Colossians 3:1-11 The New Life in Christ 5/8/07
{1) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. {3} For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. {5} Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. {7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. {8} But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. {9} Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices {10} and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. {11} Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
This morning God is putting before us, us through this reading, another very important question: ‘What is it that motivates us to live the kind of life that we do? In other words, what is the basis and foundation on which we live our life? Does our life revolve around and stem from God or merely from the things of this world? Or to put it another way, are we a man or woman of the world or are we a Christian? This question and our answer to it is of utmost importance for ourselves; and its consequences will he felt throughout our life and by others around us as well; either for good or bad.
Here let it be made quite clear that we are talking about our life and our motivation here and now. If one doesn’t have the right motivation for working, playing sport, being involved in leisure activities or whatever, then we are destined for a life of uncertainty, loneliness and pain. On outward appearances of course this life may be very little different from anyone else’s; although we can see what is happening in our society as more and more people are choosing to ignore God and what he has to say to them. People are ripping one another off, greed, selfishness, divorce, suicide, and abuse is rampant; and I could go on. Our society is starting to fall apart because so many people are choosing to build their lives on the hollow philosophies of our present society; Where science, money and pleasure are held up as being all important we are seeing more and more of this.
There are many people today living life for what they can get out of it for themselves, to hang with the family, community or anyone or anything else; even to hang with God; and we all are reaping the rewards. Their motto in life, too often, seems to be very much, ‘let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.’ Whilst others again, think security, and positions of importance in society is all important. So everything they do – friendships, finances, work and sport - is done in order to build up their level of security and acceptance. Or again they might simply think that as long as they live a reasonably good life and do the right thing now and again, then surely they will get to heaven and everything should go well for them. Underlying all these attitudes is a neglect of that divine and everlasting foundation that is to be had through Jesus Christ.
Our reading here this morning points out some outward signs of a wrong basis for living life every day; sexual perversion, evil desires, greed, anger, hateful feelings and divisions. Now we do not need to go very far before see how widespread these are in are community around about us. They are all signs that things are not what they should be. They are the results of sin which has taken control. Here we are reminded that all such actions which do not have as their basis Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, will in the final analysis be as our first reading says, a chasing after the wind. And like the rich farmer who built his bigger barns only to die and leave his inheritance to who knows whom. What we would do well to remember is that all people who do not have Jesus Christ as their basis and foundation are doomed to God's judgment and the verdict of eternal damnation in hell. Now that should surely be sobering thought for us all.
However that is not what God intends for you and me. We are reminded here that we have been raised with Christ. That is at our baptism we were joined to Jesus' death and resurrection. We therefore have been joined to God's family and have been given a new and better life; eternal life with God. As a result we now have a new basis on which to live our lives. We don't have to live selfish, self-centred lives any longer. Our salvation is secure, we do not have to work toward our acceptance and our need to have to do enough to gain it. It is a free gift to us here and now.
So surely now our values, attitudes and behaviour grow out of this right relationship, understanding of, and with, Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Because we believe in him and the forgiveness of sins that he extends to us, we can give our all for him and the people around us. This life is not one where we sit passively in Church here when it suits us. It is more than simply believing that Jesus died and was raised again so that we can have eternal life. It is more than just having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, these are important - all important - but we are also called to live this new life, here and now. For our faith to be credible and alive we need to live a life which is in accord with Jesus and how he would have us live.
And how are we to live this new life? It is first and foremost a life which is focused fairly and squarely on Jesus Christ. How can we really do anything else but focus our attention and life on him after what he has done for us. He rescued us from eternal death – and restored our broken relationship with God, making us a part of his family. He has given us whole better way to our lives so as to live at peace with God, ourselves and one another.
Since he has done all of this for us we now surely want to live in light of it. We will want it to effect everything we say and do. How can we not but turn our attention toward him and do what he would have us do, for our own good and for the welfare of others.
For us as Christians, we can only know how to live property if we keep our hearts and minds looking to and focused on what is above. Our motivation for all our living; and living the right kind of life here on earth, can only come when we have this goal in mind. We can only live correctly when we actively seek those qualities, attitudes and actions which are associated with Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Here we need to remember that he came to love and serve; not to be loved and served. So now we allow him to lead us to love and serve in the same way. When we look at life in this way we will find that we can and will be able to live our life to the fullest. That means that when we died with Christ at our baptism, we died to that old destructive way of life which leads to ruin and heartache, and so will do our best to avoid those things.
Surely we and our community really have no room for that way of life which destroys and alienates, because we now have a new and better way. Christ has saved us and now rules over us and cares for us.
Now the we seek to live for him, taking on board the attribute and actions that Christ would have for us. Here let me read the verses following our text this morning ........ Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. {13} Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {14} And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {15} Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. {17} And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:12-17)
So then let us all allow the love which Christ has for us motivate us to now go out and love others and to live this new life that we now have. Letting that love be the basis and foundation of our life every day. Here remember that our Lord Jesus goes with us where-ever we go: when we are at work or in our play; in the good parts of life as well as in the bad. He is there with us when we are with our non-Christian mates: He is there at all times to help us to live and be the person he wants us to be. So go from here focusing on Jesus and how he would have us live. There may he be glorified as is fitting for our great God and King; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
{1) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. {3} For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. {5} Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. {7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. {8} But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. {9} Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices {10} and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. {11} Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
This morning God is putting before us, us through this reading, another very important question: ‘What is it that motivates us to live the kind of life that we do? In other words, what is the basis and foundation on which we live our life? Does our life revolve around and stem from God or merely from the things of this world? Or to put it another way, are we a man or woman of the world or are we a Christian? This question and our answer to it is of utmost importance for ourselves; and its consequences will he felt throughout our life and by others around us as well; either for good or bad.
Here let it be made quite clear that we are talking about our life and our motivation here and now. If one doesn’t have the right motivation for working, playing sport, being involved in leisure activities or whatever, then we are destined for a life of uncertainty, loneliness and pain. On outward appearances of course this life may be very little different from anyone else’s; although we can see what is happening in our society as more and more people are choosing to ignore God and what he has to say to them. People are ripping one another off, greed, selfishness, divorce, suicide, and abuse is rampant; and I could go on. Our society is starting to fall apart because so many people are choosing to build their lives on the hollow philosophies of our present society; Where science, money and pleasure are held up as being all important we are seeing more and more of this.
There are many people today living life for what they can get out of it for themselves, to hang with the family, community or anyone or anything else; even to hang with God; and we all are reaping the rewards. Their motto in life, too often, seems to be very much, ‘let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.’ Whilst others again, think security, and positions of importance in society is all important. So everything they do – friendships, finances, work and sport - is done in order to build up their level of security and acceptance. Or again they might simply think that as long as they live a reasonably good life and do the right thing now and again, then surely they will get to heaven and everything should go well for them. Underlying all these attitudes is a neglect of that divine and everlasting foundation that is to be had through Jesus Christ.
Our reading here this morning points out some outward signs of a wrong basis for living life every day; sexual perversion, evil desires, greed, anger, hateful feelings and divisions. Now we do not need to go very far before see how widespread these are in are community around about us. They are all signs that things are not what they should be. They are the results of sin which has taken control. Here we are reminded that all such actions which do not have as their basis Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, will in the final analysis be as our first reading says, a chasing after the wind. And like the rich farmer who built his bigger barns only to die and leave his inheritance to who knows whom. What we would do well to remember is that all people who do not have Jesus Christ as their basis and foundation are doomed to God's judgment and the verdict of eternal damnation in hell. Now that should surely be sobering thought for us all.
However that is not what God intends for you and me. We are reminded here that we have been raised with Christ. That is at our baptism we were joined to Jesus' death and resurrection. We therefore have been joined to God's family and have been given a new and better life; eternal life with God. As a result we now have a new basis on which to live our lives. We don't have to live selfish, self-centred lives any longer. Our salvation is secure, we do not have to work toward our acceptance and our need to have to do enough to gain it. It is a free gift to us here and now.
So surely now our values, attitudes and behaviour grow out of this right relationship, understanding of, and with, Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Because we believe in him and the forgiveness of sins that he extends to us, we can give our all for him and the people around us. This life is not one where we sit passively in Church here when it suits us. It is more than simply believing that Jesus died and was raised again so that we can have eternal life. It is more than just having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, these are important - all important - but we are also called to live this new life, here and now. For our faith to be credible and alive we need to live a life which is in accord with Jesus and how he would have us live.
And how are we to live this new life? It is first and foremost a life which is focused fairly and squarely on Jesus Christ. How can we really do anything else but focus our attention and life on him after what he has done for us. He rescued us from eternal death – and restored our broken relationship with God, making us a part of his family. He has given us whole better way to our lives so as to live at peace with God, ourselves and one another.
Since he has done all of this for us we now surely want to live in light of it. We will want it to effect everything we say and do. How can we not but turn our attention toward him and do what he would have us do, for our own good and for the welfare of others.
For us as Christians, we can only know how to live property if we keep our hearts and minds looking to and focused on what is above. Our motivation for all our living; and living the right kind of life here on earth, can only come when we have this goal in mind. We can only live correctly when we actively seek those qualities, attitudes and actions which are associated with Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Here we need to remember that he came to love and serve; not to be loved and served. So now we allow him to lead us to love and serve in the same way. When we look at life in this way we will find that we can and will be able to live our life to the fullest. That means that when we died with Christ at our baptism, we died to that old destructive way of life which leads to ruin and heartache, and so will do our best to avoid those things.
Surely we and our community really have no room for that way of life which destroys and alienates, because we now have a new and better way. Christ has saved us and now rules over us and cares for us.
Now the we seek to live for him, taking on board the attribute and actions that Christ would have for us. Here let me read the verses following our text this morning ........ Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. {13} Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {14} And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {15} Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. {17} And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:12-17)
So then let us all allow the love which Christ has for us motivate us to now go out and love others and to live this new life that we now have. Letting that love be the basis and foundation of our life every day. Here remember that our Lord Jesus goes with us where-ever we go: when we are at work or in our play; in the good parts of life as well as in the bad. He is there with us when we are with our non-Christian mates: He is there at all times to help us to live and be the person he wants us to be. So go from here focusing on Jesus and how he would have us live. There may he be glorified as is fitting for our great God and King; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
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