Emmanuel Ministries Notes 11/01/09

Sunday was the final message in the worship series. The time of ministry was good and the people were attentive.

The outline below is followed by the streaming message and a link to download if you wish. The message was cut short due to some type of technical difficulties.

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¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3.11-17 ESV)

BACKGROUND (v.11)-

(Previous to verse 11, Paul outlines past behaviors [negatives] that need to be put away)

In Christ we have no divisions:

• 1 Corinthians 1.10, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (ESV)
• National: not Greek or Jew (American, Mexican, Honduran, Russian, Chinese, etc), but Christian
• Religious: religious rituals do not define us, our place in Christ does
• Cultural: (barbarian- anyone foreign to Greek culture; Scythian- considered wild, savage nomads)
• Economic/Social: whether wealthy or in poverty, Christ unites Christians
• Galatians 3.28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Christ is all and in all:

• As Christians we share the same Spirit: Ephesians 4.4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (ESV)
• Christ broke down all divisions between Christians through His sacrifice

All this opens up the next section, a part of Scripture encouraging Christians to be Christlike…

GOD’S CHOSEN (v.12-15)

As His Chosen Ones:

• Paul calls Christians “holy and beloved”- this language ties in God’s description of Israel as His possession in the Old Testament and of Jesus in the New Testament

- meaning Christians are His possession, His people

- we’re to be reflections of Christ & our relationship with God a reflection of the Father with Christ

- as such, we should display the fruit of our place in Christ

Acting as His Chosen Ones:

• Paul outlines several positive characteristics (the fruit)

- compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience

- all in line with Galatians 5.22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (ESV)

• Paul emphasizes forgiveness and love

- Reflecting the character of Christ (Luke 23.34, from the cross says, “Father forgive them…”)

- Based on God’s forgiveness of us- being forgiven, forgive.

- Peter asked how many times to forgive; Jesus answered “seventy times seven times” literally meaning be always ready to forgive. No limits.

- Love is what is most important, (1 Corinthians 13.13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”)

- Some make a case that Galatians 5.22 is all really about love; everything that follows is a fruit of love: the fruit of the spirit. 1 Corinthians 13. 4-7 actually compares very well with Galatians 5.22

- This will bring the peace of Christ- the closer we are to Christ, the closer we are to each other

- Thankfulness should be the result of this place in Christ

CHRIST’S WORD (v.16-17)

• As the Word of Christ is part of our lives (studying, praying) we become grateful and thankful to God
• We express this with worship-

- in teaching and wisdom/in song (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs)/with thankfulness

- doing everything in the name of the Lord

Closing: As we find our place in Christ we find our reason to worship Him. God is worthy of our worship. He is the object of our “worth-ship.”

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