Sermons Index

The Risen Life After Baptism

INTRODUCTION:
1. SCRIPTURE READING:
  Col. 3:1-17 = "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [5-11] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. [12-15]Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [16-17] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
2. THE SUBJECT -- THE RISEN LIFE:
  1. "The risen life" is the life that begins as one rises from the water grave of baptism.
    Rom 6:1-6 = "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
  2. "The risen life" is the life lived after one has come forth from the cleansing waters of baptism.
  3. "The risen life" is --
    Col. 3:1-4 = ""If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
    1. The life that is seeking "…Those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." [v.1]
    2. The life that is on a much higher plain than that of worldly man -- "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." [v.2]
    3. The life that is spirit filled and under the direction of the Lord.
      John 6:63 = "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
3. WITH THE TEXT OF COLOSSIANS 3:1-17, AS A GUIDE LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS RISEN LIFE.
DISCUSSION:
1. THINGS THAT MAY KEEP ONE FROM RISING IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.
  Col. 3:5-11 = "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."
  1. Sensuality: [v.5]
    1. Fornication -- Harlotry (adultery and incest); the illicit sexual contact between male and female.
    2. Uncleanness -- Impurity (mortally or physically); The use of the body in any unclean manner, or way, that is indecent or unclean that would render it impure [Ephesians 5:27]
    3. Inordinate affection -- Unrestrained and uncontrolled passions; Affections that are not proper and not that ordained by God for man to be involved in.
      Rom. 1:26-27 = "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."
    4. Evil concupiscence -- This is sexual desire, but in evil ways; This may be in the thinking process of the mind, or the fulfillment in the actual lustful acts
  2. Greed (Covetousness) [v.6] -- The uncontrolled desire for that which is another's with no regard for the law, or rights of others, to get it.
  3. Bad Temper: [v.8]
    1. Anger -- The emotion out burst of displeasure caused by an insult or injury, directed at the one causing the insult or injury.
    2. Wrath -- This is a stronger out burst than anger; This lasts longer and uncontrolled passion of anger that leads to harm or injure to others.
    3. Blasphemy (ASV – "railing") -- Language that is insolent, scornful, or derisive, that blames God, or man bitterly out of selfish wants.
  4. Falsehood and deceit: [v.8-9]
    1. Filthy communication (ASV – "Shameful speaking") -- This is indecent, filthy talk, done with a purpose to excite appetite of lust or passion.
    2. Lying -- The use of deception and/or dishonest words to hurt another.
  5. Snobbishness: [v. 11] One who looks down on other classes of people, due to social position, felt to be inferior
2. THINGS THAT WILL HELP US TO RISE (GROW) IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.
  Col. 3:12-15 = "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
  1. Bowels of mercies -- Sorrow or pity at the distress of others; the showing of compassion.
  2. Kindness -- Acts of good will toward others.
  3. Humbleness of mind -- This is the opposite of being haughty, proud in think you are better than others.
  4. Meekness -- This is being gentle, and not easily provoked by ill treatment.
  5. Longsuffering -- Slow to react toward those that bring forth suffering to us.
  6. Forbearing one another -- Showing patience in dealing with our fellow man.
  7. Forgiving one another -- The readiness to forgive when it is not asked for.
  8. Charity (Love) -- Love toward our fellow man is that which binds all of the above acts together for the Christian to be in the likeness of Christ.
    Matt. 5:44-48 = "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
  9. Be thankful -- We need to always be thankful for all that which God has made possible through Christ for Christians to be in harmony with His Will.
    Eph. 4:3 = "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
3. THINGS WHICH WILL HELP US TO ATTAIN THE RISEN LIFE THAT GOD DESIRES OF US.
  Col. 3:2 & 16-17 = "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." ….. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
  1. "Set your affections on things above,…" [v.2]
  2. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; … singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." [v.16]
  3. Being a participant of spiritual things in worship: "…Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, …" [See Hebrews 10:24-25.]
    Comment: The worship itself including: Prayer, Teaching, Singing, Giving and communing around the Lord's Table.
  4. All things that we do – "…And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." [v.17]
CONCLUSION:
1. THERE IS MORE TO THE RISEN LIFE THAT JUST "NEWNESS OF LIFE".
2. HAVE YOU BEGUN "THE RISEN LIFE"?
3. ARE YOU BEING HINDERED IN LIVING "THE RISEN LIFE?
4. IF YOU ARE NEGLIGENT IN EITHER OF THESE, WHY NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW?

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