Slides: Living the Christ-Life Together

Living the Christ-Life Together
Colossians 3:12-17

9 … you have put off the old self [anthropos] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Living the Christ-life together

• Rooted in the gospel of Christ

• Realizing who we are in Christ

• Relating in the gracious love of Christ

• Ruled by the peace of Christ

• Relishing the word of Christ

• Representing the name of Christ

• Rejoicing in thanks for Christ

Rooted in the gospel of Christ

• I am sinful. God’s holy law condemns my crimes and requires punishment in hell. Without Jesus I am spiritually and eternally dead, serving Satan, unable to save myself.

• God in love put my sins on His Son, the God-man. Jesus took my punishment, cancelled all charges against me, and disarmed Satan.

• God raised Jesus bodily and connected me with Christ and his eternal life. Trusting Jesus and baptized into Him, I leave the old behind and join the new humanity in Jesus.

Realizing who we are in Christ: the new Israel, the new humanity

• God’s chosen ones: This is my Son, my Chosen One. (Luke 9:35) God chose us in Christ. (Eph 1:4)

• Holy: We have come to know that you are the Holy One of God. (John 6:29) a holy nation, a people for his own possession. (1 Peter 2:9)

• Beloved: You sent me and loved them even as you loved me… that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. (John 17:23,26)

New you, new uniform

You no longer identify with a law-breaking motorcycle gang. You identify with the law enforcement fraternity. If you quit being a Hell’s Angel and become a motorcycle cop, you get rid of your old uniform, and you put on a new uniform. You may still love motorcycles—but you use them in a very different way.

Dressing up with Christ

• For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27)

• Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 13:14)

• “You have put off the old self [anthropos] with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” (Col 3:9-10)

• Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved… (Colossians 3:12)

Relating in the gracious love of Christ

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (3:12-14)

Ruled by the peace of Christ

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Col 3:15)

• Jesus brings peace with God, peace to my heart, and peace among fellow believers.

• Let Christ’s peace rule and settle differences, rather than surrendering to strife or division.

• The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Relishing the word of Christ

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (3:16)

Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. (Ephesians 5:18-19)

Representing the name of Christ

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

• We represent Jesus:

  -by acting on Jesus’ authority

  -by bringing honor to Jesus’ reputation

•So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Rejoicing in thanks for Christ

And be thankful (3:15) … with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (3:16) … giving thanks to God the Father through him. (3:17)

• The Holy Spirit puts the Christ-life within me as an individual and among us as a people.

• The Spirit shows us that all good things come from the Father through Jesus the Son.

• The Holy Spirit focuses our minds and hearts on Christ Jesus. The more we focus on Jesus, the more we rejoice and give thanks.

Living the Christ-life together

• Rooted in the gospel of Christ

• Realizing who we are in Christ

• Relating in the gracious love of Christ

• Ruled by the peace of Christ

• Relishing the word of Christ

• Representing the name of Christ

• Rejoicing in thanks for Christ

 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.