Incomparable Christ (#10)

Colossians 3:14-17

A minister was concerned about the absence of a man who had been attending services faithfully. After a few weeks, he decided to visit him. When the pastor arrived at the man's home, he found him all alone, sitting in front of a fireplace. The minister pulled up a chair and sat next to him. But after his initial greeting, he said nothing more.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes while the minister stared at the flames in the fireplace. Then he took the tongs and carefully picked up one burning ember from the flames and placed it on the hearth. He sat back in his chair, still silent. His host watched in quiet reflection as the ember flickered and faded. Before long it was cold and dead.

The minister glanced at his watch and said he had to leave, but first he picked up the cold ember and placed it back in the fire. Immediately it began to glow again with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the minister rose to leave, his host stood with him and shook his hand. Then, with a smile on his face, the man said, "Thanks for the sermon, pastor. I'll see you in church on Sunday."

Christianity was never intended to be lived in isolation from others, but in a community of believers where faith can be nurtured and developed. That’s why Paul gives special attention to spiritual qualities that must be “put on” in a believer’s life in order for the community of faith to function together in unity (cf. 3:13 - “one another” & “against another”; 3:15 - “in one body”; 3:16 - “one another”). Qualities such as “tender mercies,” “kindness,” “humility,” “meekness,” “longsuffering,” “forbearance,” “forgiveness,” and “love” (3:12-13). All these qualities are important to godly character and interaction with other believers. They also communicate powerfully the transforming power of the Gospel to those who don’t know Christ.

After all, it was Jesus that said, 34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:34-35 NLT) These aforementioned qualities are the very essence of what it means to “love each other.”

Paul now adds three additional qualities that God intends for us to “put on” that further reflect His character and our love to others and Him. We’ll look at these in three statements that summarize the focus of Paul’s overall message.

We must desire...

1. The peace of Christ in us. (3:15)

The “peace of God” (as in some MSS., “peace of Christ”) of which Paul speaks can refer either to His peace that is “in us” or His peace that is “among us.” It’s likely that Paul intends both meanings, as this entire section (3:13-17) emphasizes the interaction we have with one another, within the body of Christ (referred to earlier).

One of the primary reasosn people have trouble getting along with other believers is because there is internal conflict within the individual Christian himself/herself. James speaks poignantly to this reality.

1What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. (James 4:1-3)

Rick Warren is the one I believe originally said, “hurting people hurt people.” It’s a vicious cycle that constantly repeats itself, illustrating why the scripture places so much emphasis on forgiveness...even in the larger context of this passage itself (3:13). If there is no peace within you, then there will be no peace around you. If you are constantly at odds with others, it is most likely because you are at odds within yourself. Paul wants “peace” to rule in our hearts.

God’s peace is available in two specific ways: peace with God and the peace of God.

19For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19-20)

In addition to “peace” in these two ways, let’s remember that the context of these verses is the community of believers at Colosse. The apostle carries his idea beyond peace with God (in salvation) and the peace of God (in troubled times) to speak about a peace from God that arbitrates among believers when there are conflicting claims, as well as various interests and mutually opposing ideas and feelings. Clearly, the Bible never speaks of “peace at any or all costs,” but it does teach the importance of seeking and protecting peace among the family of God. And, that is potentially the primary emphasis of what Paul is saying here. He wants them to be individually “ruled” by peace so that peace will also “rule” among them as a church family.

Find the believer that can’t live at peace within the family of God and you have probably found the believer that has no peace within himself/herself. These are the ones that are in need of “putting off” the old worn-out ways of the past so they can “put on”  the new Christlike ways He has provided for them (3:8-14).

“Rule” translates a Greek verb that literally refers to the activity of the “umpire or referee,” who renders verdicts in contested situations. Consequently, the verb takes on the idea of “control”; the standard Greek lexicon paraphrases, let the peace of Christ “be the decisive factor.” In other words, without sacrificing biblical precepts/principles, believers are to relate to one another in a fashion that demonstrates, facilitates and promotes peace within the family. This should be the product of the peace that “rules” within them, without which they cannot live at peace with those around them.

• Are you at odds with other believers? Then you are commanded to humbly go to them and seek reconciliation.
• Are you holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness? God commands that you “put off” bitterness/unforgiveness and “put on” compassion, kindness, forgiveness, forbearance, etc…
• How well do you get along in the family of God? That is one measure of whether “peace” sincerely “rules” in your heart (“in your hearts” literally means...sincere, heartfelt).

We must desire...

2. The Word of Christ among us. (3:16)

Again, it’s important to remember that this passage is dealing with the corporate body, not just the individual believer. It is true that “the Word of Christ” needs to be at home in us personally, but Paul’s primary emphasis here is that it should be at home “among us”...as the body of Christ.

Scholar, F.F. Bruce, writes, “Does ‘in you’ mean ‘within you’ (as individual Christians) or ‘among you’ (as a Christian community)? Perhaps he would not have cared to be pinned down too firmly to either alternative, although if one of the two had to be accepted, the collective sense might be preferred in view of the context.” (Simpson, E. K., & Bruce, F. F. (1957). The Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians (p. 283). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)

There is also an additional note that should be made about the phrase, “the Word of Christ.” This exact wording is rare in the New Testament (“the Word of God” is frequently used) and probably does not mean, “the word, or message that Christ proclaimed,” but “the message that proclaims Christ,” “the message about the Messiah.” (Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (pp. 285–286). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.)

Paul is concerned that the church is the place where the authentic teaching of/about Christ is to be welcomed and central to all that is done. As Paul had done in the first two chapters of this epistle in proclaiming the true message of Christ, the church is to be the place where that message is always at home among believers.

I recently read an article about a new “church” movement among atheists.

The reporter writes: “It looked like a typical Sunday morning at any mega-church. Several hundred people, including families with small children, packed in for more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational talk and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God.

“Nearly three dozen gatherings dubbed “atheist mega-churches” by supporters and detractors have sprung up around the U.S. and Australia — with more to come...

“On Sunday, the inaugural Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles attracted several hundred people bound by their belief in non-belief. Similar gatherings in San Diego, Nashville, New York and other U.S. cities have drawn hundreds of atheists seeking the camaraderie of a congregation without religion or ritual…”

Is it possible for churches that believe in Christ to become practical atheists in worship? Absolutely, simply by not allowing the message of/about Christ to be at home among them, either because it is too offensive, seemingly simplistic, or supposedly out-of-touch with the consumeristic, therapeutic, self-help mentality of our day. It doesn’t take long for a church to look like the one in Laodicea where Christ is on the outside seeking re-entrance to the fellowship of believers (Revelation 3:14-22).

The church at Colossae is noted here for three primary practices that were utilized when worshipping together, all of which centered around Christ.

A. The message of/about Christ was proclaimed and honored.

B. They taught and admonished one another...in wisdom.

C. They sang…”psalms” (OT verses put to music), “hymns” (songs of praise to Christ/God) and “spiritual songs” (a broad term for any songs qualified by the term “spiritual,” as opposed to secular -- i.e., songs of testimony).

This is not all that is left to the church in worship, but these three things should be at the core of what is done when God’s people gather together.

Part of our struggle in worship is in getting away from the consumer mentality that we live with daily. We are so used to everything being about us that when we come to a worship service, we expect that it should be about us, too. But, worship is not about what we get out of it, but about what we put into it.

For the second time Paul uses the phrase “in your hearts” (3:15, 16), meaning “sincerely” or in a “heartfelt” manner. He is not talking about a silent worship that takes place only “in your heart.” He is speaking of a worship that recognizes we are honoring the exalted Lord and all that issues forth comes from thankful hearts.

As pastor Ray Stedman put it, “Church life is to be characterized by three P's: peace, praise, and precepts.”

• What have you contributed to the worship of Christ today? Our worship is to be actively directed “to the Lord” (3:16).
• Did you prepare your heart for worship before you arrived? We prepare before going to ball games, amusement parks, vacations, work, business trips, etc.
• Have you been seeking the Lord in the service or have you been merely watching as if the church service is a performance?

We must desire...

3. The testimony of Christ through us. (3:17)

As a worship service is to be focused on the “Word of Christ,” so our lives in every aspect are to be focused on the worship of Christ. “Whatever you do in word or deed” was a common way of speaking about the totality of a person’s life. Paul wants believers to do everything as unto their Savior. For the follower of Jesus, there isn’t to be a division between the sacred and secular. Anything he/she does should be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” and with the testimony of Christ in mind!

To do something “in the name of the Lord Jesus” is to act and function in a way that is consistent with the nature and character of Christ. It is to act as His representative in all circumstances of life so that we represent Him to others well.

There is no higher ethic to follow than the ethic of this verse. If there had to be a verse of scripture governing every aspect of life since Christ till the 21st century, the Bible would be so voluminous that no one could own one and only the most highly skilled could comprehend it all.

When we are confronted with a moral issue not directly addressed in the scripture, then we apply the principle of doing all “in His name.” (His reputation is always at stake in the lives of His followers.)

We ask questions like:

• “What would Jesus have me do in this situation?”
• “What is the Christian thing to do?”
• “Can I do this without compromising my Christian testimony?”
• “How does this affect His reputation?”
• “Can I thank God for the opportunity of doing this thing?”
• Etc.

There is no statement more comprehensive than this one in dealing with moral and ethical decisions in the life of a believer. We don’t need extra-biblical rules and regulations to decide every question for us. We need to know whether we can do the thing that confronts us “in the name of the Lord Jesus!”

Conclusion:Something I want you to notice that is woven throughout 3:15-17 and ties them all together is how many times he speaks of “thanks” or “thanksgiving” (3:15,16,17). The gratitude of heart for all that Christ has done for you makes you want to live under His Lordship. It’s those that understand all that He has done for them that causes them to submit to Him in thankfulness of attitude and action. Only the most ungrateful don’t want to live at peace with others, make Christ welcome in our midst in worship and do everything for His glory!

Illustration:

The sun had just risen on a hot August day in 1944 in a small French village occupied by the German army.

A 15-year-old boy living in the city didn’t know why he and the other citizens of the little town had been lined up before a firing squad in the middle of the town square.

    

Perhaps they were being punished for harboring a unit of the French underground freedom fighters. Perhaps they were merely satisfying the blood lust of the German commanding officer…

All the boy knew was that he was about to die. As he stood before the firing squad, he thought about the carefree days of his early childhood, before the war, spent roaming the French countryside. He thought about all he would miss by never growing up.

Most of all he was terrified of dying. “How will the bullets feel ripping through my body?” he wondered. He hoped no one could hear the whimpering coming from deep in his throat every time he breathed.

Suddenly, the boy heard the sound of exploding mortar shells beyond the limits of his little village. Rapidly moving tanks could be heard, as well. The Germans were forced to abandon the firing squad and face a small unit of U.S. tanks. The twenty American GI's were led by Bob Hamsley, a corporal in Patton's Third Army. After three hours, fifty Nazis soldiers lay dead, and the other fifty were taken prisoner.

In 1990 that little French town honored Bob Hamsley on the very spot where dozens of the town's citizens would have died if not for him. The person that initiated the search for Hamsley and the ceremony honoring him was that 15-year-old boy who was now a grown man and former mayor of the town. He had determined to find the man who saved his life and honor him.

Don’t ever forget to thank the One that saved our lives from the eternal destruction of Hell.

Incomparable Christ (#9)

Colossians 3:5-15

I was recently looking through some of our old high school annuals and two things stood out to me as I perused their pages. 1. My wife was a lot more popular in school than me. Her annual has writing on every page without an inch of space left for anyone else to write. Mine, on the other hand, has two short messages of less than three lines each that you have to look for on the BLANK pages. 2. The style of clothes we wore in the early 70’s look really silly now! Plaid bell-bottom pants, crazy-looking shirts and the hair styles...well, let’s just say they were unique.

If we were to transfer those exact styles to our present day without any modifications, most everybody would think we had lost our minds. And, we might become candidates for the hit TV show, “What Not To Wear!” Not that I like all of today’s styles, but I hope those 70’s styles never come back in the form I was wearing them. They fit that time period, I guess! I know I blended in with what everyone else was wearing, but I’m glad we have moved past those fashions to something a little more favorable to my figure, maturity and good sense.

Let me use those 70’s clothes as an analogy for a spiritual truth that Paul addresses in Colossians 3:5-15.

There are actions and attitudes that at one time were the “in” apparel to be worn. Just about everybody else still “wears” most of these styles and blends into the crowd because they do so. However, since we have met Jesus Christ as our Savior, those “styles” no longer look appropriate on the followers of Jesus Christ. They are “out of date” with who we really are in Him and can only be termed as relics of our past! Consequently, Paul gives instruction to “change our clothes” (3:8, 12) in order that we might be properly attired as representatives of Christ in this world. Our new “style” actually causes us to stand out in a crowd, but only in a good way.

There are three lists given by Paul from which we can learn about appropriate and inappropriate “apparel” for the Christian life.

His first list is in 3:5 (Paul frequently makes lists of vices dealing with sexual sins: 1 Corinthians 6:9, 18; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3. This was obviously a very real issue in the first century, as it is in the twenty-first century.), the second in 3:8 and the last list in 3:12-15.

In each of the lists there are at least five vices or virtues listed. The first two lists combine to speak about ten vices that should no longer characterize the believer’s life (“apparel” that is no longer in style). We should remove these “fashion faux paus” from our closets and never allow ourselves to wear them again. The third list speaks to five virtues that we should “put on” every day as we model Christ for our world.  

Each of the words in each list is powerful in definition and helps us to understand what is “out of style” and what is “in style” for the believer.

3:5

• “Fornication” (“sexual immorality”/NLT) -- is always first in Paul’s lists of sexual sins and refers to any type of illicit sexual relations, but especially those occurring between people not married to one another.
• “Uncleanness” (“impurity”/NLT) -- usually follows “fornication” in Paul’s lists and refers to sexual impurity that lends itself to loose living and moral defilement.
• “Passion” (“lust”/NLT)-- is unbridled desire and appetite for moral impurity.
• “Evil Desire” (“evil desires”/NLT) -- is the most base cravings that lead to evil and immoral actions.
• “Covetousness” (“greed”/NLT)-- is longing for something that belongs to someone else or placing supreme value on something not yet possessed. In a context of sexual exploitation, it may have meant more and more sexual pleasure at any cost! Some see others only as objects for personal, sexual gratification.

There is nothing very becoming about any of these evils and they certainly make for a “shabby appearance” when any person adorns them. We are to count ourselves as being dead (“put to death”) to these types of conduct and refuse to “clothe” our lives in any way with them. This can be a daily struggle for some, but it is an attire that must be “put off” (3:8) if we are going to “put on” (3:12) the garments of Christlikeness. These are the garments that you have to take outside and burn. You don’t hand them don’t to a consignment shop to pass on to someone else.

The second list moves from actions that are vices to attitudes that are the same (3:8-9). These, too, are unbecoming on a Christian and should be “put off” as attire choices from your spiritual “wardrobe.”

3:8-9

• “Anger” (“anger”/NLT) -- is a strong, habitual attitude of animosity that is often brought on by deep-seated bitterness and unforgiveness. It is a constant, inner seething that periodically erupts into more visible consequences.
• “Wrath” (“rage”/NLT)-- is an intense form of anger that erupts suddenly as outbursts of anger and rage involving verbal attacks and possibly violence.
• “Malice” (“malicious behavior”/NLT) -- is an intense dislike that takes pleasure in seeing someone suffer that can result in harming another person either physically or in reputation. It is an ever present attitude of ill will towards others.
• “Blasphemy” (“slander”/NLT)-- is strong intemperate language used toward another person in order to hurt them or impugn their character. It is speech that seeks to slander and/or tear down others.
• “Filthy language” (“dirty language”/NLT) -- is communication that is lewd, indecent, corrupt and impure. Any type of foul, coarse, or obscene language falls within the definition of this word.
• To these five, Paul adds in 3:9, “lying,” which is any misrepresentation of the truth, even if the words spoken are basically accurate. When your intent is to deceive for the purpose of personal benefit, even the inflection of your voice or the expression on your face can change the meaning of what you are saying. In politics they call this “spinning” a story.

It’s likely that people knew the first list of vices were wrong for believers. The additional list appears to be Paul clarifying that it’s not just sexual sins that defile us, but social sins, too (“But now you yourselves are to put put off all of these…”). Neither of these two lists are intended to be exhaustive, but they illustrate the types of vices present in Colossian society that are universally found in every society. To this list other scripture texts could be used to add additional vices that are “out of date” and “unattractive” when worn by any person, especially by believers.

When anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying stop, the result is relationships are repaired...whether in social settings or in the home.

Having listed ten vices, Paul turns his attention to five virtues (3:12) that should “adorn” every believer and that are always in style.

3:12

• “Tender mercies” (“tenderhearted”/NLT) -- is compassion whether in speech or in action shown toward others. It is to be the constant attitude of the believer, making him/her easy to live with.
• “Kindness” (“mercy”/NLT) -- is the attitude of good will and is the demonstration of an unselfish spirit in doing for others. (cf. Ephesians 4:32)
• “Humility” (“kindness”/NLT) -- is lowliness of mind characterized by the desire to esteem others better than oneself. The pagan world admired domination and pride, but Jesus perfectly modeled humility. (Philippians 2:1ff)
• “Meekness” (“gentleness”/NLT) -- is strength under control. It is the attitude of walking in grace toward all men. The word is used of soothing winds, healing medicines, and colts that have been broken. Any of these (winds, medicines or colts) are powerful when under control and potentially deadly when they are out of control. In other words, a person that is “meek” doesn’t fly off the handle, but is calm, steady and under control.

W.E. Vine says about this word…“The common assumption is that when a man is meek, it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was “meek” because He had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest…” (W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 56)

• “Longsuffering” (“patience”/NLT) -- is patience under provocation that endures offense and refuses to retaliate.

Growing out of these five virtues also comes tolerance (“bearing with one another” or “make allowance for each others faults”/NLT) and “forgiveness” (3:13), all of which are held together by “love” (3:14).

Warren Wiersbe writes, “It is not enough that the Christian must endure grief and provocation, and refuse to retaliate; he must also forgive the troublemaker. If he does not then feelings of malice will develop in the heart; and these can lead to greater sins.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, p. 139)

There couldn’t be more beautiful garments than the ones Paul just described. Neither could any other garments “model” Christ more powerfully.

And, we should desire to be “clothed” in these things because we are God’s chosen people that are set apart unto Him (“holy”--3:12).

It’s important to notice that these specific virtues are intended to be utilized in community with other believers. These are qualities that are “put on” so we can function as a family and as a testimony to the world around us. Holiness is not exclusively defined by acts of private devotion; it also pertains to public occasions when the community can express its status as God’s chosen people through biblical responses to others. Our personal salvation should always be embodied in our public relationships (cf. Eph 2:11–22).

And, the motivation for “put[ting] on” the appropriate apparel as believers is that in salvation God took away our old garments and gave us new ones...POSITIONALLY this is how we are dressed (3:9-10). Now, we are to daily stand in front of the mirror of God’s Word and PRACTICALLY “put on” the type of garments He has already “put on” us positionally.

It’s as we live in this fashion that the “peace of God” rules within us and “thankfulness” can be expressed by us.

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1 NLT)

Conclusion:

What do you have on today? If it doesn’t look like the description of the virtues mentioned in 3:12-15, then it’s time to change out of your old tattered garments. They are out of style and make you a candidate for a “What Not To Wear” episode with God!

If you are a soldier, you dress the part. If you are a football player, you dress the part. If you are a police officer, you dress the part. If you are a Christian, you must dress the part.

The resurrection life demands a complete change of costume!!