From Right Belief to Right Practice: Why and How Theology Matters
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Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:21-23
Opening Prayer
Introduction
Philosophy
“The ends justify the means” AKA - Consequentialism
deontology (from Greek δέον, deon, "obligation, duty") is the ethical theory that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action.
One sentence
Three points
Symmetry
Exposition
Remember our context
v. 3-14 Thanksgiving and prayer
v. 15-20 Christological Hymn
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
In verse 21, “And you” brings a turn of attention in the letter to another subject, but with the previous context in mind
I. Mankind is naturally unbelieving and sinful
I. Mankind is naturally unbelieving and sinful
Notice the words in the verse
Alienated
Hostile
Doing evil
Mankind, because of the sin of our “father, Adam” is in a state of sin...
Illustration: Natural rivals
Application:
Anticipate but don’t accept sin
Don’t try to Change an unbelievers actions for merely moralistic reasons
Older to younger
Reconciliation in needed…transition
Exposition 2
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
Reconciliation
Real body opposed to gnosticism
Pointing to Christ’s person and work in the “hymn”
The purpose...”in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him”
Legally innocent in judgment
II. Believing mankind is supernaturally made perfect
II. Believing mankind is supernaturally made perfect
Blameless and above reproach
Illustration: Overheard a discussion in the Men’s class about people being qualified for a job vs. just being placed there for political reasons.
Why is this an issue? It becomes a real issue when someone ends up being hired for purely demographic reasons and rather than being “less qualified” they are “un-qualified”
God’s standard is perfect qualification
Application:
Humility
Realize that God is the one who makes people right and not “being good”
Respond in thankful praise
Be a believer
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
If ?
Does this mean that our continued salvation is dependent on our obedience? If not, what is meant by this statement?
If we are “holy in status” we should also become “holy in reality”
III. Having been made perfect, believers live faithfully
III. Having been made perfect, believers live faithfully
What we believe about God impacts how we live for God.
Believers
Continue in the faith
Are stable and steadfast
Don’t shift from the hope of the Gospel
Because it is God’s eternal plan
Conclusion
So we don’t simply do right because it is told to us but in response to who God is and what He has done.
We do right because we strive to reflect the Character and holiness of our Lord.
Prayer of Thanksgiving