Sermon

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August 15, 2004
11th Sunday after Pentecost
Colossians 3:1-11
Pastor Robert Raasch

How Should a Christian Live?

1. As One who has been Raised with Christ
2. As One who Puts to Death the Earthly Things

Can you tell me, what do you think is the purpose of this book? If you were to ask the average Joe on the street, "What value does the Bible have for our everyday lives?" what do you think he would say? I expect that some would say, "This book has no value at all. It was written so long ago, it has no relevance for our lives today. Besides, it's been so pulled apart and misinterpreted that you can't really trust anything it says anymore." That's one view. Another perspective would be those who see this book as a great guide for their lives. They see it as a set of rules that God (or Jesus) has given to show mankind how to live their lives, so that someday when they die, they'll be with God in heaven. They think of the Bible in terms of the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do to you."

Now, even though that is a very popular view of the Bible and it's probably held by a large number of people, I hope you realize that that perspective is not entirely accurate. The Bible is not primarily a rule book for our lives. It's not some kind of instruction manual, some kind of treasure map that if we meticulously follow it, we will some day win the buried treasure.

No, the primary purpose of this book is not to tell us what we must do for God, but rather to tell us what God has done for us. This book is God's historical record of who Jesus is and what his life, death and resurrection mean for our lives now and forever. The Apostle John nicely summed up the purpose of the whole Bible when he wrote in chapter 20 (v.31), "These (words) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name."

In other words, the primary purpose of the Bible is not to show us what to do to earn God's favor; rather, it's to give us what to believe. Rather than the map that we must follow to find the treasure chest, the Bible is the actual treasure itself! It's God's way of saying, "Here, Jesus has won eternal life for you as a free gift. Believe it."

But now, if that's all true-if the Bible is not a rule book, then someone might ask, "how do you explain the Scripture lesson from Colossians, chapter three? In my NIV Bible this section bears the heading, Rules for Holy Living." Well, that's a good question. In fact that's the question we'll seek to answer as we consider the theme:

Christian, God Calls You to Carry

Here in our text, God offers two answers to that question. A Christian should live:

1. As One who has been Raised with Christ
2. As One who Puts to Death the Earthly Things

Now, even though this whole section of Colossians is basically a list of do's and don'ts, still it is prefaced by a very important statement. Paul begins by saying, "Since you have been raised with Christ." Now, what does that mean? You have been raised with Christ. Well, in order for a person to be raised, that is, resurrected from the dead, what must be true of that person? He must first be dead. People who are alive cannot be raised from the dead. Only dead people are raised from the dead. So who are the dead people? You and I are. The Bible says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins." (Eph.2:1) By nature we were all spiritually separated from God and unable to do anything good. But then what happened? Colossians 2:13 says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ."

In other words, as the time of our baptism, or when as adults we heard the message of God's love for sinners, God the Holy Spirit gave us new spiritual life. He connected us to Christ. From that moment on, whatever Jesus did, we got credit for. His death on the cross paid for our sins. His resurrection from the dead means that we have a clean slate with God. God has made us new men and women, washed in Jesus' cleansing blood, dressed in Jesus' perfect holiness. Even though the world may say we look like everyone else, even though we may feel like we are going through the same trials as everyone else, the fact is our identity is found in Christ. That's what Paul means when he says here in our text, "Your life is hidden with Christ in God."

That's the first point that Paul makes here in our text. He wants to nail down what God has done for you and me in Christ. Notice, there's no "if" in that first verse. It's not "if you are raised with Christ." Rather, it's since you have been raised with Christ. That's a done deal. God has made you alive in Christ. Even though you may not always feel alive; even though we don't deserve to be alive, the fact is God has granted us a new life.

Really, that's the first key to answering the question, "How should a Christian live?" Before you can know what to do, you need to think about who you are. You are alive in Christ. Christ lives in you live in Christ. And what follows in your life is simply a reflection of who you are.

Unfortunately, you and I are not 100% new. Each one of us also still has some old in us. We all have a sinful nature, a part of us that is constantly pulling us away from God. And Paul says that it is that sinful nature that we must put to death. Paul writes, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your sinful nature." How should a Christian live? He should II. Live as one who Puts to Death the Earthly Things. Now, what does that mean: Put to death the earthly things?

Well, in this section, Paul basically takes a list of traits, different attitudes and actions which are evidence of our sinful nature rearing its ugly head in our lives. And in each case, Paul's advice to us is "Christian, you have to put that ugly thing to death. You need to whack its head off. Every time it starts to show up in your life you need to kill it. The Greek word there is Neckrosate, "Turn it into a corpse."

So exactly what do we need to put to death? Paul begins with "Sexual immorality," that is, any sexual activity with someone who's not your spouse. I know that the world says that sleeping with someone is no big deal. It's perfectly normal and healthy as long as you have decided the time is right for you. And how easy it is to think, "I'll go this far, but not quite that far. As long as I'm in the privacy of my own home, or as long as nobody else finds out, I'll be okay." My friends, all sexual activity outside of marriage is not something to merely be slowed down or regulated or covered up. It's to be killed! Put to death whatever belongs to your sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire and greed." Did you notice how many of those things really deal with the human heart? God knows that this is where the problems begin. Jesus said, (Mat 15:19) "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." God knows that if we are going to live as Christians, then we will face a daily struggle to put to death some of the desires that come pouring out of this heart on a regular basis. "Lust"-that desire to have something that God forbids, whether it's a body that belongs to someone else, or a salary I haven't earned, or a dream home I can't afford.

In fact, if you think about it, there's a fine line between lust and the next word on the list, namely "greed." Paul says that both of them are in fact forms of idolatry. Any time we want what God says we can't have, any time we insist on doing what we want to do, rather than what God would have us do, we are proving ourselves to be guilty of idolatry. We're saying, "I'm the most important person in the world."

Here in our text, Paul says that it is because of these sins and more that God's judgment will someday rain down on mankind. Even though it appears that people are getting away with these sins every day, even though it may appear that these attitudes are a way of life for so many people, still Paul says, "Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." Or as Paul writes to the Galatians, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked." (Gal. 6:7). God's judgment on those who thumb their nose at him will be certain, even if it's not immediate.

But Paul is not finished just yet. He goes on to speak about a second set of earthly things we have to put to death in our lives. In this case, it's not so much sins of the heart as it is sins against other people. Paul writes, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips." Let's just reflect on each one of those a moment. Paul says, "Get rid of anger." Anger in and of itself is not necessarily wrong. But so often our anger is entirely self-centered. When anger is an outburst of our sinful nature, then it's wrong. The same thing is true of "rage". Rage is anger that's out of control, anger that results in emotional or physical harm to other people. God says that rage has no place in the life of a Christian.

The next word is "malice." If rage means getting in someone's face, then malice means quietly plotting behind someone's back. It's the ill will that we allow to fester, yes even cultivate in our hearts. It's that's twisted desire to see someone else suffer, see someone else "get theirs."

Paul says, "get rid of slander." Slander may mean telling lies about someone else. But it may also mean telling the truth about someone in an unloving way. It may mean pointing out a person's sin without going and speaking to that person first. The final item is "filthy language." Today we may think of the F word or the S word or any other vulgar references to the human anatomy. But really, Paul is talking about any language that sounds like fingernails on the chalkboard in the ears of a God who gave us the gift of language in the first place.

Now, I don't know about you, but I look through that list of things that God says to get rid of and I'm thinking, "Man, I'm guilty of all those things." And you know that's absolutely right. In fact, that's the first reason that God lays out exactly what he expects of us-namely to show us how miserably we have failed him.

But remember the point that Paul made at the very beginning of this section. "Since we have been raised with Christ…" God has done what no one else could imagine. He's given you and me credit for Jesus' perfect life. He's made us new in Christ. The world may not see it. Paul said that your life is hidden in Christ. But even though the world can't see it, you know it. And as a redeemed child of God, you can't help but show it. How can you show it? The answer is right here.

There are still some things in your life and mine that must be put to death. Go through the list one more time. Decide which one you are going to put to death this week. Come to the Lord in prayer and ask him for strength in overcoming temptation. And then be the new man or the new woman God has recreated you to be.

By the way, could it be that you might not be completely successful in your campaign to kill one of those traits of the sinful nature. Could it be that one of those demons may come back to life? Sure it will. Next week you'll need another shot in the arm to help you live the Christian life. But of course, that's your reason to be here for next week's sermon. In Jesus' name. Amen.