July 28, 2019Colossians 3: The Love Label of Christ

Put on Christ’s Love and be made new.

We are continuing our study of Colossians. In the last two weeks of our study we’ve learned: that we share in the fullness of Jesus and that no matter how much we dress up our spiritual life, we’re living the shadows if we’re not plugged directly into the power source. Hook – (2min)

● But first let’s talk about your favorite brand label of blue jeans.

o Women: If looks good, feels good, we’re sold out to that brand label -- loyal customers.

o God smiles at us and says, “Wait a minute, I designed the best brand label for you. It was purchased on the lonely hill of Golgotha and the insignia is the cross.

o

● *When you wear Christ’s LOVE, you’re made new. Does it fit?

Prayer (1min)

● Background (quick review)● The Colossians are the only Christians in Colossae – church plant.● False teachers are convincing the Colossians they need Jesus +

religious rules, Jesus plus a “higher knowledge.” The Colossians are trading the fullness of Jesus for manmade philosophies which is opening the door to dangerous beliefs and old habits.

Colossians 3:1-11 (p.)● Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities

of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.7You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.9 Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.   10Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

○ Paul is struggling in prayer for the Col. Struggling as he writes this letter reminding the Col. That the fullness of God resides only in Jesus, not in the philosophies and rules that the false teachers are peddling.

● *The Contrast between Heaven and Eartho If I’m always thinking of earthly things, there is no room

heavenly things. The affection for one will always displace the other.

o Buried with Christ, then raised with Him. Greek “to raise together” (sunēgerthēte) means along with. Eph. 2:5 Paul uses same phrase, Even when we were dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us alive together with Christ. 2:6 And He raised us up together with Him . . .”

o You’re no longer alone. The King of the universe lives within you.○ You’re different. There’s no resemblance between new life and

old life. ○ Colossians were different now – they didn’t’ blend in with the

Jews, Gnostics, or the mystics – they worshiped differently and their faith was different.

○ What happens when someone says, “You’re different.” We may be offended because we want to blend in with the crowd.

● *Put On Your New Self○ Don’t be shy about wearing your New Self. This is who God

created you to be. o Don’t be surprised if your friends don’t recognize the New You.

“Why aren’t you partying and drinking, dating around, accumulating wealth. Why are you so into church?”

○ If we’re serious about wearing the New Self, we will stop giving significance our old habits. Those things don’t define me anymore; my identity is in Jesus. My life is hidden safely in Him.

o Jesus guides all my pursuits and attachments. Together we choose a career path, together we choose which university to apply to, together we choose who to date, together we choose where to move, together we choose what to do in our free time. You can ask Him these questions and expect His guidance.

o Our Story: God stirring our hearts when we lived in Norman, OK. We were involved in ministry, life group leaders etc. We began praying, “God put us exactly where we will be the most effective in your mission.” He sent us to Oro Valley, AZ where we were introduced to the Covenant Church. Seven years later, we moved to Modesto. We’ve never stopped praying that prayer.

o God was stirring our hearts for the realities of heaven – His Eternal Purpose.

● New Self, New Mindset One that is Eternal.

▪What is ETERNAL? What’s eternal in 2019?▪ Eternal things last forever. People are eternal. We were

made for eternity to live forever with God.▪We’re surrounded by temporal things – iPhones,

entertainment, stuff in my house, the boxes in my garage – all temporal.

▪My eternal mindset holds loose to the things of this world because they don’t last.

▪ Real question: Am I giving too much importance to the temporal things in my life – job over Life Group, FB likes over actual friends. My eternal mindset constantly invites God’s perspective.

o Story: Evaluating the eternal. Story of my children and grandchildren.

● *Love the pursuit with eternal impact.

○ Examples: Youth trips to Mexico, San Fran, Gospel Mission, your tithe, your weekly Life Group, serving with LG, children’s ministry, relationships at home, relationships at work, tangible workload as interact with co-workers.

○ I want to avoid the lessor things that take me away from God’s best.

■ Strategies1. I Cor. 2:16 Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who

knows enough to teach him? But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

2. “I am free from any obligation, agreement, oath, and promise that is not sent from God. If He didn’t send it – no matter how good it is ITS’S NOT HIS BEST FOR ME, its’s a distraction from God’s best.”

○ Never settle for the lessor things.

Colossians 3:5-11

● *Put the old habits to death.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.

○ Strong language. nekróō (from 3498 /nekrós, corpse-like, lifeless") – to view as a corpse, i.e. without life. Paul doesn’t say “shut the door,” or “flee for your life,” he says, Put it to death.” View those old habits as a corpse.

○ These unhealthy habits steal our devotion away from Christ; they prevent

us from being filled with the fullness of Christ. ○ Don’t let the flesh pull you toward anger or foul language, don’t let the

flesh drag you into pride—always critiquing how something is done, or repeating someone else’s story, or listening to music filled with sexual language.

○ But everyone struggles with these things. Why? There’s a vacuum that needs to be filled. After one bad habit loses its thrill factor, we go chasing after the next thing goes on and on. Only Jesus can fill these empty places.

○ Then when we realize our lives are sinking we turn to our culture for the latest cultural fix. For the Col. It was Jesus + mysticism, Jesus + angel worship etc. These religious “add ons” have the appearance of wisdom and devotion, but they are powerless against sin – useless (Col. 2:23).

○ Now we understand why Paul is struggling for the Colossians: they have traded the fullness of Christ for lessor things – dangerous things.

We Can’t Stand In Resurrection Power With One Foot In the Grave.

● Jesus left His burial clothes in the grave.

Gal. 2:20 I’ve been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, He lives in me.

○ I too need to leave my old clothes, in the grave.○ They don’t smell good; they don’t look good – they’re a bad fit. ○ Bury the old habits of greed and lust, vanity and pride; don’t keep digging

them up. They infect your mind, your heart, and then made an appearance in your behavior. These old habits will slowly kill us. It’s a slow fade. Remember the song 10 years ago from Casting Crowns.

■ When you give yourself away It’s a slow fadeWhen black and white have turned to grayThoughts invadeChoice is madeA price will be paidWhen you give yourself awayPeople never crumble in a dayIt’s a slow fade (repeat)

Sin is like a disease, if left undetected, it will kills us and we’ll join the walking dead – unseeing, unhearing, and unfeeling.

Since we’ve all chosen to be here today, I’m sensing we’re interested in Christ’s Resurrection Power (and overcoming the zombie persona).

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● *Be Renewed In His Presence.10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him

● We don’t have to do all the work to experience renewal.

○ Renew: to make new. Used one other time in N. T. (2 Cor. 4:16)○ God is continually transforming us, making us new, as we dwell

in His presence – in the word, worship. ○ I’ve been raised together with Him, isn’t that enough? God

knows all about us – that’s only the beginning.○ Story of when I met Brent in my 20’s. It wasn’t enough to stare

at him from across the room. I wanted to know everything about him – fav food, friends, sports, hiking, church. As incredible as our marriage has been for the past 32 years, he can’t renew me. He can’t make me “new again.” Only God can continually do that, my creator.

○ Why would I not want to spend even more time with the One who makes me whole and complete – new again?

11In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Our renewal tears down the walls that separate us from each other.o Stop noticing each other’s skin color, education level, standard of

living.o We are diverse in background, experience, and emotional

baggage, we are a beautiful mosaic connected by the love of Christ.

o We are one in the Father, Son and H. S. Socio economic status, education, race, even religion are the markers our society uses to cause division. They do not belong in Christ’s church.

o Story of Fresno sisters

Colossians 3:12-4:1

12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.   14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Instructions for Christian Households18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.19Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.20Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your

reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong

Colossians 41Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

We have new clothes

12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.   14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.   15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.o Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience and love. o Make allowance for each other’s faults – wear GRACE.o Perfect: to the Gnostics only the few possessing “higher knowledge

could attain perfection. Paul borrows their verbiage and adds to the Christian vernacular. All followers of Jesus can experience “perfect harmony” when clothed with Christ’s love.

o Peace and thankfulness walk hand in hand.o These new clothes are part of the many rich blessings of the eternal

mindset.o They bring healing to us and to our relationships.

Fill your lives with the spoken WORD.

o Richness means abundance. We notice when people have an abundance of nice clothes, eat fancy food and live in big house. We say “They’re rich!” (an earthly perspective)

o God has created the finest clothes for us. They’re expensive! He’s given us the richest food – His Word. And He has the biggest house. AmenUntil we arrive in His house, we have each other – His church, right here.

o We receive this rich abundance by dwelling/living in His Word. Give it full control of your mind and heart.

o The result, we’ll overflow with wisdom so we can teach and counsel one another.

o And our worship will overflow with thankfulness and joy.

o Our lives become a powerful testimony to God’s Goodness.

*Above All, Be Clothed In LOVE.

o Above all – Listen UP!o The one above all others. Love binds all these together: mercy,

kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, grace. o In our culture love is stretched and contorted to fit our appreciation for

ice cream, tacos and our pet. o When people move to America,

they must be so confused: one word for L-O-V-E.o For a clear definition of American love try the Urban Dictionary:

o It’s a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define and impossible to live without.

o Love is when you walk in the door and your dog licks your face after you’ve left him home all day.

o True love is not blind, if you love that person you see their flaws but still consider them beautiful.

o Love is giving someone the power to destroy you and trusting them not too.

o Love, you find her beautiful, even if you catch her without makeup on and her hair pulled back while she’s unclogging the toilet – she still looks beautiful to you.

When Paul tells the Colossians to wear the love of Christ – he’s using the Greek word, agape – the selfless love that always seeks the best for the others. The love of goodwill. I like that. I want my family and friends to actively seek the best for me.

o Reciprocate. Love works perfectly when you’re giving and receiving, but once we stop giving how long does the perfect harmony of goodwill last?

oo Agape love doesn’t give to receive. It gives without expecting

anything in return, like our LORD. We have a variety of reasons to forgot to wear Christ’s love label: 

o My schedule is full -- wearing Christ’s love requires a lot of time, inconvenient, I really don’t want to get involved with someone’s problems, especially if it involves calling them out on their “stuff” that’s risky  -- they may get mad, or worse yet I could lose their friendship.

What’s the real reason we choose not to not wear Christ’s love label? 

Is it because we’re afraid – afraid it will cost too much to love someone like Jesus loves us?  Afraid of the pain, risk, vulnerability?

Popular author and speaker, Bob Goff says,  o “Selfless love is always costly; fear can’t afford it, pride

doesn’t understand it and friends never forget it.” 

Selfless love - Prov. 17:17 “A friend loves at all times.”  A friend does what’s best for the other person.  Yes, Selfless love costs something.

Fear can’t afford love.  Jesus was abandoned by his friends, the disciples when he was tried in Pilate’s courtyard. And how many were at the foot of the cross?  Fear can’t afford love.

Pride doesn’t understand it.  In Lk 9:46 the disciples argue about which of them was the greatest. Pride focuses on selfish gain.

Friends never forget it.  It’s such a blessed gift when God sends you that special friend that understands you. -- your hurts, your faults, your strengths and they love you all the same, just like Jesus. 

What if we consistently put on Christ’s love every day, What is we chose it above anything else, and wore the brand label He created for us, the one that is different from all others, b/c its insignia is the cross. 

What would happen to our lives, our relationships . . .

Are you ready for your new clothes?  

Put on Christ’s love, and be made new.

It’s a perfect fit.