Tabor Baptist Church

• What we love we spend time in/with
• True of hobbies
• True of people
• True of the Lord Jesus
• The way we think shapes the way we live
• Paul is encouraging the believers to think aright
• Think of Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension

Our Heavenly Position

• Where is heaven?
• Example of Biblical Characters
• It is above this world - a different realm altogether
• We are not what we were (v1,3)
• Our old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ
• Death with Christ
• 2 Cor 5:17
• When you become a Christian you are not what you were
• You are a new creation
• You are given a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone
• You have been brought out of the kingdom of darkness
• Resurrection with Christ
• The Holy Spirit has come and given us spiritual life
• We have been raised up from the grave
• We have spiritual union with God
• The full gospel is not just about going to heaven instead of hell, but knowing Jesus Christ
• Ascended with Christ
• Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
• Evil cannot touch us - we have the victory (in Christ)
• Is this how we think about what a Christian is
• Example of Hymn Number 641 by James Deck 'Lord Jesus are we one with thee?'

Seeking Heavenly Realities

• True religion is not about keeping rules
• Compare chapter 2
• Paul warns against the path of legalism
• It is about prayer and relationship
• One of the key signs of a Christian is that they pray (because they are in relationship with God)
• It is about enjoying God
• Gladly serving Him
• We don't serve God for men or ourselves
• We serve for the Lord
• It is about meditating on the word of God
• Think about His holiness, gentleness and compassion
• To be heavenly minded is to be of great spiritual benefit
• It is easier to forgive

Denying Earthly Pleasures

• Paul knows that there is still a fight on with the old man
• Sometimes things of the old nature come up again
• It is like when you come into a union in marriage - but our selfish asserts itself
• We are one with Christ
• Don't let your old assertive self come back again
• Fornication
• Avoid sex before marriage
• Includes all sexual activity outside of marriage
• In the eyes of Jesus Christ includes thoughts
• 1 Cor 6:15,17,18-20
• Also uncleanness, passions, evil desires
• All Christians have difficulties with these temptations
• Covetousness
• We have spoken about this already
• We can pray to God for help in this
• "Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sonsof disobedience" (3:6)
• These things are very serious
• The bible says put to death these things
• We are never to look at and judge others in these matters
• Don't be polluted by these old ways
• Anger
• Should not characterise our lives as Christians
• Our lives should be captivated by peace and tranquility
• We should not be like some who acted on Black Friday
• We ought not to be angry with God
• Wrath
• Seems to imply an explosion of anger
• This should not be part and parcel of our life, whether parents, children or in other situations
• Malice
• Having something against and working against another person
• Running down their character
• Blasphemy
• Evil speech against God
• Have we become accustomed to people taking God's name in vain that we are comfortable with this?
• Also working against God
• Filthy language
• Should not be part of our makeup
• We must be changed people
• We must leave rude jokes
• We must be careful what we watch on TV
• Do not lie
• Not just to the world but to each other
• Don't tell half-truths
• Don't give false impressions
• How many excuses are actually lies?
• Example of Thomas Charmers - speaking the whole truth can be very powerful
• Example of the US Preacher
• Example of Charles Wesley

Closing

• We are one body in Christ (v11)
• There is no division no sectarianism
• All the barriers put up by men are taken down in Christ
• There is one body
• Christ is all and in all
• Sums up the book of Colossians
• Example of revival in St Lois in 1949-1953