Title: Living for Eternity (3)
Series: A Pathway to Generosity
Colossians 3:1-4
Tim Melton
Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie writes about seeing a photo and a caption in a magazine once that showed, "a picture of a guy shaving in the mirror. It asks this question, is it an alarm clock or a calling that gets you up in the morning?"
It is an interesting question. Another way to ask it is, "What are you living for?" How would you answer that question? As Christians we are called to a great purpose but the evil one often seeks to distract us.
One of his most common strategies is to draw Christians into a life where they regularly attend religious activities, but at the heart level are really living for comfort, career, social status and so many other things that are focused on self and this present world. If we are not careful, we are tempted to live a comfortable Christian life that somewhat clears our conscience while not truly living for eternity.
That is what the apostle Paul addresses in Colossians 3:1-4.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
Being raised with Christ is the prerequisite for everything else that Paul is about to say. If one has put their faith in Christ, then the following words apply. If a person has not been raised with Christ, then they will not be able to act on the following exhortation that Paul is presenting. Being in Christ is what makes the Christ-like life possible.
Also note that being raised with Christ is not something that they had done for themselves. They had not earned or achieved their salvation through good works. As we see in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
They are not loved unconditionally because of who we are. We are loved unconditionally because of who God is.
...
Series: A Pathway to Generosity
Colossians 3:1-4
Tim Melton
Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie writes about seeing a photo and a caption in a magazine once that showed, "a picture of a guy shaving in the mirror. It asks this question, is it an alarm clock or a calling that gets you up in the morning?"
It is an interesting question. Another way to ask it is, "What are you living for?" How would you answer that question? As Christians we are called to a great purpose but the evil one often seeks to distract us.
One of his most common strategies is to draw Christians into a life where they regularly attend religious activities, but at the heart level are really living for comfort, career, social status and so many other things that are focused on self and this present world. If we are not careful, we are tempted to live a comfortable Christian life that somewhat clears our conscience while not truly living for eternity.
That is what the apostle Paul addresses in Colossians 3:1-4.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
Being raised with Christ is the prerequisite for everything else that Paul is about to say. If one has put their faith in Christ, then the following words apply. If a person has not been raised with Christ, then they will not be able to act on the following exhortation that Paul is presenting. Being in Christ is what makes the Christ-like life possible.
Also note that being raised with Christ is not something that they had done for themselves. They had not earned or achieved their salvation through good works. As we see in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
They are not loved unconditionally because of who we are. We are loved unconditionally because of who God is.
...
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