Colossians Ch1v28-Ch2v7 - Mature Together

Well, good morning everyone, nice to see you.

Just one other small announcement.

Church Directory and Prayer Diary.

So, there's a copy for each family there on the table as you came in.

It'll just help you know who's around, who's about.

And you can use it as a prayer guide to be praying for one another.

So, that's available this morning as well.

We're looking in Colossians.

So, if you'd like to turn in your Bibles to Colossians.

I haven't got a page number.

If somebody can help me out, if they're using a red-covered Bible.

1182.

There we go.

We're going to start at the end of chapter 1, verse 28.

So, let's hear God's word together.

Colossians 1, starting at verse 28.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,

so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea,

and for all who have not met me personally.

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,

so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,

in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I tell you this, so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

For though I am absent from you in body,

I am present with you in spirit,

and delight to see how disciplined you are,

and how firm your faith in Christ is.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him,

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

and overflowing with thankfulness.

Well, keep your Bibles open.

We're going to pray,

and then look at God's word together.

So let's pray.

Father, thank you for your truth,

for your wisdom,

and for your knowledge that we have just read.

And we ask for your Holy Spirit's power

to help us to be wise in applying your word

and understanding your word.

That it would penetrate deep in our life

so that it would change us

and mould us

and shape us into the people

you have called us

and created us to be.

So do your work in us today,

we pray,

for our good

and your glory.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, what's your purpose?

What's your aim

and your goal in life?

What gets you up in the morning

and drives you through the day?

What are you hoping to achieve?

Or what are you hoping to become?

Maybe your purpose is simply

just to have a happy life.

Maybe your desire is to get married someday.

Maybe your aim is to be successful

and financially stable.

Or maybe your goal in life

is just to be a good person,

a good friend,

a good parent.

What are you seeking to achieve or become?

Well, in our reading,

we discovered that the Apostle Paul,

who's writing to a church in Colossae,

tells us what his purpose in life is.

It comes in the end of verse 28.

He says that we,

speaking of him and his fellow workers,

that we may present everyone

fully mature in Christ.

That's his aim.

That's his goal.

That's his purpose.

To present everyone

fully mature in Christ.

It's a wonderful picture.

He's looking forward to the end of time

when we will all stand before God.

And his aim is to present to God

the church in Colossae

as Christ-like.

His purpose is to present them to God

as ready and acceptable to God.

It's a bit like a bride on her wedding day.

Not that I know from experience,

but for those brides who do get married,

they spend their day getting their hair done,

hours upon hours.

Then the nails get done.

Then it's the makeup

and then it's the dress fitting

and it takes such an age.

Why?

Because they're getting themselves

presentable,

to be acceptable,

to be made beautiful.

Well, that's Paul's purpose here.

He wants to present the church,

the people of God,

as beautiful,

acceptable,

that they would be Christ-like

before God.

That's my aim, he says.

That's my goal,

to present you

mature in Christ.

Now let's go back to the question

we asked ourselves at the beginning.

What's our goal

and our aim and purpose

in life?

It's quite a challenge,

isn't it?

I don't think.

Maybe you did.

I certainly didn't wake up

this morning,

even having prepared

all this,

thinking,

I must become mature

in Christ.

I had a lot of other things

in my mind.

So,

let's think about

what it is

to be mature

in Christ together.

It's a great goal

and it's a great purpose.

But maybe you're thinking,

look,

there's no way

I could ever

become mature

in Christ.

There's not a chance

that I could be made

acceptable before God.

I mean,

if you could see my life,

it's a mess.

It's one failure

after another.

Maybe it's possible

for some people,

but it's certainly

not for me.

Well,

look carefully

at what it says

in verse 28.

What did he say?

To present who?

everyone

mature in Christ.

Everyone means

anyone

can be made

presentable.

It doesn't matter

who you are

or what you've done

or where you come from.

you can become

mature in Christ.

And let's be clear,

it's also guaranteed.

The purpose,

again,

verse 28,

is to present

everyone

fully

mature

in Christ.

A bit behind

the slides there.

To present

everyone

fully

mature in Christ.

on the last

day

as you stand

before God,

you will be

not

partly

acceptable,

not

halfway there,

but that you

would be

completely

presentable.

You see,

messy people

like us

can be

made

fully

mature

in Christ.

We can be

made

beautiful

and

acceptable

before God.

So how do we

become mature

in Christ?

Well,

three things we're

going to look at

that are going to

show us

how people

like us

can become

mature

before God.

three things.

We believe

the message

of Christ,

we share

the treasures

in Christ,

and we

continue the

walk

with Christ.

So first,

to be made

mature,

we believe

the message

of Christ.

Let's read

all of verse

28.

He is the one

we proclaim

admonishing

and teaching

everyone

with all wisdom

so that we

may present

everyone

fully mature

in Christ.

You see,

to become

mature,

we believe

the message.

That's what it

says at the

beginning of

verse 28.

He,

that is,

Christ,

is the one

we proclaim.

It's not that

Paul has some

special power

to magically

make everybody

mature,

as if he

stands over

people and

raises his

hands and

goes,

you are

mature in

Christ,

and zap,

just like that

it happens.

No,

he simply

proclaims the

message of

Christ.

Do you

remember what

the message of

Christ is?

Have a look

back at

chapter 1,

verse 21.

Verse 21,

he says,

once you

were alienated,

alienated,

that is,

you were

separated from

God and

were enemies

in your

minds because

of your

evil behaviour,

but now,

so God

has done

something,

he has

reconciled

you,

he's brought

you back

into relationship

with God

by Christ's

physical body

through death

to present

you wholly

in his

sight,

without

blemish,

and free

from accusation.

Can you

see what's

going on

there?

On the

cross as

Jesus died,

an exchange

takes place.

Christ takes

all our

unholiness,

all our

sinful,

blemished

lives,

and in

its place

he gives

us his

purity,

so that

Christ

can present

us to

God,

how?

Look at

the end

of verse

22,

as holy

in his

sight,

without

blemish,

and free

from

accusation.

You see,

to be

mature in

Christ

is a

status.

It's

something

God

declares

us to

be as

we trust

in Christ.

It's not

something we

earn or

deserve,

it's

something that

God gives

to you,

it's

something we

receive by

faith.

You are

made

mature in

Christ,

you are

made

acceptable,

you are

made

beautiful,

because God

takes the

beauty and

the purity

of Christ

and gives

it to

you.

Now,

that's not

how any

of us

think,

is it?

Our

default

position

is always

to think,

I must

do

something.

Tell me

what it

is that

I have

to do

to make

myself

acceptable

and

beautiful

before

God.

Now,

we've

got to

change

that

kind

of

thinking.

So,

he says,

verse 28,

he says,

we proclaim

Christ

admonishing

and teaching

everyone.

You see,

we always

fall into

this trap

of thinking

that we

have to

do

something,

that if

I put

in the

right kind

of effort,

I will

be

presentable.

No,

we need

to be

admonished

about that.

That means

we need

to be

corrected

about that

wrong

kind of

belief.

We need

to be

taught

with what's

right,

with the

message of

Christ.

So,

imagine

after our

time here

together,

we're back

there having

our tea

and coffee

and someone

comes and

you go to

someone and

you ask

them,

how are

you doing

today?

And they

answer,

I feel

terrible.

My life

is such

a mess.

I fail

so often.

I let

myself

down,

I let

others

down,

I let

God

down.

What are

you going

to say

to them?

Well,

we need

to admonish

one another.

We need

to correct

what we

think we

must do

and instruct

each other

in what

God has

done.

in

Christ

we have

been

reconciled.

We are

now,

if we

are trusting

Christ,

holy in

his sight,

without

blemish,

free from

accusation.

God

makes us

presentable.

He makes

you

beautiful.

God

makes you

acceptable

before him.

now,

all of

this

teaching

requires

great

wisdom,

doesn't

it?

Because

that's

what he

says.

Follow

with me

again,

verse 28.

He's

the one

we

proclaim,

admonishing

and teaching

everyone

with all

wisdom.

You

see,

understanding

and believing

the message

is not

something we

can do

ourselves.

we can't

generate the

power and

say,

yes,

I

understand,

yes,

I

believe.

We need

God's

wisdom,

not our

own,

but his.

And where

does that

wisdom come

from?

Well,

go back

to chapter

1,

verse 9.

The

middle of

verse 9.

He says,

we continually

ask God

to fill

you with

the knowledge

of his

will through

all the

wisdom

and

understanding

that the

Spirit

gives.

You see,

it's the

Holy Spirit

who gives

us wisdom,

who gives

us understanding

about the

message of

Christ.

So we

need to be

asking for

the Spirit's

help to

believe and

apply the

message of

Christ to

our life.

I can't

make anybody

believe,

I can't

make myself

believe,

but the

Spirit at

work in

me helps

me and

enables me

to believe

and to

trust.

That's why

we started

our time

this morning.

Do you

remember the

first thing

Ralph did

was pray

and ask

for God's

help.

As we

began our

study in

Colossians,

we stopped

and we

prayed for

the Holy

Spirit to

help us.

We need

his work

in our

life to

give us

wisdom and

understanding.

healing.

That's how

we together

become mature.

It's not

something we

achieve on

our own,

it's something

that God

does in

us by

his Holy

Spirit.

So first,

how do we

become mature?

We believe

the message

of Christ.

second then,

how do we

become mature?

We share

the treasures

in Christ.

Let's jump

down to

chapter 2

verse 2.

He says,

my goal,

my aim,

my purpose

is that

they may

be

encouraged

in heart

and united

in love

so that

they may

have the

full riches

of complete

understanding

in order

that they

may know

the mystery

of God

namely

Christ

in whom

are hidden

all the

treasures

of wisdom

and knowledge.

Now that's

a really long

complicated

sentence,

isn't it?

It's far

too long.

Well,

for me

anyway.

What's

it saying

to us?

Well,

the big

idea of

these few

verses is

that we

become mature

as we

share the

treasures

that are

found in

Christ.

So let's

kind of

break that

down and

look at

each point

together.

First,

we learn

together.

Let's read

verse 2

again.

My goal

is that

they,

the church,

may be

encouraged

and united

in love.

He wants

the church

to be

together,

encouraging

and united.

Why?

so that

they may

have the

full riches

of complete

understanding.

You see,

the aim

here is

still the

same.

Let's

not lose

the focus.

The aim

is still

that we

would become

fully mature

in Christ.

However,

that's not

something we

do in

isolation.

We learn

together.

It's our

togetherness,

as we are

united together

as God's

people,

that gives

us the

full riches

of complete

understanding.

So you've

probably

experienced

this,

that when

you learn

something,

and you

do it on

your own,

well,

you learn

a little

bit,

don't you?

You learn

something.

But it's

so much

richer and

better when

we are

learning

together.

We gain

so much

more.

You see,

when God

saved us,

he saved

us into

a family,

into his

church.

He gave

to us

brothers and

sisters,

just like

we're gathered

here today.

Because

maturity in

Christ is

not just

an individual

pursuit for

one person

saying,

oh,

that's what

I'm going

to do.

No,

it's a

community

project.

This is

God's

purpose for

us all

together.

And we're

responsible for

one another.

As we

gather here

today,

one of the

reasons why

we're coming

together is

to say,

you know

what,

you're to

become

mature in

Christ,

you're to

become

mature in

Christ,

I'm to

become

mature in

Christ,

and we

can't do

it on

our own.

We need

the support

and the

help of

each other.

So what

do we

learn as

we gather

together?

Well,

we learn

together,

look at the

end of

verse 2,

in order

that we

may know

the mystery

of God,

namely

Christ.

We

gather

together,

we learn

together,

so that

together we

can know

about Christ.

You see,

Christ is

not just

any other

person.

He is

unique.

He's

God.

You see

what it

says there

in verse 2?

That we

would know

the mystery

of God,

namely

Christ.

We

can't

know

about

God

unless

God

reveals

himself

to us.

You

wouldn't

know

anything

about

me

if

you

never

met

me.

Well,

God

has done

that.

He's

revealed

himself

to us

through

Christ.

Look

back at

chapter 1

verse 19.

It says,

God was

pleased

to have

all his

fullness

dwell

in Christ.

All of

God

is in

the person

of Christ.

That's how

unique he

is.

So,

as we're

learning

together,

we're

learning

about

the person

of Christ

who is

God.

He's not

just any

religious

kind of

person.

He is

the one

that we

need to

learn about

and know

about because

there's

nobody

greater

than

God.

In

fact,

Christ

is our

treasure.

Look at

verse 3.

in

Christ

are hidden

all the

treasures

of wisdom

and knowledge.

So,

as we

gather

together,

we're

learning

together

about

Christ

because

in

Christ

are

all the

treasures

of wisdom

and knowledge.

So,

as we

come together,

it's like

a treasure

hunt.

Do you

remember the

movie

The

Goonies

back in

the 80s?

Great movie.

You should

watch it.

A bunch

of kids

discover a

map in

the attic.

Do you

remember the

story?

Their houses

are going to

be taken

away and

they need

money to

make sure

they can

keep them.

And one

of the

kids

finds this

map.

It belongs

to an

old pirate

of a few

hundred years

ago called

One-Eyed

Willie.

And

crucially,

the map

shows where

the pirate

ship is

hidden.

It's called

the Inferno.

And legend

has it that

on board

this ship

is gold.

And so

these kids

take this

map and

the adventure

begins and

they go in

search of

the treasure.

And then

the moment

comes when

they discover

the ship.

And it's

laden down

with gold

and precious

jewels.

Well,

as we

gather

together,

as we

open up

our

Bibles

together,

it's like

we're going

on a

treasure

hunt.

Verse 3,

in Christ

are hidden

all the

treasures

of wisdom

and knowledge.

Christ

is the

treasure.

He's the

one who

gives us

wisdom

and knowledge

about how

to live

our life

before

him.

In other

words,

everything we

need to

become mature

in Christ

is found

in Christ.

Of course,

there will be

lots of other

voices,

lots of other

so-called

wisdom and

knowledge will

say to you,

no, no,

no,

you can do

it yourself.

You don't

need Christ.

You can go

it alone.

verse 4,

I tell you

this so

that no

one may

deceive you

by fine

sounding

arguments.

Other people

will say,

you've got

the wisdom

within

yourself.

You've got

the knowledge

within

yourself.

But don't

be deceived

by fine

sounding

arguments.

The

treasure,

the wisdom

and knowledge

that we

need to

live life

God's

way is

found in

him.

Now,

when we've

got this

treasure,

we're to

share the

treasure with

one another,

aren't we?

That's the

whole point

of those

few verses.

Isn't that

what Paul

did back

in verse

28?

He had

the treasure

and he

says,

I proclaim

Christ to

you,

admonishing

and teaching

everyone with

all wisdom.

He shared

the treasure.

And that's

exactly what

we're to

do.

Just have

a flick

over the

page to

chapter 3

verse 16.

It's

almost

identical

to what

Paul said

in chapter

1 verse

28.

Do you

see what

it says?

Verse 16,

chapter 3

verse 16,

let the

message of

Christ

dwell

among you

richly

as you

teach and

admonish

one another

with all

wisdom.

In other

words,

it's telling

us,

share the

treasures

of Christ,

the message

of Christ,

the word

of Christ.

Teach

and admonish

one another,

share with

each other

the wisdom

that Christ

gives,

so that

together

we can live

the life

God calls

us to.

You have

it.

The treasures

are here

in God's

word.

It's like

a treasure

hunt.

So many

jewels,

so many

precious

stones,

so much

to share.

That's how

we become

mature in

Christ.

We learn

together

and pass

God's

truth to

one another.

So second,

share the

treasures

in Christ.

And third,

continue the

walk with

Christ.

Continue the

walk with

Christ.

Go back

to chapter

2,

verse 6.

So then,

just as

you received

Christ Jesus

as Lord,

continue to

live your

lives in

him.

Christ.

You see,

we become

mature in

Christ as

we walk

with Christ.

As you

continue to

live your

lives in

him.

Literally,

it means

continue to

walk with

him.

You started

your life

walking with

Christ,

now continue

walking with

Christ.

You believed

in the message

of Christ,

Christ.

Now continue

to believe

the message

of Christ.

You've

received the

treasures of

Christ,

now continue

in the

treasures of

Christ.

Don't move

on to

something else

or someone

else.

So what's

it going to

look like for

us together

to walk

with Christ?

Well,

three things

that we can

do together.

first,

to be

rooted in

Christ.

Let's read

verse 6

again.

So then,

just as you

received Christ,

Jesus as

Lord,

continue to

live your

lives in

him,

rooted and

built up

in him.

Well,

a tree that

sends down

its roots

deep is a

tree that's

going to

grow,

isn't it?

the deeper

the roots,

the taller

the tree.

Well,

together we

are to send

our roots

deep into

the word

of Christ.

We need

to be

intentional

about knowing

the word of

Christ.

We need

together to

search the

treasures of

Christ.

How do we

do that?

Well,

by opening

up our

Bibles and

reading it.

Asking God

to give you

understanding.

That's what

we are doing

together now.

This is why

we encourage

it on a

Wednesday to

meet together.

And if you

can't meet

Wednesday,

meet up with

somebody during

the week.

Come and

talk to me.

I'd be very

happy to meet

with you.

To read

God's word.

To go

deeper.

To get

rooted in

Christ.

So that we

become strong

and stable.

So as we

walk with

Christ,

let's

encourage one

another to

be rooted

in Christ.

A tree

without roots

is going to

die and

topple over.

So if we're

not rooted

and connected

in God's

word,

we're going

to fall over

with the first

bit of storm

or trial that

comes.

So let's

encourage each

other to be

rooted in

Christ.

second,

to be

strengthened

by Christ.

He says we

are to be

rooted and

built up in

him and

strengthened in

the faith as

you were

taught.

Sometimes when

we're talking

about faith,

it refers to

our trust in

Christ.

Other times,

the word

faith refers to

the whole

teaching of

scripture.

And I

think that's

the case

here in

verse 7,

when it

says,

strengthened in

the faith as

you were

taught.

So how

are we going

to be

strengthened?

Well, we

need to be

people who

teach the

word about

Christ to

each other.

Okay, I

might be

teaching this

morning, but

that doesn't

mean to say

we can't all

teach each

other.

We're all

to be

teachers and

encouragers

building each

other up with

God's word.

That's what we

do over tea

and coffee.

We ask each

other questions,

we find out

how we're

doing, so

that we can

strengthen each

other.

Maybe you

read something

this week in

the Bible that

was encouraging

to you.

Why can't we

share that with

somebody else and

say, you know

what, I read

this and it

really encouraged

me.

can't we

share this

treasure with

one another?

Going to

church, meeting

with each other

is like going

to the gym.

You go to the

gym to work

out to become

strong physically.

Can't you see?

No?

And we need to

be strong

spiritually as

well, don't

we?

And as we're

taught in

God's word, so

we strengthen

ourselves.

Instead of

getting knocked

off course, we

continue to walk

with Christ.

So let's

encourage one

another to be

strengthened.

And then

lastly, to be

thankful for

Christ.

Let me read

verse 6 and

7 together.

So then, just

as you

received Christ,

continue to

live your

lives in

Christ, rooted

and built

up in

Christ,

strengthened in

the faith as

you were

taught, and

overflowing with

thankfulness.

And we could

add there, for

Christ.

You see, when

you thank

someone, do you

realise what's

happening when

you thank

somebody.

You're actually

rehearsing

everything that

they have done

for you.

It's a retelling,

it's a reminder

of what they've

done.

So I had to

say thank you

to Christy,

well I have to

say thank you

to Christy

lots of times.

But on this

occasion it was

saying thank you

Christy so much

for getting the

car sorted,

for booking

the NCT,

for getting it

sorted at the

garage, for

getting the car

filled

up with

petrol.

Thank you, I'm

so thankful.

But you see, in

the process of

giving thanks, I'm

reminding myself

all over again of

everything that

Christy has done.

How much more

vital is it to be

overflowing with

thankfulness for

all that Christ

has done?

Because as we

thank God, we're

rehearsing, we're

reminding ourselves of

all he's done for

us.

Thank you, Lord

Jesus, for your

grace to me.

thank you for

dying in my

place.

Thank you for

taking my

unholiness and

my blemishes and

my guilt and

suffering the

judgment I

deserve.

Thank you that

by faith I

receive your

life, your

purity, and

that you make me

acceptable and

beautiful and

presentable before

before God.

Thank you, Jesus,

that you can take

someone like me

and make me

beautiful, that

you can make me

fully mature in

Christ.

Can you see how

overflowing with

thankfulness retells

the story of what

God has done for

you?

So as we walk

with Christ,

let's be rooted

in Christ.

Let's be

strengthened by

Christ.

And let's

overflow in

thankfulness for

Christ.

And together,

as we share

these treasures,

we become

more mature,

we become

presentable

before God.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Thank you,

Father God,

for all that you

have done for us,

for taking the

initiative,

for intervening

into our life,

for giving us

Jesus,

so that we

can be

presentable

before you.

Thank you

that now,

as we trust

in Christ,

you look at

us as holy

and blameless

in your sight.

Thank you

for that

wonderful gift.

and please

help us

that we

would go on

sharing these

treasures with

one another

and that

together we

would walk

with each

other as

we walk

with Christ,

building each

other up,

strengthening

each other,

and together

overflowing

in thankfulness.

We praise you

for what you

have done

and what you

are doing

in us

today.

In Jesus'

name,

Amen.

Well,

we're going

to sing

together.

When you

should all

know,

be thou my

vision.

There's a

verse just

to draw your

attention to.

Comes

towards the

end there,

you can see.

riches I

heed not,

nor man's

empty praise,

thou mine

inheritance now

and always,

thou and

thou only,

first in

my heart,

high king

of heaven,

my treasure

thou art.

If you

are trusting

in Christ,

well then

you'll want

to sing

this song.

Let's

stand together

if we're able