Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3: 1-4 (NASB)
Paul is showing us what fullness in Christ looks like and how to maintain it. Last week we saw how legalism and mysticism and asceticism take away from Christ. Anytime we try to add to Christ, we dilute Him. But someone may question, “If salvation means Christ+nothing, why do we need to know disciplines?” There is a difference between disciplines and legalism. Legalism (and it’s cohorts) ultimately trusts self. (I can do it, I can make it etc…). Discipline trusts Christ (He can do it, He will make me what he wants me to be). When Jesus called his first followers he said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. In other words, you follow me, you trust me, and I will change your life! Paul is not giving us a list of behaviors by which we can earn Christ’s acceptance, He’s showing us what a life that trusts Christ looks like.
So we’re just going to deal with the first 4 verses. I’m calling this the Risen Life because we have a very important reminder in the opening words. SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED UP WITH CHRIST…it seems to me that we need to constantly be reminding ourselves of this truth. I have been co-resurrected with Christ! Now Paul gives us instructions (Like a good spiritual coach) and the rationale behind the Instructions that help us remember to live the Risen Life.
1. The Instructions – verses 1 and 2
a. Keep seeking the things above – Be persistent! Don’t cave in or give up. Things above = Christ and His position of power. Note: where He is seated; the power side. Keep seeking the value of the glorified Christ – His victory, His peace, His truth, His character. If we want to live the risen life we have to seek the RISEN ONE!
I was walking with my head down in the hospital parking lot the other day and found $100. I waited for a while and no one came looking for something. So I thought, " I’ve been blessed." This thought hit me, “I need to keep my head down more often.” Oh, what a subtle lie. You miss a lot with your head down. People are attempting to live the Risen life with their heads down, looking for few bucks when they are missing the greatest treasure. Notice that the Bible doesn't instruct us to look within, or look around us but to look above us.
Corrie Ten Boom wrote, Look around and be distressed, Look inside and be depressed, Look at Jesus and be at rest.
b. Set your mind on the things above – FIX your mind
Are we training our mind to run up to Christ first? As a compass points N, our disposition should be to point itself toward heaven.
c. How can I set my mind on things above? 4 ways:
1) Begins with prayer – ask God for it. I want to fix my mind on you. Lord set my mind on things above – John 15:7
2) Surrender my will – we can set our minds on projects, vacations, buying something…we can set our minds on God.
3) Hold loosely to our possessions – Read the parable of the rich fool Luke 12:13-21
4) Memorize verses that deal with a heavenly mindset…for example Eph 2:6 – and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, so we can show his incomparable riches and grace…
2. The Rational – verses 3 and 4 – this is why we should submit to these instructions. Two reasons:
a. My history – in verse 3. This is our spiritual history. Because I
Died. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. 1 cor. 15:31 – I die everyday. The more I die – the fuller Christ becomes. The more I die – the more He controls me. I value what He values more. I see what he sees more. The Best believers are dead ones. Not only have I died – MY LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. What does that mean? At least two things:
· We’re all wrapped up in God – 2 Peter 1:3-4& JN. 14:20
· Non-believers can’t understand the fullness of our new life in Christ – 1 Cor. 2:14
Our life is hidden with Christ in God and we are dead to sin, self and world…why would we not keep seeking the risen life? Why wouldn’t we live on the outside what we are on the inside?
b. My future – verse 4. Our future is going to be to appear with Christ in glory. Why not make that our present mindset? Phil. 3:20-21.
How can I practice the Risen Life?
Decide to turn your attention toward heaven. It’s not our normal practice. We tend to believe that with our head down we’ll find $100 bills.
Recognize worldly thinking and put that aside. Recognize worldly attitudes thoughts and behavior. And when you do recognize them - avoid them.
Ponder the greatness of God. See God in life everyday. The more I think about God, the more I will live the risen life.
Keep seeking things above!
Pastor Tim
Paul is showing us what fullness in Christ looks like and how to maintain it. Last week we saw how legalism and mysticism and asceticism take away from Christ. Anytime we try to add to Christ, we dilute Him. But someone may question, “If salvation means Christ+nothing, why do we need to know disciplines?” There is a difference between disciplines and legalism. Legalism (and it’s cohorts) ultimately trusts self. (I can do it, I can make it etc…). Discipline trusts Christ (He can do it, He will make me what he wants me to be). When Jesus called his first followers he said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. In other words, you follow me, you trust me, and I will change your life! Paul is not giving us a list of behaviors by which we can earn Christ’s acceptance, He’s showing us what a life that trusts Christ looks like.
So we’re just going to deal with the first 4 verses. I’m calling this the Risen Life because we have a very important reminder in the opening words. SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED UP WITH CHRIST…it seems to me that we need to constantly be reminding ourselves of this truth. I have been co-resurrected with Christ! Now Paul gives us instructions (Like a good spiritual coach) and the rationale behind the Instructions that help us remember to live the Risen Life.
1. The Instructions – verses 1 and 2
a. Keep seeking the things above – Be persistent! Don’t cave in or give up. Things above = Christ and His position of power. Note: where He is seated; the power side. Keep seeking the value of the glorified Christ – His victory, His peace, His truth, His character. If we want to live the risen life we have to seek the RISEN ONE!
I was walking with my head down in the hospital parking lot the other day and found $100. I waited for a while and no one came looking for something. So I thought, " I’ve been blessed." This thought hit me, “I need to keep my head down more often.” Oh, what a subtle lie. You miss a lot with your head down. People are attempting to live the Risen life with their heads down, looking for few bucks when they are missing the greatest treasure. Notice that the Bible doesn't instruct us to look within, or look around us but to look above us.
Corrie Ten Boom wrote, Look around and be distressed, Look inside and be depressed, Look at Jesus and be at rest.
b. Set your mind on the things above – FIX your mind
Are we training our mind to run up to Christ first? As a compass points N, our disposition should be to point itself toward heaven.
c. How can I set my mind on things above? 4 ways:
1) Begins with prayer – ask God for it. I want to fix my mind on you. Lord set my mind on things above – John 15:7
2) Surrender my will – we can set our minds on projects, vacations, buying something…we can set our minds on God.
3) Hold loosely to our possessions – Read the parable of the rich fool Luke 12:13-21
4) Memorize verses that deal with a heavenly mindset…for example Eph 2:6 – and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, so we can show his incomparable riches and grace…
2. The Rational – verses 3 and 4 – this is why we should submit to these instructions. Two reasons:
a. My history – in verse 3. This is our spiritual history. Because I
Died. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. 1 cor. 15:31 – I die everyday. The more I die – the fuller Christ becomes. The more I die – the more He controls me. I value what He values more. I see what he sees more. The Best believers are dead ones. Not only have I died – MY LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. What does that mean? At least two things:
· We’re all wrapped up in God – 2 Peter 1:3-4& JN. 14:20
· Non-believers can’t understand the fullness of our new life in Christ – 1 Cor. 2:14
Our life is hidden with Christ in God and we are dead to sin, self and world…why would we not keep seeking the risen life? Why wouldn’t we live on the outside what we are on the inside?
b. My future – verse 4. Our future is going to be to appear with Christ in glory. Why not make that our present mindset? Phil. 3:20-21.
How can I practice the Risen Life?
Decide to turn your attention toward heaven. It’s not our normal practice. We tend to believe that with our head down we’ll find $100 bills.
Recognize worldly thinking and put that aside. Recognize worldly attitudes thoughts and behavior. And when you do recognize them - avoid them.
Ponder the greatness of God. See God in life everyday. The more I think about God, the more I will live the risen life.
Keep seeking things above!
Pastor Tim
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