. So, he ordered those ships to turn around and engage the Japanese.

Just after midnight, on the 26^th of July, multiple US ships located 7 blips on their radar. The US fleet navigated to the west side of the island to engage the Japanese. The soldiers and sailors prepared for battle. This battle for Kiska would begin at sea.

Five US Ships launched a barrage of artillery in an attempt to sink the Japanese ships. Guns roared at a range of 8-12 miles. Each 14-inch gun weighted 180,000 pounds. It required a quarter ton of propellant to blast a 1,400-pound projectile up to 13 miles. Even after firing  518 rounds from big guns, and 487 shells from the 8-inch guns, the radars still showed seven pips. There were no explosions or any other evidence that the enemy had been hit. On radar, the targets still moved. More shots yielded no change. After a half hour of fury, the guns were silenced. The seven pips linked on the radar, then disappeared.

At sunrise the American fleet and warplanes scoured the area for crippled and destroyed ships. They found nothing – no flotsam, no oil slicks, no lifeboats.

As it would turn out, a post-war investigation found that there were no Japanese ships within 200 miles of that area. It all remained a mystery for many years, until someone discovered that there is a group of birds, sooty shearwaters that migrate through the Aleutians every year. These birds are so large in number, that they actually appear on radar as ships floating on the water. The reality is that they’re just a huge raft of birds floating on the ocean waves.

The US military was engaged in a battle with a bunch of harmless birds.

I think Satan is really good at getting us to worry about things that have no bearing on what we’re supposed to be doing. His lies get us all worked up by turning our attention toward what appears to be dangerous and harmful, but in reality is nothing at all. Instead, our focus is taken from where it should be. He does it to us as individuals and he does it to us as a group.

What are you worried about? Is Satan reminding you that you aren’t good enough to serve the Lord? Is your past so glaringly bright, that it appears as pips on your radar? You remind Satan that those sins were nailed to the Cross, your debt has been paid and your account settled. You are free now to live life in the full power afforded you through the Gospel! Let’s pray – invitation;

The Pastor’s Struggle

Title: A Pastor’s Struggle

Text: Colossians 1.24-2.5

CPT: Paul rejoices to see the Colossians (and the Laodiceans) walking with the spiritual maturity that comes through knowledge and understanding of this wonderful mystery, which is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.

CPS: A Pastor’s struggle is faced with joy when he knows his people are walking in the full assurance of faith and spiritual maturity that comes through wisdom and knowledge.

Introduction: Canadian Pastor James Coates was jailed in March for violating Canada’s 15% capacity rule. His crime as the leader was that he refused to turn anyone away, allowing his congregation to exceed the mandated 15% capacity of their worship facilities.

This past year, John MacArthur faced difficult and tested threats from the leadership of California for pretty much the same thing. I think with Dr. MacArthur’s situation, he just continued to show up and when people noticed on video that he was preaching from his pulpit, they just started coming and sitting in the worship center. Pretty soon, the worship center was filled – which of course violated the state’s mandate for social distancing. All sorts of threats were issued, but I don’t think any were really carried out.

I believe we’re on the cusp of religious persecution against churches and Christians in general. I believe it has already started and will only grow as the moral revolution ramps up pressure to conform.

Robert Hoogland’s daughter was 11 years old when she told someone at school that she identified as a boy. Over the course of a few years, the rights of her parents were taken away and the government stepped in to help her transition to a boy.

The father protested, declaring the surgery, the hormone therapy and other treatments would hurt her physically and damage her. He refused to give consent. But the court took away his rights and declared that his consent wasn’t needed. Instead, they pursued their agenda by using the girl as an example for their own political purposes. Furthermore, Robert and his wife were ordered in court to affirm their daughter’s gender identity. And, added to that, if they refused to do so, they would be guilty of ‘family violence’. This included using the proper pronouns.

As I understand it, immediately after the court’s decision, Robert agreed to an interview with the Federalist (a conservative new source). In the interview, he used the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’ to reference his daughter. He also called her his daughter, and not his son. The judge was furious. Local authorities were ordered to arrest Robert immediately if he referred to his daughter with feminine pronouns. He was soon thereafter arrested and incarcerated for family violence. From what I understand, he has been denied bail and remanded to prison until his court hearing scheduled for Monday, April 12^th. He’s been incarcerated for about a month now.

Paul understood this. As he writes this letter, he is in prison for preaching the gospel. Turn to 4.3; ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

As we open this section of the letter, we’re reminded that Paul’s ministry – preaching the Word of God – has put him in prison. Rd 1.24; ²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… Now, your first thought might be questioning just what Paul means. First, let us just take note that Paul is suffering. We know he is in prison, but his suffering seems to go beyond simple incarceration. He appears to be suffering bodily harm. You see that with his phrase, ‘in my flesh’ and ‘afflictions’.

Instead of noting his situation, most folks run to the theological dilemma of his statement, “I am filling up what is lacking for the sake of his body,” Many begin to wonder: did Christ’s suffering not fulfill it’s purpose. What was lacking in his sacrifice? The answer: nothing.

I’m convinced that Paul was a genius. His writings contain incredible, indepth structure. Two items I notice here.

1. Look at 1.22f; Paul points out two facts about the body of Christ. 1^st, in these verses Paul is referring to Christ’s physical body (cf.: 1.20 – His blood);
2. Our passage is referring to the church, who is the body of Christ. rd 1.24c; for the sake of his body, that is, the church…

Paul’s suffering isn’t enhancing what was lacking in Christ’s sacrifice for sins. The suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord is perfectly sufficient and effective in atoning for our sins – indeed, for the sins of the whole world. That’s Paul’s point in 1.19-22; Sufficiency and Efficacy. Paul’s suffering in these verses is in reference to the suffering the church has been called to endure. Evidently, Paul was enduring more than his fair share. And you see what he says about this suffering? He rejoices! If you somehow missed it, he’ll repeat it down in 2.5 (top & tail).

While I’m on the topic of his genius, I’d like to point out something special in his literary structure: another chiasm. I mentioned this form of teaching two weeks ago. Look at the chiastic structure Paul employees in these two paragraphs:

 a) Rejoice (1.24)

            b) in my flesh (body) – (1.24)

                        c) mystery: Christ (1.27)

                                    d) spiritual maturity (1.28)

                                                e) struggle (1.29; 2.1)

                                    d) spiritual maturity (2.2)

                        c) mystery: Christ (2.2)

            b) in my flesh (body); (2.5)

 a) Rejoice (2.5)

You see here, the top and the tail, there is this rejoicing that takes place Inspite of his suffering. So here is my opening statement: Paul rejoices… and he rejoices in his struggle. But why? Well, in this short couple of paragraphs, Paul helps us identify three reasons for his joy: His Ministry, His message, and the change he sees in those who believe that message. So let’s begin with the first reason.

Paul rejoices in the struggle because of… (24; 29-2.1; 5).

I. The Ministry – called, equipped (v25)

exp.: he identifies his calling at the beginning of v 25; rd v 25a; of which I became a minister; this word ‘minister’ is the Gk word for which we get our word ‘deacon’; Acts 6 and the dilemma of the Greek Widows being overlooked in the daily distribution of food; they selected deacons – same word here; but it then says, “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry (to the deaconing) of the word.” This word deacon simply means someone who serves. Paul is saying that he is a servant.

ill.: it bothers me that this word deacon has come to mean something so negative. It doesn’t really take much; you can have 9 great deacons in a church who are good, godly men, but let one bad deacon have too much power and man, you’ve got a mess on your hands. But since I’m on this subject, let me just say that deacons have a bad rap for a couple of reasons: 1) men were selected to serve who weren’t qualified and 2) the deacons didn’t serve (wait tables), but rather ruled – and that isn’t their function.

Church, when the time comes to select men and women to serve at Tarpley, make sure you pick servants and make sure their responsibility is service. That would be Biblical. So, Paul says he became a ‘servant’ (minister); 2^nd…

rd v 25b; according to the stewardship; This word (stewardship) is a word that describes Joseph when he was a house manager for Potipher; So he’s a servant and a house manager, serving the people of God. This is another great word for deacon or servant – a steward, a house manager;

ill.: instead of a definition, let me show you a picture; image key ring;

Now look at this 3^rd section of 1.25; rd 1.25c; to make the word of God fully known; he’s a servant & a steward to the church and 3^rd, he’s a preacher and a teacher;

t.s.: which brings us to our 2^nd reason for his joy: 1) His Ministry and 2) his…

II. The Message – the mystery revealed (v25c-6f)

exp.: and just what is his message? The Mystery; rd 1.25c-26; Within the Word of God is this mystery; we spoke some of it last week at Easter – God has come in the flesh and made his dwelling among us – God with us; His coming as Messiah can be truly labeled as a Mystery; the full details hidden in the past; rd 1.27; Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

app.: it is an amazing thought that Christ would come to dwell in us; it is mysterious, but truly wonderful. This mystery is Christ – Him we proclaim! It reads in 1.28;

t.s.: So, we’ve seen Paul’s joy in the struggle because of His Ministry, His Message,

III. The Maturity it brings to peoples lives

exp.: rd 1.28c-2.2; Paul’s toil, his struggle is for them; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love (their relationships), to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding (maturity) and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. rd 2.3-5; we see this in two respects:

1. Salvation to the lost (v28)
2. Maturity to the faithful (1.29-2.3)
   1. Helping them to avoid following false teachers and teaching (2.4)

ill.: When I was younger, I found it odd that the Gospel, preached and proclaimed, accomplished these two tasks – salvation to the lost and spiritual maturity to the believers. The first one I got – that one makes sense, but that 2^nd one stumped me. Now, decades later, I see that the Gospel proclaimed and possessed brings about spiritual maturity. It’s something I’ve experienced and witnessed in countless Christians.

Can I add that I can also see how a lack of the Gospel has left many an older believer spiritually immature? This can be heartbreaking – to see someone who aged with decades of life, but is still a baby, a toddler when it comes to the faith. What a waste of a life – never attaining to the maturity Paul describes here.

Conclusion: Oh, but for those who do grow – what a blessing! He says, I rejoice to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Why? Because there are those out there who wish to delude you with plausible arguments. They wish to lead you astray. This false teaching has already infiltrated the church of God. We have denominations who’ve embraced the LGBTQ movement – not just to admit them into church membership, but to select them into leadership!

As subtle as it was, these leaders have seduced the church! The next movement is afoot! For those who will not conform willingly, they will be forced to conform or face persecution. We’re already seeing it!

Recently, former vice-president, Joe Biden nominated Dr. Rachel Levine to be Assistant Health Secretary. Dr. Levine is a man who thinks he is a woman. He ‘transitioned’ from male to female in 2011. He now goes by the name of Rachel Levine. A couple of concerns cross my mind as I’m sharing this information with you.

1. With someone like this in our leadership – how long will it take before what has happened in Canada begins happening in the US?
2. I understand that my statement above violates all sorts of politically correct protocol. I’m supposed to refer to Dr. Levine as a woman and use female pronouns. My problem is that, although I understand the delusion, I’m just not willing to enter into the delusion myself. That’s why I say he is a man who thinks of himself (that’s the delusional part) as a woman.

I’m not trying to offend anyone. I’m really not. I’m just saying that it is a reality before us as Christians – reality, that’s the word I think the liberal portion of our society is ignoring – the reality is before us that the values we hold to as Christians, the values we get from this book, the very Word of God, inspired, inerrant, and infallible, … the values, and mores, and ethics, and standards we hold to from the Word of God are under attack. So, let me encourage to stand boldly against those who would lead us astray! That is why it rejoices my heart to see you grow in the faith.

So, what do we do when persecution comes? Aaron Armstrong and Brian Dembowczyk offer four responses:

Pray for deliverance.

Pray for endurance. (physical)

Pray for Faithfulness. (spiritual)

Pray for those who persecute you.

The Pastor’s Passion

Title: The Pastor’s Passion – The Gospel

Text: Colossians 1.15-23

Introduction – The past week or so has seen to mass murders take place; both, on opposite sides of the country; both caused by individuals who appear to be on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum.

The moment something like this happens, people move to their corners and shore up their particular stance – whatever that might be. There are those who would like to take all forms of self-defense and remove them from our homes and our churches. They would like to legislate gun reform – that basically would abolish the 2^nd amendment – the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

The problem isn’t guns. The problem is people. James Madison famously said, “What is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” If that is so, then our government is reflecting a degenerate human nature – and it is getting worse!

In these two instances of tragedy, one in Georgia and the other in Colorado, we see two individuals where the heart is the same – it’s just a different face. And that heart is reflected in a degenerate government that leads the people further and further away from God.

The USA Today had an article this week on why Oral Roberts University should not be in the NCAA Tournament. #15ORU knocked off #2Ohio State in a shocking surprise win. Then, they went on to upset #7 Florida Gators to advance to the Sweet 16 round. ORU is the Cinderella team for 2021. But, according to USA Today’s writer, Hemal Jhaveri, who appears to be transgender, preferring the pronouns she/her, thinks ORU should be ousted from the tournament for their Christian beliefs on marriage – that marriage is between one man and one woman. And further, that intimacy should be shared only within that context.

So, where am I going with this? I don’t want you to get mad or upset or spur you to write your congressman/woman. What we need isn’t government intervention! What we need is for a mighty move of the Holy Spirit bringing about a revival in this land. That can only happen as the Gospel is preached. I say that because that is the means by which God has chosen to perpetuate the faith.

Transition: That’s why preachers and pastors love the Gospel. It is life changing because it changes the heart of a person. Our text is all about the gospel and how it changes people, specifically, how it changed the Colossians.

The letter begins with a traditional or typical opening: This is Paul and Timothy, to the saints at… Grace & Peace to you; Thanksgiving and Prayer; often times Paul would express his theme within his prayer or somewhere in the opening of his letter. And really, that prayer of his is so in line with the theme of his letter. In Colossians, it all about their spiritual maturity.

So, it’s interesting how he gets there in this letter. The first bit of information he tackles is some of the deepest, richest theology of Christ we see in Scripture. This passage is actually recognized as an ancient hymn. If you have the CSB, you’ll note at how this is written out in poetic form or style. I notice none of the other translations do that. At least none that I have. The editors of the Greek Text have it in poetic form.

If I were to sing, “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound…” you could probably join in – without needing words on the screen or a hymnal. If I said, “Our father which art in heaven…” you could probably join in… without aids. So, it would be with these Colossians.

The hymn starts in v15 and goes through v20; You’ll note the Hebraic style in the Chiastic structure:

            a. He is the image of God

                        b. The firstborn of all creation

                                    c. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

c. He is the beginning

                        b. The firstborn from the dead

            a. In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

The hymn brings out two important doctrines of Christ. 1) He is the Creator of all things and 2) He is the Head of the Church. So, what is the point of this hymn and Paul’s citing it here in the first part of this letter? I think it is simply this: Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, and he has absolute authority to accomplish whatever his heart desires. Paul quotes this hymn to demonstrate, first:

I. Christ in Relation to Creation: He is Lord. (15-17)

exp.: rd 15a; He is the image of the invisible God; This is a simple declaration that Jesus is God; It is reiterated in v 19; For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell; continuing in v 15; the firstborn of all creation; firstborn doesn’t mean the first one born; the word is means position; the common use would be the firstborn of the family.

ill.: According to the Law, all firstborn in Israel belong to God. So, the first-born animals were sacrificed as an offering to God. In some instances, such as firstborn sons, they could be redeemed by offering sacrifices in their stead. God was declaring the importance of position.

When an inheritance was to be given, the oldest, the first born got 2/3 of the estate; the final 1/3 was divided up between the rest of the boys. So, the etemology of the word leans toward people thinking that it has everything to do with birth position, but that isn’t it – that’s just the visible, popular use of the word. You need to know it means that Christ is preeminent in position of authority.

app.: He is the agent by which creation came into existence; he is the one who has authority over all of creation;

exp.: rd v16; For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. John 1.3 – ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν

All through him became, and without him became not one thing which became.

Without him, nothing was made that has been made. He created it all! rd v 16 again; For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Rd v 17; And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

1. He is Creator.
2. He is Sustainer. Not only did he speak all that there is into existence, but his power is what holds it together.

app.: That’s an incredible power. That’s the ultimate authority. So, Paul, still in the midst of this hymn, is quoting for these people – probably something they already know – reminding them of Christ’s Supreme Authority. And he continues… rd v 18

t.s.: Now, this Hymn brings out…

II. Christ in Relation to The Church: He is Head. (18-20)

exp.: cf.: Chiastic structure; Christ has all authority as creator, sustainer, but he is also the Supreme Authority over his church.

• He is the Head of this body, the church.
• Beginning (ruler)
• Firstborn (position) from the dead; the 1^st to be resurrected

ill.: Others were raised from the dead, but they eventually died again; Christ is the first to be resurrected and still lives; And because of this, we have this hope of our resurrection and the resurrection of our loved ones; But this one act establishes Christ as the Supreme Authority over the Church. Remember, this again is about his position.

exp.: rd v 19-20; ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 19 establishes once again that he is God in the flesh; vs 20 tells us why he did all that he did: to reconcile to himself all things. He has all authority. He could have just written the earth off and destroyed it, but instead, he brought us peace. And he did so through the shedding of his blood on the cross.

app.: I love a good hymn that has good theology and doctrine. This ancient hymn is rich in Christology – the Doctrine of Christ. But why is Paul quoting it here? At the beginning of his letter? Where is he going with this?

t.s.: well, let’s look as he points us to…

III. Christ in Relation to The Colossians: He is Redeemer (21-23)

exp.: rd v 21-22; alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds; it appears there are two pieces of evidence for their unregenerate lives: alienated – that is to say, separated from God and enemies (hostile in mind) – that is to say, at enmity with God. These two pieces of evidence were seen in their actions – doing evil deeds. Earlier Paul mentioned (10) bearing fruit in every good work – same word here as ‘deeds’; good deeds vs. evil deeds; but it isn’t that way anymore!

Now you are no longer alienated or at enmity, but rather you’ve been reconciled…(and here is the gospel) in his body of flesh by his death; this little statement is connected to v. 24; we’ll revisit it next week, but for now, it’s important to note that Jesus physically died on the cross for our sin, making it possible to have a relationship with him. We were enemies of God, doing evil deeds, but now, he has reconciled us, making us holy, blameless and above reproach before him.

Paul then makes this statement that might bring some confusion: rd v 23: ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard… It sounds like you can lose your faith, but that isn’t the doctrine.

This is the doctrine: Continuation in the faith is evidence you’ve committed your life to Christ. For those who don’t continue in the faith, it is evidence that they haven’t committed their lives to Christ. This verse doesn’t mean that you can become a Christian and then lose your faith. Lots of folks start the journey and decide not to stick with it, for various reasons. When they choose to walk away from it, it means they never really were committed to it.

t.s.: The preeminence of Christ in all things establishes his authority in redemption history, reconciling the Colossians based on his atoning work and their continuation in the faith. And it is the same for us – All authority, in heaven and on earth, belongs to Christ. He is Preeminent in all things, including our redemption, if we stand firm in our faith.

Conclusion: I love the Gospel. I love that it changes lives.

She had been coming to our church for a few months. She was inquisitive and truly seeking. That was evident in her passion and pursuit of the truth. Her story relects the woman at the well – the Samaritan woman. When we met her, she had come through a nasty divorce. She and her little girl were trying to make a go of life in East Texas. She had gotten pregnant and had no intention of marrying the father of her 2^nd child. A co-worker, actually a subordinate, invited her to our church. It was there she heard the gospel.

She attended for some time – months even. It was during this time that she got pregnant with her 3^rd child. According to her own testimony, as she drove down the road, she was overcome by her own sin. She knew that living her life her way had made things incredibly difficult. She said she pulled off to the side of the road and just wept. It was there in her car on the side of the road, with tears streaming down that she committed her life to the Lord.

And boy did she. The Gospel got a hold of her life and transformed her. At first I was leery of her conversion. A lot of people start off like a falling star – bright and brilliant and full of energy at first, but then fall away into mediocrity. Not her! Jesus changed her and she has never been the same. I’ve watched her blossom into a passionate evangelist who has probably led more people to Christ than any other convert I’ve personally known!