PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION WITH OUR RISEN LORD

COL. 3:1-4

 

INTRO:

 

 

I.                   THIS IDENTIFICATION ORIGINATES IN FAITH IN CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

A.     For in His resurrection is an essential step in accepting Christ as our Personal Savior Rom. 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

B.     Brings us into right standing –justification with God Rom 4:25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

C.     Enables us to reckon ourselves alive unto God – Rom 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

D.   Makes it possible for a living Christ to dwell in our hearts Gal 2:20; Col 3:3 or you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

 

II.                THIS IDENTIFICATION DEMANDS A TRANSFORMED NATURE

 

III. Ungodly flesh desires must be put to death Col 3:5-7 Put to

death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

IV.  The old nature4 and its deeds must be put off  Col 3:8,9 But

now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

V.     The new man with Christian attributes must be put on – Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

 

The figure of this transformation is seen in water baptism - Rom 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

 

VI.              THIS IDENTIFICATION HAS A NEW GOAL FOR OUR LIVES

VII.                       Earthly things can no longer dominate Col 3:2 Set your

minds on things above, not on earthly things

VIII.                    WE seek things above Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God

A.     WE set our affections on things above 3:2

B.     Our objective is the risen Christ 3:1

 

IX.              THIS IDENTIFICATION EMPOWERS US

X.     Paul desired to know the power of Christ’s resurrection

Phil 3:10,11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

A.     Our identification brings continuous contact with Christ’s miracle working power Mark 16;19

B.     Our identification enables us to sit in heavenly places

Eph 2:5,6 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

C.     Our identification helps us know the greatness of Christ power and to understand His relationship to the church

Eph 1:19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength

 

XI.              THIS IDENTIFICATION WILL BE CONSUMATED WHEN JESUS COMES FOR HIS OWN

A.     Because His is our life, we shall live Col 3:3,4

B.     Our mortal bodies will be quickened by the same power as His body was Rom 8:1

C.     We shall have a body like His Phil 3:21

D.     We shall see Him as He really is 1 John 3:2

E.      We shall appear with Him in glory Col. 3:4

 

CONCLUSION: