Colossians 3_1-4 Living the Risen Life

Colossians 3_1-4

Living the Risen Life

Secular:

Rebekah & Chocolate bars… her choice
WHAT about Lindt, Purdy’s. fine Swiss or Belgian chocolate
Smarties
More colour
More weight
More pieces
Outwardly… Smarties
Inwardly… the smooth delicate flavour of the better quality
What may have satisfied, even intrigued us as a child… pails in comparison to that which can be savoured…
Living the Risen Life

Biblical: NAU Colossians 3:1 Therefore (since)…you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Personal:

Coat of paint on a wreck (ICBC Write offs… otherwise damaged)
Driven Hard
Detailed
Painted
Racing Stripe
Wrecked frame… engine cooked
Never experience the joy that “look” of the that car is selling

Bridge:

A shiny coat of paint on our old life doesn’t give us peace… doesn’t give us piece…
Smarties might be inviting to a child who like the shiny colours, the quantity…
But wouldn’t you love to savour a silky smooth high quality chocolate
Why would we want to settle for a shiny coat of paint on our old life…
When we can live life INSIDE OUT…
Live a life that has the peace and joy of Christ on the Inside… and having it overflow in our life...
That is Living the Risen Life.

Body:

The Reminder: 3:1 Therefore (since) you have been raised up with Christ,

Reminders of who we are… Gal 2:20
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
I have heard the words… You’re his Father… Funny how….

Call to memory my position and responsibility…
Often we have to face such things…
You don’t have to remind me of that role when I am snuggled up saying prayers or the requisite tickle fight TAKE THIS TIME… with children and as children of God… ABBA and Lord God Almighty
It is about always taking seriously that role…

We need to be reminded…

Of the privilege
And of the obligation

Paul is making something clear….

With Christ – 3:1
Where Christ – 3:1
With Christ – 3:3
When Christ – 3:4
With Christ – 3:4

Total… sufficiency in Christ…
Paul reminds the Colossians and us…

We are risen in Christ
Made whole in Christ
This is the path to holiness!!
We no longer live the old life before salvation…
We live eternal life in our Saviour…
We no longer are bound to sin…
We are overcomers in Christ

We live life in a different way… with different priorities… with peace that passes all understanding
And we need to be reminded…
Do you get it? It is the Core of the Gospel…
You are indwelt by the Spirit of God… made alive in Christ… freed from Sin

When you get it… focus…. Live the Risen Life

Live life Inside Out

The Responsibility: …keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Keep seeking… (being in Christ is the beginning not an ending…) More you know… the more you want to know
NAU Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Priority set… goal set and promised
Not some flakey mysticism… direction setting…

What is the direction… to be like Christ… tenderness… kindness… meekness… patience… wisdom… forgiveness…strength… purity… and love…
Character Ethic… versus Personality ethic…

80’s Yuppie (Enron / Brex)
Inside Out

Live out heavens values….
Pointing to heaven… holiness…

Compass…. Pointing where Christ is!

You must not only seek heaven… you must also think heaven… (Inside Out) Responsibility to live the Risen Life
NAU Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Earthly goals and focus…
You become more Earthly even gaining earthly rewards
Heavenly goals and priorities…
You become more Heavenly… Christ-like even gaining heavenly rewards
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
The Responsibility… Live the Risen Life… Live Life Inside Out

The Reason and Resource: 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Your life is hidden in Christ… It is the reason we have this responsibility… to allow Christ to seep from our pours… Gatorade / PowerAde…. Oozing out

I love this Reason… to live the risen life…
Christ on the inside… spills out
Infectious like a baby’s smile

NAU 1 Corinthians 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Encouraged… excited… this is awesome!
We have died to the world… no longer in bondage to sin!... unlike a smile at a baby and a smile back… this isn’t just a heart flip… THIS IS LIFE CHANGE!
NAU 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
We have been set free…
But it says we are hidden… hidden in Christ…
Paul knows the world… and how incomprehensible God is to it… that life that is hidden is Christ is beyond the understanding of the world around us…
NAU 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
With Christ… secured
No trip to the bank with a big bag of loot… We are secure in Christ…
NAU 1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Jesus is not going away…
Jesus is not abandoning us…
Our hope doesn’t fade…
AND… our life is hidden with Christ in God… He is our strength our resource… our peace and our hope.
In the battles take hope… For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Take hope in the risen life…
NAU Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We need to remember… who we are in Christ (Inside)
We need to remember… how that drives us in our life (like Christ)
We need to remember the reason… (not added on… in Him… secure in Him)
…and the resource available (Holy Sprit… power in the Risen Christ
We need to Live The Risen Life…

Live Life Inside Out

And one day… it will all be revealed The Revelation:

4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

So much more than a piece of luggage dragged through our life…
The peace of Christ… our hope in Christ… the glory of Christ… the power of Christ…
It will be revealed and the Inside shall be outside…

Conclusion:

The Reminder:

We are in Christ

Christ is in us

The truth of the Gospel reigns in us…

We are set free… free to live for Christ

We need to Live The Risen Life…

Live Life Inside Out

The Responsibility:

Seek first God’s Kingdom

Let God set the direction

A Compass that Points to Christ…

The Reason and Resource:

LIFE – Hidden in Christ

- Seep from our pours

HIDDEN – the world doesn’t yet know

- children of God (ever met someone who knew your parents)

SECURED – an imperishable inheritance

STRENGTH – Holy Spirit… power of God our Resource

Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation."

AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED…

The peace of Christ… our hope in Christ… the glory of Christ… the power of Christ…
It will be revealed and the Inside shall be outside…