Colossians 3:22-4:6 ALL of life: in the world.

Read Colossians 3:16-4:6

Colossians is a frightening book. Just listen to these verses.

3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
3:17 [W]hatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

At first read it’s pretty much ho-hum, of course, Christ Is Lord, yes, be good, yes. But as you read it in-depth, really LOOK at who Christ is and what we are called to do….it is a gut-wrenching, mind-spinning, fear-generating book.

Why? Because the gospel changes our lives. Because Christ is not tame and small, but giant! He is victorious, powerful, triumphing over evil spirits, striding across history from Creation to the Cross of Redemption and on to all eternity: this vast, cosmic figure supreme over all things. And he demands EVERYTHING from us. And he will not be denied. How can we deny him? How can we say no?

Being a Christian is the most frightening thing you can do.

All of life belongs to Him. Our church life, our home life, our work life. Our thoughts, our words, our actions. He is our Master, and we belong to him.

So, don’t just sit there if something needs to change. Repent. Make right with the Lord. Ask for forgiveness. We have been challenged over these past few weeks – use this time wisely, use Communion, to pray and get right with God, and then also with someone in the church, or your wife or husband, your kids. Do whatever Christ calls you to do.

Two weeks ago we looked at our relationships in the church, last week serving Christ at home: wife and husband, children and parents; and today we look at the last section: slaves and masters, and then outsiders.

1. Slaves and masters v22-4:1

22 Slaves, 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. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember 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 you have done. For God has no favourites. 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Like I said last week, there is surprising equality in this list from v18-4:1. The husband and the wife are to obey the Lord. Children and parents are equally addressed, and slaves and masters are reminded they are under authority. Those without power (or with less power) (wives, children, slaves) are addressed as equal citizens of heaven, being called to live in a way that pleases the Lord. Those with power (husbands, parents, masters) are reminded that their power is given under God, to be used as HE sees fit: in love, for the good of those under your power. This is no justification for abuse of power – it is the opposite!
It’s very clear that these couplets are to be read together. You cannot read v22 without also reading 4:1. Slaves must obey their masters, yes – and masters must be just and fair to their slaves! And not only that, but they have the same motivation: Christ is your master.

This is shocking. Slaves were property, not people! But here they are seen as equal with their masters before the Lord. It was this equality eventually destroyed institutional slavery, just as it destroyed institutional misogyny (abuse of women), and the institutional abuse of children. The little book of Philemon gives us a great insight into how this view of slaves as being brothers alongside their masters started to tear down the institution of slavery. It is hard to treat someone as property when they are your brother in Christ. The gospel is the most powerful change agent in the history of the world – because it changes people from the inside out.

But the gospel is not about changing societies. It’s not about winning the “culture war”. Imagine if Paul had gone on a crusade to stop slavery instead of preaching the gospel and planting churches. What a disaster! Maybe a few slaves would have been freed. And then died and gone to hell! And the society would never have changed. Only the gospel was powerful enough for that: roughly half of all people back in those days were slaves! Even highly educated people like doctors and lawyers could be slaves. Slavery was part of the culture. Tearing down slavery would have collapsed that society.

So instead, whatever our circumstance, we are called to serve the Lord. We are not called to serve the Lord when things are the way WE think they must be, but whatever the situation. Jesus showed us how to behave, whether tired and hungry or feasting, whether attacked and ridiculed or honoured. Whatever the situation, he gave glory to the Father.

So, Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you.

Maybe they were justified in slacking off. Maybe their master was bad. Maybe their master was a Christian and they resented not being set free. Shockingly, God calls them to love their master. Not “do what’s best for you”, but DO what’s best for him! But what about me, we bleat, I’m such a victim. In Christ you are no victim, but victor. In Christ you can choose to follow in his footsteps, not a doormat but a willing servant. It is empowering, it gives dignity and honour, no matter whether slave or emperor. The victim mentality makes people passive and foolish.
Instead, choose to love your boss. In the Greek the word there is literally “eye-service”. How often are we tempted to, or just do “eye-service”. The boss comes in and we’re suddenly rushing around, extremely busy – they go out and… lazy! That’s not loving. That’s dishonest.

And the motivation is strong: Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear…. not “of your master” but of the Lord. How often is our service, our work, done out of fear. Fear of discovery, fear of being fired. No, fear the Lord! His eye is certainly always upon us. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
We represent Christ. We belong to him. So whatever we are called to do, let us do it well.

The book “Thank God it’s Monday” Mark Greene sets up a comparison between two Christians in the workplace.
One Christian always witnessing to people, using every opportunity to share the gospel - but he’s a terrible worker, slacking off at every opportunity, and avoiding work (mainly to witness!). The other Christian never says a word, people don’t even know he’s a Christian – but does really good work, and all his colleagues respect him.
The point Mark makes is that we are at work to work. And witness. But our actions (bad work) can destroy our witness.

It’s one of the reasons Paul doesn’t tell the slaves to “RISE UP!”. The gospel is not about violent revolution. It’s a revolution of love. Richard Wurmbrand said this about the Christian’s persecuted in Romania by the Communists: “When you squeezed the Christian, what came out of him was love.” It was the love of Christ, the new spirit, the new nature within.

Although we are not slaves with masters in the workplace today, I think it’s clear that Paul wants us to understand that whatever applies to slaves also applies to free men in their work. Slavery was a normal form of service, and therefore, in that way quite similar to the workplace today (some people may feel they really are slaves!) in our culture. And because the principles here aren’t specific to slaves, are they? Do what’s best for your boss, serve well, honour others with your work, and, if you’re in charge of other people, be just and fair. Isn’t that the kind of place you want to work? Everyone looking out for everyone’s interest, working together, and the boss appreciates this and honours the worker’s contributions.

This passage helped me so much when I was working as an auditor. I hated auditing. It is the most boring job on the planet. I struggled so much to “work willingly” – I was so unwilling. I was so bored the temptation was to avoid work as much as possible. But these words at the end of v24 “the Master you are serving is Christ” I couldn’t get away from. Not eye-service. Fear the Lord. C’mon Daniel, serve Christ. He has provided this job. You are not auditing for the client, or for your boss, or for yourself, but for Christ. Audit for your Saviour. Now get up!

So, because you love Christ, work as if for him.

But, wait, there’s more! How did this chapter begin? 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. and 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

That mindset – to think about the things of heaven, to be living for Christ – affects everything. Even our work.

24 Remember 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 you have done. For God has no favourites. 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

This life is temporary. It will soon be done and we will be with God. Very soon the veil will be torn from our eyes and we will see him. And we will be rewarded or paid back for what we have done. Don’t do what is wrong for God sees what is done in the darkness. You will not get away with it.
Instead, look to Christ. Look to your inheritance coming soon, so very soon. Time is short. Weary slave with an abusive master – look to Christ. Know that your real life is hidden with Him, untouchable, impåerihsable. A great inheritance awaits you. 3:1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand.

Our brothers in Syria and Iraq. Lift up your eyes. This life is gone in an instant. Those in prison. Those being tortured, flung out of their homes. Beaten. Meeting in secret in China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Eritrea, Sudan, and so on. Be encouraged. We have a Master – in heaven.

So, whether slave or free man, master or worker, work for Christ, for he is our master.
Work for Christ, for soon we will be with him.
Work with love flowing through you, for the Spirit of Christ is in you, his heart, his love.
Work like Jesus.

2. Outsiders (4:2-6)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Pray. Pray because what God demands of us is impossible. Pray because prayer is reminding yourself that you are not God, that you depend on Him. That I am weak, but he is strong. Prayer is not a weapon, it is not an incantation – a magic spell that if we say the right words in the right way or while doing the right things God will have to act.
In Mark 9 Jesus comes down the mountain after his transfiguration and discovers his disciples have tried to cast out a demon – but couldn’t. This demon can only be cast out by prayer he says. Huh? Because prayer is humbling yourself. It’s asking GOD to be God. My Dad calls it bowing himself out and bowing God in.

We pray first for our obedience: the way we live. It is not surprising after chapter 3 that we are called to devote ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. We cannot do this on our own. Only through Christ and in his strength.

But it’s not just focussed on us and our lives – our prayers have an outward focus: opportunities to share the gospel. Just like Paul in v3-4, asking for prayer that he would not fail to proclaim the message clearly. Yes, even the great apostle Paul desperately needs prayer. He knows how weak he is. He knows where his true strength comes from. Please pray that I will not fail in my task, he says. And then reminds us that just like him, we are to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity.
How can we share the gospel if our lives tell a different story. How can we say “I love Jesus” if our lives are shouting “I love myself”.

What does your life say about you? What does mine say about me?

Our words are worthless if our lives are the opposite of everything we say we believe. If your Dad says it’s important to put on your seatbelt but never puts on his - what are the kids going to do? Actions speak louder than words.
That why the Bible says “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Otherwise it’s just an idea - it’s just intellectual assent (agreeing in your mind that something is right). It’s not real. If it doesn’t affect your life – you don’t really believe it.

Jesus says in Luke 6:43–47 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.… What you say flows from what is in your heart. 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

So we pray. We pray and ask for forgiveness when we fall. We pray and thank God for his mercy to us. We pray and ask for his strength. We pray and tell him how great he is, how wonderful, how majestic and holy and awesome. And we pray that we would be bold to speak the gospel to our friends and work colleagues, our neighbours and anyone else we meet.
And we pray for each other. We pray that we will be bold like we should. We pray . Pray particularly for me, that I would be faithgul to the message of the Bible, especially the unpopular bits, or the bits that make me uncomfortable because the hit too close to home!

Pray that we will tell people the gospel.!

Because it’s not enough just to live right. “Preach the gospel, if necessary use words” is just plain wrong. It’s not Biblical, and it wasn’t uttered by St Francis of Assisi, who used to preach (with words) up to 5 times a day.

What happens if you don’t use words? No-one is saved.
People just think “Oh, they’re nice people”. And that’s why we like it. Live nicely, and you never have to offend people by telling them about sin and judgment and the lordship of Jesus.
Nobody comes to Christ through niceness. They have to be TOLD why. They have to hear about JESUS! On judgement day, “let me in, I thought my neighbour was a lovely chap” will not work. “I trust in the blood of Jesus and that alone to wash my sins and make me righteous before God”. “Come in friend.”

So we pray for God to work in us, to change us. We pray for God to speak through us, to save others. We pray that 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

At work, as “slave” or “master” we remember we work for the Lord. Our focus is on heaven. And if life is hard and unfair, we look for glory and remember that Christ, our real life, will appear soon, oh so very soon.

And we pray, pray for the strength to live like Jesus, at church, at home with our wife or husband, and our children, at work, and with non-Christians. And we pray that the Lord would make us bold to make the most of every opportunity to share Christ.

Colossians 3:16-21 ALL of life: at home.

Colossians 3:12-4:6

How do we “live in community” together? What does a Christian community look like? What does it mean to be a Christian Dad or Mom? Or a Christian child? Or a Christian worker? Or a Christian boss? How do we relate to each other in the church? Our neighbours? Non-Christians? What about people of other faiths? Muslims? Hindus? Bahai? Christians who don’t know Christ (“churchians” or “religionists”)? Outsiders?

Last week we looked at the answer to some of those questions, particularly about relationships in the church: in vv13-15 we see that we are to make allowance for each others’ faults, be quick to forgive, live in peace – it’s pretty clear that the Lord is not fooled by outward appearance! He knows that there will be conflict. He knows that within the church people will upset each other and offend each other and step on each others’ toes. It’s not all fluffy bunnies and ice cream in the church! So instead of pretending that we’ll never sin against each other (ha!) we’re called to work hard at forgiving each other, making allowance for each others’ faults – basically being thick skinned, not getting easily offended, not looking for ways to cause problems – and to live in peace. Above all LOVE each other.

That’s hard. And that’s why we remember that we are in chapter 3, not chapter 1! How does chapter 3 begin? Since you have been raised to new life with Christ. It’s something that happened. The call to obedience in chapter 3 is because of chapter 1 and 2: we have been saved by God’s power, by God’s grace, alone. He is supreme. He holds us. He gives us his power and strength to serve him. Remember 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He enables us to live as Christian people. He gives us his power, his strength to serve him.

And most of all, he gives us his love.

As I said two weeks ago, love can’t be faked. We must be given it by God. Our hard selfish hearts of stone need to be swapped out with hearts of flesh, hearts filled with the love of God. Because, you see, we are called to act like vv12-17 (in fact like ALL of chapter 3), not just for a couple of hours on a Sunday, and maybe the occasional special event where we all dress up nicely and put on our fake smiles, or pitch in for a dugnad and pretend to like it… but all the time.

All. The. Time. Every minute of every day, wherever you are, whatever you are doing: you are to be tender-hearted, full of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And so on and so on and so on. The whole chapter!
All the time. Full of love. Full of truth. Full of peace.

“You demand the impossible”, we say to God!
And he replies “now, you’re starting to understand.”
The life of a Christian is impossible…without Christ. Without his Spirit, his power, his heart, we will fall short.

Think about it. Changing nappies – be like Christ. In church – be like Christ. When someone offends you – be like Christ. When your husband or wife wounds you deeply – be like Christ. When your kids are driving you crazy, pushing your buttons and making you MAD – be like Christ. When you’re at work, bored out of your mind – be like Christ.

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

We’ve looked at our relationships in the church, now Paul briefly turns his attention to our relationships outside the church: wife and husband, children and parents, (both of which we’ll look at today) then slave and master, and outsiders (which we’ll look at next week).

So, how are we to be like Christ at home: in our marriage, with our children and parents?

1. Wives and husbands v18-19

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

What do you feel when you hear v18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.?
Anger? Approval? Fear? Dismissal?

But this is the word of God, isn’t it? Jesus commissioned his apostles to write his words, to tell people about him and to explain the fullness of his teaching, through his Holy Spirit. Paul was specially commissioned as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter speaks of Paul’s letters as Holy Scripture. And what’s written here is certainly not contrary to the created order in Genesis 1 and 2 which Jesus himself quoted as being the very Word of God.

So we cannot just dismiss what we don’t like. So let’s put our initial reaction aside, and examine this more closely.

What’s interesting with this list of wives/husbands, children/parents, slaves/masters is the equality of all. The husband and the wife are to obey the Lord. Masters and slaves are equally addressed, as are parent and children. Those without power (or with less power) (wives, children, slaves) are addressed as equal citizens of heaven, being called to live in a way that pleases the Lord. Those with power (husbands, parents, masters) are reminded that their power is given under God, to be used as HE sees fit: in love, for the good of those under your power. This is no justification for abuse of power – it is the opposite!
It’s very clear that these couplets are to be read together. There is no justification for someone quoting v18 without taking v19 – despite the fact that some have done that in the past to justify their bullying behaviour. Ironically, many “modern” women are doing that today to justify their rejection of God’s word. First of all, who are you to stand in judgement over God? How arrogant! Second of all, why do you not read v19?

In v18 God says, yes, wives, submit. Why? Because it is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Submission is fitting.
But what is submission? What’s interesting is that the word in the original Greek was not used to describe the marriage relationship in those days. Paul wasn’t just taking something from the old 1^st Century culture and dressing it up a “Christian”. The word for submit here is something uniquely Christian, and has to do with order. We submit because it is the way that God has ordered creation.
The word is also very closely linked to humility. So the mark of a Christian wife is not pride and arrogance, but humility, a glad and willing servant heart. In other words, she is a wife…like Christ.

Likewise the “love” of the husband is not familial love or erotic love but the love of Christ, which is a self-sacrificial love. He is also called not to pride and self-sacrifice, but to deny himself and use his God-given authority for the good of his wife. In other words, he is a husband…like Christ.

Our society is interesting because we have no problem with v19. Of course, we say, husbands should love [their] wives and never treat them harshly. Everybody knows that!
Well, of course everybody knows that because we’ve had the Bible drummed into our heads and affecting our culture for over 1000 years here in Norway. Ask the women in Syria how they are being treated now. Islam gives women very little respect. They are not equal with men. And they are treated as such. The treatment of women in the Islamic world, particularly now under ISIS, is horrific. I was going to share some stories but I decided not to do so, as they were too disturbing.
In Hinduism, women and men are not equal. In traditional African religion the man is the head and the woman his servant, and he is the head for his own good pleasure, not for the good of others.
In feminism the woman is the head, for her own good pleasure. Any thought of serving her husband is ridiculous. It’s all about me, my needs, my wants being met.

Why, then is Christianity so different to every other religion or philosophy? Why the equality of men and women? Why does leadership and headship mean servanthood and selflessness instead of power and glorifying myself?
Because that’s what Jesus is like. Because our relationships are modelled on his.

In the Trinity, the Son lovingly submits (same word) to the Father, and wants to glorify him and magnify his name. The Father loves the Son, and wants to glorify him and magnify his name. There is an order there: the Son submits to the Father, the Father loves the Son. And our marriages are to reflect this. It is joyful voluntary submission, and joyful, servant-hearted headship.

This means, ladies, that if you do not respect your husband, if you are always bossing him about, if you are always pushing for your way to do things, if you are making decisions and controlling everything – you need to repent. You need to apologise to him. You need to say, please, take the lead. I have taken your place.
And husbands, you might need to do the same. Apologise to your wife because you’ve not loved her like you should. You have not taken responsibility for your marriage, for your relationship, for your wife. If you have a bad marriage, it is YOUR responsibility to fix it. It will be painful, it will be hard, it will involve a great deal of confessing sin, and putting yourself, your own interests and desires aside. You will need to spend time with your wife. You will need to talk about feelings, and emotions (!). You will need to listen to her and try to understand her. You will need to confess your sin to her. You will need to read the Bible with her and pray together. You need to watch over her life and show her her sin and help her repent (always easy!) – and listen to her when she points out your sin and repent of your sin (always easy!).

You need to look out for each other, seeking each others’ good, and always pointing each other back to the gospel, back to Christ. We are two sinners, but we will obey the Lord by his grace.
Husband, please lead like Christ. Wife, please submit like Christ. And then as people look at your marriage they will see the gospel pictured. Hey, there’s how Christ loves his church, there’s how the church responds to Christ.

If you want to know more, why not download or read the sermon on Ephesians 5:21-33 “Christ and the church”. And ask those of us with a bit more experience living as a Christian couple “how do you deal with this, or “do you have advice here” and so on. And watch us. And if what we’re doing seems to line up with the Bible, then do that! That’s part of the reason we are in a community together, so that we can show each other how to live. We learn from each other, from those a little further along the road. Oh that’s how to do it. I have learnt a great deal about being a husband and father from two good friends of mine, just by watching them with their wives and children. Seeing Christ at work in people is really helpful.

So, wives, respect your husband’s authority, and husbands, love your wives unselfishly.

2. Children and parents v19-21

20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

What’s fascinating here is that Paul addresses children directly in his letter. Children? Why bother talking to children? Why give them a motivation for obedience? They must obey or be punished.

But, no, our Lord is the one who rebuked his disciples for treating the children as unworthy of coming to him. Children are people, people made in the image of God. And so they are given responsibility just like everyone else. They are to “obey their parents”.

Note the stronger word now. It is not submit, but obey. They are called to listen and obey. That’s what my Dad used to say to my sister and I “you will listen and you will obey”. How I hated those words. They struck right at the heart of my self-centredness and pride. And oh how those words are what I needed to hear. I’m so glad I had a Dad (and Mom!) who called me to OBEY. Because this “pleases the Lord” says v20.

Why? Because the family relationship reflects God’s relationship with us. He is our Father, and we are to obey him. It is much easier to understand our relationship with him if we’ve had a good earthly father who loved us, cared for us, and called us to obedience.

The modern “kids can raise themselves” philosophy is simply an excuse for laziness and uninvolvement. Kids don’t know what’s best. They are not little adults. Their understanding of the world is limited. They don’t understand the dangers in the world, in other people, and in themselves. Their mind, emotion and wills are immature. They need to be protected, nurtured, cared for. Given a safe environment to grow and be who they were created to be. That’s our job as parents. Not to stifle, not to ignore – but to inspire, guide, lead, show, and love.

That’s why v21 says , do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

As parents we have the power to demand obedience from our children – and that for their good, not for our convenience. Our goal is to model Christ to them, and I think that’s part of the reason v21 says specifically fathers rather than parents. It reminds us that the role we are playing is the role of our Heavenly Father, God Himself. God “parents” us out of his deep love, doing what is best for us. He uses his power for our good. We are to do the same, and the greatest good is to point them to God. We show them that they are sinners who need the gospel of grace. We show them that we are sinners who need the gospel of grace. Debby and I make sure that we apologise to our children when we have sinned against them (maybe by losing our tempers, for example!) – and we call our sin, sin. And we say we need Jesus to forgive us. And when they argue and fight and do the things kids do – we call their sin, sin, and don’t make excuses for it but remind them that the Bible says their hearts are corrupt, so of course they will sin – don’t be surprised or despondent about it – but there is hope: God has made a way to be made right, through Jesus. In Christ we can ask for forgiveness and receive it. So we model both the seriousness of sin and the joy of forgiveness.

Children must obey their parents, for it pleases the Lord. It is part of their obedience to him. Fathers, do not discourage the children by aggravating them.
I think there’s another reason Paul says “fathers” here: it is to remind the father that as the head of the home he has the final responsibility for raising his children. It’s his job. He can’t just delegate to his wife and be done with it! He must be involved! Fathers, you model God to your kids – and he is not absent.

Again, if you want to know more or you got any questions – ask! We are a community. We do life together. And you can download the talk on Ephesians 6:1-4 called, simply “Fathers”.

20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

As Christians we are not free to live how we please. We belong to the Lord. Our lives belong to the Lord. Our relationships belong to the Lord. And so we are to submit to our husband, for this is fitting. We are to love our wives and never treat them harshly. We are to obey our parents, for this pleases the Lord. And we are to parent our children like our Heavenly Father, with love, with deep involvement, and acting for their good, and always sharing the gospel.

Colossians 3:12-17 Do everything in the name of Jesus

Colossians 3:12-17

What does it mean to be a Christian? What does belonging to Christ actually mean?

Aslaug Marie is being baptised today. What does that mean? She’s saying “I belong to Jesus”, publically. What does that mean for her? Does that mean she’s got to start dressing like an 18^th century woman, carrying a big Bible, and start scowling at everyone whenever they break the “rules”. Well, if she does, I think the Apostle Paul might have a few words of correction for her!

Because today’s passage is quite a useful answer to exactly that question. What does it mean to be a Christian? How are we to live as “Christians”? What does it look like?

We’re going to use v12 as our guide: Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1. Since God chose you

2. To be holy

3. You must clothe yourselves

1. Since God chose you

Remember I told you a few weeks ago to look out for the joining words like “therefore”, “so”, “because”… and “since”. Because these build on ideas already explained. That’s why chapter 3 is chapter 3 and not chapter 1. Otherwise we might think that being a Christian is all about being good!

Paul begins the letter not by saying “behave” but by pointing out the truth: 1:6 they heard the Good News about Jesus, they understood it, they accepted it, and it changed their lives. 1:6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

He then prays that they will have the strength they need to live in the way that honours God. 9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. And 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. See, it’s not something that we generate ourselves. We cannot obey God. We need his power. It is his Spirit who enables us to live as Christian people. Only through Christ and thought his Spirit can we live lives pleasing to God. Everything else is a waste.

And that’s why Paul can say (with a straight face) at the end of v11 May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. Religious people are generally quite unhappy, trying to please God all the time by their own efforts. Feeling either guilty – or superior. But Chrsitians are filled with joy – look what Christ has done! I’m forgiven. I’m set free. Christ loves me. What grace!

We are saved by grace. 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves

It is from God. Not from us. Aslaug Marie is not being baptised today because of her efforts, but because of Christ’s mercy.
Of course, she made the effort to think, to investigate, to get up early and come to church, to listen, to pray – but she would never have done that if the Spirit of Christ was not at work in her. 4 years ago she was as anti-Christian as you could get. It annoyed her that Debby was a Christian. She thought Christianity was rubbish and was actively hostile, and, in her experience, there were good reasons for it. She had met the “church”, but had never met Christ. And, in his mercy, Christ met her and changed her completely, totally, from the inside out. That’s what we celebrate in baptism. God chose her, chose us who belong to Christ, to be holy, the people he loves.

Isn’t that amazing? Wooohoo!

And no matter what happens, nothing can change our status as beloved, holy people of God. Because it is God’s action, God’s initiative. Our sins are covered, past present and future. Paid for on the cross. 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

We live in the Kingdom of Jesus. We have been moved from darkness to light. And because Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, supreme over all creation. Because he holds all of creation together. Because he is the head of the church. Because he defeated the evil spirits, triumphing over the cross, and they now have no authority over us. Because of all this, we are secure. Do not be afraid. His grip is strong. His grip is secure. Trust yourself to him.

So even if we are attacked and thrown out of our homes for our faith. Even if we and our children are beheaded and crucified and mutilated and murdered – we are not afraid, for we belong to Christ. What is this body, what is this life, compared to the glory to come? As Billy Sunday apparently said when confronted by two Mafia hitmen who told him that he’d better stop preaching, otherwise they would kill him – “Sirs, are you really threatening me with Heaven?”

We are secure, no matter what this life may throw at us. Since God chose you. We are secure, even though we are weak and full of sin, because He is strong and full of mercy.

2. …to be holy

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves

We’re not just saved from sins, but saved for godliness. It is a swap. Christ takes our sinful life, and we receive his perfect life, lived in praise of God the Father.

Grace is given to us for a reason. We are to be holy. We are to be like Christ.

12 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.

Who does that sound like?

Jesus. Jesus is tender-hearted, full of mercy – he went to the Cross for his enemies, full of kindness, humility – he did not consider this rescue mission beneath him, but went willingly, shrunk himself down to a human being, and suffered death, even death on a cross. That is humility. “He laid aside his majesty, gave up everything – for me? – suffered at the hands of those he had created.”

Jesus is gentle, and endlessly patient. Three years he taught the disciples and yet they were still “so dull” and understood very little. Yet He did not abandon them. He had chosen them, they were his – and, as we’re reading about in Acts, they changed the world.

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

That’s Jesus. Be like Jesus. I am amazed at how good this church has been so far at this. Forgiving each other. Oh, we’ve offended each other many times, but each time forgiveness is freely offered. It’s brilliant. So I thank you for making allowance for my faults, for freely forgiving, as we have been forgiven. Let us hold short accounts with each other, being open and honest with each other, being quick to forgive, and stressing that we love each other14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

This church is getting a reputation for harmony. We are being known for how we look after each other. And that is a good thing. Because our focus isn’t on “how do we look the best to outsiders” – because that never works. But as we focus on Christ. As we are consumed by his goodness and mercy to us. As we are stunned by our own sinfulness – and then overawed by his grace in forgiving us – what joy it is to forgive others. What joy to serve each other. What joy to genuinely love each other.

I am so excited today with Aslaug Marie and with Sara. What joy we have. This is our family! It’s brilliant!

So, since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, we clothe ourselves with Christ.

3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

3. You must clothe yourselves

So, how do you become like Christ? Put on your new nature, v10 says. Clothe yourselves, v12 says. V13 says make allowance. V14 clothe yourselves. V15 let peace rule. Be thankful. V16 teach and counsel each other. These are all action words.

But I thought Christianity was all about grace? Let go and let God, and all that?

It is. But grace is not dead, but living. Faith is active and is seen. The gospel “changes lives” we read in chapter 1. And someone who says they are a Christian but has no changed life… probably isn’t.

So, what’s the difference then between living faith and dead religion? Aren’t they the same? Isn’t it just a bunch of rules to follow? Don’t lie, be nice, don’t argue with each other.

Well, what does the Bible say? What does Colossians say? This was dealt with in chapter 2, remember? Col 2:23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Religion leads away from God.

Why? Why would a very decent person, highly disciplined – a good person not be acceptable to God. I know plenty of “good” people who aren’t Christian. Why aren’t their good deeds acceptable to God? Why does Colossians say that they, basically, belong to the devil?
Why does God say that?

Because he cares. As long as we think that we are good enough without God, we cannot be saved. As long as we trust in our own righteousness, our own goodness – we will not accept the righteousness of Christ. Your goodness might come through being a decent person, or following the rules of your religion – maybe Islam, or Hinduism, or New Age, or even churchianity (that’s Christianity without Christ- when you go to church and behave like a Christian without knowing Christ and accepting HIS righteousness).

You see, our goodness is not good enough. God’s goal with us is to prepare us for the glories of Heaven, to be shining like stars with the very goodness of God – NOT to be in an eternal “Polite Society Tea Party”, or the “Slightly Better than Everyone Else” group, wearing uncomfortable clothes with starchy collars and pretending that we all want to be there and plastering a false smile on our face and pretending to be interested in everyone else – but actually really thinking “when can I leave and do what I want”. That’s how many people in the West, here in Norway, do “Christianity”. A big show of good behaviour – but it is all for nothing. Because you know what you can’t fake? Love. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Genuine love – being willing to sacrifice yourself, your own interests and desires and time and energy for other people with no reward – that’s love. And that you can’t fake. That has to be given to you. That has to bubble out of you. And that’s why liberal churches grow smaller and smaller and angrier and angrier, and why churches that have lost their grip on the gospel and are filled with unrepentant sinners pretending to be good people and are full of bitter arguments and fighting that has gone on for decades and are split right down the middle.

By this will all men know that you are my disciples: that you love one another. Said Jesus

It is the mark of a Christian. Love. Particularly love for our brothers and sisters. Which is why v12-17 has such a feeling of community, of family about it. 15 And 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. 16 Let 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. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

We’re meant to live well together. We’re meant to look after each other, to love each other. We’re meant to teach each other the gospel. We’ll be reminded of that today during the baptism and dedication. Together we take responsibility for Sara and for Aslaug Marie. They are our sisters in Christ.
We are to live in such a way that the message about Christ lives in us – we are display windows for the gospel. We are the shop windows for the gospel – people look at us, look at the way we treat each other. Christianity is not just a Sunday event. Look at v17: 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Everything we do. Everything we say. We do and say bearing the name of Jesus. We represent him. If the ambassador from South Africa says “Boo, Norway sucks!”, what happens? It’s a diplomatic issue between South Africa and Norway because the ambassador represents his country, South Africa. It’s not just about him. He represents his country.

We represent Christ. We have been given the job as his ambassadors. And he has given us his Spirit so that we can do the job.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with Christ.

In summary, Since God chose you – salvation is God’s business, God’s action. So if you do not belong to Christ, you must pray to God and ask Him to work in your heart and to change you. Only he can save you.
And if you do belong to Christ, then know that you are secure. That nothing can separate you from Christ’s love. Not ever.

…to be the holy people he loves – we are chosen to be HOLY. That is, to be like Christ. Again, this is not something we can do, but is a gift from God. His Spirit changes us from the inside out.

…you must clothe yourselves with [Christ] Faith is active. So if we say we believe something, then we act like it. His love overflows out of us. And so we love our Christian family, like Christ loved us.

We are chosen, to be holy, like Christ.

Colossians 3:1-17 Anger, war, malicious behaviour, lying...and Christ.

Colossians 3:1-17

One of the best days in my Granddad’s life was the day he was dismissed from the British Army after World War 2. No more marching. No more fighting. No more war. No more standing to attention. No more of the Sergeant shouting and screaming and yelling at them. Free. He was free.
Walking away after he was dismissed, he saw his sergeant approaching. Immediately his arms went straight at his sides, his chest went out, his whole posture stiffened and changed as he went to attention and his hand was ready to salute.
And then he remembered. “I’m free”.
And all the attention went out of his body, his hands went in his pockets, and he whistled a happy tune. The sergeant was furious, his face turning bright red, looking like he was about to burst – but his rage was powerless. He had no authority.

How often do we stiffen to attention and salute and obey the old sinful nature within us? How often do we forget that we are free, and keep living the old way? We live like we’re in the Army, instead of living as free men.

Brothers and sisters, live as free men and women. Live as those who have been set free by Christ. Why go back to the old way of living? Why listen to the world, your own sinful desires, and the devil? Why allow yourself to be ruled by the old nature?

We have died to that old life. It no longer rules over us: it is dead. We are alive to Christ. As we see in this passage, death is the pathway to life. And only when we understand that, can we start to live like Christ.

1. Death leads to life

2. Live for Christ: anger does not rule you

3. Live for Christ: be like him (Put on the new nature)

1. Death leads to life

3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you

Christian, you are dead. So live like it! You are dead to the old life, alive to the new, the new life of Christ. You have been raised to life like Jesus, perfect, holy, full of love and compassion and righteousness. You are now tender-hearted, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, loving, at peace (v12-15). That is who we are in Christ. That is what we were made to be. Imagine a society like that!! That is what the new creation will be like one day. We will, all of us, be like Jesus.

So let us lift up our eyes to heaven. 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 honour at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

And if we are looking up to heaven, our vision filled with Christ, then we will see our sin as the dirty enemy it truly is. In the presence of Christ Almighty do you want your mind to be full of lust? In Him, can you lie? With Him by your side can you be full of rage?

5 So 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.

Last week we dealt with these verses. If you weren’t here, download it listen to it, particularly if you struggle with sexual sin. In other words: all of us! No matter what your sexual sin, your sexual struggle, you are not judged here. You are welcome here. There are things in our past we are ashamed of, just like you. But you know what. We have been declared holy and blameless. Our sins have been confessed and forgiven. We have made right and asked for forgiveness where we have had to make right and ask for forgiveness.

God does not call the holy, but the broken. That is why Jesus came. You cannot deal with your sin. But he can, and has.
So if you are a sexual sinner, you are welcome here. Actually, let me correct that: you are a sexual sinner, and you are welcome here. You are among friends. And we urge you, turn to Christ – he is the only one who can wash away your sins, set you free from addiction to your bodily urges. Only he is a better vision.

There is no room for sexual sin in the Christian, so put it to death. There is no room for greed in the Christian, so strip it off. Greed says “I’m worshipping something else. I’m looking to this thing to satisfy me” – instead of looking to Christ. Strip it off, put it to death. And if that means you close your eyes during the adverts and avoid the shopping mall and stop looking on finn.no then good for you. Do whatever you need to do to get rid of greed in your life. That goes for food too. We probably all of us here eat too much and exercise too little. I know I do. Greedy little piggy. Look to Christ, not to food to satisfy.

We must put to death these things, brothers and sisters, because they belong to the old life – and we have died to that old life. We must not go back under the authority of the Sergeant, standing to attention, obeying his every whim. We are free! Let’s live as free men. No sexual sin, no impurity, no lust, no evil desires, no greed for we have found what is real, what truly satisfies.

Let Christ rule your sex life, you thoughts and actions. Let him fill your needs and lead you away from greed. We have died to that old life, and live for Christ. Death leads to life.

2. Live for Christ: anger does not rule you

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, 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. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Paul now changes the picture from death/life to clothing: stripping off and putting on. Rip off the old life, put on the new life of Christ. And part of what belongs to the old life is anger and rage. Rage. That fury which bubbles underneath the surface in all of us, just looking for an excuse to come out.

We have a problem with anger, rage and malicious behaviour. These come so naturally, so easily to us.

My children regularly disagree. “I say Kaleb, would you mind terribly giving back that toy that you just took from my hand.” “Certainly, just as soon as you stop driving it into my foot and messing up my game.” “Oh, I am so sorry, I do apologise”. Is not how things normally go. Things escalate rapidly: Stop it! No, YOU stop it. Give it back! Not if you don’t stop it! No! Yes! Give it! Nyahh, nyahh! Graaaaaah! AAAAAAAHHH! And enraged they fly at each other grabbing and hitting and kicking.

Now what’s remarkable about that picture is that we’ve never taught them that. We’ve never sat them down and said “Now, first you yell and scream, then you go red in the face, then you insult him, and then you hit her there, and...” No, we say the opposite time and time again. But blind rage comes so easily to us. Revenge. Maliciousness – because they deserve it. Kids fighting over toys is one thing, and we shake our heads and go “huh, kids” – but we adults do the same, and it becomes deadly serious. Hamas shoots rockets at Israel, and Israel hits back. Both sides enraged by the other, until the actions and reactions leave thousands dead and thousands more wounded. In Mosul Muslim warriors are enraged at the “blasphemy” of Christians and Shia Muslims, and run rampage through the town murdering anyone who stands in their way, and justifying it through selected suras in the Khoran. Our anger is the just anger of Allah they say, while holding up the heads of innocents.
How is this possible? How can ordinary men and women be so easily converted into murderous lunatics, so full of rage and anger against their fellow humans?
The Nazis managed to turn ordinary Germans into murderers. They would be sitting down to a pleasant meal with their family only a few hours after savagely beating, stripping, and gassing Jews.
And here we have our own Anders Bering Breivik, so enraged by the policies of the Arbeiderpartiet that he plans and executes the cold-blooded murder of children and teenagers – and to this day thinks his actions are justified, in fact, good, instead of monstrously evil.

There is something wrong deep within us.

And I say “us” because we are just the same. The same anger, the same rage burns in us, just in more socially acceptable ways. The guys cuts us off on the road, and we fly into a rage. At work, we complain about our colleagues or our boss behind their back, all the while presenting a fake smile to them. And then we mistreat those under our authority. Maybe we take out our anger on them, using cutting words – slander, malicious behaviour, lies. Whatever it takes to build us up and to tear them down.

Now this might sound way too extreme. Seriously, you’re comparing me snapping angrily at a bad driver to..to murder? Really? Well, let’s take us out of a situation where irrational anger is frowned upon and socially unacceptable and put us in a group baying for blood in front of someone we intensely dislike. The crowd is shouting, egging us on – glory awaits in giving in to our anger, our hate – and if we don’t we will be an outcast, disloyal to the cause, shunned perhaps even beaten or killed. You still think you wouldn’t give in to your rage? You still think you’re so peaceful?

In 1994 the country of Rwanda exploded into bloodshed as ordinary people turned on their neighbours and murdered them because they were of a different tribe. Doctors let patients die, teachers murdered their students… over half a million people died in less than 100 days.

What is wrong with us? It’s sin. The root of this anger, this rage that flares up so quickly, is idolatry. Idolatry of self. “I believe I am God” is the root problem. That is what sin is: replacing God with something else (most often me). And when people do not do, say, or believe what I do, say or believe. How dare you disagree with me? How dare you get in my way? How dare you have a different opinion? Feel my wrath.

Someone once said “What would happen if you put a weapon in the hand of a two-year old in a temper tantrum?”.

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, 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. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Strip off the anger, put on the new man. As the words are about to flood out, pray! Say, Lord, I hate this person right now, please help me to love them, please help me to see them with your eyes.

Strip off the old. Put on the new.

3. Live for Christ: be like him (Put on the new nature)

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In 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. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

CS Lewis once described Christianity as a renovation of a house. He compares our lives to a run-down house in need of repairs. At the beginning, you can see him fixing up the roof, and replacing windows and fixing the pipes – all good things, and you feel better. But then he starts tearing down walls, and digging new foundations, and putting up a whole new wing over there, and lifting the roof off to put a new floor – and it’s painful! It hurts. It’s HARD! You see, you thought you were just going to be a nice little garden cottage – but Jesus is transforming you into a palace. Why? Because it’s his house, and he’s the King.

Being a little bit better is insulting to the King. We are not called to be slightly nicer than everybody else. That’s religion. That’s a self-help program. That’s a waste of time – chapter 2 told us that. Christianity is a program of perfection, of pure holiness. It is utterly extreme in its demands. We are not called to be better. We are called to be exactly. Like. Jesus.

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

A while ago there were little bangles that really popular with WWJD on them: “What would Jesus do”. They were a little bit silly, I suppose, but they really got to the heart of this truth: that we are to be like Christ in everything we do. Look at v17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
In everything we do. We are not to be like each other, or like this church group or that type of Christian. But we are to be like Christ. He is the standard, he is the goal. Because one day we will be with him, in his very presence. His holiness burns like the noonday sun, his righteousness a blazing fire. And anyone who is not perfect will be destroyed in his presence. Remember the Temple in the Old Testament, how no-one could go in to God except the High Priest and even he had to first be made holy through lots of sacrifices and elaborate rituals. How not even Moses could see God’s face without being destroyed? How Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God’s Covenant as it was about to fall off the wagon it was on – and was struck down dead because he was unholy and the Ark was holy?

We will be in the presence of the Living God, in his terrifying holiness! And we will be seated on his lap, our Abba, our Daddy, because he who began the good work in us will complete it. We will be made holy. We are declared holy. We are being made holy. Be like Christ.

We have died to our old life, and now live for Christ. Our new life is Christ’s life, and we are being made like him. That is our goal, our destiny. That is the Holy Spirit’s work within us.

So, no more sexual immorality, but love. No lust, but kindness. Not evil desires and malicious behaviour, but mercy and gentleness. Not anger and rage but patience, harmony, and forgiveness. Not greed, but thankfulness.

What would Jesus do? Well, often we know exactly what Jesus would do. My Dad wore the bangle he said to ask not what would Jesus do, but what will Jack do?
This week, before you act, before you speak, ask yourself what would Christ say? What would Christ do? And then do that.