07.28.2013 Conform to the Image of Christ for the Sake of Others

Those words are true – we give our hearts and lives to You. You gave Your life for us that we might have life. May we never forget the love that was poured out for us at the cross so that we could have a relationships with You – to call us to Yourself and to make us part of your family. May we see You more clearly and have a greater understanding of Who You are and Who Jesus is and how You love us and welcome us into Your family. You long to have compassion on us – we receive it and ask Your blessing that we might connect with You in a new way today. May Your Spirit lead us as we call on You.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the picnic
We are continuing on with Colossians –
There are two things happening here – false teachers have come in and are promoting false theology and philosophies – that is step one – and it is attempting to get the people to compromise their faith and to conform to the surrounding world.
Jesus re
Paul is making a sharp contrast – the domain of darkness and the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Words like rescued and redemption – Paul is referring back to the Exodus. We don’t see it as much in our language, but Paul is making this contrast – slavery under the Egyptians – and they have been brought into liberty – into the promised land – and there is this stark difference – you have been brought over, don’t even consider going back!
He is telling us – when we allow ourselves – it is always the temptation to conform to the world and culture around us. People conform, don’t they? When you get a new job, you conform to the surroundings around you! And I always have to laugh at how nonconformists all dress alike and listen to the same music!
When you were in Egypt in slavery, you worked hard. But we desire to go back, don’t we, even though we know it is not the place to go!
There are two kingdoms – you have to make a choice – you can’t serve two masters. Do not listen to the false teachers; do not conform to the culture? Why? You have been redeemed – bought out of slavery – purchased by Christ by His death on the cross. It cost so much to save us to pull us out of this world – this world of Satan – for the folks of Colossae, the world of Caesar – the son of god, the savior of the world. But they had received the true Son of God, the True Savior of the world!
Don’t go back there!
Today, our tendency – for them, it was this whole empire – and it was very costly. When Christians decided to not live for the Roman Empire, it cost them jobs and at times, their lives!
We don’t have to go out and buy the latest thing because we would lose our job or lives if we didn’t.
Paul is saying, Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not! That is not a good thing to say in the Roman Empire. That will cost you dearly. IN some ways, we have to do that in our own lives today.
Technology. Many believe it is a savior. We are in a society that believes that more and more technology will set the world in a better place. Technology becomes obsolete and you need the next one. You can’t settle for a 3 when there is a 4 or a 5 or a 6 out there!
In reality – with all of it – materialism and consumerism are big ones. There is a fine balance in our culture. Yes, we have to use things. It is okay to have a smart phone – it is there. But it can’t possess you. YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR EMAIL BECAUSE IT CAME! How many of you used to go out and get your mail during a rain or a tornado because it came?!
We live in a world of STUFF. It tries to consume us – it is okay to possess things, but they can’t possess us! We need to guard. Learn to practice fasting from things. Set some of your stuff aside for a period of time and don’t do it. Just to put it in perspective. Put them in their place. There are many different idols – things we believe will make our lives better and fulfilled. Paul is trying to say – those things don’t work – there is ONE who fulfills us and commands our allegiance and is worthy of it.
In verse 15 is a creed, or a hymn, or a confession. In the Greek, it comes across as poetry. A catchy tune. Garfield? (1-2323) – A tune that lasts as long as their siding!
Cindy made a book of children’s songs for John. He opened it up – Hey, I remember these!
Ray was looking for songs in Colossians – and this passage has so many because it says so much about who Christ is.
Colossians 1: 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
If you want to see God, look at Jesus. It wasn’t so for Moses. He was hidden in the cleft. Hebrews 1:3 – he is the exact representation of His nature.
He is saying – Jesus is God. Philippians 2 – He possessed every aspect of deity – in every way God.
The firstborn over all creation – this was a big one – Arius argued that He was born – so he wasn’t in existence, and then he was! That makes sense, for those of us who are parents.
This week – on Monday – a firstborn was born – a literal first born – Kate’s first born – George – a child who will someday be king. Paul is saying – when he was born, he holds a position of rank, not that he wasn’t in existence and then was…
16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
This ties in with John 1 –
In the beginning was the Word – the Word was Jesus. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Colossians understood that God was the creator of all things – and for Paul to say that Jesus created all things – makes Jesus God.
…and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God.
So Paul is lifting Jesus up to the highest level. He is Lord and God and Savior and there is no other but Him.
That is the theological perspective on this and it is clear and it is amazing. The ruler of all things became a person – a human, so that we could have a relationship with Him and so that we could become like Him.
Then He brings it down to the practical:
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
It works because He holds it all together. He holds it all together. He does it all.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church;
Paul goes from the theoretical to the practical – He is ruler over His church, His people. We need to make a decision to allow Him His rightful place in our lives. Jesus is Lord – Caesar is not. We are okay with that. But how about Jesus is Lord, and I am not! We need to submit to His authority, His will. In the Roman Empire, you submitted. In our empire, you aren’t used to that. Unless you are caught speeding! We don’t live where we have kings – but where they do, it is understood – they are the masters and we are the servants.
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Resurrection – it is so easy to forget the resurrection – to forget it – we talk so much about the cross. When Paul lays out his gospel synopsis – He was born, died on the cross, was buried, and then rose again. How often do we emphasize that? The gospel presentations in the New Testament focus on the resurrection! We need to learn to do that.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
We sometimes have a hard time believing the first line – that we were alienated, hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds. We need to understand that about ourselves if we are to believe the rest. We need to believe v.21 to accept v. 22. You might not have been a mass murderer, but you were still hostile and engaged in evil deeds.
23 if you continue in your faith,
Here is where you were – here is where you now are – if you continue in your faith. You have a decision to make – what are you going to decide? Are you going to continue? Are you going to believe the false teaching and the heresy, or will you hold to the truth.
established and firm
This was an architectural term – they had enormous stones as a foundation – that is what he is talking about – don’t get off the stone. Don’t move the pillar off of the stone, because it is only because of the stone that the pillar can stand – and it has to be our choice to stay on it and not listen to the false teaching. And upon that stone, we are to build this monument to God.
3 guys are laying bricks - first says, I'm laying brick
2) Building a wall
3) Building a great cathedral
We need to engage in the process of building this great cathedral in our own lives. We must remain fixed on the stone – and when something comes in – a trial – what do you do? Do you struggle? Or is God building you into His cathedral. God is engaged in this process of building something – and He needs you to choose to remain on the foundation. All of these aspects of life – going to small group – is not like laying brick – it is like building a great cathedral - something that will last forever.
This process of being conformed to the image of Christ is for the sake of others. That is what Paul is telling the Colossians. Think about this as you enter your days – I am in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.
When this happens – as we focus on this – I’ll expand on this next week – this is a process – and I’m sure you have seen this – an awakening – a new understanding of who God is – who Christ is – a glimpse – maybe it is during a worship time – God expands your understanding of His love. You say – wow, that makes sense! What those periods do – they create a greater awareness of our sin and brokenness.
Isaiah – I saw the Lord, high and lifted up – his train filled the temple – and I am a man of unclean lips.
Peter on the boat – no fish – throw over there! Fish! Depart from me, I am a sinful man – and it ignites transformation. The better we know God, the better we know ourselves (contrast). We renounce whatever has been revealed that is wrong in our lives. We repent – we turn from that – we then receive grace and forgiveness and mercy in our lives. And then from that – we minister to others out of the brokenness that has been revealed to us.
All of our great ministry to others will come out of our brokenness, wounds, and struggles. That is how it works – that is how transformation takes place.
Transformation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.
Let’s pray.
Lord, help us to see that, and to understand the truth that lies behind that statement. That You are the one who engineers and determines and works the process of conforming us to your image. As you do that, help us to turn around and help others. May it pour out from us so that other may benefit.