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Is Christ All?

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Here’s my article for the upcoming newsletter our church produces…

As a church, we continue to walk through the book of Colossians on Sunday mornings this year. It has been a joy to walk through the amazing language of Colossians 3 in recent weeks. We’ve seen a compelling call to seek the things that are above—where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (3:1). Clearly, we’ve been called in a compelling way to seek Him above all. Even our verse from the sermon on 8/29 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17). Chapter 3, then, has sought to draw our attention off of our finite, little lives in this world to the all-encompassing, Christ-exalting future we have with Him.

In Colossians 3:11, we were given an amazing truth about our lives together as the visible church in the current age when we were told, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” Many times, sad to say, our corporate life together is based more on differences that the unity found in Christ. We pit the young married against the older married. Singles vs. married. Children and students vs. adults. Our lives are wrapped up in difference. We divide up based on who likes K-State and who likes KU (we especially don’t hang out with others that differ from us on game day). But, the reality that is to define us as the people of God is Christ. He is all and He is in all. He is everything.

In the verses that follow v.11, we see how Christ is everything. In Christ, we have characteristics that embody the Gospel (compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience). In Christ, we can put up with one another and forgive one another. In Christ, we have a clear idea of what love is. In Christ, His peace governs our lives. In Christ, the message of the Bible (which magnifies Him from Genesis to maps) indwells us richly and emerges out of our lives. And, really, this vision includes all the we do and say, doing it all in the name of our Lord Jesus, even giving thanks to God the Father because of Him.

Is Christ all for you? Or is your involvement and life in the local church about other things? What keeps you united others? Christ? Or the way they treat you? Christ is all, but Christ is also in the ones who trust Him.

The text gives clear remedies for discerning our hearts…

Are you grateful? Over and over again in this text, we are called to be thankful. Are you grateful for what God has done for you in the Gospel? If you are, then this grateful spirit will translate into healthy body life.

Are you united with others? If Christ is all and in all, then really, you have great reason to stand united with others who hold those same truths. Don’t major on minors. Major on the only thing that matters: Christ.

Are you relating well with others? In the coming weeks in Colossians, Paul will take this central Gospel message and expand its influence to include husbands, wives, children, parents, slaves, masters and outsiders. Is Christ seen as your all in this relationships?

Let’s glorify and enjoy God forever by being a people formed by Jesus so that it may be said of us, “Christ is all and in all.”

Further Idolatry Findings…

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In Colossians 3 Paul tells those believers who are united to Christ to seek the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. In Colossians 3:5-6, consistent with this seeking is a call to put to death, among others things “covetousness, which is idolatry.” You might not think that idolatry is something that believers struggle with, but even John, when writing 1 John to give assurance to believers, closes with an appeal “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

Related to this was a post on the DG Blog, 13 Questions to Diagnose Your Idolatries. Here’s the questions they give:

1. What do you most highly value?
2. What do you think about by default?
3. What is your highest goal?
4. To what or whom are you most committed?
5. Who or what do you love the most?
6. Who or what do you trust or depend upon the most?
7. Who or what do you fear the most?
8. Who or what do you hope in and hope for most?
9. Who or what do you desire the most? Or, what desire makes you most angry or makes you despair when it is not satisfied?
10. Who or what do you most delight in or hold as your greatest joy and treasure?
11. Who or what captures your greatest zeal?
12. To whom or for what are you most thankful?
13. For whom or what great purpose do you work?

Use these to evaluate your heart and flee idolatry.

Weekend Recap – Indwelling Word

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Today’s sermon, Richly Indwelt, from Colossians 3:16 is now online. I thought we had a great morning digging into God’s Word and seeing how the indwelling Word overflows out of our lives in teaching, admonishing and singing.

We also got the pleasure of sending Elrond and Sheree Wedel off for an exciting ministry opportunity in Arizona. They will be going to serve the needs of a Christian school out there. They will finish packing up this week and leave later. Continue to pray for God’s prospering of them.

Tonight we also had a great time studying Thabiti’s book, What is a Healthy Church Member, chapter 2, – Biblical Theologian. My small group enjoyed some profitable discussion and striving to know God through His Word and had sweet prayer for one another. So, I’m really full tonight with blessings from the Lord. Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Prep – On the Rebuke

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This week, d.v., we get to look at Colossians 3:16 and the call to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN ALL WISDOM…(emphasis mine). I’ve been thinking a lot in prepping this sermon what it looks like to teach in all wisdom or admonish in all wisdom (since the phrase “in all wisdom” modifies both the teaching and admonishing). You would be greatly helped, as you consider these things to check out Kevin DeYoung‘s 3 Part Series on the Ministry of Rebuke, which just finished today. We all have tendencies and I think reading words in Scripture to admonish one another sends some out with excitement and some out with fear and trembling. DeYoung’s posts have 20 points under 4 headings: why we rebuke, when to rebuke, how to rebuke, and how to receive rebuke. Hope this helps you think and prepare for this weekend.

Weekend Recap – Reconciliation

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Another Lord’s Day has come and gone. Seemed like the theme of reconciliation or peace with God was in the atmosphere here today.

In the AM, we looked at Colossians 3:15 (sermon: Rule of Peace) and the call to let peace rule in our lives. We can put this on with confidence because of all that Jesus has done to make us right with God.

In the PM, we looked at Exodus 25:8-22 and how Jesus is seen in the tabernacle (sermon: Tabernacle). This sermon showed how God came near to us in Christ and even removed the separation spoken of in the tabernacle through Jesus’ work on the cross.

It was a great Lord’s Day. What stood out to anyone out there?

Eyelids Testing…

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Having a four and two year old in the house can create some fun situations. This week, Meg is working on potty training Gabe and when she’s in the bathroom with him (and Andrew knows that no one is there to stop him) he raids the pantry. On Monday, he downed a container of chocolate chip cookies. Yesterday, it was something else.

Today, I was working through a Psalm of the Day, Psalm 11, and read the following:

The Lord is in His holy temple;
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man. (v.4)

I wondered immediately, what does this mean that “His eyelids test the children of man”? How do eyelids test or assess? The answer is found back in my opening illustration. What do you do when you think God won’t see (i.e. you think His eyelids are shut)? v.5 continues:

The Lord tests His righteous,
but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

These anthropomorphisms (attributing earthly characteristics to God) are the Psalmists way of helping us see our constant accountability before our Maker. What does God see? Everything. Therefore, let’s live before this Holy One in a way that brings glory to Him.

Father, You are holy and Your eyes see everything about us. Let us take refuge in You and live for You because You are righteous and You love righteous deeds. And, let all the upright behold Your face. May we live our lives in ways that make You glorious. In Jesus’ name. Amen.