The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
\nJuly 31, 2016
\nColossians 3:1-11<\/p>\n
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.\u00a0 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.\u00a0 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.\u00a0 When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.\u00a0 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:\u00a0 sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.\u00a0 Because of these the wrath of God is coming.\u00a0 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.\u00a0 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these:\u00a0 anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.\u00a0 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.\u00a0 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n
One of the things that I consider to be an important part of my ministry is to help people learn and understand the definition of some of the big words that we use here in church\u2014 words such as justification and sanctification.\u00a0 The \u201cworking definition\u201d of the word justification is, \u201cDeclared:\u00a0 Not Guilty!\u201d\u00a0 Justification emphasizes what God has done for<\/strong> us, what God has accomplished for <\/strong>us on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill.\u00a0 The word sanctification means, \u201cto set apart as holy.\u201d\u00a0 Sanctification emphasizes what God does in <\/strong>us.\u00a0 Through His holy Word and through His holy Sacrament God gives us both the motivation and the ability to let the faith which He has created in our hearts shine brightly in our lives. \u00a0I always emphasize that since justification is 100% what God <\/strong>does for<\/strong> us, our justification is perfect and complete.\u00a0 However, since we <\/strong>are involved in our life of sanctification, our sanctification is a process<\/strong>\u2014 a process that will continue until the very moment we are taken Home to heaven.<\/p>\n The reason I like everyone to learn and understand the definition of these big words that we use is two-fold.\u00a0 First, I want people to know what we\u2019re talking about when they hear these words in church or when they read them in their Bibles.\u00a0 Secondly, I want people to be able to recognize false teaching when they hear it.\u00a0 Many many false teachings are the result of misunderstanding of what the Bible teaches concerning justification and sanctification.\u00a0 Many many false teachings are the result of confusing or mixing sanctification with justification.<\/p>\n As we conclude our short sermon series on Paul\u2019s letter to the Colossians we see how the apostle Paul highlights both justification and sanctification in very practical terms as he reminds his brothers and sisters:\u00a0 When Guarding Against False Teaching\u2014 Always Emphasize the New Life in Christ!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 There are three things we want to see on the basis of this text.\u00a0 First let\u2019s see that this new life is already ours.\u00a0 Then let\u2019s see that this new life changes the way that we live our life.\u00a0 Finally let\u2019s see that this new life changes the way that we treat the people around us.<\/p>\n Paul begins our text by reminding us that we have already been given a glorious new life in Christ.\u00a0 Look at what he says, \u201cSince, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.\u00a0 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.\u00a0 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.\u00a0 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This is the Biblical doctrine of justification put into very practical and very relevant terms.\u00a0 Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God has declared all of mankind, \u201cNot Guilty!\u201d\u00a0 And then through either the Sacrament of Holy Baptism or through the power of His holy inspired Word God took everything that Jesus achieved for you (Pointing to the cross) and He gave it to you as your own personal possession.\u00a0 Now think about what that means.\u00a0 Through faith you died with Christ.\u00a0 Through faith you were raised with Christ.\u00a0 Through faith you have been given <\/strong>a new life in Christ.\u00a0 This new life is<\/strong> yours because Jesus\u2019 work of salvation is<\/strong> complete!<\/p>\n Because you are <\/strong>justified, because you have <\/strong>a new life in Christ you also have a totally new perspective on life.\u00a0 It is an eternal perspective!\u00a0 That\u2019s why Paul says to you today, \u201cSet your minds on things above, not on earthly things.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 On the timeline of eternity our life here on this earth is but barely the blink of an eye.\u00a0 While we are to be thankful for all the earthly blessings the good Lord gives to us, we realize that this life is not where we focus the majority of our time, our efforts or our resources.\u00a0 Our true life is \u201chidden with Christ.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Our new life is \u201cconcealed\u201d<\/em> from the eyes of those who are still spiritually dead in their transgression and sins.\u00a0 (See Ephesians 2:1ff)\u00a0 But one day\u2014 when this world and this life come to an end\u2014 all of that will change!\u00a0 Look at what Paul tells us in verse four, \u201cWhen Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That\u2019s our eternal perspective on life!\u00a0 As Christians we already know that we have been<\/strong> \u201cDeclared:\u00a0 Not Guilty!\u201d by God Himself.\u00a0 As Christians we already know that we have been given <\/strong>a new life with Christ.\u00a0 But as Christians we also know that our new life in Christ will only be \u201cvisible\u201d to absolutely everyone after Christ returns to this earth in all of His power and in all of His majesty and shares His eternal glory with us!<\/p>\n This new perspective that our new life in Christ gives to us then literally changes the way that we live our own life. As the justified children of God we strive to live a sanctified life.\u00a0 Paul describes this sanctified life in very practical, very relevant terms when he says, \u201cPut to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:\u00a0 sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.\u00a0 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s not difficult to understand why the life of an unbeliever is marked by one or by all of the sins Paul mentions here.\u00a0 When there is no saving faith in a person\u2019s heart, when they do not have a \u201cnew life with Christ\u201d<\/em> all they have is this life.\u00a0 And so they indulge in \u201cwhatever belongs to their earthly nature\u201d<\/em> as Paul says here in our text.\u00a0 What they do not realize, or what they choose to ignore is the warning:\u00a0 \u201cBecause of these the wrath of God is coming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n What we need to remember this morning, however, is that these words were not written to unbelievers.\u00a0 These words were written to the Christians in Colosse.\u00a0 These words were written to Paul\u2019s dearly beloved brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 These words were written to remind God\u2019s people\u2014 both then and now\u2014 that because they are <\/strong>justified, because they have been given<\/strong> a \u201cnew life with Christ\u201d<\/em> this new life will change the way they live their own life.\u00a0 We know all too well that even as Christians we still have that old sinful nature lurking inside of us.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we need to listen to what Paul says to us this morning, \u201cPut to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Don\u2019t try to just clean up your old sinful nature and make it seem more presentable to others.\u00a0 Put it to death!\u00a0 Don\u2019t try to re-train your old sinful nature so that it \u201cbehaves\u201d\u2014 at least in public.\u00a0 Put it to death!\u00a0 Whether we realize it or not, whether we want to admit it or not, we would all do well to remember that whatever belongs to our \u201cearthly nature\u201d<\/em> also needs to hear the warning:\u00a0 \u201cBecause of these, the wrath of God is coming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Just as our \u201cnew life with Christ\u201d<\/em> changes the way that we live our own life, so also our \u201cnew life with Christ\u201d<\/em> changes the way that we treat others\u2014 especially our brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 Paul puts this aspect of our sanctification into very practical terms when he says to us, \u201cBut now you must rid yourselves of all things such as this:\u00a0 anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.\u00a0 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed<\/strong> <\/em>(Notice that this is the process <\/strong>of sanctification) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Again, it does not surprise us at all when unbelievers treat other people poorly.\u00a0 It does not surprise us at all when unbelievers allow \u201canger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language\u201d<\/em> and \u201clies\u201d<\/em> to be a part of how they deal with the people around them.\u00a0 What does surprise us is when we realize how easy it is for \u201canger\u201d<\/em> and \u201crage\u201d<\/em> to taint how we treat the people around us.\u00a0 What does surprise us is how often \u201cmalice\u201d<\/em> and \u201cslander\u201d<\/em> takes place even among brothers and sisters in Christ.\u00a0 What does surprise us is hearing \u201cfilthy language\u201d<\/em> come out of the mouth of someone who professes to be a Christian. What does surprise us is how easily some people will tell a \u201clie\u201d<\/em> in order to stay out of trouble.<\/p>\n As Christians we are to treat all people with respect and honor\u2014 especially our brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 The \u201cnew life with Christ\u201d<\/em> that we have been given, the justification that we enjoy, leads us to make sure that \u201canger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language\u201d<\/em> and \u201clies\u201d<\/em> never infect the way that we treat others\u2014 and again, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 We cannot lose sight of the fact that what Jesus did for us He did for others\u2014 yes, even Joe, even Sally.<\/p>\n If you go down to any Christian book store you will find plenty of self-help books that claim to show you how to become a better Christian husband or how to become a better Christian wife; how to be a better Christian parent or how to be a better Christian child; how to be more successful or how to be more happy as a child of God here on this earth.\u00a0 If you listen to many of the preachers on television you will hear sermons that emphasize things such as, \u201cLook deep down inside of yourself.\u00a0 You already have the power to become a better person.\u00a0 You already have the ability to become a better Christian.\u00a0 All you <\/strong>have to do is\u2026.\u201d and then they\u2019ll give you a whole list of things you can start proudly checking off on your own.\u00a0 What is all too often misunderstood is that no matter how much we try to \u201cclean up\u201d our old sinful nature deep down inside our old sinful nature is just as horribly sinful as it always has been and given the opportunity our old sinful nature will lead us right back into the shameful behaviors it enjoys so much.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it is so important to emphasize the new life that we have been given\u2014 in Christ!\u00a0 Our new life is not the result of anything we have done or anything we can do.\u00a0 No, rather, our new life is purely the result of what God<\/strong> has done for <\/strong>us!\u00a0 That\u2019s justification.\u00a0 At the same time, once we have been given this new life in Christ, that new life will indeed produce changes in us.\u00a0 It changes the way we that live our own life.\u00a0 It changes the way that we treat others.\u00a0 That\u2019s sanctification.<\/p>\n Until the very moment that Jesus returns to this earth all of God\u2019s people\u2014 including us\u2014 will need to continually guard against false teachings.\u00a0 Sometimes false teaching is very blunt and very easy to recognize.\u00a0 Sometimes false teaching is very subtle and yet very insidious.\u00a0 My prayer is that our quick overview of Paul\u2019s letter to his brothers and sisters in Colosse has helped you to see that when you are guarding against false teaching the most important thing of all is to stay focused on the cross.\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)\u00a0 By staying focused on the cross we will naturally emphasize Christ and Christ alone.<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost July 31, 2016 Colossians 3:1-11 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.\u00a0 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.\u00a0 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.\u00a0 When Christ, who 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