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The application of our faith … (2 things)
- 1st – Our position in Christ… vs. 1-4 (6 things)
- 1st – It is one thing to know the Word – it is another to live what it says…
- James 1:22-25 – “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
- Those who attend Bible studies – agree with everything that is said…
- Then go home and inexplicably forget everything they just heard!
- The Bible is not a textbook you must learn – it is an instruction manual to follow…
- You can know all words – but if it does not change your actions – it means nothing!
- 2nd – Since we have been raised to new life in Christ… vs. 1
- We are to live our lives with our sights set on the things of heaven…
- Where Jesus is sits at the rights hand of honor – in the place of power!
- Luke 12:34 – “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.”
- We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our treasures…
- Wherever we put our money / time / talents – is where our heart will also be!
- Are our treasures stored up in heaven – or is our heart focused on something else…
- Are we focused on the Lord – or caught up in the things of this world!
- If we store up all our treasures here on earth – then we will not be seeking Jesus…
- In light of all Jesus has done for us – let us invest in our relationship with Jesus!
- 1st – It is one thing to know the Word – it is another to live what it says…
As we are now a new man – we should see like Christ – we are all equal!
3rd – Set your mind on things above – not on things of this earth… vs. 2
The way we live for Jesus – is by thinking about about Jesus…
Some say if you think too much about heaven – you are no good here on earth…
But the truth is you are no good here on earth – unless you are thinking about heaven!
During the course of a day we get dirty from interacting with the world…
We pick up dirt on our feet as we walk / sweat / get dirt on our hands…
The way to clean yourself when you are dirty – is to was up with a bar of soap…
In the same way when we get dirty spiritually from being in the world…
Perhaps an image we see on TV – or something we hear someone say…
It gets in our head – perhaps temps our heart – and makes us unclean…
The solution is to use a ‘spiritual’ bar of soap to clean ourselves up!
I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
4th – We died – and our life is not hidden with God… vs. 3
The idea being our old man – sinful nature – was crucified and buried with Jesus…
Romans 6:6 – “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.”
We were then ‘raised from the dead’ – no longer the old sinful man we once were…
We were given ‘new life’ – freed from sin to live for God – II Corinthians 5:17
We are ‘born again’ – not to live in sin / but to live in godliness!
We are now secure in God – hidden – so no one can touch us…
Romans 8:38 – “Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God”.
Not death – Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Death for the believer means entering into eternal life!
Not Angels / principalities / powers (the spiritual world – satan & his demons)…
I John 4:4 – “You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won… cause the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
No need to fear spirits – or the abundant superstitions we were raised with…
Jesus is FAR greater than any power that might try and come against us
Nothing we can do today / nothing that will happen tomorrow…
We may not see tomorrow – or next week – or next year…
But God does – and He knows – and can assure us nothing can separate us…
Because He loves us – and has hidden our lives securely in His Grace!
5th – Christ is our life…
We can do nothing on our own – our life comes from being connected to Jesus…
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
I have a bowl of fruit sitting in the kitchen in my house – it looks pretty…
But if you took a bite – you would be unpleasantly surprised – plastic fruit…
We cannot make real fruit – we can only make things that look ‘like’ fruit!
In the same way we can not produce ‘fruit’ / good works in our lives…
We can make ourselves look good – plastic Christians – but there is no life!
Looking to this world is death – only in Jesus do we find true life!
The things of this world never fulfill us – satisfaction is only for a moment…
I love chocolate chip cookies – when I was a kids I would eat them all…
I could never eat just one – I always wanted one more – then one more…
Till I was sick because of all the cookies – and still I wanted more!
Most think this world has the answers – it lures us in with false hopes and promises
Then leaves us empty inside – never fulfilled – always wanting more!
Only when live our lives for Jesus – set our mind on heaven – are we truly satisfied!
6th – When Jesus appears – we will appear with Him…
Speaking of the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ – we will be with him…
Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
Jesus comes with the sound of a trumpet – with all the elect…
Revelation 19:14 – “And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
Jesus will set up His kingdom here on earth – and rule and reign for 1000 years…
And we will rule and reign over the earth with Him – Revelation 5:10!
If you life is hidden in Jesus – if we stay focused on heaven – finish the race!
2nd – The way we are to live our life… vs. 6-11 (3 things)
1st – Therefore – put to death the sin that is lurking within you… vs. 5
All of us – even though we are saved – still struggle with sin in our lives…
We still face temptations – still struggle with our desires – we can still choose to sin
We are tempted by the things of this world – to seek the pleasures of this world…
I John 2:16 – “For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.”
Paul gives us a list of the sins that temp us…
Fornication – any sexual relationship outside of the bounds of marriage…
Uncleanness / passion – lusting about sex – fantasizing about women in your mind…
Evil desire – the desire for power / money / or revenge…
Covetousness – wanting and longing for things that other own…
Do not let any part of you become a tool used for sin – Romans 6:13…
A hammer has no loyalties – it is not good or evil – just a tool
It the same way your body is a tool – the question is what are you using it for…
That would include your physical body – indulging in the sins of this world…
Is also includes your mind – the mind is the real battleground in the war against sin
James 1:12-15 – “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death.”
We do not just wake up one day and decide to go and sin…
We allow our mind to dwell on a desire – when that desire gives birth – sin…
In light of what Jesus has done for us – we should not use our life to sin!
2nd – Because of these sins – the wrath of God is coming… vs. 6-7
In other words there are consequences to those who choose to live in sin…
Galatians 6:7 – “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will also reap.”
If you plant a kalamansi seed in the ground – you are going to reap kalamansi…
You do not expect to plant a kalamansi seed – and harvest papaya!
If we plant seeds of sin – sexual sins / idolatry / jealously and anger / partying…
Those seeds do not always grow right away – they take time to ‘blossom’…
But make no mistake – if we continue to plant seeds of sin – we will reap…
Whether it is some disease / prison / fight / death – sin will destroy our life…
And in the end it will keep us out of heaven – we will miss out on eternal life!
It amazes me that people are surprised by the consequences of their actions…
Men who live their whole life with no thought of God or heaven…
And end up with empty lives / broken families / and devastated bodies…
They wonder why they were not blessed – simple – because of what they planted!
These were the things we used to do – before Jesus…
But now we plants seeds of righteousness – with our mind set on heaven…
So we become Godly men – with Godly wives and children – blessed in all we do…
And in the end – we will inherit eternal life – forever with Jesus!
3rd – Do not sin when it comes to others… vs. 8-11
Not only are we not to sin in our personal lives – we are not to sin towards others…
Do not be angry with others / do not let rage come from your heart…
Do not plot evil or malice / do not us curse words – blasphemy the name of God…
Do not lie to one another – because you have stripped off your old sinful nature!
The suggestion is that we used to do all theses things – guilty as charged…
Because that was before we knew Jesus – now we should be different!
Not to say that people may not deserve it – people can frankly be jerks…
But just because they are sinners – is no reason for us to also sin…
We have a choice not to give in to the old nature – we can choose to stand for Jesus!
Because we have put on a new man…
Our new man who is renewed because of the knowledge of Jesus Christ…
Do not misunderstand – we are not new because of our knowledge of the Bible…
It is because we are new that we desire to get into the Bible and learn!
And the more we learn – the more like Christ we become…
Therefore we should no longer treat one another the way we did before Christ
Because Jesus sees us all as the same…
There is neither Jew nor Gentile / there is neither slave nor free…
There is no nationality / there is no male or female – Galatians 3:28
Christ is all – and He is in all of us – so we are all equal in Jesus…
So we should not attack others / tear down others just because they are different…
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