WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:03.120 Well, good morning, church. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:07.280 This morning we are in Colossians chapter 3. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:10.240 Colossians chapter 3. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:20.800 And today we will be looking at verses 12 through 17, which is all about putting on the new nature that we have in Christ. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:37.600 So if you remember from our previous studies, Paul is writing a letter from prison to the Colossian church because they are living in a syncretistic culture that is trying to redefine Christianity. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:46.960 So the religious ideas of mysticism and Gnosticism and Judaism were bombarding these Christians. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:56.079 And it created confusion and it put into question the nature and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.560 And so Paul writes this letter. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:09.120 And in chapter one, he tells them that Christ is sufficient because he is all-supreme, all-knowing, all-powerful. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:18.079 Then in chapter two, Paul reminds these believers that all spiritual fullness is found in Christ alone. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:32.079 Therefore, they don't need to be listening to the false teachers that demand dietary laws, harsh treatment of the body, the pursuit of special revelations or visions. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:44.159 And so the book of Colossians is shouting, as Jonathan Edwards once said, that he who has Christ has all he needs and needs no more. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:47.200 And this leads us to chapter three. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.760 What is our response to all this? 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:57.120 If Christ is supreme, what do we do in a world filled with lies and heretics? 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:06.959 Which is why Paul commands us in verses one through four to seek Christ, pursue the things that are above. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:13.360 And he begins to explain what this looks like in the rest of the chapter. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:22.560 And what we saw in verses five through eleven is that seeking the things above starts with killing sin. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:32.879 We have no chance of enjoying Christ, who is above, if we do not crucify sinful desires that are below. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:39.919 So now that Paul has called us to put off our old nature, now what? 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:47.520 I'm in a state of repentance, I put away all my anger, wrath, and greed. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:55.599 I stopped looking at porn, I quit mistreating my wife, I've laid aside all my pride, but now why? 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:01.840 In this church is where so many people go wrong. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:04.719 I see this a lot in addiction ministry. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:14.879 Someone stops using drugs, they quit getting drunk, they give up old friends, but they stop there as if that was the finish line. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.240 And that is not true repentance. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:32.400 True repentance is not merely turning from sin, it is turning from sin and turning towards God for all life, purpose, and satisfaction. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:46.000 If you quit eating junk food, but you do not replace your appetite with something else, you will starve and you'll end up going right back to the little Debbie's. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:04:05.360 If you take off your old dirty clothes, but you do not put on new clothes, but you just kind of stand there awkwardly, naked, you'll end up putting back on your old clothes, because at least you are clothed with something rather than nothing. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:24.560 And in the same way, someone who gives up old sinful habits but does not pursue a life filled with worship and joyful fruits and righteousness, you will inevitably go right back to sin. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:28.319 We give up wrath to put on love. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:32.240 We forsake division to put on unity. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.360 We stop finding pleasure in sin and start finding joy in God. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:43.279 To put this simply, we put off evil so that we can put on Christ. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.120 Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 12. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:54.399 He says, when an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it seeks a different resting place. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:59.439 But when it doesn't find one, it returns to the house from which it came. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:06.560 And when it comes back and finds the house empty, it throws a party and brings other spirits with it. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:11.519 And the state of that person is worse than the first. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.639 This is what our passage is all about this morning. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:23.040 A Christian is not merely someone who stops doing bad things. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:35.199 It is someone who actively seeks God and experiences new things, new thoughts, new desires, new attitudes and practices. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.000 A Christian isn't someone who's merely given up an old life. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:46.319 It is someone who is living a new, transformed, resurrected life. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:06:01.600 So now that Paul has told us to put off the old nature in verses 5 through 11, he now tells us what traits we should be putting on according to our new nature in verses 12 through 14. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:24.319 He says, put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:30.079 As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:37.759 And above all, these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:47.680 So before we even get to the traits, notice in the beginning of verse 12 that Paul starts with identity. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:56.160 If we have any chance of living like Christ, we need to know who we are. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:01.040 God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:08.560 You know, I'm not gonna go uh dress for a party if I don't think I was invited. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.079 I'm not going to put on a military uniform if I don't think I'm a soldier. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:24.399 Now, in the same way, you will not put on any of these traits if you think you are a lost orphaned worm. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:29.439 What you think you are motivates behavior. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:40.000 If you think God hates you and he's just mad at you all the time, then you're not going to be inclined to put on any of these godly attributes. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:48.399 You must be certain that God has chosen you before the foundation of the world for salvation. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:08:00.560 You must believe that through faith in Christ, you have received total forgiveness, glorious adoption, and perfect righteousness. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:12.160 To put simply, you must believe that through Christ, God really, really, really loves you deeply and profoundly. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:17.120 He sees you now as chosen, holy, beloved. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:22.720 And this is why the doctrine of assurance is so vital. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:28.079 The enemy is always whispering in our ear, you're not enough. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.160 You failed God. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.799 You keep letting him down. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:34.799 He has abandoned you. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:41.759 And if we believe his deception, we will not dress ourselves appropriately. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:48.399 So we must remind ourselves daily that yes, I've let God down. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:09:00.399 Yes, we make mistakes, yes, we keep falling back into that same stupid sin, but my salvation is not dependent on my works. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:07.360 It's based on grace through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:14.639 And because of that, his work, I am holy, righteous, and loved by God. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:25.120 And it is from this identity that we are naturally then compelled to put on first compassionate hearts. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:28.080 This refers to tender mercies. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:35.759 It is a sensitive heart that is filled with sympathy, empathy, genuine love towards others. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:43.279 We choose to listen, understand for the purpose of helping and encouraging or assisting others. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.519 Next is kindness. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:53.360 In the ancient world, the writers defined this virtue as a man who treats his neighbor as family. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:04.159 It is treating all people, strangers, neighbors, as if they were your own kin, warm and hospitable towards all. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:06.320 Next is humility. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.919 This is defined as lowly, selfless. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:16.799 It is, as Paul describes it in Philippians 2, it's esteeming others higher than yourself. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:22.240 It is the opposite of being arrogant, proud, conceited. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:26.320 You don't walk around thinking you're superior to everyone. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:34.960 Instead, you recognize that everything good that you have is because of the grace of God. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:37.120 Next is meekness. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:41.679 This encompasses the idea of strength under control. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.519 It also has the idea of gentleness. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:54.639 It is having the right or power to do something, but refraining for the benefit of someone else. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:11:06.000 You may have the right to retaliate, the right to be angry at a life circumstance, the right to throw a fit, but you don't. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:16.799 Instead, you submit yourself to God's sovereign plan, knowing that he will use everything for your good and for his glory. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.039 Next is patience. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:27.360 This is a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation, misfortune, or irritation. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.679 So you're not a time bomb. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:32.159 You're not dictated by your emotions. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:44.000 In several languages, uh patience is expressed this way: it's to keep one's heart from jumping, to have a waiting heart. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:47.279 Next is bearing with one another. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.919 This is the idea of long suffering. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.639 You're patient with people who are struggling. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.240 You're not easily offended when someone lets you down. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:00.559 When someone sins, you're not quick to judge or condemn them. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:09.200 When someone fails, instead of throwing them to the curb, you come alongside them and you say, Let's get back up, my friend. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.519 Next is forgiveness. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:15.519 Uh you're not quick to strike judgment. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:20.879 Uh you refuse to hold on to an offense, no matter how big it is. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:37.039 Because even if, hypothetically, someone committed the worst crime against you, you cannot hold on to it because you yourself have committed a far greater crime. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:42.159 You have committed treason against the most holy God. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:51.679 And although you should have been banished into hell for an eternity, he forgave you in Christ. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:57.120 So we must forgive others when they offend or hurt us. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:05.840 You know, forgiveness in the New Testament is always in the context of Christ's forgiveness towards you. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:15.200 In fact, I dare say that the Bible often puts into question someone who refuses to forgive. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:26.799 Because if you cannot uh if you cannot forgive, you you you really should ask yourself if you truly have received Christ's forgiveness yourself. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.039 And people often object. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:33.440 But Jimmy, you you don't know what they did. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:42.320 You if you knew the details of this sick monster, if you knew the situation and how bad they hurt me and my family. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:51.840 And listen, I I know there's pain, there is injustice, but you are not the judge. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.080 That is not your job. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:57.519 You are a vessel of God's grace. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:03.759 Your job is to lavish forgiveness on people who do not deserve it. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.039 Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.240 We don't need to condone someone's actions. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:21.200 No one is asking you to be your enemy's best friend, but you are commanded by the one who has forgiven you to turn around and forgive others. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:28.000 And then there is love, which Paul declares is the highest trait above all traits. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.960 This is the upper garment that holds the rest of the outfit in place. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:50.720 As 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us, you could speak in a heavenly language, you could perform all kinds of miracles, you could give all your money to the poor, you could even be burned at the stake with the right confession of Christ. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:57.039 But if you do not love, you gain absolutely nothing. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:05.519 And so without love, all these other traits could still be performed with self-serving motives. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:13.440 You can be compassionate and kind towards someone so long as that person gives you something in return. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.000 You can be humble for self-recognition and applause. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:23.120 You can even forgive someone for the sake of convenience. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.200 But love extinguishes all of that. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:34.639 Love is the key ingredient in which all these other traits operate appropriately. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:41.200 Paul describes love as the trait that binds everything together in harmony. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.279 And this is the Greek word agape. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:52.480 It's sacrificial, it's unconditional, it's a love that seeks the very best interest for others. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:57.840 It is laying down your life for another, seeking nothing in return. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:07.919 This is why Jesus said in John 13, it is by this kind of love that the world will know that you are my disciples. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.919 Because it's not natural. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:16.080 Church, these are the kind of attributes that we should be putting on as believers. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.480 But Paul doesn't stop there. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:26.159 He also shows us what kind of heart attitudes we should be carrying around in verse 15. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:36.080 He says, And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.240 And be thankful. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:48.320 So there are three attitudes here that we should be ruled by: peace, unity, and gratitude. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:55.919 And so peace here is not talking about personal inner peace, although we have that in Christ. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:02.159 The idea here is an attitude of relational body life peace. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:08.160 It's the idea of looking around the body of Christ saying, How can I forgive? 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.839 How can I reconcile? 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:14.240 How can I bring peace between two hostile parties? 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:19.680 And in case you didn't know, sinners love to fight. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:30.160 Just get on social media for two minutes, and there are people bickering and arguing and name-calling, wishing harm on one another. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:33.519 The old nature loves self. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:41.519 And therefore it is in the business of lashing out, belittling others, and creating hostility. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:48.400 But not those who have been redeemed by the Prince of Peace. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:18:00.480 We are recipients of the ultimate peacemaker, Jesus Christ, who reconciled the greatest rival in human history. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:07.519 He made peace between a totally holy God and rebellious sinners. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:13.599 And thus we are called to be ruled by the same heart attitude. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:38.079 It means this that instead of criticizing others, provoking conflicts, looking around the church, complaining about the music or the ministries or the preaching, grumbling about how your preferences are not being met, creating a wedge among the body, we instead look at the church and say, How can I promote peace? 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.279 Are there relationships that I can develop? 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.400 Man, I sense hostility between these two people. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.559 How can I encourage unity? 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:57.599 How can I participate in the same ministry of Jesus and promote reconciliation, forgiveness, love, harmony? 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:04.319 This church is the kind of attitude that should rule our hearts. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:11.039 Our hearts can be ruled by so many things: hatred, anger, despair. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:14.240 We hurt people around us. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:23.119 Why not allow Christ's peace to rule our hearts, which promotes unity to those around us? 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:27.680 Plus, this kind of attitude involves a promise. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.039 And in Matthew 5 9, he says, Blessed are the peacemakers. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:37.839 Jesus says, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:44.559 And the last attitude that Paul kind of sneaks in here at the end of the verse is gratitude. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.640 He says, And be thankful. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:51.359 In the New Testament, thankfulness comes up 71 times. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:55.359 It comes up two more times before the end of this passage. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:01.119 It is the most natural expression of worship. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:14.720 When we realize how much that we don't deserve, and how much God has abundantly lavished his love and gifts unto us, we cannot help but to be thankful. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:22.960 Now, church, listen, you deserve a literal torment in hell. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:33.839 You should be there right now, paying for your evil crimes against God, but look, you're not. 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:38.640 He chose you when you didn't deserve it. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:47.119 Jesus pursued you while you were his enemy, and your sinful account has been wiped clean. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.240 God poured out his love on you. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.119 He adopted you into his family. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:59.119 And he is preparing a place for you in heaven that's reserved and it's imperishable. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:09.759 So no matter your childhood trauma, no matter your life circumstance or your present suffering, you can be thankful. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:16.319 Even if you didn't get the job or the girl you wanted, or certain dreams of yours have been crushed. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:32.000 You don't have to be thankful for the pain or for the loss or the sorrow, but you can be thankful, as Romans 8.28 tells us, that God uses everything in your life for your good and for his glory. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:41.680 We can be thankful that God can take horrendous tragedies and transform them into beautiful testimonies. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:48.240 That in and of itself is a blessing that we can be thankful for. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:56.720 And so, how dare we complain about what we don't have or should have when God has given us all things? 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.759 How dare we grumble about our lives. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.319 When we are more than conquerors through him who loved us? 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:12.480 And how dare we say my life stinks when we are crowned with eternal life, heading towards glory? 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:21.039 So it is fair to ask: what attitude is ruling, driving, motivating your heart? 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.960 Is it peace? 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.720 Is it unity? 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.160 Is it overwhelming gratitude? 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:35.039 Or is it discontentment, irritation, never-ending complaints? 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:40.319 This reveals which nature you are being led by. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.200 The flesh or the spirit. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:57.119 So Paul has addressed what kind of characteristics we should be putting on, what kind of attitudes we should be putting on, but now he ends with certain practices we should be doing. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.759 Look at verses 16 and 17. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:14.720 He says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another and in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:25.759 And whatever you do, in word or indeed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:33.519 And so the first thing mentioned here is letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:39.039 The word of Christ is the whole of Scripture, not just the red letters. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:42.720 All Scripture is breathed out by God. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.359 And Jesus is God. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:56.000 And the command here is marinating, memorizing, soaking deep in our souls God's living and active word. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:01.920 It's feeding on, digesting, and being nourished by the Bible. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:05.599 And so Christians are people of the book. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:14.640 If you are not about scripture, or you think it's a legend or a myth or a fairy tale, by definition, you are not Christian. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:25.279 Because this is God's objective truth that reveals to us who He is, who we are, how we are saved, and how we are to live. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:33.039 James refers to it in his epistle as the implanted word which is able to save your souls. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:38.799 Therefore, we let it shape our lives and our worldview. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.720 We submit ourselves to it. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.480 We read it, we study it. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.400 We're daily nourished by it. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:54.559 We prioritize it because we realize that man does not live off bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:25:04.559 And what this leads to is, look at the next part of the verse, is teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:08.160 God's word has that kind of effect. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:18.319 When we read scripture and memorize it, we feed on it, we are compelled to start engaging other people with it. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:22.640 In everyday conversation, it just starts to come out naturally. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:26.640 Jesus actually taught this principle in Matthew 12. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:30.559 Whatever is in the heart, the mouth speaks. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:35.599 This is one of the greatest marks of a healthy church. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:43.359 When the whole congregation takes God's word seriously, not just the pastors. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:48.720 It's one of the greatest needs, in my opinion, in modern day church. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:53.839 I'm not against there's a lot of helpful things in society. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:59.279 I'm not against things like psychology or modern medicine or professional counseling. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.160 There is certainly a place for such things. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:04.880 I utilize some of those things. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:16.000 But I think a lot of problems that people are having would be solved if people were taking God's word more seriously. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:22.000 God's word can do far more for an individual than anything else. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.839 It's not comparable. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:28.400 So we teach and we admonish in all wisdom. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:32.640 And dwelling on God's word has another effect. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:34.960 Look at the next part of the verse. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.400 Singing. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:51.839 When we read the oracles of God, when we see more of God's beauty in the face of Christ, and learn more about his divine purposes and plan, how could we not just start singing? 00:26:52.960 --> 00:27:01.119 The idea here with the term psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is the idea of creative and spontaneous worship. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:08.799 It's singing different kinds of tunes, styles, melodies to the Lord. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:16.480 We sing because the gospel has created a sweet melody in our soul. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.240 We sing corporately. 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:20.160 We sing in our prayer closet. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:37.519 We sing to the Lord at work or in the car or in the shower, as often as the Spirit prompts us, because we know the greatest artist in the world who has dropped to us the best single ever released. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:45.039 And it's not Taylor Swift, it's God in his good news about Jesus Christ. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:48.720 God has designed us to sing. 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:55.359 According to Psalm 147, we sing praises to the Lord because it is good. 00:27:55.839 --> 00:28:02.319 According to Zephaniah 3.17, we sing because God our Creator sings. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:09.279 According to Ephesians 5, we sing to each other to encourage one another with song. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.759 And we do this creatively. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.759 We do this spontaneously. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.359 We do this individually. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:24.319 We do this corporately, making sure that it is rooted in sound theology so that it gives God the most glory. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:32.079 Now, lastly, Paul sums up the entire Christian lifestyle this way. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:41.519 He says, In whatever you do, in word or deed, do it in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:47.440 Now, this doesn't mean that we can do anything we want in the name of Jesus. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:54.319 It doesn't mean that I can go smoke a joint, have an affair, or punch my neighbor in the face in the name of Jesus. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:01.359 Okay, we don't do whatever we want and throw up a little hashtag in Jesus' name. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.960 That's poor witness. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:09.759 And I think the crusades during the 11th through the 13th centuries are great examples of that. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:28.000 What this means is this: that as we live out the new life that we have in Christ, we are walking and talking in such a way that seeks to give honor, glory, and praise to the name of Jesus. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:49.599 So everything we do as we serve, raise our children, come to church, go to work, engage in the community, seek obedience, we do all of it knowing that it is by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus that we can do these things. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:55.920 Therefore, we do it, not in our strength, but in Jesus' name. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:59.519 It's the idea of proper representation. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:14.400 Okay, I don't know how many of you have ever done a deep study into what it means to take the Lord's name in vain, but the primary meaning is not misusing God's name verbally, although it includes that. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:28.400 But the main idea is someone saying, Hey, I'm a Christian, I represent and worship Jehovah, and then living in a way that contradicts that declaration. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:34.880 Thus, by word and by action, you are using the Lord's name in vain. 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:41.519 We are his ambassadors, according to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:45.200 We are born from above, we are citizens of heaven. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:31:03.359 So as we seek to live holy lives and love our families, as we steward our financial resources, as we make disciples, as we sing spiritual songs, as we love our enemies, we do all this because of Jesus and for Jesus. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:12.160 In everything that we do, there is a banner that we're holding up saying, my master is Jesus Christ. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:21.279 And we do this giving thanks to God the Father because He is the one who has made this all possible. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:27.599 So when someone asks you, why do you take church so seriously? 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.319 Why do you care so much about other people? 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:33.519 Why are you always asking people for prayer? 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:38.000 Why do you refuse to participate in crude humor? 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:42.960 You don't say because I'm a wonderful person. 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.559 No. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:50.799 You say, I am what I am, and I do what I do because of Jesus Christ. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.319 Period. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:58.880 So proclamation church, as a way of conclusion, listen to this. 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:03.119 We are people who are loved by God. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:06.960 We are people who bear the fruits of the Spirit. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:09.359 We are people who forgive. 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:13.359 We are people who love and seek unity. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:16.799 We are people who have peaceful hearts. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:19.200 We are people that are thankful. 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:23.039 We are people who are filled with scripture. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:26.240 We are people who teach and encourage. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:29.200 We are people who sing to the Lord together. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.400 We are people who do everything in the name of Jesus. 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:39.039 We are people who give thanks to God the Father. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:48.079 This is our call to put off sin so that we can put these things on. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:33:19.599 Replacing unforgiveness with forgiveness, replacing hatred with love, replacing ingratitude with thankfulness, replacing division with unity, replacing vanities with scripture, replacing secular music with godly melodies, and we do all of it in the name of the Lord, and you will discover that the Christ life is far more fulfilling and pleasurable than living your life for sin. 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:30.799 If you are truly born again, you have the ability through the Holy Spirit to put any and all of these things on. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:33.599 The wardrobe is open. 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:36.559 Clothe yourself with Christ. 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.559 There is no excuse. 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:42.000 We have divine empowerment. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:45.039 And so the challenge today is this. 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:52.640 Which of these areas are you having a different difficult time putting on? 00:33:53.039 --> 00:34:02.720 As you read through this passage, what areas can you point to and say, This does not characterize my life? 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:06.079 But they're not meant to be difficult. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:13.199 Jesus even tells us in Matthew 11 that his yoke is easy, his burden is light. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:17.920 What makes it difficult is our conflict with sin. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.599 We love sin. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:23.199 There's still a part of us that is drawn to sin. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:30.480 And so what makes these things difficult to embrace is our affections for other things. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:34.639 No one will ever embrace these things perfectly. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:36.960 I'll be the first one to raise my hand. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:41.840 No one will live in these realities flawlessly. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:55.119 But we need to be reminded that there is a quality of life available to us right here, right now, that is joyful, abundant, and glorious. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:58.880 And we don't want to miss out on that. 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:07.920 We don't want to look back on our Christian life and say, I didn't realize how much I had access to. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:10.800 That I didn't pursue or utilize. 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:29.679 I just floundered around miserably when I could have been walking like Christ, basking myself in his word, singing songs of praise, waking up each day, shouting, Thank you, God, for all that you've given me. 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:36.559 Church, let us put on the new life that we have in Christ. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:37.519 Let's pray.