"The Credentials of the Christian"
"A Life worth living"
Text: Colossians 2: 1-3
Intro: Man was created with a built in instinct to seach for God,.
However, most fill this desire with possessions, money,
sex, drugs, alcohol, entertainment, education and even
religion. None of these are sufficient to satisfy.
C.S. Lewis: "if we find within us a desire that nothing in this
world can satisfy, then we should begin to wonder whether
we were not created for another world". As Bible believers
we should know where to find the truth. In this chapter,
Paul speaks of this life: it's characteristics, and qualities.
They are:
I. THE CONFLICTS THAT GIVE LIFE IT'S PURPOSE
Paul speaks of conflicts and struggles in life, labor, and love for
the Lord. Gives the idea that these conflicts give life it's purpose
and validity.
A) There are conflicts to be Endured (vs 1)
the word "conflict" is a graphic word and comes from the root
word we get the word "agony". Speaks of intense effort. Not
just struggle, but suffering and sharing pain. As Christians
we are called upon to share in pain of caring, concern, and
compassion.
B) There are conflicts to be Expected
one truth often overlooked in scripture is the one about our
suffering. We are called upon to suffer. We are expected to
enlist in the school of hard knocks, hard times, andhard
people. Vs 1b, Paul says "have not seen my face", but He is
still enduring and embracing great conflicts for them
II. THE CHRIST THAT GIVES LIFE IT'S POWER
vs 2 speaks of strength that we find in the midst of conflicts.
And the emphasis here is on congregational, not individual.
What does that say for people who kick out of church during the
hard times. Strength is the collective body of believers.
A) He is the Tie that binds (vs 2) "that their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love")
This is a beautiful aspect. We are saved by grace, same ground,
same goal, same God. The word "comforted" means "encour-
aged" or "strengthened". Means "called to one's side" and
the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit (comforter).
The phrase "knit together" means "interlaced" or "united or
joined inseparably". Organizational unity or conformity with-
out love is like lifeless bones or skeleton,. We should come
to the house of God to feel the Spirit of God and be fed from
the Word of God and to love the people of God.
B) He is the Truth that blesses (vs 2) "that their hearts might
be comforted, being knit together in love") speaks of what takes
place when believers are "comforted" and "knit together". The
result is "all the riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, andof the Father,
and of the Christ". Where there is charity, there will be unity.
The word "assurance" means "conviction". The problem today
is religious ritual, religious rhetoric, and the same old routiine.
When there is a life to receive, there is a truth to believe, and
there is a way to achieve.
III. THE CLOSURE THAT GIVES LIFE PEACE
Why am I here? Everybody today wants and speaks of closure.
There is no closure for eternity unless a person accepts Jesus
Christ as their Savour. Only this brings closure and peace.
A) Closure in the Wealth Reserved for us (vs 3)
"treasures" means "storehouse"
the word "hid" means "laid up or "reserved"
all of our inheritance is laid up or reserved in heaven.
B) Closure in the Worth Revealed to us (vs 3)
"wisdom and knowledge"
wisdom is not knowing everything, but knowing where to find
everything. We can find out and discover how we should grow,
what we should know, and where we should go.
This is the missing piece to the puzzle of man's life.