CLOTHED WITH LOVE (14 OF 18)
by Tony Nester
Scripture: COLOSSIANS 3:12-15
This content is part of a series.
Clothed With Love (14 of 18)
Colossians
Tony Nester
Colossians 3:12-15
Two weeks ago we reached the third chapter of the
Apostle Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae. Paul
used strong language to tell those of us who have come
to faith in Christ to put to death whatever sin still
lives on within us.
Colossians 3:5 through Colossians 3:10 (NRSV) 5Put to
death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly:
fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed
(which is idolatry... 9Do not lie to one another, seeing
that you have stripped off the old self with its
practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new
self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to
the image of its creator.
Today we focus on the next four verses, Colossians
3:12-15. Here Paul changes the tone from negative to
positive. Instead of saying "Don't act like that" he
moves on to "Be sure to act like this."
Before we read these verses let me point out to you
that everything Paul says here is about how we treat
one another. These verses are not about how deep or
intense is our individual relationship with God -
important as that is. No, these verses are about how
we get along with each other. They are especially
about how we act toward each other as members of the
church.
I've often thought it would be much easier if we ran
church like a movie theater. You would buy a ticket
to get in if you wanted to see the show. Our only
expenses would be what it cost to run the show that
day. We wouldn't have a membership roll. We wouldn't
take calls from people who don't attend. When the
show was over you would leave and we would not be
concerned about what happens to the rest of your life.
You would walk away after the show was over and you
may or may not ever talk to anyone else who watched
the show with you.
The reason that would be a much easier way to do
church is because we wouldn't have to be con ...
Colossians
Tony Nester
Colossians 3:12-15
Two weeks ago we reached the third chapter of the
Apostle Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae. Paul
used strong language to tell those of us who have come
to faith in Christ to put to death whatever sin still
lives on within us.
Colossians 3:5 through Colossians 3:10 (NRSV) 5Put to
death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly:
fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed
(which is idolatry... 9Do not lie to one another, seeing
that you have stripped off the old self with its
practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new
self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to
the image of its creator.
Today we focus on the next four verses, Colossians
3:12-15. Here Paul changes the tone from negative to
positive. Instead of saying "Don't act like that" he
moves on to "Be sure to act like this."
Before we read these verses let me point out to you
that everything Paul says here is about how we treat
one another. These verses are not about how deep or
intense is our individual relationship with God -
important as that is. No, these verses are about how
we get along with each other. They are especially
about how we act toward each other as members of the
church.
I've often thought it would be much easier if we ran
church like a movie theater. You would buy a ticket
to get in if you wanted to see the show. Our only
expenses would be what it cost to run the show that
day. We wouldn't have a membership roll. We wouldn't
take calls from people who don't attend. When the
show was over you would leave and we would not be
concerned about what happens to the rest of your life.
You would walk away after the show was over and you
may or may not ever talk to anyone else who watched
the show with you.
The reason that would be a much easier way to do
church is because we wouldn't have to be con ...
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