Bible Study - Share (4) - Live the Message- Colossians 31-3, 12-17 - May 16, 2021

 Bible Study – Share (4) – Live the Message – May 16, 2021

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “How to Share CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is Colossians 3:1-3, 12-17.

How we live reflects on the message we share.

Living for JESUS is critical. All Spirit-born Christians have a testimony of their conversion experience. To some it was instant and miraculous and to others it was like the dawning of a new day. The light of the sun slowly began to penetrate the darkness of the night and continued to shed more light as the day overtook the night, until a person is in the fulness of the day. Regardless of your conversion experience, your testimony is personal and powerful.

Once a person’s life has been changed by the presence of JESUS in his or her life, how and where he or she lives is vital. Once converted from a life doomed to eternal death to eternal life, how the Spirit-born Christian lives shines the light of CHRIST to those who live in the darkness of sin. The lives of Spirit-born Christians should be such that their lives are a beacon to those who are lost in the storms of life and add salt to make life upon earth savory and thirst for what Spirit-born Christians have in JESUS. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Colossians 3:1-3:

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

The Apostle Paul used the word “so” which carries the meaning of “therefore” or “then” which connects what Paul wrote in chapters 1 and 2 to verse 3. Also, Paul used the word “if.” “If” can be translated “since,” therefore since “you have been raised with Christ,” the tense of the verb indicates a past completed action with continuing or ongoing results:

-         seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

-         ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

-         ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

In essence, when JESUS gave HIS sinless physical life upon the cross, all who place their faith in HIM, also died with HIM. They ascended with HIM into Heaven and were resurrected with HIM on the third day. The difference being, JESUS was resurrected with HIS Glorified body and Spirit-born Christians are waiting for their Glorified bodies which we will receive at the second coming of JESUS.

Does this mean Spirit-born Christians will be disembodied Spirits when they exit their earth suits/human body upon physical death? NO!

All Spirit-born Christians will not be found naked in this interim period between physical death and their sojourn in Heaven until JESUS returns to earth at the rapture of all Christians from earth.

It is GOD WHO fashions a special Spiritual body for all Spirit-born Christians. This tent or building made by GOD will serve Spirit-born Christians and will be revealed to the heavenly hosts the instant they exit their earth suits. This special Spirit Body will be used while they are in Heaven waiting for the second coming of JESUS.

Consider 2 Corinthians 5:1-5:

5 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in (human body) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[a] we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit (Holy Spirit) as a down payment.

Spirit-born Christians who are alive upon earth at the second coming of JESUS will be changed in the twinkling of the eye. Those who have entered Heaven prior to the second-coming of JESUS will follow JESUS and receive their Glorified body at the rapture, as the Apostle Paul explains in the following scripture ------

In First Thessalonians 4:13-18:

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep (physical death), so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep (physical death). ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (physical death). ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[e] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[f] one another with these words.

Spirit-born Christians are in the full and complete care of GOD. Our part is to say to HIM, “Here I am FATHER, use me to reach others with the Good News of JESUS. As Spirit-born Christians, help us to take off our old clothes of our flesh and put on our new clothes of righteousness through our faith in JESUS.” It is a process of renewing our minds from minds of flesh to minds of the Spirit. Satan wants us to keep our old clothes on; our old mindsets and not experience our new lives in JESUS. Where is your mind set? Is it upon the things earth has to offer or upon that which GOD offers? Scripture reveals to us in Romans 12:2:

² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Let’s read again verses 1-3: So, if (therefore since) you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

In essence, all Spirit-born believers, through faith in JESUS, already reside in Heaven. We are gifted by GOD with Spiritual Gifts to be used to minister upon earth.

How can I write such a thing? Let’s see what scripture has to say:

Philippians 3:20:

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5:

5 For we know that if our earthly tent (human body) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[a] we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit (The Holy Spirit) as a down payment.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they found themselves naked. Why? It was because of their sin. When we accept JESUS as our Savior, we are clothed in HIS righteousness – note verse 3 in the scripture just read.

2 Corinthians 5:20:

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

An ambassador lives in a foreign country but represents his or her home country.

At GOD’S choosing, HE will call us home through physical death or come gather us via the rapture. Spirit-born Christian’s citizenship is with GOD in Heaven. WOW!!! What about that!

Isn’t that Good News and an incentive for all Spirit-born Christians to spread the Good News of salvation through faith in CHRIST to others? When we accepted JESUS as our Savior, we died and in essence ascended to Heaven. GOD sent us back to be HIS representatives/ambassadors upon earth. All Spirit-born Christians are called for a purpose. What are we called to do?

Let’s read Colossians 3:12-15:

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 

As “chosen ones.” When were we chosen? My fav – Ephesians 1:4 – ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 

Spirit-born Christians are to walk their talk and that is impossible without living in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to put on; compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, put on love, which is the bond of unity, let the peace of CHRIST rule our hearts with thanksgiving.

Spirit-born Christians still make choices. GOD does not make us robots but gives us choices. Choose wisely my friends!

As newborns, in CHRIST, our old clothes no longer fit. We have new clothes. Our old clothes are as filthy rags. Our new clothes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and GOD’S Word. Folks, it is time to get dressed up in our new clothes and let our lights shine, our saltiness add flavor and the fragrance of the LORD JESUS abound. My, my you smell so good.

How can Spirit-born Christians say that they smell so good? Let’s check what the scripture has to say in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17:

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. ¹⁵ For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many.^[c] On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Let’s read Colossians 3:16-17:

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^[d] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Spirit-born Christians are to read, study, meditate upon GOD’S Word and put it into action (LET/DO NOT RESTRAIN) as led by the Holy Spirit. But as we serve, we are to be active as the wisdom from our LORD dwells within us; we are to share it with others; teaching, admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^[d] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Whatever we do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Folks, we do not know when JESUS will return. May we, who know the truth, be found serving HIM. Whether HE returns in our lifetime or not, there are fellow people who are going into eternity every second of every day. May all who know the truth share the truth of salvation with those living in the darkness of sin. CHRIST is the hope of all.

Keep this in mind. The indwelling Holy Spirit gives balance in our earthly life.

Consider the life of JESUS. HE is our example. HE mixed with a variety of people, yet without sin. Be careful and do not be led astray in your quest to mingle. As Christians, we must live the message of salvation in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!