Turn with me to Colossians chapter
three. Colossians chapter three. Our Lord asked a group of Pharisees
one time, A very simple but critical question. One that carried eternal significance. Very simple question, but a very
critical question that carried eternal significance. This question
still carries eternal significance. The answer to this five word
question will evidence who the people of God are and who the
people of God are not. That's critical, isn't it? The question was, and the question
still is, what think ye of Christ? What think ye of Christ? Our Lord asked the disciples
that question in another way. He was talking to Pharisees when
he said, what think ye of Christ? But he asked his disciples the
same question in just another way. He said, who do men say
that I am? I'm telling you, this is it. Who do men say that I am? The apostle spoke up and said,
well, men say all kinds of things. They say you're this, they say
you're that. The Lord said, who do you say
I am? What he was asking him was, what
think ye of Christ? What think ye of Christ? We're gonna consider that today.
because of what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians chapter 3. Let's read the first four verses
here together. Colossians 3 verse 1 says, If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth, for you are dead
and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our
life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. He said, if you then be risen
with Christ, if you are one of the people, that God the Father
chose to save. God the Father chose a people
out of this world to put them in Christ. And they lived in
Him and died in Him. That's what Paul just told us
in chapter 2. You were buried with Him, risen with Him in Him. And he's saying, if you are one
of the ones that the Father chose to save and to raise to life
with Christ, Then he said, seek those things which are above. Verse two, he
said, set your affection. And that means your mind. It
means your thoughts on things above. Now let's just suffice
it to say, and this is obvious, but let's just suffice it to
say that it is better to think on and to dwell on a sinless,
holy heaven than a sinful, wicked world. It's better to do that.
That's better. In the context, though, of everything
that he's saying here, we were just in Colossians 2, and Paul
didn't write chapter 3. He's just writing. And in the
context of what he's saying here, he's telling the Colossians and
he's telling all of God's people, don't become sidetracked by irrelevant
religious idols. That's what he's saying here. Meats, drinks, holy days, new
moons, Sabbaths, they won't save. The stuff down here that we have,
these shadows won't save. Set your affection on things
above. Set your mind only on things above. God's people say,
I can see that. I can see that this is all just
shadows and types. I see that. I agree with that. I believe that right now. What
things above should I think about? Things above, what things above
should we set our minds on? Should it be angels? Should we dwell on angels? What
about buildings? Because people do. What about golden streets? Should
we think on, dwell on golden streets? What about people who
we think are there? People who we believe the Lord
has called to go up? What about laws and moral conduct
and such on and so forth? What about ourselves? Should we dwell on ourselves
being there? Here's the answer, no. What should
God's people think on and dwell on and set their affection on?
We just read these four verses. Did you notice how many times
he said Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Him in four verses? What do God's people set their
minds on? Christ, Christ, the things of
Christ, the things pertaining to Christ. Let's all ask ourselves
this question. and get it settled in our minds,
set our minds on it. What do we think of Christ? I'm being very serious in this
moment to all of us. Let's all ask ourselves this
question. What do we think of Christ? A man made some comments
on this from the scripture, and they were so good, I wanna repeat
them to you, okay? I believe that you are gonna
most definitely agree with this like I do. This is what all of
God's people believe about Christ. I wanna be deliberate about this. I just wanna be clear and deliberate
and then I'll be done, okay? What do God's people believe
about Christ? This is what all God's people
think concerning Christ. Number one, he is God. Do you see where verse one says,
if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. See that the right hand is not a location. It is a position. That phrase means the seat of
honor and authority. That's what it means. Every time
you read the right hand of God, that is the seat of honor and
authority. Paul said, seek those things
which are above where Christ sits on the seat of God's honor
and God's authority. There are not two thrones in
heaven. I know everybody has it pictured in their mind naturally
that God is sitting there and then Christ is sitting to the
side. There are not two thrones in
heaven. There is one throne and Jesus Christ is sitting in it.
He is God. What think ye of Christ? He asked those Pharisees when
he said that, whose son is he? He's God. Jesus Christ is God. He is the very glory of God. John said, the word was made
flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. The glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth. John said we saw the
only begotten image of God that there is. We saw God's glory
when we saw Jesus Christ. The very glory of God. Turn with
me over to Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews 1 verse 1 says, God,
who at sundry times and in divers or different manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last
days spoken unto us by Son." If your Bible has italicized
words, you'll see that the word His is italicized. It was added
by the translators to make it easier to read. And that's okay. That's God, Father, Son, and
Spirit has spoken by His Son, the Son of God. Verse 2 says,
"...whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, everything's going
to Him, by whom also He made the worlds. Who made the worlds? Jesus Christ made the worlds.
Verse 3 says, who being the brightness of His glory. He didn't say that
Christ was in the brightness of God's glory. He said Christ is the brightness
of God's glory. Verse three says, and the express
image of his person. He didn't say that Christ was
in the image of God's person. Man was made in the image of
God's person. He said, Christ is the image
of God's person. And upholding all things by the
word of his power. How's everything being upheld?
Whose power? Christ's when he had by himself
purged our sins. Who helped him? I didn't. He by himself purged our sins
and after that was done, he sat down on the right hand of the
majesty on high. Christ is the very image of God's
person. Christ is God seated on his throne. Christ is the one who sits in
all of that majesty and in all of that honor and all of that
authority, Jesus Christ. Right here in Hebrews 1 verse
8 says, the father said to the son, But unto the Son he saith,
God the Father said to the Son, Thy throne, O God, is forever
and ever. A scepter of righteousness is
the scepter of thy kingdom. What think we of Christ? What
do we think of Jesus Christ? Number one, here's what we think. And the only reason I use the
word think is because that's the wording of the Lord. It doesn't
matter what I think. He's God. He's God. All right, number two. What think we of Christ? Number
two. He is the Bible. He is the Bible. We just quoted John saying the
word was made flesh and dwelt among us. In the beginning was
the Word. The Word was with God. The Word
was God. Revelation 19 verse 13 says,
His name is the Word of God. This book is Him. This book is Him, meaning it's
all about Him. It's all about Him. It speaks
of Him. It's talking about Him. No matter
where you go, no matter what the text says, no matter what
the story is, no matter what the instruction
is, all of it is talking about Jesus Christ. Turn with me over
to John chapter five. Our Lord here was again speaking
to Pharisees and he was reprimanding them. But he said to them in
John 5 verse 39, search the scriptures. That's what he's telling them.
You search the scriptures for in them, you think you have eternal
life. What he's saying right here is,
but you're missing it. That's what he's saying. In them you think you have eternal
life, and they are they which testify of me." That's singling
in on it. They testify of me. Verse 45,
he said, do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There
is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom you trust. They
were trusting in the law that Moses gave. Verse 46, for had
you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he wrote
of me. He wrote of me, to him give all
the prophets witness, all the law givers, all the Psalm writers,
all the apostles, all of it, every word of it is about him,
every word of it. Luke 24 says, beginning at Moses
and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures,
the things concerning himself. So what do we think of Christ?
Number one, He is God. Number two, he is this book. He is this Bible. He is this word. Number three,
he is the gospel. He is the gospel. Look with me
if you would at Romans chapter one. Romans 1 verse 1 says, Paul,
a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto
the gospel of God, which he hath promised afore by his prophets
in the holy scriptures. Do you notice that verse two
is in parentheses? That means it was inserted into
a thought. All right, let's read the complete
thought without that insertion, verse one and verse three. Paul,
a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto
the gospel of God, verse three says, concerning his son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. The gospel. The one and only
gospel message that there is, is concerning Jesus Christ our
Lord. What about Jesus Christ our Lord?
What is the Good News Declaration? That's what gospel means. The
Good News Announcement of Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse 3 goes
on to say, He was made of the seed of David according to the
flesh. God became a man. God was manifest
in the flesh. He didn't take upon him the nature
of the fallen angels, but he took upon him the nature of fallen
man. And he lived a perfect life for
sinful elect people. And then he traded that spotless
life for all of their wretchedness and all of their ruin. And He died the perfect death
to put away all of their wretchedness and all of their ruin. And with
that being accomplished, verse 4 says right here, He was declared
to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness
by the resurrection from the dead. He is the gospel. Christ is the good news declaration.
The gospel is concerning him, is concerning him. This is what
I want us to get from that. The gospel is not concerning
us. It's not concerning us. The gospel has nothing to do
with any work on our part. If either one of these three,
I, me or my is involved, it's not the gospel. It's not the
gospel. If I made a decision, if I decided to accept Jesus
into my heart, that's not the gospel. And I can't go around telling
everybody I have good news. I have good news. I can't go
say that because I don't have the declaration of what Christ
has done. The good news only involves what
He has done. The good news of the gospel cries
this, He made the decision. And that's the difference. In
works and grace, that's the difference in death and life. Death and
works cries, I made a decision. Grace and life and truth cries,
He made the decision. He chose to accept me into His
heart. He said, David is a man after
my own heart. I didn't choose to accept him
into my heart. How could I? This thing is dead.
He chose to accept me into his heart. He did everything, I did
nothing. That's the good news of the gospel.
He did everything, I did nothing. What do we think of Christ? Number
one, He is God. The person of the highest God
that there is. When we go stand before God,
the scripture says we are gonna stand before the judgment seat
of Christ. He's the highest God. Number
two, He is the Bible. Every portion of scripture in
this book leads to Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and our business
is to find that road and get on it. He is the book. Number
three, He is the gospel. He is the only good news that
there is. He's all of it. All right, number
four. He is salvation. He is salvation. Turn with me if you would to
2 Timothy 2. 2 Timothy 2 verse 10 says, Therefore I endure all things
for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Salvation is in
Him. Why? It's because he is salvation. He is. People hear about salvation
and they think about salvation, wondering what is salvation?
Christ is salvation. Christ is salvation. I don't
want to overturn you here, but go with me to Acts chapter four. Acts chapter four, verse 10. Says, Be it known unto you all
and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, and I love that name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth
this man stand here before you whole. This, meaning Christ,
is the stone which was set at Nau of you builders, which is
become the head of the corner." Everything is going to be built
on Him. Everything is going to be laid on Him. He is become
the head of the corner. Verse 12 says, "'Neither is there
salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven
given among men. whereby we must be saved. Salvation
is in Him. To have Him is to have salvation. To have Christ is to have salvation.
To have good works is not to have salvation. I pray for good
works. I pray good works be unto you.
I do. But that alone is not salvation.
To have doctrine is not to have salvation. I pray correct doctrine
for you, correct teaching. To have religion is not salvation. To have Christ is salvation. He is salvation. He is God. He
is this word. He is the gospel. He is salvation. And go with me back to Colossians
chapter three. Colossians 3 verse 4 says, when Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. What do we think of Christ? This
is what we think. He is our life. He is our life. He said this in John 15. He said, as the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, neither can
you except you abide in me. He said, except you eat of my
flesh and drink of my blood, you have no life in you. We live
in Him. We live by Him. We live on Him. He is our life. It is not that
He just enhances our life. It's not that He directs our
life or straightens up and cleans up our life. He is our life. We live and move and have our
being in Him. Outside of Him, there's no life,
none whatsoever. 1 John 5, verse 12 says, he that
hath the Son hath life. He that has the Son hath life.
And we could just keep going with this. I'm done, but we could
keep going with this. What do we think of Christ? He
is good. When we set our affection on
things above and when we dial in our mind on Him above, this
is what we think. He is good. He is so merciful. He is so kind. He is so generous
to beggars. He is so generous to beggars. I'm going to tell you something
and I hesitate to do it because you'll know why. But I'm gonna
tell you anyway for the illustration, okay? I took Sophie to lunch
Friday to McAllister's. And we sat outside. And while we were sitting there
eating and talking, a woman came up and said something to me.
And you know how it is. It takes you a minute to gather
what's going on. I looked up and realized while
she was talking, this is not a waitress. This is just a woman. And I gathered that she said
her exact words to me were, can you help me get some food? She said, I'm homeless and I'm
hungry. And a lot of times when people
ask for food, they don't really want food. They want money to
go feed their habit. But I could tell, and I asked
her, I said, you need some food? She nodded at me like that, and
I said, absolutely. So I said, after you, let's go
inside. So we went inside Macalester,
standing there looking at that big sign, and I said, what would
you like? And she looked up at that big
sign and looked at me and said, I can't read. And I said, well, would you like
a sandwich? Would you like, you know, I started
listing things and she saw a picture of a salad. She said, can I have
a salad? And I thought, she probably gets
a lot of fast food, you know. I said, absolutely. What kind
of salad would you like? And I read them all off to her.
I said, would you like something to drink? She nodded her head. So I got her something to drink
and I paid for it. And the woman behind the counter
said, okay, you stand over here and when it's ready, I'll hand
it to you. And she went over there and just stood in her pitifulness.
I just can't get this woman out of my mind. She was probably
my age or a little older. But she just stood over there
in her pitifulness. And I, you know, went back to my table.
And as I was walking back, it dawned on me, she didn't even
say thank you. And I'm so glad she didn't. Because
I immediately thought, oh, how thankless I have been to the
God who is merciful and generous to beggars. He's been so generous
to me. He's been so kind to me. And
I've been so thankless to him. What do we think of this man?
He's altogether lovely. That's what we think. We think
this man is so lovely. He is so merciful. He's so forgiving. He's so loving. What do we think? We think he's ours. We do. He's caused, he's put faith in
us and caused us to think and believe he is ours. He is ours based on the promise
of his word to sinners. He's mine. He's ours. Paul told the Colossians dwell
on that. Just dwell on that. Set your
mind, set your heart, set your affection on Christ, your Lord,
who he is and what he's done for you. Just stay there till
he comes back to get you and takes you home to glory. Lord,
keep our affection right there. Just keep us right there. Wonderful
place to be. All right.