09.01.2013 Colossians 3 - Outer Change vs. Inner Transformation

09.01.2013 Colossians 3 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

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2013.09.01 Grace Summit - Sally and Carl Renew their Vows from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

You can be trusted – to bring peace – to work our lives for good – to give us understanding. Give us faith to hear You – and how You want us to live and follow You. Thank You for Your love for us – how it is poured out and demonstrated. Thank You for Your grace.
Henry Cloud – the typical sermon in the U.S. can tend to sound something like this – “God is good, you are bad, try harder!”
There is a problem like that. Trying harder may change some things – but it never brings about transformation. There is a difference between change and transformation. I’ll bring out the obvious one – DIETING. There are so many diets you can try – Paleo, Adkins, Mediterranean, the “Only Eat Watermelon” diet – if you follow the diet, for the majority, you will see change – you will lose weight. But how many have experienced – it lasts for a while, but does not carry on. You have changed some things, but have not been transformed.
Same thing with addictions. Some can change – but often incorporate another addiction – replacing one for the other. Change simply requires technique and willpower. With enough willpower, you can change a lot of things about your life. Transformation requires the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not about what we can do but what God does on the inside.
When we started this series, we talked about it being a metamorphosis – like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly – becoming who you really are – you were created to be like Jesus. It is who you really are. It does not appear that way to those we are closest to, but you are becoming like Jesus.
James Bryan Smith – The good and beautiful God – St John of Kronstadt, a 19th century Russian Orthodox priest served in a city where intoxication was rampant. The priests in general did not do anything but wring their hands as to what to do. John went out into the streets, would lift up a fallen down drunk from the gutter and cradle him in his arms saying, “This is beneath your dignity. You were meant to house the fullness of God.” That is the message of Colossians. Inside of us lives Jesus.
Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Transformation is all about the cross and resurrection. Through the cross, as a result of our faith, Christ comes in us and transforms us. IF (You understand this is true) Christ is raised – at that moment, you began to experience the resurrection – we will all have an ultimate experience of that today.
It has happened in part.
Terry Lewis has said this – the question we always ask people or think about – how do we get into heaven after we die? That is the wrong question – the real question is – how do we get into heaven before we die?
That is what Paul is talking about here – heaven and earth, death and resurrection. We can experience heaven on earth – I don’t mean streets of gold, but the life of heaven in us. Paul is explaining the Lord’s prayer in this passage – Thy kingdom come – on earth as it is in heaven. Paul is saying – we now, having been raised with Christ, have the ability to do His will here on earth. Heaven is the place where God is and His will is done. Where does God dwell? In heaven – but He also dwells in us. So we have the power to take what is being done in heaven and bring it here on earth.
3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ died, we died with Him -
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We have been tucked inside Christ – hidden. In one sense, what we experience on a daily basis is a shadow of who we really are – even at your best in this life, you are just beginning to taste who you were meant to be. We were meant to be really different – to be like Christ. How this truth transforms: It gives us a better understanding of our identity – we are His beloved children, connected to Him in every way. He is in us, and we are in Him, and we are hidden in Him. Our smallness is absorbed in His largeness. We are hidden with Christ in God. WE – little us! With all our problems, frailties, and faults – and our life is not Christ’s.
Paul begins to explain the transformational process. Acquiring the right understanding and image of ourselves – having died in Christ – we have the power to be different – the ability to be like Christ. Settling that in our hearts is more important than leaving here saying – I am going to try harder. It doesn’t work – it has to have as a foundation this understanding of who we really are.
In this section –
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
This transformation is a process. He is in us – but you have some stuff you need to start doing. That is a foundation – keep seeking – set your mind – the work begins in our minds – in our thoughts – when we think properly about ourselves. This process will last until Christ is revealed. It is not going to end until we have seen Christ. We are to engage continually based on what is true.

5 Therefore [b]consider the members of your earthly body as dead to [c]immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [d]amounts to idolatry.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we are dead to these things. He continues…
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come [e]upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old [h]self with its evil practices,
But at times, those practices seem to come naturally! But Paul is saying – they no longer possess you. They no longer control you. You have the ability to be different – to put those things aside. Like clothes – take off the old work clothes – you are out in the garden and all sweaty because it is humid – take those off. It is just like changing clothes – but we want to leave those clothes of malice and anger on. Paul is saying – you can take that off!
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him
Put on the new clothes! Take the old ones off and put the new ones on – they are yours! We think, no, no, these are my clothes! In the Marette family – starting with my dad – you don’t throw away a t-shirt until it disintegrates! That is how we are with things in our lives! It feels comfortable to wear what I have always worn – comfortable to be what I have always been. Paul is saying take those off – I have new clothes for you.
What not to wear! We are the "what not to wear" when it comes to this.
People nominate a friend who doesn’t know how to dress appropriately or well – and these two experts bring them in – and in changing the person’s clothes, they change the person’s image. We have this new set of clothes that transforms us – not an outward thing, but an inward thing.
— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [j]barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
He is saying – like we talked about last week – not judging people based on race or how they look or the tattoos they have – he lists the ways they would judge. Christ is all, and in all. We all possess a new set of clothes – we are all equal.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved
(reminiscent of Jesus’ baptism – this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!) – You should have that attitude – We are God’s children, and He is well-pleased – fully pleased, really really happy with you – then he lists what these clothes are like – starting on the inside with a heart – he doesn’t start with the outside – he doesn’t begin with the actions – he begins with the heart. We tend to focus on the behavior. God focuses on the heart. From heart, comes behavior. As we gear in on and zero in on the heart, the behavior will follow.
, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and [k]patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
There is the work of Christ in us, and now He talks about His work through us. We begin to bear with one another – loving one another with all of their issues. Sticking with people through the difficult times – through the trouble – like that priest that would hold the drunk in the street – bearing their burden.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is [l]the perfect bond of unity.
As Christ transforms us, He begins to transform our community.
15 Let the peace of Christ [m]rule in your hearts, to which [n]indeed you were called in one body; and [o]be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The word of Christ is speaking of this gospel message. Now He lives inside of us. Continually remember your place, your identity in Christ. It is so important that we constantly think about that.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
So we have His work in us, transforming through us – and the work of Christ around us. He affects who we are – and what we do. This is speaking of your position in life – your vocation – your calling – the things you have been entrusted to do – to watch over and care for – and that is next week’s message! So, closing it off with this –
Transformation does not take place in isolation!
It may begin and often begins in times of solitude – when we feel alone – where things in life – where we feel really alone in life – and in those times, we begin to consider ourselves and what may need to happen. But it doesn’t really engage until we bring that into marriage, work, family, school – and everything else taking place.
How we respond to life challenges and shapes us more than the events themselves.
As things enter into our lives and go back to our foundation – and respond based on that –
2) we need to recognize God’s presence – God is there.
3) We need to discern what God is doing in and through those moments inside of us.
It is not always – what is God trying to teach you through this? God is engaged with you in all of life’s circumstances.
4) as you begin to discern and understand that – cooperate with Him – join with Him. And that will result in inner transformation -