Colossians chapter 3 and let's read the first 10 verses
here together. Colossians 3 verse 1 says, If
you 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. Mortify, therefore, your members
which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry, for which
things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience,
in the which you also walked sometime when you lived in them. But now you also put off all
these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your
mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing
that you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put
on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image
of him that created him." We're going to look this morning at
the subject of, as the scripture calls it, good works. We're going to look at good works,
killing these bad works. He said, mortify. That means
kill these bad works and do good works. This is a critical subject. This is a critical subject of
division. So before we look at this, I
want to enter into the context of what is being said here. This
is a very, very important thing to understand. I want to go into
this with a correct view of good works. Are believers exhorted to do
good works? Are they exhorted from the Word
of God to do good works? Here's the answer. Yes, they
are. Yes, they are. But only after
this foundation has been laid. All right, here's the context
of this letter. I was thinking about the fact
that Paul, when he wrote this, he didn't put chapter divisions.
It's one letter. He's saying one thing to this
one people. And he said in chapter one, verse
12, if you look back at chapter one, verse 12, he said, we're
giving thanks unto the father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." He said, we give thanks
because we have redemption. That's what we give thanks for.
We have it in Christ through his blood. That's where we have
it. Right here in chapter one, verse
20, He said, and having made peace through the blood of His
cross by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him,
I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven,
and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable
in His sight." Let's just enter into that for a second. Let's
enter into what he just said. He said, in the body of His flesh,
through His death, through Christ's death, we are made completely
holy. And I'm so glad that we must
take God's Word over our thoughts and opinions and feelings, because
I don't feel holy right now. I just don't. But God says, in
Him, through His death, in the flesh of Christ Himself, we are. Holy, holy, absolutely holy. This is what he said. He said,
in the flesh of Christ, through his death, you are completely
unblameable. And I hope we enter into that. Unblameable, based on what we're
about to look at in just a moment. Unblameable, completely. He said completely unreprovable
in his sight. Now in chapter two, verse four,
he said, I'm telling you this, lest any man should beguile you
with enticing words. And this is why it's so critical.
That's what's happening in many places right now, this morning.
Men are beguiling people through enticing words. Verse nine, chapter
two, verse nine, he said, for in him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in him. You are complete in him. What does the word complete mean? Finished. That's what it means. Finished. Chapter two, verse
13, and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, have he quickened together with him, having forgiven
you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out
of the way, nailing it to His cross. Verse 16 says, let no
man therefore judge you. Verse 18 says, let no man beguile
you. Verse 20 says, wherefore, if
you be dead with Christ, from the rudiments of the world? Why,
as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances? Touch not, taste not, handle
not. which all are to perish with
the using after the commandments and doctrines of men, which things
have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility
and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying
of the flesh." All right, with all of that being established,
Paul did a very, very excellent job of establishing liberty in
the blood of Christ. With that foundation having been
laid, how do the good works that he is now exhorting in chapter
three, we just read them, how do those good works not contradict
what he just said? He said, you're complete. He
said, you are unblameable. You're unblameable. That means
perfect. If we are complete, if no man
should judge us or say to us, if no man should stand up in
a pulpit and say, now touch not, taste not, handle not. then what
difference do good works make in the life of a believer? What
difference? Some would argue, some have argued,
and some will argue that trying to do good works of any kind
is just preaching works. All that is is trying to add
works to God's grace. Is that true? Is that true? If
you stand up and declare good works, is that all we're doing
is trying to add works to God's grace? On the other end of things,
there's another argument that is out there. Some would argue
that if you don't see these good works in yourself, then you're
not truly complete. Now, is that true? Are good works in the flesh the
evidence of salvation? I want to give you an illustration
that I believe will give us a correct perspective on this, because
this is very vital, very vital. We cannot take our eyes off the
blood of Jesus Christ. We cannot do that. All right,
here's the illustration. My three sisters and I were born
into the family of Marvin and Linda Stoniker. When we were born, we were their
children. Before we were born, we were
their children. Before we ever had done any good
or evil, we were their children. From a biological standpoint,
once that was done, it could not be undone. from a DNA standpoint,
it just couldn't be undone. Now, because we were their children,
because we belonged to them, throughout our entire childhood,
as we grew up, they told us and they demanded of us, stop arguing. I'm doing it now to my kids,
and you do it to your kids. Stop arguing. Stop arguing. Do not lie to me. Don't. Do not. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to each other. Don't
lie to anybody. I don't want to hear you tell
lies. Be kind. Be kind. Be loving. Be friendly to people. You better obey what we tell
you. You better obey what we say to you. All right, now, was
whether or not we did those things, those things that they told us
to do, was our obedience, was that the determining factor?
And was that the evidence of whether or not we were their
children? No. No. If we were acting up, if we were
pitching a fit in Walmart, could that cause anyone to say,
well, those can't be their kids. They're not obeying. No. Whether good or bad, we were
their kids. We were their children. But I'll
tell you this. I'm going to tell you from experience. I'm going to tell you from lots
and lots and lots of experience. It mattered whether we were good
or bad. It mattered. It mattered a great deal. It
mattered whether or not we obeyed their commandment, obeyed what
they told us to do. Their will and their commandment
was going to be done. That's how it was in the Stoniker
household. The parents were in charge, not
the kids. And it was going to be done whether
we bowed to that or we were spanked into that. And yes, I said it,
the S word, that terrible, terrible S word, spanked. And usually I was not the first
one to bow to it, but thankfully because he was my father and because he loved me, he disciplined
me. Time and time and time and time
and time. Now my sisters and I don't argue.
We don't. I don't call them up on the phone
and we just sit there and argue and argue. We don't do that. We were disciplined lovingly
but very very effectively. Alright now, that's exactly how
it is in the relationship with our Heavenly Father. That is
exactly how it is. And this is so important for
believers to understand. Believers don't realize this.
They go through life just oblivious to this. This idea that because
he finished the work for us, is it finished? Yes, you're mine. You belong to me. All right,
this idea that because he finished that work and we're completely
secure as a child of God in Christ, I mean secure. The idea that it doesn't matter
how you live, that don't matter how you live. That has nothing
to do with whether or not you're a child of God. And this idea
that you don't have to obey the commandments he gives to us in
the flesh. To that person, the Word of God says, be careful,
be careful. Whom the Lord loves, He chastens. Just like any loving father would,
just like any loving father would, it matters. All right, at the
same point in time, It is cruel lies. If somebody was doing this
physically to a child, it would be considered abuse. It would
be cruel lies and bondage to tell a child, if you can't do
this, if you can't accomplish that, you can't be a child of
the Father. You're not His child. You don't belong to Him. He doesn't
love you. That is not so. Christ accomplished
everything that needed to be accomplished. for us to be made
a part of God's family. What we do is a response to that. So does that put good works into
a little bit better perspective for us? Good works are vital,
all right? Therefore, chapter three, verse
one says, if you then be risen with Christ. Risen, that means
made alive. completely forgiven, forgiven,
having come forth from the grave with Christ, resurrected. If we are resurrected, that means
the sin has been put away and God the Father is satisfied.
That's what it means. Verse one, if you then be risen
with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. desire to be conformed into
His image. 1 John 3 verse 2 says, It doth
not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He
shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is. When a believer gets a hold of
that, he gets excited. He does. Believers want to be
like Christ. They want to be like Christ.
Paul said, desire that. Verse two, set your affection,
that means your mind, your thoughts, on things above, not on things
on the earth. For you are dead, dead to the
world, through the blood of Christ, dead to the power and the penalty
of sin. Soon we're gonna be dead to the
presence of sin. Verse three says, 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. Mortify therefore, he said, you're
going to. You're gonna appear with him
in glory. Mortify therefore, that means kill. Strive to kill. Your members, that means the
things that pertain to this body. And he's gonna start listing
some of the things that pertain to this body of death. This is what the body of this
sinful flesh is prone to. Verse five says, fornication. And I think most everyone knows
what that is. The word translates harlotry
of any kind. Fornication, adultery. A man
and a woman coming together outside of the covenant of marriage.
This is what God says, do not do it. It is so socially acceptable
for two people to live together outside of marriage. You are
considered strange if you don't. You're considered unwise if you
don't. Don't lock down that, then you'll
have to go through all that mess. You need to try it out first.
Listen, this is what God says, don't do it. Do not do it. It's not okay. Kill that. Verse
5 says, uncleanness. That means impure, immoral living. That's what it means. Just all
around an immoral way of life. Just immoral. I don't know how
to put that into words, but our conscience knows what that is.
Just immoral. Paul said, strive to kill that.
As followers of Christ, strive to kill that. Verse five says,
inordinate affection. That means inappropriate affection. Some things are inappropriate.
Some things are just inappropriate. And we need to guard against
it. Our Lord said, greet each other with a holy kiss. A kiss
of purity and love in the sight of God. Verse five says evil
concupiscence. That means wicked, sinful lust. How do we kill wicked, sinful
lust? How do we do that? Think on things
which are above. Christ seated on His throne.
Our life being hid with Him in God. That's the only way to kill
the affections of the flesh. It's the only way. It's the only
way. You know, what's wrong with me? Why can't I stop? Why can't my
brain stop? This is the only way. Start thinking
on things about it. Verse 5 says covetousness. That
means greed. That is some... There's not a...
A body of flesh on this earth that is not completely subject
to greed. I mean, just mine, mine, mine. It starts in our children. And
it never goes away in the flesh. Verse 5 says, which is idolatry. That means worship of a false
god. What is the false god that we're
worshiping and all that? Self. All of that is The false
God of the flesh. Verse six, it says, for which
things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. These are the very things that
brought condemnation on us in the first place. This is why
Christ had to come and give himself. It's because of these very deeds.
Verse seven says, in the which you also walked some time when
you lived in them. The scripture excuses no one. It talks about man being sinful
and some people get it in their mind. Yeah, what's wrong with
everybody? Why don't they straighten up? The scripture says, no, it's
you. Thou art the man. He said, you
also walked sometime when you lived in him. You did it, I did
it. Verse 8, but now you also put
off all these. Anger. Anger is murder in the
heart. Murder in the heart. You know,
there's not a person on this earth that has not committed
murder. Therefore, every soul on this earth is on death row.
And they have no idea. They have no idea. Paul said,
strive, strive, strive. How do you put away anger? Dwell on things above. Oh my
goodness, what Christ has done for me. Look how I treated him. Anger is in the heart. It's what
takes place on the inside. The next word is wrath. That's
what's on the outside. That's what happens when what's
on the inside comes out. That's the difference in anger
and wrath. Paul said, don't have anger in
the heart. Don't have it toward God. Usually our anger, we don't
realize it, but it's first toward God because of all circumstance
and all providence. You don't, you know, I'm mad
about how this went. Well, Paul said, don't have anger
toward God and don't have anger toward his providence and don't
have anger toward his people, but especially don't let it come
out. Anger is one thing, but if it's
there, don't let it come out. Kill wrath, he said. Verse 8
says malice. That means ill will, a desire
to harm. What he's saying is, don't say
within yourself, I hope he falls flat on his face. I would love
to see him fall. I would love to see him go down.
I hope he fails miserably. I'm going to be paying attention
to this. Boy, I'm going to love it when he just fails miserably. Thank God Christ didn't say that
about us. Thank God. Verse 8 says, blasphemy,
that's anything that tarnishes or lessens God's name or His
character. Let's not lessen our Lord's name. Let's not use it as a byword. That's what the scripture says
that men do. They use it as a byword. If something
happens, let's not say, Jesus. I cringe to use it as an example. Let's not say, Lord. Let's not say, and this is the
most common one, oh my God, let's not do that, let's not do that. There is none other name given
among men whereby we must be saved. Our Father has highly
exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, all
throughout glory and eternity. Every time that name is named,
everybody's gonna hit the ground, every time. Every knee shall
bow. Every time that name is named,
the Lord Jesus Christ. So let's kill that blasphemy.
Verse eight says, filthy communication out of your mouth. That is foul,
lewd, obscene conversation. And it's common. It's just not becoming of God's
people. Verse nine says, lie not one to another. This tongue
is so prone to lies. It is so prone to lies. This
is what happens. If we think, if somebody catches
us off guard and we think it's gonna help us in the situation,
or if we think it's gonna better our situation, or if we think
it's gonna make us look good, or if we think it's gonna get
us what we want, this tongue will lie in a heartbeat. Let's do everything that's in
our power to kill that for Christ's sake. Everything in our power. Because He cannot and He will
not lie to us. And because all of the promises
of God in Him are yea and amen, let's kill that desire to lie. We're lying to Him when we lie. David said in Psalm 51, I expose
it all to you. I'm just telling it all to you.
I confess everything that I am. Let's not lie to him, let's not
lie to each other." And Paul said, I'm exhorting you to do
all this, not so you can put on the new man. but because you
already have put on the new man. Verse nine says, lie not one
to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his
deeds and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him. In Christ, we are new creatures. We are. In his blood, we are
complete creatures. May God allow that to more and
more be seen and experienced. One day we're going to experience
it to the fullest. May the Lord help us as we go
along to do some of that now. All right, you're dismissed.