From One Degree to Another

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Weekend Recap – Jesus, Sin and the Law

July 18, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Well, another Sunday has come and gone, by God’s grace.

In the AM, we looked at Colossians 3:8-10 in a sermon entitled Put Away Sin. We saw three truths, specifically, in seeking to deal with sin:
1) We must deal with it urgently
2) Sin makes us look life how we were before Christ
3) Our new self is being renewed by God and conformed to Christ
As we seek to practice this, there is much reason to hope, because of passages like Titus 2:11-14 and the work that God is accomplishing in His children to renew them.

In the PM, springing out of Exodus 20:1-20, we saw how the 10 Commandments really point to Jesus (the sermon’s title was Jesus and the Ten Commandments). Jesus perfectly embodied what God wanted to accomplish in the Law, establishing a people that live for Him. We can’t keep the Law, but in the new covenant, we are changed to be enabled to obey. To put it simply, the 10 Commandments drive us to find our hope in Jesus and the Gospel.

I hope you had a great Lord’s Day. Let’s live out the truth of what we’ve seen.

Filed Under: Colossians, Jesus in the OT, Weekend Recap

Killing Sin?…Good…Remember the next verses…

July 12, 2010 by Phil Auxier

I hope you were encouraged and moved to action by the Holy Spirit as you heard yesterday’s sermon, Kill Sin, from Colossians 3:5-7. I’ve already gotten some emails from people this morning demonstrating fruit from yesterday’s emphasis. They realize their weakness and want to make headway in pursuing godliness.

It’s so easy, though, to drift into self-righteousness when we are putting our killing sin into practice. How do I know this is a tendency? Because of what comes out of my mouth. Paul must have realized this too, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he continues in Colossians 3:8-10:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

It is out of the heart that the mouth speaks. And what comes out of our mouth (or emails, twitter feeds, voicemails, blogs) can either demonstrate what we are putting away or putting on. Therefore, as you speak this week, remember to speak in a way that is not full of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, or lying to one another. These things are incompatible with someone killing sin. But let’s be characterized by speaking truth to one another in ways that build up for edification. This will show that we are putting on the new self and, indeed, being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator. He’s the One we want to live for anyway. Remember this, then, as you seek to put into practice killing sin: put away speaking in a way that’s not helpful.

Filed Under: Colossians, mortification, Speech

Weekend Recap – Kill Sin

July 11, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Today’s sermon, Kill Sin, from Colossians 3:5-7 is online. I felt refreshed in the pulpit with much liberty and thought we had a great morning. We sang songs that boasted in what God has done to save us. We looked into God’s Word and found that our hope must be in nothing other than Jesus. Our position in Him enables us to kill sin.

The applications for believers were:
1) Remember your position – we can’t fight sin apart from who we are in Christ
2) Remember your calling – we are called to kill sin, not delay its execution
3) Get help – We have both the Holy Spirit and the local church to help us in killing the sin in our lives. Let’s avail ourselves to them.

Filed Under: Colossians, mortification, Weekend Recap

Covetousness, which is idolatry…

July 5, 2010 by Phil Auxier

From our church’s current newsletter, an article I wrote:

As a church we place God’s Word at the center of all that we are. We exist to glorify God and enjoy Him forever and we know how to do this by what God has revealed to us in His Word. During our Sunday morning worship gatherings, we have been looking at the book of Colossians which is rich in telling us much about Jesus Christ and our relationship to Him. We are looking at that section in chapter 3 about putting off certain things and putting on others. In Colossians 3:5, we read: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” For the past few weeks, we have been memorizing the Ten Commandments and the last one is “you shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17). But Paul ups the ante a bit and tells us that covetousness is really idolatry.

Many of us don’t think we struggle with idolatry. We picture some Old Testament buffoon bowing down at some golden calf or other image. But, Paul says that the problem of idolatry isn’t so much about the outward stuff as much as the inward desires and cravings or, to put it like he did, what we covet. In his recent book, Gospel in Life, Tim Keller writes: “Why do we lie, or fail to love, or break our promises, or live selfishly? Of course, the general answer is “Because we are weak and sinful,” but the specific answer is that there is something besides Jesus Christ that we feel we must have to be happy, something that is more important to our heart that God, something that is enslaving our heart through inordinate desires. The key to change (and even to self-understanding) is therefore to identify the idols of the heart.”

He continues: “We often don’t go deeply enough to analyze our idol-structures. For example, ‘money’ is of course an idol; yet, in another sense, money can be sought to satisfy other very different idols. That is, some people want money in order to control their world and life (such people usually don’t spend their money, but save it), while others want money for access to social circles and for making themselves beautiful and attractive (such people do spend their money on themselves).” Richard Keyes in his essay The Idol Factory notes, “All sorts of things are potential idols… if this is so, how do we determine when something is becoming or has become an idol?… As soon as our loyalty to anything leads us to disobey God, we are in danger of making it an idol… An idol can be a physical object, a property, a person, an activity, a role, an institution, a hope, an image, an idea, a pleasure, a hero…
• Work, a commandment of God, can become an idol if it is pursued so exclusively that responsibilities to one’s family are ignored.
• Family, an institution of God Himself, can become an idol if one is so preoccupied with the family that no one outside of one’s own family is cared for.
• Being well-liked, a perfectly legitimate hope, becomes an idol if the attachment to it means that one never risks disapproval.”

To help identify idols in our lives, on top of the above info, Keller gives the following questions: 1) What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about the most? 2) What do I rely on or comfort myself with when things go badly or become difficult? 3) What makes me feel the most self-worth? What am I the proudest of? 4) What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?

There are various ways to deal with idols, but the Gospel solution is the only one that will produce lasting change. Simply repent and rejoice. Repent or turn from that idol and rejoice or delight in the all satisfying-ness of Jesus. In The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, Thomas Chalmers writes, “The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one… It is when admitted into the number of God’s children, through the faith that is in Jesus Christ, that the spirit of adoption is poured upon us—it is then that the heart, brought under the mastery of one great and predominant affection, is delivered from the tyranny of its former desires, and is the only way in which deliverance is possible.” Let’s escape covetousness, which is idolatry, then, by clinging to the greatest of all possible good – Jesus Christ our Lord. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:20-21).

Filed Under: Colossians, Edifier, idolatry

Weekend Recap – Patriotic and Putting on Christ

July 4, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Had a good Lord’s Day, even though it was kind of dreary with the rain, rain, rain. The sermon, Put on Christ, from Colossians 3:5-17 is now online. The sermon really highlighted how we need to put off the things of earth and put on characteristics associated with Christ.

It was nice to be back in the pulpit after vacation. And it was good to reflect on God’s kindness to those of us who live in America, realizing the freedoms we have been given. My heart was drawn to think of the other nations who need to hear of the freedom we have in Christ. All in all, it was an edifying day. Here’s how Platt put it:

Let’s live for the gospel to spread to all nations more than we long to be safe, secure, & satisfied in our own nation.

As Christ died to make men holy, let us live to make men free, while God is marching on…

Filed Under: Colossians, Weekend Recap

Weekend Prep – Put to Death/Put On

July 1, 2010 by Phil Auxier

In thinking about the coming Lord’s Day (July 4), I found this post from Ray Van Neste helpful on following the Trinity Psalter’s recommendation to sing Psalm 46 to the tune of America the Beautiful. Maybe you could use this in your own preparation for worship this weekend.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and our strength,
In straits a present aid;
2 and, therefore, tho’ the Earth remove
We will not be afraid;
Tho’ hills amidst the seas be cast,
3 tho’ troubled waters roar,
Yea, tho’ the swelling Billows shake
The mountains on the shore.

4 A river is whose streams make glad
The city of our God,
The holy place wherein the Lord
Most High has His abode.
5 Yea, God is in the midst of her;
Unmoved she stands alway;
And God will surely grant her help
Before the break of day.

6 The nations raged; the
Kingdoms moved;
And when the earth had heard
The mighty voice He sent abroad
It melted at His word.
7 The LORD of hosts is on our side
Our safety to secure;
The God of Jacob is for us
A refuge strong and sure.

8 O come, behold what Wondrous works
Have by the LORD been wrought;
Come, see what desolations great
He on the earth has brought.
9 To utmost ends of all the earth
Wars unto peace He turns;
The bow He breaks, the spear He cuts,
In fire the char-iot burns.

10 Be still and know that I am God;
Among the nations I
Will be exalted; I on earth
Will be exalted high.
11 The LORD of hosts is on our side.
Our safety to secure;
The God of Jacob is for us
A refuge strong and sure.

As for us, our morning service will direct us into Colossians 3:5-17, where I intend to survey these verses for practical ways to seek the things that are above.

We will have no service in the evening in light of the holiday.

Filed Under: Colossians, Psalms, Weekend Preview

Weekend Recap – Appear

June 21, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Yesterday’s sermon, Appear, from Colossians 3:3-4 is now online. Coupled with Colossians 3:1-2, these verses form the foundation for all the practical exhortations found in chapters 3 and 4. It was a full and glorious Lord’s day.

I really sensed, in my own heart, that I am much to wrapped up in the here and now and not focused and devoted to the lasting, permanent realities found in Christ. I must cling to Him.

Filed Under: Colossians, Jesus' return, Weekend Recap

Looking heavenward because our future is so bright…

June 19, 2010 by Phil Auxier

As we prep for Sunday morning, there is great grace for us in Colossians 3:3-4. We will be thinking about the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ someday. I am anticipating a great Lord’s day. I hope there is much encouragement to be had for us as a people in light of the great truths we will see if God’s Word. In preparation, read back over Colossians 1 and 2 and then these first verses of chapter 3 and have your heart ready to receive from Him.

Filed Under: Colossians, eschatology, Weekend Preview

Weekend Recap – Above

June 14, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Yesterday’s sermon, Above, from Colossians 3:1-2 is online. I thought we had a great day, exploring what it means to seek the things above as those raised with Christ. Then, in the evening, we spent time exploring forgiveness in the Gospel Centered Life curriculum.

Yesterday morning, I was struck with a call to…

Trust in Christ – Christ is ruling from heaven at God’s right hand. Therefore, we should bow to His sovereignty by trusting in Him.

Christocentricity – I borrowed this term from Sam Storms. What it means is: center in Christ. Make Him the center of all you are.

Look heavenward – we must get our eyes off of the here and now and focus on the eternal.

I hope you are encouraged to seek the things above.

Filed Under: Colossians, Heaven, Weekend Recap

Weekend Preview – Seek Above Things.

June 10, 2010 by Phil Auxier

This coming Lord’s Day, Lord willing, we will be in Colossians 3:1-2, looking at how we are to seek the above things. Spurgeon had an excellent sermon on this entitled Following the Risen Christ. If you can take time to read this, it will certainly whet your appetite for this coming Lord’s Day. Either way, hope to see you here.

Filed Under: Colossians, Resurrection, Weekend Preview

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From One Degree To Another?

Yeah, that's right. My one, consuming passion is Jesus Christ, my Lord. I'm totally gripped by one message: the Gospel - the good news that God came after me when I was far from Him. So, the life I live, I live by faith in Him: He loved me and gave Himself for me.

From One Degree To Another is the change that He's accomplishing in me by grace. Growing downward in humility, upward into Him, outward toward others, and inward with renewal characterize my existence.

This site is where I flesh all of these types of things out, including my life as a slave to Jesus, husband, father, coffee-enjoyer, and pastor. I hope it encourages you.

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