Dead to Sin
Colossians 3:1-11 Victory Fellowship
November 17, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
One day, two men, who didn’t know each other, were sitting on a park bench and neither one said anything for quite some time.
1. Then one of the men let out a BIG SIGH.
2. The other man immediately got up and said, “Well, if you’re going to talk politics, I’m out’a here!” and off he went.
That’s about the way it is these days with our political climate of divisiveness and hostility.
1. People are on edge and everyone seems ready for a fight the second someone says something pro or con about a political candidate or party.
2. That’s not the way it should be among healthy mature, and well-informed people. And that’s certainly not the way it should be for Christians who are walking in the footsteps of our Lord who taught us to love one another and to treat others the way we want to be treated.
Keeping Christ centered is a practical matter that requires our attention. Let’s examine three ways to keep our minds on Christ everyday:
1. SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE (Colossians 3:1-4)
When we were baptized into the faith we adopted the identity of Jesus and made Him Lord of our lives. Our focus then rises from the things of this earth to the things of Christ in heaven! This is the new perspective of the Christian - and we often forget it. We can get so caught up in our own temptations, the world, everything around us, that we forget important things like:
*We belong to a Kingdom that is not of this earth.
*We live in the shadow of a returning Messiah.
*We live under a different set of guidelines in life
*We walk through each day with hopes that go beyond our own boundaries
*Philippians 3:20 ...Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
* The Greek word fronew (phroneo) refers to setting our affections – our heart and mind. Where do we set our affections?
Love God (Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’)
Love Others (as yourself.) Have the mind of Christ toward one another (Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.)
Live with the outlook that we will see Jesus (1 Peter 4:7-8 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.) Keeping our mind on things above – especially on Christ’s eminent return - doesn’t mean we ignore the things and people around us.
It means we adopt the loving view that God has for all people! We witness to those who are lost without Jesus.
The second way we keep our minds on Christ – that is - setting our affections on the things above is by…
2. Moving Away From the Life of the Past (Paul continues in this chapter - Colossians 3:5-9) 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living 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 self with its evil practices,
Paul mentions Five Sins of the Flesh that we move away from:
-Sexual immorality- every kind of immoral sexual relation.
-Impurity - embraces lurid imagination
-Lust - the emotion that leads to sexual excesses.
-Evil Desires - Wicked, self-serving desires.
-Greed (Idolatry) The desire to possess what belongs to someone else
Also Move Away From Five Sins of the Heart (8-9)
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.
None of these things characterize the new life in Jesus.
We are constantly endeavoring to leave behind the old self.
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Put your mind on things above, Move away from the life of the past...
The third way we keep our minds on Christ – that is - setting our affections on the things above is by…
3. Replacing Old Ways with New Ways (Colossians 3:10-11)
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— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
All believers are one in Christ … and we are all seeking to put on a new self, live a new life, one that is ‘in the image of its Creator’.
Conclusion:
For the Christian, Christ is in the Center of Everything!
The Center of our Faith and Prayers. We are to take every thought captive to Him. He is our only hope - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
He is at the Center because of who He is.
He gives us the power through the Holy Spirit by making us alive in Christ when we were baptized, forgiven, and given victory through the cross.
Christ is the Center of Everything. There is no other name under heaven for humans to be saved. Therefore we must keep seeking the things above, where Christ is now.
PRAYER
SONG: No Other Name
Colossians 3:1-11 (NASB) Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living 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 self with its evil practices, 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— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.