Who is the Holy Spirit?

Isaiah 55:&-56:8, Genesis 1:1-3, John 14:15-18, John 16:8-11, Acts 2:1-4

Isaiah 55:6 God says “my word…always…accomplishes all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it”

But why? Why is God’s word so powerful? Why, when we speak the gospel of Jesus Christ to people – words which seem so weak and a story which seems so weird and powerless (a guy rose from the dead, yeah right) – why does that change people’s lives? How can the gospel transform somebody? Change them completely?
Why have so many of us here experienced exactly that – these words which transformed our life?
Why is it true that if you go you grow? That the more consistent you are at church and at Bible group and reading the Bible yourself – you really do grow? Why?

Because when we hear the word, read the word of God, the Bible, we’re not just reading a book or hearing ordinary words – we are hearing the Spirit speak. The Spirit of God is speaking when the Bible is read. When you open your Bible, His voice is what you hear. When you share the gospel, He is there in power.

We meet the Spirit right at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:1-3. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruach, also meaning wind or breath. Just as when you speak your words are carried on your breath, He, the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is literally the breath of God. He is the way God’s words are carried out in to the world.

Note that if there is no breath, there is no words. There is no division between the Spirit and the Word. Without the Spirit the Word is dead. That’s why we pray before we preach, before we read the Bible – we need the Spirit to make the Word alive.

This morning we are celebrating the Holy Spirit. Because today is Pentecost (pinse) – the day the Spirit was poured out on the church and the church was born. He is the reason why the word always accomplishes all God wants it to (Is 55:6)

So we’re going to look at what happened in Acts 2 when the Spirit was poured out on the church.
Then we’re going to listen to Jesus tell us what the Spirit’s role is – what does He do?
And then we’ll bring it back to Isaiah and see how the Spirit’s work at Pentecost and his work today fulfil His words given to Isaiah so many years ago.

1. What happened today?

Acts 2:1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Jesus had left them. 40 days he had been with them after his resurrection – but then he rose up into heaven and was gone. They were a small group of about 120 men and women (Acts 1:15). They were hardly the stuff of legends. A small, powerless group, waiting obediently in Jerusalem just as Jesus had commanded.

And then the Spirit moved. The room shook, the wind roared, heavenly fire came down upon their heads and a new power filled them – the very power of God.

So what did they do? Healing? Miracles? Foretelling the future? Have a music show with fog machines and a preacher-man up front slaying people in the Spirit. All that nonsense we associate with the “Spirit” now.

No. They began speaking in other languages – the reversal of Babel where humanity was judged for rebelling against God. Here is hope that one day humanity can be united again – but now under God, instead of against him.
And what were they speaking? About the wonderful things God has done (v11). About the gospel. About Jesus. About the God who keeps his promises to rescue his people. Different tongues, but one message. The mark of the Spirit is not miracles – but people witnessing about Jesus.

And so Peter stands up and proclaims in a loud voice that God is fulfilling his promises in scripture, the promise in Joel that God’s Spirit would be poured out on his people in the last days, the days we now live in, the days of the church. And His Spirit is with us, each one of us, young and old, women and men, without exception.
And he ends with these words – Peter, Peter who was always saying the wrong things at the wrong time, now empowered by the Spirit:
Ac 2:32–36 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honour in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. … 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Before Pentecost there were about 120 believers. The Spirit came down, empowered his people, and THREE THOUSAND responded to Peter’s message. (Acts 2:41). Three thousand saved in one day.

That is the power of the Spirit. And He is here today, this morning at work in this church. As we share the gospel at work, at home, wherever, whoever - He is with us. So let us not be afraid, but be bold to speak about Jesus. For we are not alone.

2. We are not alone. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, is with us

John 14:15–18 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (representative), who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

This is Jesus’ last night with his disciples before his betrayal, trial, and death by crucifixion. He is speaking plainly to them, preparing them for what will happen to them, and to the church after them. So what does Jesus say will happen?

Firstly, v16, Jesus, having become human, must return to heaven in order to be with his people. He cannot be everywhere at once, but his Spirit can. So Jesus returns to heaven and the Father sends the Spirit. And the Spirit will never leave us. Hurray for Ascension Day!

Secondly, the Spirit lives in us. V17 But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. That “later” was at Pentecost, when the Spirit entered in to the disciples in a visible way. And that is the experience of every Christian – the Spirit moves in, makes His home in our hearts. That’s why we start to change from the inside out. We can’t sin properly anymore! Because we’re under new management. The Spirit is at work.

Thirdly, to have the Spirit is to have Jesus. Note v18 “I will not abandon you… I will come to you” Jesus and the Spirit are one. One God in three Persons. The Father is fully God, Jesus is fully God, the Spirit is fully God. To have one is to have all. And we have the Spirit. We have the very power of God in us.

Jesus was leaving – but we are not left alone. His Spirit is with us. Not just alongside us, but in us. He gives us a new heart, new motivations – we are made new from the inside out.

So brothers, let us remember that next time we feel tempted to sin, or say “I can’t do it”. The Spirit of God is in you and in me.
The same Spirit who empowered the words “let there be light”. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. You can obey God because He is with you and in you.

His word empowers us because the Spirit is with us.
We are not alone.

3. But what will the Spirit do?

When we start talking about the Holy Spirit and his work we often jump to things like healing or prophecy or singing. And we believe in those things in this church. We prophesy in Bible study, we sing here & in Bible study, and we pray regularly for healing. But that’s not what the Holy Spirit’s job is.

No-one can understand the Spirit’s work without carefully considering what JESUS said about the Spirit. His words are in John 16:8-11

8 And when he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

What is the Spirit’s job? His primary job? To convict the world! He is the power which convicts which means to convince of error or sinfulness – to find a defendant guilty.

And how does he convict? Well notice that His work is focussed on Jesus.
He convicts us of sin. How? In our attitude to Jesus. V9 We refuse to believe in Jesus.
He convicts of God’s righteousness. How? Through Jesus, v10 – because he dies – he goes to the Father.
He convicts of judgement – because v11 the ruler of this world, Satan, is judged, and defeated on the Cross.

The Spirit’s primary role, the main event, is the gospel of Jesus. The Spirit’s role is to glorify Jesus, the Son. Jesus glorifies his Father. And the Father glorifies the Son.

If you want to be filled with the Spirit – tell people about Jesus. When we’re talking about Jesus, the Spirit is there.

So back to Isaiah.

4. Seek the Lord!

What better way to celebrate this Pentecost Day, this pinsedag than to Is:55:8 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously

Do you hear the Spirit’s words this morning? Do you hear him calling to you? Seek the Lord while he can be found. He will forgive generously. We know. We’ve seen the end. We’ve seen the promises fulfilled. Jesus, on the cross, his death paying for my sin – and yours. His resurrection life defeating death and bringing me eternal life. And offering you eternal life too.

Listen to the words of the Spirit.

Isn’t it an incredible message! Yes it is. This is what God has been saying to his people – I’m, going to do something amazing, something unbelievable. That God himself will come down to earth, become one of us, walk among us, eat with us, laugh with us, cry with us, be one of us – and then suffer for us, die in our place, that we might have life. But that’s not all – for when we accept Christ – when he swaps places with us and takes the punishment of death that our sins deserved – we swap places with him. In perfect relationship with God. So perfect, we are so righteous in God’s sight because of the work of Jesus, that His Spirit can come to live in us. New life flows through us because of what he has done.

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Who could have imagined such mercy? Thank God his thoughts are not like ours! Higher thoughts.

And so His powerful word goes out, changing lives. My life. Your life. Your neighbour’s life. The people you work with. Your children. Your parents. There is no-one beyond the power of God.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

And so, if we are in Christ, our hope is secure. The Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. He is the first taste of the joy to come. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

The way is open. Foreigners (v3) and eunuchs (v4) (castrated servants) now have hope. They were excluded from worshipping at the Temple. On the outside looking in. But now the way is open. 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. 8 For the Sovereign LORD, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”

That promise happened today, 1977 or so years ago. When the floodgates of heaven were opened at the Spirit poured out on His church, and Jews from every nation heard the gospel in their own language. From Jerusalem to Jews, to Judea, to the Samaritans, and then to us Gentiles, foreigners, the Spirit spread His church, and is still doing so today – in China, in Iran, even in North Korea – and yes, even here in Notodden, Norway. He is at work, brothers and sisters. At work in us helping us obey Christ. At work in those around us, drawing them to Christ.

So what does this mean for us today? A few points of application to end.

Firstly: Seek the Lord while he may be found. If you don’t yet know him, seek him. Look for him. Listen to the Spirit calling to you. Investigate the evidence for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Keep coming to church and to Bible study. Search for the truth. And then ask the Spirit to show you Jesus.

Secondly: Christian brothers and sisters, let us obey Christ, knowing we have the Spirit of Jesus within us. The same power that raised Christ from the dead. As Jesus said “If you love me, you will obey my commands”.
What commands? Well, let’s consider the three big areas we struggle with because of the society we live in: time, money, and sex (or wallet, willy and watch as my friend Doug calls it).

Money: When we give, it is a sign that we trust the Lord, instead of ourselves, to provide. I am happy that about half the church gives. But concerned that half the church gives. This means that half of us are trusting in ourselves, rather than God, to provide for our needs. How much you give – that is a wisdom issue. But that you give, that we all give, I am very concerned about. We live in a greedy society, and we are greedy people. Giving breaks that hold over us. Ask the Spirit to break that hold in your lives, and make a decision to give regularly and give first – the first thing that goes out when you salary comes in – and you may be very surprised at what happens. The Lord looks after his people.

Sex: I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that every one of us in this room is a sexual sinner, whether in thought or in what we’ve done. God’s view on sex is easy: are you married to the person? Have sex with them. Lots of sex. Are you not married to the person? Do not have sex with them.
So if you’re married but not having sex often, repent. If there’s a medical reason – sort it out as quickly as possible. If there’s relationship issues, sort it out. You have the Spirit. Decide to obey.
And if you’re having sex with someone you’re not married to, repent. That includes looking at pornography. You’re not married to her, so you shouldn’t be watching her having sex. And if you’re living together, get married – it’s a statement that you trust God. And if you’re sleeping around (having sex with lots of people), just stop.
Why? Because if we love Jesus, we will obey his commands. Because we are new people and the Spirit lives within us, and the power of heaven is at our disposal, if we ask.
You do know how you fight sexual temptation? With your hat. Grab your hat and RUN! But seriously we mustn’t get ourselves into situations where we could be tempted. Don’t even go there.

Time. If you go you grow. Simple but true. And I’d simply like to challenge us all to put “church” and “bible study” in the same category we put work. If a friend phones and says “can I come over on Monday morning” you say “no, dude, I’m at work”. But if he says Sunday morning we’re often like sure, I can miss church once. Remember that we are in a battle. We need all the help we can get. We need each other. We need Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. So many of us struggle – even just with money and sex, but also lying, gossip, anger, worry, disobedience, harsh words, bitterness, and so on – and part of the reason we struggle is because we’re not using the weapons God has already given us. This church! Satan shudders every time you walk into church. Because here you hear the Word of God. That powerful word, carried by the Spirit.

So let us obey the Lord, knowing we have his power within us. And let us share the joy that we have, the joy of Jesus, knowing that when we talk about Him, the Spirit is with us and is at work convicting about sin, about judgement, and about salvation.

Romans 5:1-8:39 (David Cook)

Click the link for this morning's sermon. 
http://youtu.be/RqBnc638HIk
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The following are the notes I (Daniel) took during the sermon when we heard it live at Word Alive in Wales (Easter 2015):

Word Alive 2015 – Romans 8 The way to maturity – David Cook  

From ch1-5 question: Well, does it matter then how I live? Paul anticipates this in chapter 6. Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!

Problem of legalism or licence!

5:18-19 many will be made righteous. Are you Adam’s person or are you Christ’s person.

Illustrated in chapter 6. Baptism. Don’t you realise you were baptised into Christ. Died to Adam (old way) raised to new life.
Slave market – don’t you realise you are dead to the old master impurity
7:1ff marriage – can remarry only after death of spouse. Death has intervened – you have died to law, now free to marry Christ and new life.

6:11 in the same way make this calculation about yourselves: dead to sin, alive to Christ. (First command in Romans).

Legalism – dead to law. But licence is not an option! Dead to sin, alive to Christ.

Rom 8. Very hard to be a Christian in Nero’s Rome.

Will my past come back to condemn me
Am I a servant (can be fired) or a son (never taken away)?
What about my suffering?  Is this consistent with being Christ’s man, and can these things wreck God’s plans?

We need to keep hearing about justification again and again. Paul reminds us again and again: for the justified there is NO CONDEMNATION, Wooo!
Justification Past (what Christ has done), present (what Holy Spirit is doing)and future (what God will do)

V1-4 The past
No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus – because the rule of the Spirit which we have received has set us free from death. The law could not save us because we cannot do them. So v3 God sends his son as a pure man to be a sin offering – to meet the demands of the law in those how now live
The death of the innocent for the undeserving.
People will do anything (pilgrimage, even eat dirt) except trust in Jesus.
We cannot bear the guilt of our sin. Our past is gone. Guilt has been dealt with.

V5 the present
Q: am I well enough resourced in this conflict between the sin nature and the spirit.
The FIGHT. War of our natures. V9 you are NOT controlled by the sin nature. If you belong to Christ you have the Spirit.
I looked for the dove, and it flew away. I looked to the cross, and the dove flew into my heart (Spurgeon)
V10 body is dead because of sin, but alive to Christ cf 2 Cor 4:16 We do not lose heart.
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the assurance of our resurrection.
Born. Born again / regenerated. Die. Soul will be with Christ in paradise.” You do not have a soul. You are a soul – you have a body” CS Lewis. We will come with Christ in the clouds. Resurrection body will clothe my soul.
My body is depreciating because of the wages of sin. But we will be raised to life again.
Only talks 2 times about leading of spirit. Led by the Spirit to v13 put to death misdeeds of the body. You do not have an obligation to the sinful nature. We do not need to obey the sinful nature!
When was the last time you gave in to your sinful nature and said “oh that was good, I’m so glad I did that!”
Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you in the path of moral transformation
V15 You did not receive a spirit of fear, but a sprit which cries Abba father. “I dared to call him Father”.
V22 all creation is groaning
v23 we also groan as we wait for new creation
V26 Spirit helps us in our weakness but He intercedes for us.
Sometimes life is so hard I simply don’t know what to pray. Spirit intercedes for us. The paraclete, said Jesus – He is who is alongside.

The future
V28-29 Things are not out of control. In all things God is at work. It does not say that all things work out for the best (as a universal principle) – it says God is at WORK. Even when we are being slaughtered, in hardship.
2 qualifiers.
1.Only those loved by God. (human perspective)
Those called by God (divine perspective)
2. what is the good? To be conformed to the likeness of Christ. Christ is in family of God by right. We are there by grace. God’s agenda is to make us like our elder brother, Christ.
Cf Gal 4 (They’re being tempted to go back to law) v19 In labour pains (life of pastor!) until Christ formed in you.


V28
threefold office
prophet – word of God
priest – prays to God 
king – rules
We have a kingly ministry. We reign over every event of life. Nothing ultimately harmful for me because it will make me like Christ. How comforting for you, how annoying for your enemies!
Illustration: Donald bought a new car. Loved it (finally saved up) Son Andrew crashed it. “Are you all right, son” Changed his life.

Paul concludes with three questions v31-21
is there an enemy who can prevail? No
is there an effective accuser on judgement day? No because the judge is on your side
is there anything that can frustrate the purposes of God? No! We are more than conquerors because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
Are you Christ’s? Or Adams? Remember who you belong to?

JI Packer 5things (pg 257):
I am a child of God
Heaven is my home
Every day is one day nearer heaven
My saviour is my brother
All Christians are therefore my brothers and sisters

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 1:23-2:6 True Christianity

Colossians 1:23-2:6

Picture a small room with stone walls and a small window. The room is quite sparsely furnished: there is a bed, a bookshelf with many scrolls on it a chair, and a small desk. The window has bars in it, like a prison cell. There is a man sitting on the chair, speaking to a scribe, seated on the floor. He is dictating a letter, which the scribe is writing down.
There is a third person in the room: a Roman solider. He is holding the end of a chain, a chain which links up to the hands and feet of the man who is speaking. He is a prisoner, under guard 24 hours a day.
And this is what the man is saying “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church”

What does it mean to be a Christian?

What does it mean to say “I follow Christ”?

That is what we will be thinking about today.

We’ve had a magnificent opening chapter, focussing us on Christ. He is supreme over everything. He is our head, our master, our leader and our guide. He holds all things together. He gives us every breath. He is our destiny, our wisdom, our all in all, our very life. He is Lord of all, God Almighty, the physical visible image of the invisible God.
And by his grace he looked down on us and had mercy on us. He became fully human, the first true man (since Adam messed that one up!), and in his own body reconciled us to God. By his blood on the cross we who were far away from God are now drawn near.

This is what we have been given by God, and our response is to love God’s people, living changed lives, bearing fruit everywhere. We know and understand the gospel, and in knowing and understanding our lives change: we are filled with love for each other, and for the lost. We have endurance and patience. We are filled with joy and thanksgiving. That’s chapter 1.

Today we will see that we are willing to suffer anything for the sake of the gospel, because of the glory we share with we share with Christ. And that suffering for Christ is easy, because he lives in us.

1. Suffering for Christ

This is a strange passage. Paul suddenly starts talking about his suffering – probably as a contrast to the false teachers with their “secret knowledge” who didn’t really care about the Colossians and would never suffer for them – their goal was comfort (just like many “Apostles” and “Pastors” today, particularly on TV). But it’s also a challenging passage, because it strikes right at that false religion we can so easily take on – we can so easily play the part of a Christian without ever being one. A Christian is one who follows Christ to death - and Paul’s example exposes us.

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. 24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.

Paul is in jail, in chains, for nothing other than preaching the gospel. He has been beaten, shipwrecked, jailed, flogged, and stoned to death (but then he got up again and went into the city to keep preaching!) – this guy will let nothing stop him from proclaiming the message of Jesus. Paul is like the Terminator of preachers. Unstoppable!

And about all this suffering he says: “I am glad”. The word is chairo (khah-ee-ro) and means “to rejoice, be glad. to rejoice exceedingly. to be well, thrive”

Is Paul crazy?

Well, we think so. Our culture cannot stand suffering. In Tim Keller’s latest book “Walking with God through pain and suffering” he makes the point that many others have made: throughout history, our materialistic western society is the worst at dealing with suffering. Only our culture is so negative towards suffering. How can this possibly be good, we say?

How about developing character? How about the nobility of sacrifice? How about the discipline of patience? How about the legacy we leave, how people will speak of us after we are gone? How about the spiritual treasures we store up as we suffer in this world? Those are some of the many positive ways other cultures value suffering. But not ours. Ours sees suffering as only negative.

Why? Because our culture is driven by materialism, by enjoying the here and now, defeated by a short-term view that this life is all there is. If this is all we’ve got, then it better be good. If this is all we’ve got, then what’s the point in investing in character development, or in delaying getting what we want? Give to me now!
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it NOW! (Queen)

That is why suffering destroys us, defeats us. That is why so many turn from the gospel because they know they will be called to give up the things they want, to set aside their own desires. They are afraid of the potential suffering – and so they turn aside in fear.

But listen to Paul: “29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. 2:1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.”

He is glad to suffer. He works and struggles beyond his own ability, needing the power of Christ to sustain him. He agonizes over the church. Have you ever wrestled in prayer to the point of pain?

Now, if you’ve been paying attention in Bible study, you might be saying “well, that’s Paul. You know, Jesus said to him that he would suffer much for the sake of His name, and he did: Acts 9:15–16 [T]he Lord said, “[Paul] is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

And you know what, you’re right. We’re not Paul. And this passage doesn’t say “be like Paul”. Our job is not to gladly suffer for the church – that’s Paul’s job. His responsibility, as it says in v25. Our job is to not drift away from the truth (v23), and 2:6 , just as we accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord, we must continue to follow him.

Shoo, dodged that one!

But have we?

Paul certainly was called to a special mission. None of us has met the risen Jesus and been specially commissioned as an Apostle to the Gentiles! But, we are all called to follow Christ. And what was it that he said to us about following him? Remember what he said back in Mark 8:34–35 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Take up your cross. Give up your life. This is the language of suffering. And this isn’t advanced super-apostle Christianity. This is basic Christianity. If any of you wants to be my follower.
This is the bare minimum.

That’s why the people we know who are trying to dodge Christianity, ducking and diving and trying to avoid you when you invite them to church, or talk about Jesus, or just are their friends – they’re right. They know the cost. And the cost is everything.

What was it we read about in chapter 1 was the effect of the gospel? 1:6 changed lives.
Our lives are not our own. We have been purchased. We are under new ownership. We have a new master. His dreams are now our dreams. His goals are our goals. His life is now our life. Christ is our life.

That is why Paul says “I am glad when I suffer for you” because he is pleasing his Master, Christ. He is following in the footsteps of the suffering servant, our Servant King. And he does not care about the cost, because he has his eyes fixed on the prize, the glory that awaits him in the new creation

I find this immensely challenging. I have struggled with preparing this sermon, because any preacher must first preach to himself – and I can feel myself resisting. I am still resisting. I can hear all sorts of excuses bubbling up within me. I need to hear this message again and again. Because to say no to suffering is to say no to following Christ. If I am not willing to suffer for Christ – then Jesus says that I am not a Christian. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Now suffering doesn’t mean throwing ourselves into a bed of nails, or walking through fire, or whipping ourselves. It is the daily suffering of putting to death our sinful nature and obeying the word of Christ. It is caring about the lost instead of closing ourselves off into a not-so-holy huddle. It is speaking about our love for Jesus where we will get laughed at or shunned. It is risking our reputation by standing for the truth. It is inviting people to read the Uncover with us. It is loving our wives and children instead of hiding in our work. It is treasuring and honouring our parents. It is working hard when we are at work instead of slacking off and putting in a minimal effort. It is being good citizens, good neighbours. It is treasuring our church family, praying for each other, serving each other, encouraging each other by coming on Sundays and Wednesdays, inviting each other around for meals, phoning up and saying “keep following the Lord, keep your eyes on him”. In short, it is living for the glory of God, in everything we do and say. It is loving God, and loving others.

Paul unpacks this in chapter 3, how we are supposed to be living. Put to death the sinful life, and live the new life you have been given.

And there again you see this language of suffering “put to death”. If anyone told you the Christian life was easy, they were lying. It is a battle to the death against your sin. Every day, we pick up our cross and walk towards Golgotha, the place where Christ was crucified, and say I die to myself, I live for Christ. He is my life, my everything. It is the picture of the bloodied soldier standing firm. And so we can with gritted teeth and manly determination we can echo Paul and say “I am glad when I suffer for the sake of Christ”

We must suffer for Christ.

2. The Christian life is easy

Haha. But you know what: it’s true. It is true. The Christian life is hard, a battle to the death. But the Christian life is easy, because that battle has already been fought and won. 2:25 [Christ] disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

We see this paradox in v29: That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me

My brother in law, Grant, always says “Work your guts out, and God will do it all”. And it’s true, isn’t it. We struggle and strive and battle – and when we look back we see how God carried us.

This church is a great example. At one level we’re battling along, putting in the hours of preparation, wrestling with the Scriptures, battling in prayer, talking, encouraging, evangelising, counselling – and all along the Holy Spirit is at work amongst us, walking us to new life, carrying us in his strength, forging this church out of nothing, It is is a miracle We are a miracle. And so through all the effort the overwhelming feeling I have of this church is of a spectator – an audience member watching the film of God’s grace at work in your lives and my life. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me

Just look at the “great mystery” of the gospel: 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

The ESV puts it like this: this mystery.. is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

It is that inward, subjective experience of knowing Christ. It is a personal relationship with the living God. That is the mystery, that he should indwell us (live in us). How bizarre. But how true.

That is why Colossians is so full of language like 2:7 let your roots go down into him and let your lives be built on him, 2:17 Christ is the reality of our religious experience, 3:4 when Christ, who is your life, appears, 3:10 put on your new nature (we are changed, new people, little Christ-ones running about) and that we are his body (1:18, 2:19, 3:15).

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In the parallel passage in Ephesians 1, Paul puts it like this: 3 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

It is the Spirit of Christ, God’s Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity: he is the one who so powerfully works in us so that we can live changed lives in glory and honour to God, and can gladly suffer anything because we have assurance of the glory that lies before us, and because we are sharing in the sufferings of our Saviour.

He is so bound to us and we so bound to Him that Paul can say 24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. As we suffer for the spread of the gospel, as we battle our sin, as we proclaim the Good News of Christ crucified and victoriously risen from the dead – we follow in his footsteps, we follow his pain and his victory on the Cross, continuing his work in the world. He is in us, continuing his work. We’ve seen that in the book of Acts, how the Holy Spirit is at work building his church, we’ve experienced in this church, how he is changing us, binding us together, saving us; and we’ve experienced him in our lives as He has 1:13–14 rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

He is in us. His power is at work in us. And so living the Christian life is…easy. Oh battling sin seems so hard doesn’t it. We’re called to give up something we hold so dear, or not do or say something we so want to do and aaargh it’s so hard – but the moment we let go, the moment we obey, oh what bliss, what joy, what freedom. Why did I ever want that? What a nothing compared to the joy of Christ!

And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

The Christian life is easy, because He is at work in us. So let us tell others about Christ, warning and teaching with his wisdom. Let’s get out there and do it! Amen?

We are called to follow Christ, no matter the cost. And we cannot say no to suffering, because to say no to suffering is to say no to the gospel. It’s saying no to character development, to legacy, to endurance, to patience, to spiritual treasures. But worst of all, saying no to suffering is saying no to gospel, saying no to Christ.

And we are all tempted, because our western materialistic society is so negative towards suffering – “suffering is only, always, evil”, it says – and so we are tempted to lay aside the cross, turn our back on Golgotha, turn away from our Saviour, and take the easy road to Hell.

Brothers and sisters, let us turn back to Christ, pick up the cross, and follow him. And as we do that we will find the steps are easy, the burden is light, the road is pure joy for the glory laid before us – for Christ is in you, the assurance of glory. He is before us, Let us follow him.