Rooted in Christ- Part 22- New Life in Christ
Rooted in Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsPaul reminds the believers in the church at Colosse that they are risen with Christ and that as a result their attention and their affection should be upon the eternal and not the temporal.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Paul has spent the majority of the letter to the Colossian believers to this point refuting the false teaching and the false teachers who were among them.
Now he turns from the negative to the positive and begins to give some very practical instruction to detail how they should pursue spiritual growth in Christ.
After confronting the errors of the false teachers and pointing the believers in Colosse back unto Christ, he begins to go into greater detail regarding their progression in spiritual growth.
Having just spoken of the impact that their identification with Christ’s death should have upon them, he begins this next section of the letter by reminding them of their identification with Christ’s resurrection.
The “If” here is not to suggest that some of them were not “risen with Christ”, rather it was to state that since they were risen with Christ what follows should be true of them.
You and I are “risen with Christ” as well and our spiritual growth is dependent upon recognizing this truth.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The truths that Paul communicates to the believers in Colosse which flow from this reality, ought also to be true of us.
Those who are risen with Christ should...
Seek Things Above (Vs. 1)
Seek Things Above (Vs. 1)
Seek- search out, to desire, to look for
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Paul is here reminding the believers in the church at Colosse of the need to live their lives according to the reality that they are risen with Christ and are become heavenly citizens no longer citizens of earth.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The false teachers were directing them to the physical world and now Paul attempts to direct their focus to the spiritual world instead.
So often believers live their lives as though the physical world is all that exists, working and striving to gain temporal wealth and happiness, neglecting the realities of the spiritual realm which are eternal.
The believer’s attention must be fixed upon heaven and must recognize that is but a pilgrim passing through this world to a better, heavenly country.
Hebrews 11:13-16- we seek a heavenly country, recognizing that this world is not our final home.
Every believer’s greatest aspirations should be spiritual in nature, not of this world.
The aspirations of far too many believers are fixed upon success and prosperity in this life, rather than rewards in the life to come.
Many of us have at times fallen into the trap of allowing the world to shape our ambitions and desires rather than the Word of God.
So many are chasing the American Dream rather than seeking after eternal rewards in heaven.
They may achieve great success in this life only to find disappointment and shame in the life to come. We must refocus our attention and ambitions in light of our new life in Christ.
We must let our ambitions be shaped by the fact that we shall one day spend eternity where Christ now is.
Those who are risen with Christ must..
Set Their Affection on Things Above (Vs. 2a)
Set Their Affection on Things Above (Vs. 2a)
This process begins in the mind, as we fix our thoughts upon things above. The thoughts of the Christian must be fixed upon the eternal spiritual realities.
How we live our lives shall be directly related to where our affections are placed.
“ The believer’s whole disposition should orient itself toward heaven, where Christ is, just as a compass needle orients itself toward the north.”
Our thoughts should be consumed with thoughts of Christ, of heaven, and of eternity.
The believer must have always in mind that one day he shall stand before God in heaven and he shall be called upon to give an account of his life upon earth.
Every believer will one day gain or lose reward on the basis of his faithfulness to God during his life upon earth.
Sever Their Affection for Things Upon Earth (Vs. 2b)
Sever Their Affection for Things Upon Earth (Vs. 2b)
If we are going to be successful in setting our affections on things above, we will naturally have to sever our affections for the things of earth.
Our affections will either be fixed upon heaven and that which is eternal or upon earth and those things which are temporal.
Paul is not hear recommending to us that we simply forget about our duties and responsibilities upon earth, but rather that we would exercise them in light of their eternal consequences.
D.L. Moody would often say that we must not become “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good”, and this is certainly true.
Our primary focus should be upon heavenly realities and only then shall we be able to live upon earth as God intends for us to.
The Contrast
The Contrast
The believer who has set his affection on things above will be primarily concerned with glorifying the God of heaven, while the believer who has set his affection upon the things of earth will only be concerned with his own glory and prestige.
The believer who has set his affection on things above will recognize the importance of allowing himself to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, while the believe who has set his affection on things on the earth will allow himself to be conformed to the culture around him.
The believer who has set his affection on things above will strive to lay up treasure in heaven, while the believer who has set his affection on things on earth will seek temporal wealth and earthly goods.
The believer who has set his affection on things above will recognize the importance of pointing men to Christ, while the believer who has set his affection on things on the earth will place little or no emphasis on this task.
The believer who has set his affection on things above will be yield himself to the leadership of the Spirit of God, while the believer who has set his affection on things on earth will be directed by his desire for prosperity and worldly success.
Conclusion
The first and most important question today is are you risen with Christ?
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
We are made alive by union with Christ through our faith in Him for salvation from sin. (Ephesians 2:8-9- by grace through faith)
If you are risen with Christ are you living today in light of that reality?
Are you seeking things above? Have you set your affections on things above or do your affections remain fixed upon the things of earth?
We have been given new life in Christ, but we must choose to live in light of this present reality.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.