If Not Religion, Then What
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Scripture: Col 3:1-10
Col 09 – If Not Religion, then What? – Col 3:1-10
Today’s msg is the “Then what?” of last wks msg
Last msg – we made a very strong point
The title was –“Is Christ Enough” - & the very clear answer was . . .
YES ! - Jesus Christ is Enough !
A real, personal, living relationship with Jesus Christ
Really, really - is everything we need
& then (in the lst msg) we went on to read;
we are not to let anyone condemn us
based on Days or Food or Man-Made Religious Rules
& finally – the last Vs in Ch 2 “dropped the hammer” on us
& set us up for today’s msg . . .
Col 2:23 - NLT
23 These things [man-made rules] indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Now – right here is where we started getting some “Yeah but’s”
You know – “Yeah but what about all the rules. . .”
“I thought all those rules HELPED crucify the flesh”
NOPE – They don’t – & the Bible is very clear about that -
Israel tried it for 1500 yrs - & it never worked for them
So today – we have the “Then What”
to last weeks - “Yeah But”
If our Religious Rules don’t transform us – Then What Does?
If it’s NOT more Rules & Religion we need
THEN WHAT DO WE NEED – to transform our lives ?
Let’s Pray - & I believe the Word will answer that question
Let’s start w/ Col 3:1A - NLT
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, . . . [stop]
KJV - 1 If then you were raised with Christ, . . .
“Since” (NKJ – If then) - - in the GK means ‘a fulfilled condition’
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, . . .
Paul’s is speaking to Christians –
To those who’ve been Identified w/ Christ thru Salvation
When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord
The Bible says: we are “Buried with Him in His death”
& we are “Risen with Him in New Life”
If Jesus Christ is your LORD today . . .
God’s Word says - You have Died with Christ to your sin Nature
& You have been Raised with Christ to New Life . . .
For ETERNITY . . . & for NOW
& in THAT truth - is the final answer
to all Debate re: Rules – vs. Relationship
We begin to see why - Col 3:1 (all) - NLT
1 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.
NKJ - 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
Set your sights on the realities of heaven
NKJ – “seek those things which are above”
LIT: - “things above be constantly seeking”
SINCE you have been raised to New Life with Christ,
Set your Sights -
Be Constantly Seeking the things of heaven
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Word “SIGHTS” (NLT) – Means LIT - MENTAL FOCUS
Set your “Sights” (mental focus)
on the Realities of Heaven
It’s NOT – you HAVE TO do this - that - & the other
Because THAT is OUTSIDE motivation trying to control your actions
BUT INSTEAD – Set Your Sights (mental focus). . .
be Constantly Seeking the REALITIES of Heaven
where Christ sits, & where your New Life is
Because THAT is INSIDE motivation directing the FOCUS of your Life
Col 3:1-2 together - NLT
1 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.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
NKJ - 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Set your ‘Sights’ (mental focus) on the realities of Heaven
& THINK about the things of Heaven – NOT the things of Earth !
V. 2 - NKJ = Set your mind on things above
IF INDEED you’ve been raised to New Life with Christ . . .
THEN – Set your mind on things of heaven - Where your New Life IS
& NOT – on the things of this earth
What effect does our mind have on our actions ??
Our mind is a Very Powerful thing - & where we focus it . . . WE GO
We see this in all Sporting Events
Baseball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Golf – AND Dirt Bike Riding
ALL these things have ONE very important thing in common –
Where You SET YOUR MIND – Is where you are going to Go
The way to catch (or hit) a ball - is to set your mind on the ball
The way to get a ball to go where you want it to go
is to set your mind on the place you want the ball to go
In MX riding – you focus intently on Where you WANT to Go
NEVER on where you DON’T WANT to Go . . .
Because you are going to go - where your mind is focused !
& The Word of God says;
IF INDEED you have been Risen to New Life in Christ . . .
THEN set your mind - Set Your Sights (focus)
on the things of heaven - & NOT EARTH
Because Where you set your mind
is the direction you are going to go
You are going to EITHER move toward the things of Eternal Life,
Or toward the things of Destruction
BASED ON Where you set your mind
Based on what you constantly think about
So – If you’re a Christian
& your mind is set on the things of this world . . .
Then YOU ARE IN DIRE STRAIGHTS !
& trying to follow a bunch of Rules is NOT going to help you
Col 2:23 makes it clear - that Rules Approach
provides NO HELP in conquering your Sin Nature
Because Rules & Religion applied from the OUTSIDE
Will NEVER actually give you New Life INSIDE
Your New Life MUST come from the INSIDE – OUT
If you want to actually LIVE in the New Life Christ has given you
You’ve got to set your Sights (& mind) on the things of heaven
& not on the things of earth
In V.3 – we see the “Logic” of setting our Sights & Minds
On things above - & NOT on things of this life
Col 3:3
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
NKJ - 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When you received Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior
you died to THIS life - & your REAL life became “hidden” in Christ
So WHY now would you Set Your Mind on the things of this World?
If Indeed you “Died to this Life”
& your REAL LIFE became “Hidden With Christ”
AND IF you Truly Want to be Transformed . . .
THEN Set your mind (sights) on where your REAL LIFE is
& STOP setting your mind on a life you DIED TO
What does that mean that your REAL LIFE is “Hidden With Christ”
Well . . . Vs’s 3-4 together – give us some idea . . .
Col 3:3-4 - NLT
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
NKJ - 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
You died to this life when you were Born-Again
& now your REAL LIFE is “Hidden with Christ in God”
The Fullness of your New Life in Christ
is in some ways Hidden (concealed) – from you & this world
HOWEVER – there’s a day coming
When Jesus Christ will be revealed
& when He is Revealed
the Full Reality of your New Life will be Revealed with Him
& when it is – you will Share His Glory for Eternity
& If that doesn’t absolutely BLOW YOU AWAY
Then you need to Better Grasp
ALL the Glory that is Christ’s - for Eternity
Because if you belong to him – you’re going to share it with Him
1Jn 3:2 - NLT
2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Col 1:27 - NLT
27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
When our New Life is Fully Revealed;
We will be Like Him – We will Share His Glory
So - Don’t set your SIGHTS - & your MIND
On a Life that you’ve DIED TO
Instead – set your SIGHTS & your MIND on your REAL LIFE
Your Life that’s hidden in Christ for now
but soon will be fully revealed (both to you - & to the world)
YOUR ROLE – in the Transforming Power of the Christian Life
Is to Set your SIGHTS, & your MIND
On your REAL LIFE in Christ
Then Christ living in you does all the rest
IF you are Setting your SIGHTS, & your MIND
on your REAL LIFE in Christ . . .
THEN – You will be TRANSFORMED
& you will be able to “Put to Death” the things of this world
Col 3:5 - NLT
5 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.
NKJ - 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
IF – you are living IN your New Life in Christ . . .
You will (by default) be “Putting To Death”
the things of this world
WE DON’T “Put to death” the things of this world
In order to earn something – or prove something – to God
We “Put to death” the things of this world
Because it’s the Natural outcome
of Setting your Sights & your Mind – On your New Life in Christ
Because you really CAN’T live for both
your New Life in Christ - & your Old Life of SIN
You Either – Set your Sights & your Mind on your New Life in Christ
OR You - Set your Sights & your Mind on the Sins of this World
Now – Does that mean that you should NEVER SIN - - NO !
The question is – What is your life Characterized by?
What have you “Set your Sights on” (your Focus)
What have you “Set your Mind on” (what are you Thinking about)
& do you understand – that your actions are only “An Indication”
Of what your Sights & your Mind are set on
& by the way - just in case you need some more “Motivation”
(besides sharing the Glory of Jesus when He returns)
The Word DOES give us some “additional” motivation
To “Put to Death” the sins of this world . . .
Col 3:6
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
NKJ - 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
“anger” (NKJ = wrath) - best - “Just Punishment From God”
The word refers to the Punishment God MUST bring upon sin
It is the Holy, Just, & Righteous - response OF God – TO Sin
& I promise you – You don’t want any of that !
So (as V.5 says)
“put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you”
Because that life of SIN - Is the life Jesus Christ SAVED you FROM
Col 3:7
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
NKJ - 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
Prior to Christ – your life was Characterized by sin
Because you were Part of this World
But NOT SO anymore !
If Jesus Christ is your LORD today
Then it is HIGH TIME to “Put Off” the OLD LIFE
Let’s read Col 3:7-9 together
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
NKJ - 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
The starting point for Transforming your actions
Is the NEW LIFE within you
that automatically puts to death the OLD LIFE
If Indeed You’ve Died to that Old Life – stop trying to revive it
Because when you received New Life in Jesus Christ
Your sin nature Lost its power to enslave you
It now it only has power – if you GIVE it power !
Rom 6:6-7 - NLT
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
NKJ - 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
“In Christ” – you have been set free from the Power of Sin
We don’t put off sin - in order to earn something from God
We put off sin - because we are no longer slaves to
Instead we’ve been ‘Raised to New Life” in Christ
& If we will concentrate on “PUTTING ON” the New Nature –
Then The Old Nature will (by default) be “PUT OFF”
Col 3:10 - NLT
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Put On – has a great GK Definition - Gk Def = to sink into
SINK INTO your New Nature . . . & BE RENEWED
GK tense of “Be Renewed” - is a “Continual Action”
SINK INTO your New Nature - & be Continually Renewed . . .
Def of GK word “renewed” = to be changed into a new kind of life
SINK INTO your New Nature
& be continually changed into a new kind of life !
Sink Into your New Nature In Christ
& you will be continually changed into a new kind of life . . .
Then – Look at the 2nd half of V.10
Sink into your New Nature
& Be continually changed into your New Life
As you learn to know your Creator - & become more like Him
Religious Rules & Regulations will never Transform you like THAT !
But Putting On your New Life in Christ WILL !
Set your SIGHTS - & your MIND – on your New Life in Christ
& you will be continually renewed
as you learn to know your Creator - & become like Him
& then - as Col 3:4 says; And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.