Course Name: [ The Book of Colossians ] Lesson Five: [ A New Mindset for a New Life ]

Transcription

1 Course Name: [ The Book of Colossians ] Lesson Five: [ A New Mindset for a New Life ] One of the most remarkable sights in America is the view from where the Great Plains meet the beginnings of the Rocky Mountains. From Pikes Peak in Colorado, for instance, you can see 100 miles south into New Mexico and seemingly without end across the flat, low-lying, arid plains to the east. The most magnificent vista, however, lies to the west. On a clear day the Continental Divide rises majestically into view with snow-capped peaks dominating the horizon as far as human sight can reach. This remarkable geological phenomenon runs along the crest of the Rockies, from British Columbia through the United States, and continues southward into Mexico. In essence it marks the dividing line between east and west in North America. A good look at Colossians 3 also reveals a dividing line. We have been raised with Christ and entered into a whole new realm in Him. Behind us is the desert plains of mere earthly existence; before us is the high ground of promise in Christ, full of hope and grace and glory. Having crossed the great divide we now must live as those who have come from death to life, from the power of Satan to God s salvation, from self-centeredness to servant-heartedness. This calls for a radically new perspective a view from above. To live this way we must: 1. Set Our Sights High The reality is that our life is no longer entangled with the ground clutter of this world. We have been raised above all that, lifted out of the muck and mire to a high mountain where we stand on solid rock (Psalm 40:1-3). Now we must learn to live at this higher elevation. Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

2 The dividing line of all history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no other event so controversial and yet so convincing to millions of believers down through the ages. Without the resurrection there would be no Christianity to believe in. However, Jesus has been raised from the dead and we can place our faith with full confidence in the risen Christ and receive the full benefits of His forgiveness and life. 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 (NLT) And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. Here s the truth about our new condition:... you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. His crucifixion is the death blow to the power of sin and self in us. His resurrection means that life flows from God to us through Him and we have the power to walk every day in victory in this world. But it gets better! The Lord is coming back this time in all the glory and splendor of heaven, fully revealed as God Almighty. Since we are in Christ, we also will appear with Him. What was hidden to the world will be clear for all to see: that we are His people, destined to live and reign forever with Him. Paul draws out the implications of all this for those who are united with Jesus in His resurrection. It starts with a deliberate re-direction of our hearts and minds. Set your hearts on things above. The Greek word translated set your hearts means to seek diligently, to constantly pursue with all our will, emotions and affections. Jesus taught us that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Our treasure is Christ Himself exalted Lord of all, enthroned with the Father and empowering those who trust Him. Things above are the passions and purposes of His heart, His desires and designs for our lives. As we make these our delight, we will experience the fullness of His resurrection life in us. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Our thinking must also line up with this new reality. We all have to deal with earthly things on a regular basis: maintaining our health, a car, a job, a place to live; managing relationships and finances; finding some rest and recreation. But we cannot let these necessary things become the most important things. We are not of this world (John 17:14) and must not allow it to entangle us and divert our thinking away from the Lord. We set our thinking on things above through God s Word that constantly renews our mind about Christ and His kingdom. Memorizing and meditating on Scripture saturates our thoughts with His perspective, His wisdom and His ways. And the Spirit of God guides our judgments and decisions as we listen to Him moment by moment throughout our day (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). Pastor Steve Homcy // A New Mindset for a New Life // Page 2

3 2. Put Off the Old Earthly Nature Have you noticed that the sinful nature doesn t just roll over and play dead because you became a Christian? It is true that we died to sin (Romans 6:2), but the world, our flesh and the devil are determined to go down fighting. This is the daily battle we all face in our walk of faith. Thankfully, God Himself supplies and prepares us for this warfare. We are warriors in a spiritual army, equipped with spiritual weapons, submitted to spiritual authority. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. In this army God gives the commands. Colossians 3:5-9 relays two of His imperatives for soldiers who would successfully engage and overcome our adversaries. Colossians 3:5-9 (NIV) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 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. Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature. Paul tells us plainly what this nature is all about: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. The world serves up these ungodly attitudes and our sinful nature feeds on them. Before we were in Christ, we often ate heartily at this table, oblivious to the deadly poison that accompanied every tasty bite. Even now we are tempted to indulge in a smidgen of lust or a slice of greed. But God s command is clear: destroy these attitudes wherever you see them. Don t hesitate or deliberate about them, just put them out of their misery and out of your life immediately and completely. Rid yourselves of all such things as these since you have taken off your old self with its practices. The image here is of taking off an old pair of clothes. We used to wear such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lies. Not any more we have been issued a whole new set of clothes suitable for a soldier in the Lord s service. Pastor Steve Homcy // A New Mindset for a New Life // Page 3

4 The sins mentioned in these verses are particularly directed at and hurtful toward others (although they are also very self-destructive). In contrast we are to always wear what is helpful to others: patience instead of anger, self-control instead of rage, kindness instead of malice, blessing instead of cursing, truth-in-love instead of lies. Sexual sins are given preeminence in Paul s list in Colossians 3:5. The first sin is sexuality immorality (Greek porneia), which speaks of any kind of sexual intercourse outside of marriage. Impurity (akatharsia) describes a broader range of sexual misconduct. Lust (pathos) refers to shameful passions that lead to sexual excesses. In our day when sex of any and every kind is promoted and endorsed by the culture around us, the admonition to put these sins to death sounds a much-needed and clarion call to action. Sex outside of God s marriage covenant is ungodly, unhealthy (spiritually and otherwise) and unwise. As a person who claims to follow the Lord, always remember that God s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NLT). 3. Put On the New Nature in Christ The old proverb clothes make the man refers to the impression a person s outward appearance makes on others and the confidence this can bring. The new clothes we wear as believers in Jesus certainly can make a positive impression on the outside, but they also have a deeper, more significant impact on us and others. Colossians 3:10-11 (NLT) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Living as this new person wearing the new self involves a mindset that embraces new realities about ourselves. A new identity. How do you identify yourself? By your name, your family background, your role at work? The new you is identified with the Creator and Redeemer of the universe. What characterizes you most accurately is not the data on your driver s license, but the stamp of Christ s image in your soul. Your ways of thinking are continually being shaped by Him. Your attitudes are conforming to His. Your life is not your own any more but His (Galatians 2:20), hidden with Christ in God. We need to put on and wear this new identity every day. Pastor Steve Homcy // A New Mindset for a New Life // Page 4

5 A new destiny. We now know where we are going! As we read earlier in verse 4, When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Our destiny is wrapped up in the glorious future that will be revealed in Christ at the end of time. This is not something we can understand fully, but it will be greater than anything we can dream of or imagine. No one s ever seen or heard anything like this; never so much as imagined anything quite like it what God has arranged for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9, The Message). We need to put on and remember this new destiny every day. A new community. In Christ it no longer matters what ethnic background, religious affiliation, social or economic status people come from. If they are new persons through faith in the same Savior, they are full members, in good standing, of His new community. Paul saw in his day the sharp divisions between Jew and Greek, those who were circumcised and those who were not. He was aware of the animosity between slaves and people who were free. Of course, factions of all kinds, prejudice, discrimination and downright hatred are common to cultures throughout history. These are natural by-products of our self-centered, sinful nature let loose in social settings. As Christians we have the opportunity to be radically counter-cultural in this regard. Romans 15:7 commands us to Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. The simple, Christ-inspired act of accepting others for who God made them and where they are in life is a clear expression that we are different than the world, made new in the image of our Creator. We need to put on this attitude and wear it in all our interactions every day. The common ground for this new community is that Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. When our old self is cast aside and we focus on Christ, anything is possible. When we put on a new mindset the higher perspective of a person in Christ we can see Him working everything together for good, as He works to change us from the inside out. Pastor Steve Homcy // A New Mindset for a New Life // Page 5

6 Small Group Discussion Guide Getting Started In what sense is the resurrection of Jesus the dividing line of all history? Talking It Over Read Colossians 3:1-11. Describe what you think Paul means when he says that we have been raised with Christ. What are some practical ways you can cultivate a heart and mind that focus on things above, not on earthly things? Which expressions of the earthly nature listed in Colossians 3:5-9 do you struggle with the most? How can you work toward putting these to death? How would you explain to someone your new identity and destiny as a Christian? Putting the Word to Work Based on Colossians 3:11, what difference does our relationship with Christ make in how we relate to people from a variety of backgrounds? How should this affect our attitude toward others who are very different than ourselves? Memorizing the Word Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Pastor Steve Homcy // A New Mindset for a New Life // Page 6