Discipleship: Hidden In Christ / Clothed In Christ
Colossians 3:1-15
Discipleship matters because maturity matters because Christ matters!
Discipleship is who we are & how we live…It’s our Ethos, Attitude, Worldview
It’s our identity (Who we are truly meant to be)
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
- Are you there? By what means have you been ‘Raised to New Life’?
- Eternal perspective is a result of God’s Spirit being in you.
- If you believe you’re raised by the Gospel, part of that is where Christ is now
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
- Think about things = The Practice of Focused Attention
- Towards ‘Heavenly Perspective’ means away from ‘Temporal Perspective’
- We are not disciples because we live for this life, we are dead and dying to it
- Being ‘Hidden in Christ’ means God is not judging you on your life but on Christ
- Biblical Gospel: Christ is coming back! His Disciples share His glory!
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.
- Putting them to death means you don’t let them have a place in your life
- This list is happens when your flesh runs the show
- It takes God’s Spirit, not religious rituals / posing / new ideas (see last week)
Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
- ‘These Sins’ speak of unrepentant sin
- That was who we were before surrendering our lives to Christ
- Willful, Deliberate, Joyful Obedience
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
- Old Self = Dishonesty / New Self = Truth
- Participate intentionally in fully becoming your ‘New Nature’ (Discipleship)
- Renewing… Learning… Becoming! (It’s a progression)
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.
- The past is not the determiner of your future
- Christ levels the playing field for us as disciples (Each ‘Saint’ has His Spirit)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Recognition of His call to ‘Follow Me’
- Following Christ is ‘Being’ these five things
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
- Hidden in Grace / Clothed in Grace
- Recognition of what you have been forgiven creates the standard you forgive
- Matthew 18: The parable of the unforgiving debtor
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 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.
- More clothing…Most important clothing
- Only one way for ‘the peace that comes from Christ to rule your heart’
- Thankfulness is a byproduct of your recognition of your eternal union W/ Christ!
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
Describe how you have died to this life & have been raised with & hidden in Christ
What does it look like to ‘put to death’ the sinful things lurking within you?
Describe ‘Stripping off’ your old sinful nature & putting on your new & renewed nature
What things about your past hinder your belief in Christ choosing you to live in you?
Of the five things listed in V 12, where are you strongest? Where are you weakest?
How does your level of forgiveness match up with what you have been forgiven?
How might you better cultivate love & peace from Christ ruling in your heart?
Why do you think Paul ends this passage with a call to be thankful?