Series Big Idea: "Humanity is only complete in God the Son"

Sermon Big Idea: "In Christ, we have a new identity and the responsibility to live according to His will"

Key Scripture (Colossians 3:1-11)

In the fall of 2022, I started a sermon series on the Book of Colossians. We stopped our study after chapter two. Today, I want to resume the series, starting with chapter three. As many of you are aware, Colossians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the congregations in and near the city of Colossae, situated in the Roman province of Asia Minor. Paul's primary aim in writing this epistle was to reinforce the faith of believers in Christ there and urge them to live out their faith in their communities while standing firm against any false teachings.

Paul contradicted the idea that the physical body was inherently wicked (the gnostic false teaching) by illustrating that God took on a physical form and redeemed humanity through that body. He also emphasized that our works in the flesh carry weight, and true spiritual growth involves living a human existence in alignment with Christ here on earth.

(Colossians 3:1-11)

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath comes on the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. 

In chapter two, Paul talked about false motives for self-denial. Here in chapter three, he taught about authentic Christian behavior, which is embracing Christ to transform our nature and putting aside earthly desires. By allowing Christ to dwell within us, we are molded into the image we are meant to be. Focusing on heavenly realities (what is above) means merging its values into our daily lives and prioritizing the eternal over the temporary (Philippians 4:7).

What is the significance of a believer's life being "hidden with Christ"? "Hidden" implies being protected and secure. This is not just a hope for the future, but a present reality. Our actions do not earn our salvation but rather reflect it. Find comfort in the assurance of your salvation and live each day in service to Christ. Christ helps us live for Him now and gives us hope for the future when He comes back. In the rest of this chapter, Paul talks about how Christians should behave now to get ready for Christ's return.

In verses five and six, Paul says we should see ourselves as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. But this verse cautions against sexual perversion, not sex itself. But how do we distinguish between the two? The Bible praises heterosexual, monogamous marriage as the proper context for sexual fulfillment. Christians should seek true love and intimacy within a lifelong commitment to faithfulness, as this is God's design. Engaging in sexual sin and perversion will drain your energy and distance you from God. "The anger of God" indicates His condemnation of these evil actions, leading to the eventual punishment of evil in the future. When faced with temptation, keep in mind that you will ultimately be held accountable before God.

We need to eliminate all sinful behavior and wickedness to fully embrace Christ's teachings. Paul encouraged believers to stay faithful to their profession of faith, putting off their old ways and adopting the new nature given by Christ. If you have committed to Christ, are you staying true to it? Christ’s desire is to cleanse your life and the church of sexual and verbal sins. The Kingdom of God does not tolerate immoral behavior or harmful speech. Instead, let's show the world love, faith, and hope like a guiding light in darkness.

Conclusion

All Christians are on a journey of continuous learning. As we deepen our understanding of Christ and His teachings, we are gradually shaped to be more like Him. Since this transformation is lifelong, we must persist in learning and obeying His commands. Instead of drifting aimlessly, we should be motivated to uncover the abundant riches of spiritual growth. But this requires dedication, ongoing reflection, perseverance, and focus to stay aligned with His will.

Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. The Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

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