We are privileged

-

In Colossians 3:12 Paul reminds Christians of our privileged position as members of the Body of Christ.

3 REMINDERS OF YOUR PRIVILEGED POSITION IN CHRIST

1. SELECTION

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

The first way Paul describes the Colossian’s position is as God’s chosen or elect ones.

Who chose?
God did. 1 Thess. 1: 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.

Was our free will involved?
Rom 9:16 [in the context of God’s election] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Who is chosen?
1 Pet 2: 9 But you [Christians] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

When did the choice happen?
Eph 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, … even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.

On what basis were we chosen?
2 Tim 1: 8-9 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Election means God chose the people he would save before the world began. Yes, I have to choose him, but he will ensure that I do. Yes, I have to believe to be saved, but he will give me the gift of that faith. Yes, I have to repent, but he will grant me that repentance.

But we have not been chosen as the winner of an Oscar—in recognition of our work done—we have been chosen as an employee: in order to do work.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Are you that useless Christian, chosen for good works, but too concerned about building your own empire, and feeding your own comforts, to be of any use to anyone? Or are you doing the works God prepared for you when he chose you?

2. SEPARATION

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Holy means kept for special use.

2 Timothy 2:20–21 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honourable use, some for dishonourable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

God didn’t set you apart so that you can behave like a pagan, of no use for his special purposes. He set you apart to do his work, like evangelizing the lost.

Do you blend into the world, or are you use to the Master?

3. STANDING

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

God loves you. Can you grasp that?

You are his beloved.

Love is a powerful motivator. It is what motivated God to save you, and it is what motivates you to obey him.

If I ask you ‘Why not steal, why not swear, why not get drunk?’

The only right answer is ‘because I love God.’

God loves you, and because you are His beloved, that should make you want to obey him. Does it?

Does it mean anything to you that Jesus hung on a cross dying of blood loss, for you?

Yes, you!

You need to apply this truth to you. Not only does God love the world in general, he loves you. 

CONCLUSION:

Perhaps you don’t love God. Perhaps you’ve been obeying him all your life out of fear, or to fit in, or to please your parents, or because you think it’s the right thing to do, but without a mite of love in your heart for him. You are a pretender. A hypocrite.

Or maybe you have not even been pretending. Maybe you have been living a life of sin, and you think that God’s love extends to people around you, but not to you, you have been too sinful, you are too far gone.

You need to come to grips with something: God loves you. As long as there is breath in you, there is time to repent.

Yes, he hates your sin, yes, he will punish you if you don’t turn to him. But if your view of God is that he is an angry tyrant, you don’t know your Bible. Out of love, God the Father sent his Son so that you can live forever, totally forgiven.

If you are a believer you need to obey God because of your selection, your separation, and your standing with him. God chose you, to make you holy, because he loves you.

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking in tongues for today - Charles Stanley

-
Image
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. … And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 28, 30—31 The Lord Jesus Christ had come and gone. The church—newly birthed—was in a transition time. The new covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders; therefore, there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. The new religion, in its infant stages, had no Bible, few leaders, and absolutely no support from the government. Astounding that it survived, isn’t it?  How in the world did it survive with so little going for it? Power. Not just a force, but mighty, visible power. Th...
Read more

What is the glory (kabod) of God?

-
Image
2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Scripture places a high value on God 's glory, and it is not hard to figure out why. Since the inherent glory of the Lord is something that He will not share with others (Isa. 42:8), we know that His glory is something that He prizes highly; indeed, He prizes it more highly than anything else. We should, therefore, set the glory of God as the goal and overarching emphasis of our lives. Whatever we lose for the sake of making the Lord's glory known will be worth it when we see the dazzling light and beauty of; the divine glory (28:5; Rev. 21:23). Glory has to do with light and beauty, but those aspects do not sum up what the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word kabod , which is translated into English as "glory," has the root meaning of "weight" or "heaviness....
Read more

The Holy Spirit causes us to cry out: Abba, Father

-
Image
Pentecostés. Óleo sobre lienzo, 275 × 127 cm. Madrid, Museo del Prado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To bring out the same truth in another way, Paul says God sent Jesus (as a Man) to live under the Law in order “to redeem those under law, that we [Jews and Gentiles ] might receive the full rights [adoption] of sons” ( Galatians 4:5).  By “full rights” or “adoption” he means entering into the privileges and responsibilities of sonship. He uses it also of the sonship of Israel (Romans 9:4). Galatians 4:1, 2 indicate that the son and heir of a wealthy family in Paul’s day would be treated as a slave until he became of age.  Then he would receive the adoption, that is, all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belonged to an adult member of that family. Adoption was also used in the modern sense, so that Gentiles who were not sons of Abraham became true heirs, true sons of God , by faith.  Jesus died, not just to save us from the fires of hell, bu...
Read more