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Put on Jesus Christ… (3 things)
Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus!
1st – Putting on Jesus Christ… vs. 12
1st – Just as we are to ‘Put off’ our old sinful nature – that bring the wrath of God…
We are likewise to ‘Put on’ our new nature – we are to put on Jesus Christ…
Romans 13:14 – “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.”
The idea is that we are heading out into a battle – a war against our sinful nature…
Like any good soldier we need to prepare ourselves for the battles…
Ephesians 6:13 – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
II Timothy 2:4 – “As Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you can not satisfy the one who has enlisted you…”
Do not get caught up in the affairs of this life – the cares of this world…
Do not get caught up in foolish momentary sins – that blind you to seeing Jesus…
The way we overcome our sin – the way we walk in the light so we can see…
Is by putting on Jesus Christ – walking in the Spirit of God
Then Jesus changes our desires so we do not want to do the things that are wrong…
Instead we will want to do those things that please the Lord!
2nd – We can put on Jesus because of three reasons…
Because we are the elect of God – we have been chosen / predestined…
Romans 8:29 – “Whom God foreknew He also predestined…”
John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
God is eternal – which means He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8
God does not have an endless amount of time – God is outside of time!
God sees all of time – from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 all at once!
God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in/receive Jesus…
So He chooses those who He knows will choose Him!
What if you do not want to choose to believe in Jesus…
Then you are not one of those whom God has chosen to be saved – to go to heaven…
You might say – ‘but I want to go to heaven’ – then choose to believe in Jesus…
When you do you will find out – God had already chosen you!
Because we are holy – we are saints…
We get the wrong idea about ‘saints’ (the word means holy – or set apart)
We think people become saints because of what they did – good works/miracles…
In fact it is not what we do – it is what God did that makes us saints…
We are saints – ‘holy’ / set apart – because of what Jesus did on the cross for us!
And as saints we are to be different from the world – show them Jesus Christ!
Because of the love of God…
God so loved the whole world He sent Jesus to die for our sins – John 3:16…
LOVE – ‘unconditional love’ – no matter what we have done God LOVES us…
God so loved us – that He forgave all our sins – He gave us Jesus!
Now that we have been given the Love of Jesus – we can Love others!
2nd – Our Responsibility in Jesus… vs. 13-14 (7 things)
1st – We are to be tender and merciful…
Judgment is getting what I deserve – grace is getting what I do not deserve…
Mercy is not getting what I deserve – not being given the punishment I earned…
I deserved to go to sin and hell because I sinned – but God did not judge me…
He gave me mercy – He did not give me what I deserved…
God is not immune to the suffering of others – neither should we be…
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
As we have compassion on others – we look for the opportunity to help them!
2nd – We are to be kind and gentle…
We should not be harsh / difficult / always full of negative comments…
It is easy to be critical of others – but harsh and cruel words cause division…
As we put on Jesus we look for the opportunity to encourage – build up another person!
Proverbs 15:1- “A harsh words stir up anger, but gentle answer turns away wrath.”
3rd – We are to be humble…
Pride is putting my needs above others / humility is putting others before myself!
Most people tend to have a lofty view of themselves – think they are important…
When in truth – we are all in the same boat – we are all just sinners – equals!
I had a man come up to me once and introduce himself with a high title…
I think he expected me to come back with the same – ‘Pastor David Hinchey…’
My answer threw him off – ‘Hi my name is David – sinner!’
4th – We are to be meek…
Meekness – is the opposite of revenge – it means we do not seek our own justice…
It is not a lack of power – it does not mean we cannot avenge ourselves…
Instead it means we choose not to ‘get back’ at those who hurt us…
Jesus was meek – not that He lacked power – but He did not seek revenge…
Why – because God came to love His enemies – to bless those who hated Him…
Matthew 5:44-46 – “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you… that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
So we also should be meek – and love / not seek revenge on those who hurt us!
5th – We are to be patient / bear with one another (like a pot that refuses to boil over)…
Meaning even when others do stupid things – we put up with them…
Not because we have to – but in response to the Love of Jesus given to us…
When we think about how many times God has put up with our poor choices…
How could we not also endure the bad decisions of others!
6th – Forgive one another…
Considering how much we have been forgiven – how could we not forgive…
Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL of our sins…
He was willing to forgive everything we ever have done – or will ever do!
How then could we not forgive someone for the little sin they have done against us
If we are unwilling to forgive – then God will not forgive us – Matthew 6:15
When we are hurt by someone – and refuse to forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…
It will grow into bitterness – we become consumed with what ‘they did to us’!
Our bitterness makes us sour and bitter – and eventually brings spiritual death…
With un-forgiveness in our hearts – God does not hear our prayers – Mark 11:25
Forgiveness is not just for the one who did us wrong – it is also for us…
It sets us free – we do not dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Jesus!
7th – The most important things is LOVE… vs. 14
Galatians 5:22 – “The fruit of the Spirit is Love…”
Notice it does not say the ‘fruits’ of the Spirit – but the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit…
THE fruit is Love – you know you have put on Jesus when you walk in Love…
Most importantly – a Love for God – Deuteronomy 6:5
But almost equally important – a love for others – Leviticus 19:18
Because God is Love – I John 4:7 – and when we love we are acting like our Father!
Love is the glue that bind us together – makes us mature…
And division causes the church to be ineffective for Jesus – keeps us from shining…
Rather than seeing the love of Jesus in us – the world sees us fighting each other…
Satan loves to cause division in the church – then we will not be able to fight him
When we are busy/exhausted fighting ourselves – we are not fighting for the lost!
3rd – The result of having new clothing… vs. 15-17
1st – We have the peace of Christ… vs. 15
Life can have a tendency to throw challenges / problems our way…
We tend to spend much of our time worrying about those problems…
The problem is worrying about our problems does not help – it makes things worse
It can even make us physically sick – upset stomach / high blood pressure…
Proverbs 12:25 – “Worry weighs a person down…”
God knows what we need – so we do not need to worry…
Luke 12:29-31 – “Do not worry about food – what to eat and drink. Do not worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Worry is the opposite of trust– we are worried because we are not trusting in God!
So instead of killing ourselves by worrying – run to Jesus and find peace!
We trust God with our eternity – we trust He can save us from hell…
But somehow we have a hard time trusting Him for the food we eat…
If God can save us eternally – certainly He can provide for us today!
Instead of worrying we should be thankful…
Often when we face problems in life – our first response is to fret and worry…
Yet when we pray to God – we find whatever burden brought us to prayer is gone…
Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
We no longer see our problems – instead our God who is greater than any problem!
Our problems swallowed up in thankfulness to our incredible Lord!
2nd – We have the Word of Christ… vs. 16
When we put on Jesus we become rich / grow in the Word of God…
So we have real wisdom – not the wisdom of this world – but Godly wisdom…
So that we can teach one another / and give Godly counsel to each other!
So that we can sing songs and hymns to one another – giving thanks in the heart!
That is why we spend so much time teaching the Word / Bible studies…
So that we can become rich in the Word / in wisdom / and thankfulness to God!
3rd – We get to represent Christ… vs. 17
Whatever you do – do it all as a representative of Jesus Christ…
We are Christ’s ambassadors – His representative to a lost world…
We go out pleading with the world on Jesus’ behalf – be reconciled to God!
The picture is that of an ambassador – we speak for God to the world…
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