1.5 - CHANGE comes with the new Identity.

Today’s reading: Colossians 3

For those of you who know me very well, you know what fitness is kind of one of my hobbies. When I was in High School, I was the “Goofy Fat Kid.” You know the one I’m talking about. The kid who has a very poor self image, no confidence, and never really pops up on anyone’s radar? I was 15 and weighed roughly 250 lbs. Now at 15 and around 5.10, that’s a pretty hefty kid.
Then something happened inside of me. I would like to say it was God getting ahold of me and convicting me about gluttony and not taking care of my body, but at that point in my life God was the furthest thing from my mind. I wasn’t even a believer at the time (though I was playing the “spiritual” game from time to time when it was convenient). If I am being totally honest, my basic motivation for changing my body was two things: (1) I was unhappy and was tired of being so awkward and uncomfortable, and (2) I noticed that all the fit guys seemed to get the girls. So, unfortunately, my original motivation for getting fit was not the right ones, it was basically selfish and greedy. However, thankfully as I have been saved and come to know God and His Word over the years, He has shown me how important it is for us to be good stewards of the body He has given to us, and I thank Him for giving me that right way of thinking. So, let’s think about some of the similarities here…

How many of you have ever seen one of those TV infomercials about a weight loss program? You know the ones, “Call today and for three easy payments of $19.95 you can loose 30 lbs in 30 days…” Then they show pictures of success stories like the one above and tell you how perfect this system is. If you will notice, there is usually some fine print that will say something like “results not typical”. Does anyone want to guess why that is? It is because most plans like those are not “lifestyle” plans, they are quick fixes. Let me repeat that for those of you who haven’t been catching the spiritual parallels there, they do not work because they are not LIFESTYLE plans, but instead are QUICK FIXES. What you will often find is that if you could look up those people on the commercials today, they’ve gained the weight back, and then some. It’s called the YO-YO effect. The problem is that those people REALIZED THEIR CONDITION as being in need of help, and they sought out  QUICK FIX that helped them for a while, but soon returned to their OLD WAYS of living and now are right back where they started, and often worse.

Take time today and read Colossians 3 in that light. Paul is telling us that we cannot come to Christ as a QUICK FIX. That is not what He is. Christ is a LIFESTYLE (Col 3.4) and if we are RISEN WITH HIM (our we could say if we are IN HIM) then our LIFESTYLE should reflect that change. In the same way a person who is seeking to lose weight can wind up right back where they started from, a Christian can too in some ways. Obviously, they cannot lose their salvation, but they can lose their testimony, effectiveness, fellowship, and so much more. Some Christians even walk around looking, acting, and living just like they did before the CHANGE of JESUS CHRIST in their lives. That’s what Paul is saying here. That’s what God does NOT want from His children.

Unfortunately, a QUICK FIX JESUS is what most churches are preaching today. “If you want to be happy, come to Jesus. If you want to give Him all your burdens, come to Jesus. If you want to be forgiven, come to Jesus. If you want to find strength and healing, come to Jesus.” And while all of that is true, and while He is all of those things, those are all the SIDE EFFECTS of a relationship with God, not our PURPOSE for one. HE IS OUR PURPOSE for having a relationship with Him. God wants us to walk according to the life we now have in Him and that is what Colossians 3 is all about. Let’s listen carefully to His instructions about how our life should look as someone RISEN WITH CHRIST.

We do not want to “put the weight back on” so to speak once we’ve been freed. So let’s PUT OFF the old man who put all of that spiritual weight on us to being with, and PUT ON  the new man in the LORD JESUS CHRIST to walk according to His way.

1.4 - What comes with the new IDENTITY?

Today’s reading: Colossians 2

Most of the time when someone is asked to give their “testimony” of their salvation experience, they will spend a lot of time talking about the day they were SAVED here during their lifetime. That is of course good, and something that I hope all of us can give a testimony of. However, there is much more to our salvation than that day a few years ago when we received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. There was also an aspect that took place 2,000 years ago at His crucifixion. Let me explain.

When you are saved here, during this lifetime, and you put your FAITH into Jesus Christ, repenting of your sin, you are also SPIRITUALLY being placed INTO Jesus Christ. That’s one of those New Testament MYSTERIES that we see. That is what Colossians 2.12-13 is about. Most often we see this in the Bible through the terms WITH CHRIST and IN CHRIST (sometimes HIM). All of our identity in Christ is where our righteousness comes from, where our forgiveness and redemption is found, where we are reconciled with a Holy God. I heard one guy put it this way, “When, by faith, we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to save us, the power of the GOSPEL is unleashed by the Spirit of God, and He actually takes us SPIRITUALLY, places us into Christ’s death, and we die with Him. He then takes us, and places us into His burial, and we are buried with Him. And, He places us into His resurrection, and we ARE RISEN with HIM.”

I think that’s about the best way of putting it I’ve seen. Spend some time in prayer today thinking about that truth. When you were saved, you did not just RECEIVE salvation, you actually received Jesus Christ and His IDENTITY, making you righteous before God. Here are some scriptures for reflection as you conclude your devotional time with the Lord today:

Acts 17.28 “For IN HIM WE LIVE, and MOVE, and HAVE OUR BEING…”
Rom 6.8 “Now if we be DEAD WITH CHRIST, we believe that we shall also LIVE WITH HIM.”
Rom 8.1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN CHRIST JESUS, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.”
Rom 8.17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST…”
1 Cor 15.22 “For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE.”
2 Cor 1.21 “Now he which STABLISHETH us with you IN CHRIST, and hath anointed us is God.”
2 Cor 5.17 “Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
2 Cor 5.21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS of God IN HIM.”
Gal 2.20 “I am CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Eph 1.3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST.”
Eph 2.5 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER IN CHRIST, (by grace are you saved;)”
Eph 2.6 “And hath raised us up together, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS.”
Phil 3.9 “And be FOUND IN HIM, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Col 1.28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS.”
Col 2.10 “And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Col 2.2o “Wherefore if ye be DEAD WITH CHRIST from the rudiments of this world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,”
Col 3.1 “If ye then be RISEN WITH CHRIST, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
Col 3.3 “For ye are dead, and YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.”
Col 3.4 “When CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
1 Pet 5.14 “…peace be with you all that are IN CHRIST JESUS. Amen.”
1 Jn 4.15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, GOD DWELLETH IN HIM, AND HE IN GOD.”

1.3 - How can anyone be PERFECT?

Today’s Readings: Colossians 1, Ephesians 4

Last night at the Fridge, we talked about God’s desire for the life of His children from the middle of Colossians 1. One of the things He desires for us, is that we “walk worthy of the Lord…strengthened with all might…meet to be partakers of the inheritance.” Among other things He outlines, even just these seem to be a pretty high standard don’t they???

If you will remember, we also mentioned that the book of Ephesians was a sort of “twin” to the book of Colossians. Check out how God describes the goal of the believer in Jesus Christ in Ephesians 4. After giving a list of spiritual gifts, he says those gifts are given so that “…we all com in the UNITY of the FAITH, and of the KNOWLEDGE of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the MEASURE of the STATURE of the FULLNESS of Christ.”  Wow! God actually expects me to be living up to the standard of CHRIST!??! He really expects me to be PERFECT??!!?? How can that be? (I even have to ask myself - ‘Are you sure God means that for ME, because I know ME and I do not think I can pull that one off.)

Now, I know that seems to be a unrealistic goal. But why would God set a goal in front of us and then command us to meet that goal if it was impossible? He wouldn’t, would He!?

Well, the answer to the question is, “NO!” However, we must remember what we talked about last night. The strength that we have to reach that MEASURE, STATURE, FULLNESS and PERFECTION of Christ is none other than CHRIST HIMSELF living inside of us! We have something no other generation of God followers has had, the LIVING GOD doing His LIVING IN AND THROUGH US! Check out what God says in Colossians 1.27-29. It would be easy for anyone to look at these verses and think that it was too tall an order to be filled in our modern world, to think that there is no HOPE. Yet, it was almost like God anticipated that we would think that, so He concluded the chapter with these words… saying that there is a MYSTERY that allows all of this to happen, something that generations past didn’t fully understand. This is mystery is given to us of God which is CHRIST IN us, the HOPE of GLORY. There is no hope to measure up if we are relying only on ourselves. But, when we rely on the Christ IN us, I think HE can live up to HIS OWN STANDARD, don’t you? The last verse even says that it is God “which worketh in me mightily” to accomplish His own purpose for me. Wow!

How can anyone be Perfect??? The only way - to be in the PERFECT ONE (Jesus Christ) and for the PERFECT ONE to be in ME.

1.2 - Walking Worthy

Yesterday, God established (through Paul) His desire that we be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Sounds simple enough right? (if only it was)

Today, in Col 1.10, He adds a second degree to the “Christ-identity” that God has predestined we should develop into (Rom 8.29), we are told to WALK WORTHY. Now, that seems to be simple enough doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is. There are 2 other portions of scripture I want us to look at this morning and I think this will explain what God is saying simply, clearly, and at the same time challenge us like never before.

Before we get to those passages, let’s remind ourselves of what God says in Col 1.10. Read it in your Bible now.

So, we see the desire and prayer for the believer here is to WALK WORTHY in a way that is PLEASING and FRUITFUL in those GOOD WORKS. Alright, now what we are going to do is simply take the WORD OF GOD and figure out what He means by selecting those words to describe this WALK that is considered WORTHY. (remember, one of the greatest mistakes is to read something like this in scripture and then walk away making up our own conclusions and decisions about what the passage means, defining the terms our own way and therefore miss what God was trying to say to begin with.)

The first thing that He says is for this WALK to be PLEASING. How can I know what pleases God? How can I be sure that something does (or doesn’t) PLEASE Him? Take just a second and look up Heb 11.6 to answer that question, then settle in your head, what it is that allows us to please God. OK, what’s the answer? Now keep that in the front of your mind…
Next question, What is required for salvation? How do we “receive” Jesus Christ? (You can check our Eph 2.8-9 here for a Biblical answer if you do not know already). So, now what we can see is that the one thing that pleases God, and the thing that is necessary for SALVATION and receiving Christ, are the same thing…FAITH! Ok, with that in mind, check out what God says just one chapter later in the book of Colossians in 2.6. How did we get into this walk? Right, FAITH. And how are we to continue this walk? Right again, FAITH. It is that FAITH that is going to allow us to please God. It is that FAITH that comes from God and glorifies Him, so of course it pleases Him.

Ok, now the second passage. Remember that WORTHY WALK is to be one that is PLEASING, and also what? FRUITFUL. It is almost like God knew that we would be prone to stumble at this truth that FAITH is the NECESSARY thing if we want to be PLEASING to Him. So what He does is add the explanation of being FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK. I know most of you probably have this verse memorized, but look it up anyway. James 2.17, 18, & 22 clarify this reality for us. God says that FAITH without the presence of WORKS  is what kind of FAITH? DEAD! So, if our FAITH is dead, will it be able to PLEASE God? I doubt it. However, if our FAITH is alive and proving itself by our WORKS, then that is a vibrant faith that will PLEASE God. Check out how He concludes the thoughts in James 2.22! You see, the FAITH and believing was always what mattered, but the simple truth is that true, LIVING FAITH will always be accompanied by WORKS.

How is your walk? Is it WORTHY? Are you still living the Christian life based upon the same FAITH that brought you into it (Col 2.6)? What areas of your life are lacking in FAITH and therefore not PLEASING to the Father? Are there any areas where your FAITH and your WORKS do not seem to match up? Let today be the day that God’s children recognize their WALK before Him by FAITH and become fruitful in every GOOD WORK in Jesus name!

1.1 - God’s Desire for the Christian’s Life

We will be taking much of our study in the DIRECTIONS series from the book of Colossians. This letter to the church serves as a sort of “Christian’s field guide” if you will. It is almost as if God is laying out the pattern for the Christian life He desires in this short epistle.

Notice the first point he makes once the 8 verse introduction is over. In Col 1.9-12, God describes a mature/developed believer. After describing what they heard about these believers, Pauls says they had not stopped praying for and desiring that these folks would have certain characteristics. So, what are the qualities of a mature believer? Take a minute to look through these verses and see how God described a mature Christian.

Now, the question we all knew was coming. Take that list and look in the mirror. Do you see your reflection? I hate to say that I do not see a great picture of myself there. I wish it would be more of one, and I know it is more than it used to be, but it is still nowhere near where it should be.

Today, let’s just look at the first thing He mentions, “be filled with the knowledge of his will in all widsom and spiritual understanding.” How do we do that??? Okay, maybe I can understand that I need to be filled with the knowledge of His will. That seems to make sense, right? I mean, of course God wants me to know His will. What I am having trouble wrapping my little brain around is how I am supposed to do that in “all wisdom” and ”spiritual understanding”? Maybe we could look at the Proverbs writer and see that Wisdom and Understanding are chiefly valuable (Prov 3.13-14, 4.7). Also, perhaps in our search of the WORD for GOD’S DEFINITION of the words He used (instead of trying to make up our own), we would find Job 28.28 where He reveals what Wisdom and Understanding are. So then, I am left to look for God’s will and do so with all wisdom (fear of Him) and spiritual understanding (fleeing evil).

Let’s take that jumble of verses and connect some of the dots. I think we all understand where we can go to learn the will of God…HIS WORD. Nobody in their right mind will argue with that. The trick comes when we try to do so with (#1) ALL WISDOM. Going to His word and with wisdom (FEARFULLY) searching for His will. When we begin to realize that God is a God of Truth, that He is a God that will NOT be mocked, and that He will ensure that all things about His Word come to pass, it takes on a new light. Maybe one of the reasons that we seem to be so distant from being able to “FIND THE WILL OF GOD” in our day is because so many of us search for it without FEARING God in the process. Now, of course I am not talking about fearing Him like you would bed-bugs when you were 6, but respectfully realizing the awesomeness of His power and nature. If we understand that about Him, how much more will we be likely to desire His WILL and persue it??? It has been said that knowledge is simply retaining facts and information, but wisdom is acting upon that and applying it to your lives. That’s the difference in knowing aboug God, and fearing Him. Sounds like wisdom to me.

The second thing that He says is to do so with (#2) SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. Now, the book of proverbs explains understanding as getting away from evil. However, that doesn’t sound extra spiritual, does it - it is almost just logical. Where does SPIRITUAL wisdom come into play? It has a lot to do with being able to look past the shallow surface of things. There may be things in our lives that seem to be fine, nothing evil on the surface, but underneath lies the stinky odor of sin. We learn in I Cor 3 to compare SPIRITUAL things with SPIRITUAL things to find SPIRITUAL truth. If something seems to be right, that doesn’t mean it is. Having sex with someone you love may SEEM right, or FEEL right, and sometimes is. However, sex takes place outside the boundaries of marriage, it is not - no matter how it seems or feels.  God very clearly says that is SIN. So, feeling right is not enough. do you see what I mean? PHYSICALLY something may seem right, but SPIRITUALLY it may stink. So, how do we know what is SPIRITUALLY truth? How do we gain spiritual understanding? We keep our mind in spiritual things. The Word of God, the Person of God, the Church of God, the Praise of God, the People of God, the Place of God, the Plan of God, the Kingdom of God, etc…and as we do that, we compare spiritual things with OTHER SPIRITUAL THINGS. In other words, when a question arises about truth, we do not look to others, to ourselves, or to anyting else to figure out what is SIN and what is not, except for the WORD OF GOD. You have heard it said around here plenty of times, “compare scripture with scripture.” That’s the key. Do you want to know the will of God? Do you want to have it in all wisdom? Then you are going to need to exercise some SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING!

(for further study, you could look through the scripture and find things God describes as “spiritual”,  “wisdom”, “knowledge”, and “understanding” and then look to those things to find the ever so hard to spot - “Will of God”)