Colossians 3:1-4

The book of Colossians 1 chapter 3 today invite you to open your Bibles with me there.

Studying the text this week. I thought a lot about our identity and then who we are and where we where we find our identity and in the Bible talks about that in terms of citizenship. And I know his citizenship is a pretty big Topic in our country these days. I was visiting with the man yesterday who received his naturalizacion 2014 and kind of talking about with that looks like and I didn't know all this but become a naturalized citizen you have to be 18 years old, but then there's a whole list of requirements right after green card first, you have to be able to read write and speak basic English and then you have to meet certain residency requirements. But then you also have to take a all right, you have to be a person of good moral character. I don't know how that's determined. You know, you give like a little questionnaire. I mean, how do you determine that? Right? I never seen this person before and it finally have to pass a test about us history and government and then I looked this up either. There's like a hundred questions that you might possibly be asked and you have to answer. I think you're given 10 from that list and you have to be able to answer six of them correctly and then everything about the Constitution branches of government 13 colonies past presidents, the flag u.s. Holidays all these kinds of things around are on this, you know, this quiz, I don't know that I could pass it myself but you know, all of this steps all these requirements to become a citizen to do all these things, right? You have to meet these requirements. You have to follow these steps. Take this test pass the test all this kind of stuff and I think lots of times We tend to think about the Christian life like this as well. But how do I become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven while I got to do these certain things? How do I make sure as a Christian I got to follow this code of conduct? And I got to you to learn that the code of the church or whatever it is in and that's what gives me right standing up to make me a citizen and then we saw that we see that in the scripture people that would come up the Philippian Jailer what must I do to be saved. Or on the Rich Young Ruler, you know what things must I do to inherit eternal life.

But today's text something totally different and then pause get begin unpacking all the rich theology. He's given us the first couple of chapters of Colossians and really start applying it to to everyday life for us will see him in the coming weeks talk about marriage and talk about parenting work because again, all of these things aren't you on steps to be understood and known but but a life to live it as as we looked at a few weeks ago. We were to walk in Christ. I just learned about him or believe the right things about him but to walk in so today Paul's going to draw our attention. To the connection between our Identity or citizenship and then how we actually are our to live and in what are orientation is because we're not just directed to this life in the things of this world as will see but but our home is is in heaven writing from it. We await a savior. It's all of our Lives To Be Heaven were pointed towards Christ towards the future so I can look at the text. They will look at three main headings forces is a condition of being raised with Christ. I never thought that condition really nothing else matters. Secondly will look at commands that Paul gives us as the people of Christ and then thoroughly think the causes of our citizenship in the body of Christ. Before we do that let that's going to read the word of God. I ask you all the stand with me and honor the word of God says Colossians 3 verses 1 through 4 today.

If then you have been raised with Christ seek, the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on Earth for you have died. And your life is hidden with Christ in God when Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory. You pray with me, please. Why we come to your word, would you teach a lesson instructors through it?

Father by your spirit Lord, would you open your word and open our hearts to it to receive your truth to Believe In Christ believe your word in and I believe your promises. How to understand who you are and what you call us too and to look forward to the coming of your son Jesus. It's in his name. We pray. Amen you please be seated.

And I got to get used to this pulled that Mark a little higher, you know that these guys are more high but you know, I feel like a at our house. We have like one little chair at the table and it's pretty much a short Strava route to sit in it. I kind of feel like that, you know any way to get there with this condition.

That we must be raised with Christ. Are the reason I say that the condition is because the sentence the first sentence of this chapter is stated as a conditional and if then statement right we see that if you have been raised with Christ seek, the things that are above not the order of that sentence is so important and it cannot be changed. If you've been raised then you seek the things that are above. But we can't switch that order. We can't say Okay seek the things that are above in order to be raised. Now in colossae and in Anthony's talked about this the last couple weeks. There's been all these false teachers and in gospels distorting the truth. I didn't really they come in two flavors that we've seen in in Chapter 2 of the first is the legalist if you're taking notes the outline us. The number one is the legalist. I would have the legal to say he said if you want to be raised then follow the code. If you want to attain Enlightenment that you need to follow these specific legal steps do these things? Right? And we see that if you go back in Chapter 2 and I wrote a couple references. They're looking for 16. Therefore. Let no one pass judgment on you and questions of food and drink or is regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. So here's the log we we had these these Jewish laws that the the early church were still struggling with you know, what are we supposed to do with these and Impala saying like like you're not raised by following these principles? Can this isn't how you have new life is by food and drink and festivals and Sabbath's but that's not it. That's not the point. They look down the first 20 if with Christ you died to the elemental spirits in the world wise if you were still alive in the world, you submit to the regulations don't handle don't taste don't touch. So that's the legal is the false teaching that says if you want to be raised do these things? Secondly, we have the Mystic. The Mystic says if you would be raised you have to have these spiritual experiences. Find me find the inverse 18 to chapter 2. Let no one disqualify you insisting on a citizen and worship of angels going on in detail about Visions being puffed up without Reason by his sensuous mind. Turn other words if you want to be raised and you need to have these unique encounters with these unique spiritual experiences. I didn't notice that both of these ideas have the same source that the enlightenment whatever that looks like in the spiritual realm starts with human effort. That's what they're both coming from. I have to do these things to be raised or I have to have these experiences in order to have new life.

And it it's all staked on on human effort.

And we see this also in the church don't we did if you want to be raised and you need to turn from sin and obey the law you need to do these things and you need to be like this and and so, you know, someone's kind of grew up this way, maybe not intentionally, but it's kind of the flavor that we absorbed from the church. Don't do drugs pay your tithe. Remember the Sabbath I get involved in absolutely everything you can. It did not that becomes how we view our life with the Lord. That's how we view maturity in Christ. It is in order to be mature right? I have to follow this code. Or on the other hand, if you truly want to be raised you need tongues or you need Miracles or you need feelings and it unless you've done that you're not filled with the spirit unless this has happened to you. You know, you haven't arrived. It is so we see these distortions throughout church history and throughout all systems off the lost because all worldviews and religions in the world by the Rays through through legalism or mysticism and it all comes back to things that we do.

What are the results of this? I go back to chapter 2 verse 23. This is the letter b. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and a cetus ISM and severity to the body but they are of no value and stopping the Indulgence of The Flash different appearance of what's Godly in appearance of true spirituality and religion it appearance of godliness. But no substance. Paul says else. Where is the 2nd Timothy 3:5 of false teaching that has the appearance of godliness, but not its power. Did it looks right on the outside but the spiritual Powers is not there. Why because it's it's human. It's based on human effort. Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 8 see to it that no one takes you captive by these Thing by philosophy empty deceit according to human tradition according to the administer to the world and not according to Christ. And in contrast to that remember Paul's goal. chapter 1 verse 28

Yeah, meaning Christ. We Proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Right now maturing the law not mature and spiritual experiences but mature in Christ. And so we don't proclaim the law, but the law is good if it's used lafolie Galatians, but we Proclaim Christ. And we will proclaim a spiritual experience is it in yet? We are told to live in the spirit. We are told to keep in step with the spirit. We know that those things have happened and I don't want to get in all that conversation right now. I will whether you still have it or not, but we know the spirit is alive the spears the same as he was Miracles still do happen. And yet maturity comes only in Christ if the results of these other things it's just appearance. Not the substance of Christ.

So then is Texas to two identity?

Write the logic of the text says that we can only seek the things that are above if we've been raised with Christ. That's the only way and we can only be raised in Christ. We cannot be raised to any other means and unless we have been raised in Christ. According to the text. We cannot seek the things that are above.

So there are only two identities possible while we are either in Christ and alive in Christ raised with Christ or we are in Adam and we are dead in sin. We seen this teaching in Paul in Colossians. You've been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of your birth of his beloved Son to identities possible domain of Darkness Kingdom of his son.

And in that that's the only option. There's no other way regardless of what anyone else says to be raised to have this change my identity other than Christ. So I had I loved it and he went to to 2nd Corinthians 5 from now on WE regard no one according to the flash just just worldly matters know we record everyone according to this identity of metric. There's only two identities your eyes are a new creation in Christ. Are you remain dead in sin?

For the Colossians. Remember Paul says in verse 2 of chapter 1 you are the Saints and faithful brothers in Christ. Set of Bedrock reality for them is that they have been raised with Christ.

They are New Creations in Christ is Anthony spoke about last week. But they're United to him their his their his people his creation. But notice something about that the language here if you have been raised this in in other words, this is an accomplished fact. You've been raised. My name is not something that they have done but the verb is in the passive voice mean that it is happened to them. Tell us just to ask these questions and follow the logic. How did this happen? Who did it? Just go back with me and in doing this. I want us to see just how closely connected all these parts of Colossians are just go back with me into chapter 2 and let's start with

llamas versus 9 And we'll see this argument how this happens. In him in Christ the whole fullness of diety dwells bodily and you have been filled in him who is the head of all Rule and Authority in him? Also, you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ having been buried with him in baptism in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised him from the dead and you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. God made a live together with Christ having forgiven us all our trespasses. What a powerful scripture So who has done this work who has raised us up with Christ. It is clearly here. It is God. God made a live together with Christ God did this. And how did he do it? We we see it there in verse 12 that we are raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God. So we are raised by God was raised with Christ Were Made Alive or given Faith by God and what do we know of that face? Are we know from the fusions chapter 2 that it is of Grace? It is a gift of God.

So God raises us with Christ United with Christ through the instrument of faith that he gives to us. Are we don't raise ourselves through legal obedience? We don't raise ourselves to Mystical spiritual experiences. God raises us through faith alone in Christ alone. by grace alone

Identity to possible alive in Christ raised with Christ United to Christ or in Adam and dead and send. Well, then we come to orientation. Now that we've talked about this condition. If you've been raised with Christ that condition has been met then this is to be our orientation at our identity determines our orientation because again, I think it's really important to understand the logic of this text that our identity in Christ then determines our orientation towards Christ rise of Texas. If you've been raised with him then seek the things that are above If that conditions been met if we've been raised with Christ, our entire existence is to be pointed and oriented towards Jesus Christ.

Apollo has said throughout the letter Christ is the head he is the substance that he is preeminence in all things.

Then Fall moves in inverse to to a I'm sorry inverse one to a set of commands So if you've been raised with Christ, this is your identity this to be your orientation. What is that orientation? It's encapsulated into commands in in the text of the first he says seek the things that are above right. And then secondly set your minds on things that are above such things that are above and set your minds on things are about to parallel come in one referring to two kind of looking and end in Desiring to find the other one to thinking and meditating and and actively placing our mind of the text says on these things. But notice how does it tell us what these things are exactly? How do you say speak the things above set your mind on the things above doesn't give us a list? But he does give us a contrast. I want us to look at that briefly. Look at this direct contrast. The things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God verses and verse to the things that are on Earth. So here's this Heaven Heavenly reality of Christ exalted Christ have in common lived and died and resurrected and ascended. And now he's cheated in his session at the right hand of the father as our Advocate as the king. And in that this reality that we are to point towards as opposed to this merely Earthly temporal transient. reality We have this direct contrast in again where to fill in the blank with the false teaching. Set your mind on the things that are above on Christ in the gospel and not on these legal requirements and not on these mystical experiences and Visions in worship. We have this direct contrast.

secondly Did this contrast points is to two substitutes and then let me explain why it what I mean by that I do when we read this one of the worst mistakes we can make is to think okay. So if I'm going to be a Christian, then then, you know, like shopping and work and a family and like hiking and and things like that just you know, they're their worldly I guess and so then I don't need to do that. So I just need to withdraw and pull out of life and then probably live in a cave and you know surround myself maybe a few others that think the same thing and that's the Christian Life right there been people have done that are like the desert Mystics who sat on poles and fasted and prayed and in that That if you look at the Bible, look at how these people lived at this not with being put out here like that does not the goal. We're to live in the world.

But what happened is that this idea of substitutes? So we eat we start to live is if we haven't died with Christ are we start to live as if we haven't been raised with Christ for that it as if life doesn't consist in Christ the life consists in these other substitutes. So our job becomes wife. right or or sex becomes life or what whatever that might be found some type of worldly success or or substances like we we need them to to have life or or you know, I need to have the right kids and I need to do the right things me the right programs not the right education and I need to know all those things become life my reputation my health and do not end up the substitute true life, which is Christ and it become for us what we focus on these substitutes and I wonder how many of our struggles and temptations and since result from this exact issue from failure at this exact point. Did these these are the things I sent my mind on. My my failures are my accomplishments or what I have to do today or what's going on in whatever situation this is seeking after these things. And if they would just change or be aligned correctly, then I'd be there at have it. And in still alive turn the tables. I am no longer seeking first the kingdom of God that I'm seeking fullness of life in this set of circumstances. I'm I'm no longer living as if I'm a kingdom of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Do we lose perspective we lose orientation. I think I hear about hunting and I got lost one time hunting extra couple times hunting. But the one time I was with this other teacher and a cousin at this like never a good recipe and this guy wanted that whole area is got this, you know this honey hole on his GPS we start going up there and I mean the Bulls were people in my crazy. So what do we do? It's like I'm chasing those bugles we get going and we follow them and follow and follow him and then like, okay we've gone too far and they're just gone and it's time to go back to the share. You've been hunting here this like your backyard will follow use like we got to go this way. Because it makes sense to me. But let's let's go this way. We're going and going and going and everything in my head is telling me. We're going the wrong way and sure enough. Thanks, we get to a point and here's the here's Stoner but we're headed to our car which is on the West Fork and I'm if you've been up in that it's not real far, but it's the wrong way. It's the wrong direction we were going in and he's got his GPS and he says this can't be right and then that's the point. You know, it's like okay, you're looking at your GPS and it is you say this can't be right. Like we have lost our goal. We have lost our orientation. So what what would we do that point? Like here's a compass right? Here is North we have to go west for going west. I don't care if we were just going that way. but when we when you lose sight of that orientation or or you You look for it and something other than what's going to give you True North you you lose. Perspective. You get lost you get disoriented. You're headed the wrong direction. And that's it. That's what this is referring to the substitute for this contrast. 13 here is is to Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus in and I used that purposely. Even though Paul's languages is somewhat vague but here's why I think it's big is why I think he says to seek the things above without just giving us a straight list. And that's because if he gave us a list, what would we do with it? If I follow that list, I've done it right we would turn to legalism again as the means for maturity in Christ as the means for a Godly life. Instead Paul focuses on identity notice in this small little text how many times Christ is mentioned raised with Christ?

Your life is hidden with Christ Christ. Is your life. A secret things were Christ is like four times in for versus focusing us on identity in Christ focusing our gaze to heaven where Christ is seated.

I texted my help is here. Is is Matthew 6:33? Which tells us to seek first the kingdom of God. And his righteousness no know why is that again is because we're citizens of that Kingdom or our citizenship has been transferred right? We've been naturalized if you will into that Kingdom, we've been transferred there by God. We're no longer at home in this world no longer to live only for this world. But as the Bible says we are now strangers and Exiles in this world.

So then what is our orientation right if I home is where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. We're to set our mind there.

And Paul will go on to spell out how that looks practically and the next couple chapters. But here you focus is not on those practical steps, but first on identity to safeguard us against legalism or mysticism. I want to read briefly from the book of Hebrews chapter 11. So I think it just shows us so clearly what this identity is. * the Hall of Faith chapters is called.

But he was 11. I want to read just verses 13 through 16 there.

Turn with me if you want. Hebrews 11 13 through 16

These looking back Patriarchs Abraham Isaac Jacob. These all died in faith not having received the things promise but having seen them and greeted them from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and Exiles on the earthers. Language. Strangers and Exiles here. It's like being in an airport, you know, you got your ticket and you're headed somewhere and you're not in the same position is the guys that are working at the counter and working at the shops. I got I'm leaving this place, but your home is here.

Lost my place strangers and Exiles on the of the first 14 for people who speak that's make it clear that they are seeking a Homeland if they've been thinking of that land from which they gone out. They would have had opportunity to return but as it is they desire a better country. That is a Heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for his prepared for them City that contrast

Next Paul moves on to talk about causes. So we have the condition of being raised with Christ these commands of how we are to live in Christ. And then he he helped clarify this distinction between between Canada the above and below with with three facts of our Redemption and I want to see them with me in the text the first of all in in verse 3, he says you have died right before you have died for shows us that it is the reason for the commands. Did the reason or the grounds of the cause of these commands of seeking the things above and setting our minds on things above is that we've died to this world? Does for you have died nothing is interesting cuz he just told us that we've been raised.

Keep it. What does he mean here? And again go back to this Union with Christ? When Christ was crucified and died, we who believe our United to him in that death death to sin death to self death to our slavery to sin. We've been United with him in that death band. Is she this with me? It is so clear in the Book of Romans chapter 6 read a few verses there just to help fill this out and Colossians.

Romans 6 verses 5 through 11

For if we have been United with him in a death like his we shall certainly be United with him in a resurrection like his we know that our old self was crucified with him. In order that the body of sin might be brought up to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin for one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again death no longer has dominion over him for the debts. He died to sin. I'm sorry for the debts. He died. He died to sin once for all but the life he lives he lives to God. So also So you also must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus Through United with him in his death yet to send that to sell that to the old nature. And then we are raised with him. The first fact is we have died with Christ second factors that we are alive with Christ, but you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. What a phrase. I was already said that the gospel was hidden in it in ages past and in revealed in Shadows, but but now fully revealed in Christ and in that same way like our life and you can see I can see you're alive, but the fullness of that life is hidden with Christ and will only be revealed later. So for now alive in Christ with Christ, we are raised with Christ. We Are Made Alive.

so then our life can type consists in the Here and Now Write with clothes and with food and with daily struggles and and end with whatever else happens in daily life. It it doesn't consist in those things. They're important, but they're not the substance of life. The fullness of our life is kept in Christ and kept in God as the text says

to drive home the point notice the next phrase verse for that Christ is your life. What a powerful like I just feel like it's kind of smacks you in the face that phrase Christ is your life. And in I think honestly so many of our issues like Marty said happened because we don't see him as our life. We we look to the contrast. We look to the substitutes. We forget our identity orientation and something else is seen as as the means to True Life. But why why would we look for fullness of life and in anything other than Christ and whom the fullness of God dwells bodily? Meaning of phrases used of Christ at the in him was life. The life was the light of men that he is the way the truth and the life and that life is our life as believers. Make a video image of a Vine and branches of being attached as a branch to that vine and all the nutrients all all that we need is supplied through that vine. That is our Union with Christ. It's weird that we died with Christ were alive with Christ and the next notice that we are glorified in Christ. The text say Bruce for when Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him and Glory none of this changes our orientation it it is pointing us not even just to Christ in heaven now, but Christ returning again one day and in ushering in the new heavens and the new Earth be because who we are already accomplished we have been redeemed but there's a not yet Dimension to it. I did the fullness of this Union a waste of time when Christ who is our life appears and then is it says you also will appear or be revealed with him in glory. So we still live in this world and bodies that are wearing out. I got this thing in my hip like I feel it like a man my body starting to wear out. Yeah, I had the privilege of being with the man yesterday is on and hospice care. He's a retired pastor and he he is ready and he knows he's got just a little bit of time. But but he knows hit his life his body has worn out, but he's cleaning to these hopes. This is life doesn't consist in this world. But in Christ and Christ is not letting him go. He was so cool to share the promises of scripture with him and and in just know that he's at peace and then he's just waiting to go home.

So beautiful, so powerful.

What do I get another text that speaks of this? I don't know if you ladies gotten this far in first, John is the first John chapter 3.

1 2 and 3

John tells us there see what kind of love the father has given to us that we should be called children of God and so we are The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. I'm at the world. Didn't know if he was there they saw him but they didn't believe in him. They didn't know who he truly was. Didn't grasp at identity because of their Hardness of Heart because their unbelief first two beloved we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is and everyone who does hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure this fills out our orientation. Porting to Eternity to Christ coming back. She was being with him being united with him and we are told to us hope in him. The Hope in this orientation this truth that we will be with them that this world is not our home

Has received reply this text. I want us to ask a couple questions. First of all, what is your identity? By what we look at that text all about whether we have died with Christ and been raised with Christ and then what we are to do. Without Christ we will be held captive by the systems of this world. By-elections and their outcomes right by the contrasts if I buy the substitutes that we are tempted to just speak our life in will be held captive by these things will be chasing obedience or chasing spiritual experience as a means to Enlightenment or or to reaching our next level.

In-N-Out in any when we do that all we will have is is an appearance write an appearance only but also the reality of God's judgment and Eternity.

But if we believe in Jesus if we turned it in if we receive him as Lord, we are united to him in his death and Resurrection, but that is the promise of the Bible. And what a contrast it is if identity dead in sin and alive in Christ.

Yes, see how beautiful the gospel is that regardless of age or gender or status in this world? Regardless of how you've lived of how bad you have sinned when you turn to Christ you are saved and you have new citizenship. And that is the beauty of the Gospel that we need to keep proclaiming. So, who are you and where is your citizenship? What is your identity? Second. What is your orientation as a orientation is going to say a lot about our identity. If we're not seeking the things above it could be that is because we haven't been raised with Christ. It is a legitimate question. Any and unfortunately that question isn't always being asked. first of all because Many people don't want to take the Bible seriously, but second of all because we want to seek a different means to being raised then faith in Christ.

So what if we examine our hearts and our lives in light of these commands, what would they tell us? Our internet searches are our internet history our pocketbooks and things like that. What would we treasuring and valuing? And what message do we send?

But if we've been raised with Christ, his spirit is leading us and calling to us to set our mind on the things of Christ.

So what does our life say how we lost sight of who we are in Christ and what really matters in life?

We're to seek the things of God. A few practical considerations. Just just to close this out. First of all, what do we do when we aren't obeying this text? Right? What do we do when we look at our lives? It's like man. I'm just I'm not I'm speaking so many other things and I like lost side of my identity and I've lost side of of of what Christ is calling me to.

We return to our identity. We we we we return to the gospel. The Substitute says return to obedience or to spiritual experience with the some other source, but the scripture always hold up Christ and Christ Alone look at how Paul has written this letter we're talking about them. They're hoping laid up in heaven praying for them centering on Christ for verse after verse after verse directing their gaze away from these other systems back to Christ. He he's giving us a model to follow So we returned to the gospel is why we need it everyday. That's why we preach it weekly. That's why we need the body of Christ why I need all of you to to Spur me on and in and help me when my eyes get focused on what was down below and on what I have to do today, or what I haven't done yesterday. We we need the church that that's why I got into one of the reasons got Institute of the church to keep the word Center to keep the Gospel Center. Did you help us keep seeking the things that are above? Secondly, we need to beware spiritual substitutes for substitute spirituality. Are we cannot confuse the nature of the condition of this text? We cannot seek the things above unless we've been raised and seeking whatever else will not result in us being raised Christ must always be the center.

Think of that as parents think of that as as a teacher's to get that in our workplaces or or as a whole church. We we can't fix problems through legalism in through mysticism. We we we cannot do it. We'll try we have to beware of those substitutes. Finally we need to praise God for new identity. I praise God for the comfort and joy that it brings that we have been United with Christ and what can separate us from. Love Of Christ. The word says nothing.

We are his we've been United to the King of Kings.

You're no longer bound to this world in this body, but we have a Heavenly Home a Heavenly destiny. We have an inheritance said that I was holding titus's is undefiled and imperishable in unfading.

Number to praise God for that. I didn't take great comfort and hope in those things.

I want to close with with a verse from Paul in Philippians. I mean if you want some extra reading this week, I think

Philippians is a great accompaniment to Paul's text here in Colossians. Just like that. The letter really spells out how he lived he says to live is Christ to die is gain and he shows how that looked in his life. Anybody. Could you to look into that if you are so inclined maybe this is Philippians 3 the end of chapter 3 verse 19 I'm service 18. I'm sorry. 17 Brothers joining imitating me for 17 and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us for many of whom I've often told you and now tell you even with tears walk as enemies of the Cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their belly and they glory in their shame with Minds set on Earthly things that's familiar to us know like a verse 20, but our citizenship is in heaven and from it. We await a savior. The Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. By the power that enables him even as subject all things to himself there for my brother's to my love and longing for my joy my crown stand firm in the Lord my beloved. osprey

a father we thank you for these truths that for all who look to Christ and Faith to all have whoever received him in faith. Then that you Unitas to him through your spirit. And causes tooth to die with him too soon in our old nature and to be raised with him in newness of life. Be seated with him in the Heavenly places and I have our home Captain secured by him forever. And we thank you that we can say Amen to this text that our citizenship is in heaven and from it. We we look forward to a waiting you are savior. our Lord Jesus Christ We thank you for these promises for the fact that we have a new Destiny in a new home and ended our life is Christ and then it is kept for us by God. Father encourages through these truths and if in any way we we are not following them. If we are are are seeking the things of this world and sending our hopes and our lives and our Joys and them revealed to restore to bring conviction and repentance. I'm not that we might seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God and set our minds on things above. How did you do this work in us? We praise you for this time. We thank you for the gift of New Life In Christ. And we pray this all in his name. Amen.