Sermon: Cosmic Vision to Local Realities
Scripture: Colossians 1:21-29
Paul is showing the Colossian church that they can be what God desires for them to be. The desires are for the church to be presented as “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Do you remember the prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? The will of God in heaven is that God’s kingdom will rule you. Those ruled by God’s kingdom are the ones that are presented as holy in his sight, without blemish, and free from accusation. Our scripture shows us what is available to us.
The Scripture reports that before Jesus, what ruled the day was sin, evil, destruction, chaos, disorder, brokenness, and lostness. Paul tells the church the spiritual state of a person before Jesus is: 1. Alienated from God (estranged). 2. Enemies (hostile) to God in mind (disposition or set orientation) because of the lack of God’s livening presence in their lives.
This hopeless and bleak situation was turned on its head when Jesus broke the power of sin. And now the story of chaos, disorder, and death can be changed to where one is holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. You can be what God wants you to be! Period! So, continue in the faith – sin and death no longer have the last word.
So here we have a small church (Colossae) in a big and dominating Rome. The pressure was on the church to fold through discouragement and complacency.
Discouragement to Hope:
Paul tells the church, “Look at what Christ has done for you, don’t quit!” We can quickly lose hope in suffering, persecution, or at a loss. Paul is trying to remind the church of their spiritual resources IN CHRIST. Rome can’t even begin to bring life. Only Christ brings life.
Complacency to Poised for Action:
Paul is trying to get the church to see the big picture. Rome will come and go, but Jesus will be the hope of glory forever. The temptation is just to “cruse” spiritually because of the influence of Rome. Paul is trying to encourage the church to continue and keep on continuing in Christ. We can get side-tracked by the slow, methodical change God does over the YEARS! The call is to continue!
So, here’s the big picture for the church: you are not the only ones on this journey, AND (ready for this twist?) suffering does not mean God’s disapproval (v.24). As we live in Christ’s strength and seek to live Christ in the world, He will give you the strength and desire to live a holy and blameless life – wherever you may be or whatever you might be facing!
Be rooted in Jesus.
Scripture: Colossians 1:21-29
Paul is showing the Colossian church that they can be what God desires for them to be. The desires are for the church to be presented as “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Do you remember the prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? The will of God in heaven is that God’s kingdom will rule you. Those ruled by God’s kingdom are the ones that are presented as holy in his sight, without blemish, and free from accusation. Our scripture shows us what is available to us.
The Scripture reports that before Jesus, what ruled the day was sin, evil, destruction, chaos, disorder, brokenness, and lostness. Paul tells the church the spiritual state of a person before Jesus is: 1. Alienated from God (estranged). 2. Enemies (hostile) to God in mind (disposition or set orientation) because of the lack of God’s livening presence in their lives.
This hopeless and bleak situation was turned on its head when Jesus broke the power of sin. And now the story of chaos, disorder, and death can be changed to where one is holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. You can be what God wants you to be! Period! So, continue in the faith – sin and death no longer have the last word.
So here we have a small church (Colossae) in a big and dominating Rome. The pressure was on the church to fold through discouragement and complacency.
Discouragement to Hope:
Paul tells the church, “Look at what Christ has done for you, don’t quit!” We can quickly lose hope in suffering, persecution, or at a loss. Paul is trying to remind the church of their spiritual resources IN CHRIST. Rome can’t even begin to bring life. Only Christ brings life.
Complacency to Poised for Action:
Paul is trying to get the church to see the big picture. Rome will come and go, but Jesus will be the hope of glory forever. The temptation is just to “cruse” spiritually because of the influence of Rome. Paul is trying to encourage the church to continue and keep on continuing in Christ. We can get side-tracked by the slow, methodical change God does over the YEARS! The call is to continue!
So, here’s the big picture for the church: you are not the only ones on this journey, AND (ready for this twist?) suffering does not mean God’s disapproval (v.24). As we live in Christ’s strength and seek to live Christ in the world, He will give you the strength and desire to live a holy and blameless life – wherever you may be or whatever you might be facing!
Be rooted in Jesus.