WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.919 has been describing is that for everybody who comes to Jesus, who confesses their sin, 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:12.339 who asks forgiveness from God through Jesus, that they receive not only forgiveness but 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:13.019 a new identity. 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:19.679 And that that new identity, when they put that identity on, like a set of clothing, that 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:22.859 they begin to experience new freedom as a result. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:28.320 And so he's been encouraging them in the previous chapter, live as those free people, live out 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.199 of this new identity. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.719 So this brings us to Colossians 3. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:36.000 We looked at it last week, but what I wanted to do is just since we have less time this 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.100 week, I wanted to come to the very end of this passage and focus on the last three verses. 00:00:40.519 --> 00:00:44.019 Three very important exhortations that Paul gives. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:46.260 Verses 15, 16, and 17. 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:49.039 And what Paul is doing here is he's answering this question. 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:53.400 If you were to come to him and say, okay, new identity, how do I actually put that on? 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:55.560 What does that actually look like? 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:56.219 What do I do? 00:00:56.219 --> 00:01:01.100 Paul would say, well, I'll summarize it by telling you to do these three things. 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:04.019 And it has to do, conveniently, there are three. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:05.539 I love it when it works out that way. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:11.200 But he says it has to do with the peace of Christ, the word of Christ, and then ultimately, 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.159 most importantly, the name of Christ. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:19.159 So even kids, you can remember this, peace, word, and name, right? 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:20.899 Let's do it together. 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:24.200 Peace, word, and name. 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:25.379 Okay, that's our outline. 00:01:25.479 --> 00:01:26.060 Let's pray together. 00:01:27.479 --> 00:01:32.079 Our Father, you've promised that you would be a God who is with your people, that you're 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:39.400 not distant, far away, and that it's not, that we don't have to rely on esoteric practices 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:41.900 to try to divine what you're saying. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:43.439 We don't have to read the stars. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:44.939 We don't have to cast lots. 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:48.120 That, Lord, you have spoken clearly to us. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:53.180 You've given us your word, and you've promised to illuminate it to those who come to you seeking 00:01:53.180 --> 00:01:56.920 understanding, that you would give us that understanding through your word. 00:01:57.380 --> 00:02:00.800 So we pray that you would give us that understanding today, that you would reveal your living word 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:03.120 to us, and that we would see him face to face. 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:04.439 And it's in his name that we pray. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:05.020 Amen. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:13.360 So peace, word, and name, three ways that we put on this new identity that then grants 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:16.060 us the freedom that can only come through the gospel. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:19.879 So verse 15, Paul says what? 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:28.099 He says, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:30.420 in one body, and be thankful. 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:32.620 Now let's say something about this verse. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.420 Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:35.120 You want to be free? 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:37.280 Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:44.319 Now a lot of times people hear this verse, and they quote this verse, in reference to 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:48.699 the way they go about discerning God's will, and making decisions, right? 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:52.340 I don't know if you've heard it, people talk about this verse in this way, but, you know, 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:53.939 I'm trying to decide which college to go to. 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:59.000 And I was, you know, and I just prayed about it, and I really felt peace about going to 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:59.599 this university. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:03.780 Or I was trying to figure out if I should take the job, and I really felt peace about 00:03:03.780 --> 00:03:04.579 making this decision. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:06.939 Or should I break up with this person, or should I stay with them? 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.060 And I really felt peace about the decision that I made. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.740 And that's a way, a common language among Christians. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:14.199 If you're not a Christian, Christians often talk about this. 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:20.259 And the idea behind that is that, as I'm trying to discern God's will for my life, that my 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:23.339 internal subjective sense of peace will guide me. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:27.659 So if I'm making the right decision, and God's kind of giving me the thumbs up, I will feel 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:29.399 that thumbs up as an internal peace. 00:03:30.079 --> 00:03:31.739 And that's how I know I'm on the right track. 00:03:32.839 --> 00:03:37.280 And I hate to break it to you, but if you look at the context, that has nothing to do with 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:38.479 what Paul is talking about. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.299 It just doesn't. 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:46.580 Because the context is the context of a very mixed community that has come together as 00:03:46.580 --> 00:03:47.219 one body. 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.800 And in fact, that whole way of discerning God's will, I don't know that that's anywhere in 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:52.140 the Bible. 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.400 This is a different sermon, but I've never found that in the Bible. 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:57.500 That way of discerning God's will. 00:03:57.580 --> 00:03:59.240 That internal subjective sense of peace. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:06.780 When Paul says, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, he's talking about peace between 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:08.060 people, right? 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:08.099 Right? 00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:11.240 Between people who normally wouldn't get along. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:16.560 So earlier in the passage, he's talked about this is a community of Jews and Greeks, of 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:21.139 barbarians, of Scythians, of slaves, of free people, all different kinds of people. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.980 And he says, you're no longer any of those things. 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:25.279 Those things don't define you. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:28.779 You're now one body, and you're called to the peace of Christ. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:31.139 This is the peace to which you were called as one body. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:33.319 So that's the context. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:37.819 And so as we look at that, and we understand what he's saying, what he's really saying 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:38.199 is this. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:43.659 If you want to live as free people with this new identity, you need to let peace be the 00:04:43.659 --> 00:04:45.759 deciding factor in all of your relationships. 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:50.740 And when he says, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, rule is, think of, the word 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:53.000 is from the word that we, that means umpire. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.199 So think about an umpire. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:57.480 You know, you need a ruling, there's a close, you know, and is he out or not? 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.600 And you go to the umpire, and the umpire makes the final call. 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:03.800 So it's saying, let peace be the umpire in your relationships. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:06.879 Let peace be the final deciding factor. 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:12.819 So when you're fighting, when you're arguing, you know, when people date in the church, and 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:17.160 they break up, and then everybody has to decide whose friends are going to go with which person, 00:05:17.580 --> 00:05:21.120 and, you know, or when people let each other down, when you're disagree, when you're hurt, 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:22.420 when we sin against each other. 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:27.780 He's saying, when all of those things happen, and when we are very tempted to split, and 00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:31.140 divide, and go our separate ways, and find a different church, find a different community, 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:35.800 he says, let the peace of Christ rule in those moments. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.720 Let that be your highest priority. 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:46.259 And the more we do that, the more we let the peace of Christ rule, be the highest value, 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:48.520 the more it sets us free. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:50.900 Think about it. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:55.639 If you say, my highest priority right now is peace, what's that going to free you from? 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:58.120 Well, it's going to free you from the need to always be right. 00:05:59.239 --> 00:06:02.979 Peace is more important than being right, than proving the other person wrong. 00:06:03.099 --> 00:06:03.919 Peace is more important. 00:06:04.179 --> 00:06:04.699 Peace rules. 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:09.239 You know, peace is more important in this situation than defending myself. 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:13.620 Maybe I just need to let my reputation take a few hits. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.199 Because peace is more important. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:17.379 Right? 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:20.540 It frees us from the need to win arguments. 00:06:21.659 --> 00:06:25.360 It frees us from all of these things that divide communities. 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:26.259 You know? 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:28.740 It frees me from the need to protect my pride. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:29.699 My ego. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.219 Because that's not as important as peace. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:33.740 If peace is the deciding factor. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.860 He says, let peace rule. 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:37.819 So that's what he's saying. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:40.779 This is a part of what it means to put on this new identity. 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:43.739 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. 00:06:44.559 --> 00:06:47.279 Be free from all of these things that would otherwise divide you. 00:06:47.539 --> 00:06:48.079 Live as one. 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:53.659 So as we are celebrating our independence in Christ, that's the first factor. 00:06:53.979 --> 00:06:58.879 Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and in our relationships. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:06:59.679 That's part one. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:06.279 Part two, you can't have the peace of Christ without the word of Christ. 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:06.639 Right? 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:08.779 The peace comes through the word. 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:10.739 So as we go on, we look at the next verse. 00:07:11.359 --> 00:07:12.039 Verse 16. 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.859 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:19.939 Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. 00:07:20.119 --> 00:07:22.939 Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 00:07:23.159 --> 00:07:25.779 With thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:27.939 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:07:27.979 --> 00:07:28.659 What does that mean? 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.479 Dwell in you richly. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:39.480 If you know anything about Ephesians and Colossians, a lot of commentators say that Ephesians and Colossians are sort of sister letters. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:45.879 That Paul likely had a kind of common source text or source sermon that he drew from. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.360 And these letters have a lot of similarities. 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:49.780 A lot of parallel passages. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:52.819 You should sit them down side by side and compare them sometimes. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:53.460 It's really interesting. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:57.779 But there is a parallel to this verse in Ephesians. 00:07:57.859 --> 00:08:00.180 And it's Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:06.180 So where in Colossians it says, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:10.379 In Ephesians it actually talks about the Holy Spirit. 00:08:11.539 --> 00:08:12.979 Be filled with the Spirit. 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:17.819 And what you begin to realize when you look at all the times that Paul talks about the word. 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:20.000 And all the times he talks about the Spirit. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:22.640 That in Paul's mind they're one and the same. 00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:25.100 In other words they're sides of the same coin. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:27.379 You never see the Spirit apart from the word. 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:28.140 They go together. 00:08:29.460 --> 00:08:33.100 The idea being that if you want to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:35.759 That comes by filling yourself with the word. 00:08:36.920 --> 00:08:39.519 If you want to be filled with the word of Christ. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.279 We need to do it with an eye toward the Spirit. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:47.399 Because what happens is that when you focus on one to the exclusion of the other. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.519 We become very unbalanced. 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.740 So you have some communities over here that are very focused on the Holy Spirit. 00:08:54.839 --> 00:08:56.360 You want to be Spirit filled. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:01.039 You want to have emotional, charismatic, transcendent experiences. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:07.360 But a lot of times if that's done in a way that sidelines the word. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.699 Where the word is not taught responsibly. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:14.320 What happens is it develops a culture of kind of emotionalism. 00:09:15.040 --> 00:09:15.440 Experientialism. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:20.420 There's a high focus on getting a spiritual high. 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:22.680 Having an experience with God. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:25.520 But often it can become ungrounded and untethered. 00:09:26.280 --> 00:09:26.960 And unhealthy. 00:09:28.020 --> 00:09:30.520 And some of you grew up in context. 00:09:30.680 --> 00:09:32.080 If you grew up with a church background. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.120 Some of you come from those backgrounds. 00:09:34.980 --> 00:09:36.180 High focus on the Spirit. 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.320 But kind of ungrounded. 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:38.400 From anything solid. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.899 On the other hand. 00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:44.139 A lot of us are familiar with churches that do the opposite. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:45.919 There's a high focus on teaching the word. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:47.139 Teaching it responsibly. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:47.959 Teaching it clearly. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.299 Having all of our doctrine. 00:09:49.439 --> 00:09:50.120 All of our theology. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:50.959 Having it all right. 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:52.959 But really not much emphasis on the Spirit. 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.360 And what happens there? 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.840 Well we have all of the spreadsheets. 00:09:57.959 --> 00:09:59.379 And everything is laid out clearly. 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:00.199 And it all makes sense. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.600 And it's all systematic and logical. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.120 But it's dead. 00:10:03.779 --> 00:10:05.920 And it's kind of lifeless. 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.000 And dusty. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:07.840 And crusty. 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:09.960 And stale. 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:10.620 Right? 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.779 And so in Paul's theology. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.639 They go together. 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:14.960 So he's saying. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.899 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.000 By doing a number of things. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.440 One. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:19.940 We need to teach. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.100 Responsibly. 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:22.060 That's what's happening right now. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.180 That's what happens in our classes. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:24.580 It needs to be taught well. 00:10:25.420 --> 00:10:25.980 He says also. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:27.540 We need to admonish one another. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.719 So everybody in the community. 00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:30.480 As we're reading the scripture. 00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:32.620 We are admonishing one another. 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:33.139 And by the way. 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:34.659 Coming back to discerning God's will. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:36.759 I wouldn't necessarily recommend. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:39.039 The kind of personal subjective sense of peace. 00:10:39.339 --> 00:10:40.759 You know like a divining rod. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.659 Sort of trying to sense where God is leading you. 00:10:42.819 --> 00:10:44.079 I'm not sure it works that way. 00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:45.099 You know how it works? 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.039 The way I see it work best. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.139 At least in my own life. 00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:49.319 When I'm trying to make a decision. 00:10:49.459 --> 00:10:50.679 And I want to know what the Lord's will is. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:53.139 I deputize people in my life. 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:53.839 Who I know. 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:54.620 Love. 00:10:54.719 --> 00:10:55.679 And study God's word. 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:57.059 And I deputize them. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:57.959 And I say. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:00.559 I want you to speak God's word into my life. 00:11:00.579 --> 00:11:01.339 About this decision. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:04.099 Speak God's word into my life. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:05.019 Admonish me. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:07.279 If you see me doing something crazy or stupid. 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:08.719 If I'm not saying things clearly. 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:10.259 If I'm justifying myself. 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.559 If I'm talking about all. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:11.839 You know. 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:14.419 I have all this peace about making this horrible decision. 00:11:15.099 --> 00:11:16.339 You come in and you say. 00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:17.240 You are wrong. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:19.639 You need to take another look. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.500 That's I think. 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:23.459 One of the best ways to discern God's will. 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:26.539 We need to be admonishing one another. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.039 Right. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.139 Challenging one another. 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:29.039 Exhorting one another. 00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:30.179 So on the one hand. 00:11:30.219 --> 00:11:30.399 He says. 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:32.959 We need to be responsibly reading the word for understanding. 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.839 And speaking it. 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:35.839 And teaching it. 00:11:36.459 --> 00:11:36.980 And by the way. 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:37.939 I know that sometimes. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.519 We are in small groups. 00:11:39.599 --> 00:11:40.360 And things like that. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:41.539 And people say. 00:11:41.599 --> 00:11:41.860 Well. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.599 Who really knows what the Bible says. 00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:44.199 Who. 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:44.500 I mean. 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.439 Who really knows. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.860 None of it is really clear. 00:11:46.959 --> 00:11:48.019 And it could really mean anything. 00:11:48.339 --> 00:11:48.439 And. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.160 That's a very common way of responding to the word. 00:11:51.160 --> 00:11:51.820 I will. 00:11:51.900 --> 00:11:52.320 I will say. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.100 I think certain. 00:11:53.380 --> 00:11:54.440 Certain passages are. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:55.380 Difficult. 00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:56.140 Absolutely. 00:11:56.760 --> 00:11:58.100 But many passages in scripture. 00:11:58.280 --> 00:11:59.960 Especially the most important ones. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:01.060 Are. 00:12:01.780 --> 00:12:02.940 Not that unclear. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:03.580 You know. 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:04.660 It reminds me of. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.460 Mark Twain. 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.300 Who famously said. 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:08.040 He said. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:08.240 You know. 00:12:08.280 --> 00:12:08.980 A lot of people say. 00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:10.480 That what they find most troubling. 00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:12.200 Are all the passages in scripture. 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.280 That they can't understand. 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:14.200 He says. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:14.480 For me. 00:12:14.520 --> 00:12:15.080 It's the opposite. 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:16.240 What I find most troubling. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.080 Are all the passages in scripture. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:19.080 That I can understand. 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:21.800 And I think that's a little closer to home. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.820 I think a lot of times. 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.400 Or at least some of the time. 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:24.960 When people say. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.280 Who really knows what the Bible means. 00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.780 It's kind of a cop out. 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.020 If we could just be totally honest. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:31.420 It's kind of a way of saying. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.379 If I don't understand it. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.720 That I don't have to deal with the implications. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.179 Right. 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:37.620 The central core passages in scripture. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.840 Are pretty clear. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:41.320 And so I would encourage you. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.679 Read for understanding. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.379 Seek to put your life under the word of God. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:45.679 Right. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.899 That's the first part of this. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:48.740 But then the other part is equally important. 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.360 We need to. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:51.799 Sing scripture. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.360 We need to sing songs. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.539 And hymns. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:57.179 And spiritual songs. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.840 We need to let it enter us. 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.139 And sweep us off our feet. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.080 And carry us up. 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.279 Out of ourselves. 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:04.120 And until we become blessedly. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.639 Self forgetful. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.580 Until we need to. 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:07.539 We need to sing it. 00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:09.860 So that when we're waiting in line at the store. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.279 We find ourselves unconsciously. 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.559 Tapping our leg. 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:13.820 And singing a song. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.100 That we sang a few days ago. 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.220 Together in worship. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.740 That it needs to dwell in us. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.860 So that it just sort of trickles. 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:19.399 And bubbles. 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.620 And spills out of us. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.659 When we're not even aware of it. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.519 And that's equally important. 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:25.320 Music is so central to that. 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.679 So we need to sing it. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.699 We need to pray it into ourselves. 00:13:30.839 --> 00:13:32.500 Until it just emanates from us. 00:13:33.219 --> 00:13:36.239 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:39.000 If you want to experience the freedom of this new identity. 00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:40.319 You have to do that. 00:13:40.739 --> 00:13:42.379 Now how does that bring us freedom? 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:45.839 Well the word of Christ frees us how? 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:47.319 Well it frees us from confusion. 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.459 It frees us from darkness. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.940 It frees us from uncertainty. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.019 It frees us from ignorance. 00:13:56.160 --> 00:14:00.660 It lays out the essential most important things we need to know in this life. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.280 Who is God? 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.139 Who are we? 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.600 How do we come to know God? 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:06.000 What does it mean to follow God? 00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:07.259 Where is all this going? 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:09.040 What does it mean to be a human being? 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.340 Why are we here? 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.540 All of those things. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.720 It orients us. 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:15.540 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.540 Be liberated by it. 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.100 So those are the first two things. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.720 Putting on Christ. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.100 Let the peace of Christ rule. 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:26.340 Let the word of Christ dwell. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.320 What's the third thing? 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.360 We said peace, word, name. 00:14:32.660 --> 00:14:33.600 Name of Christ. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:35.220 This kind of draws it all together. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:35.940 Verse 17. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:38.080 And whatever you do in word or deed. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:40.840 Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:43.540 Giving thanks to God the Father through him. 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.400 So what does it mean to do something in the name of Jesus? 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:56.179 This is one of those Christian phrases that you can spend 30 years repeating and just stop one day and say, yeah, I have no idea what that actually means. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.220 What does that mean? 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:02.620 Well, think about other ways that we use this phrase in everyday life. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:10.820 If I see something bad happening and I run up and I say, stop in the name of the law, which we do all the time around here. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.500 Stop in the name of the law. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.759 Then what am I actually saying? 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:17.139 I'm not saying stop in the name of Tommy Henson. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.419 I'm saying stop in the name of the law. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.659 In other words, it's about authority. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.159 Stop. 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:27.559 Because of the authority of the law, based on that authority, I'm asking you to stop. 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:28.220 Right? 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:35.860 If Dan gives me a present and says, hey, I can't make it in today, but I want you to give this present to Deborah on my behalf. 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:40.980 And I take the present and I go and I give it to Deborah and I say, here, Deborah, I was just thinking about you. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.759 Here you go. 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.740 I'm kind of a jerk, right? 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:45.019 Why? 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.279 Because the present is meant to be delivered in Dan's name. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:51.759 In other words, Dan is supposed to be the one to receive the credit. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.820 So that's about credit. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.300 Right? 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.720 It's from Dan. 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:56.019 I'm just the delivery guy. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:56.500 Right? 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.879 So that's another way we use it. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:06.820 What if I deed my house over to Deborah and I say, from now on, you and Luke, this is your house. 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:10.799 If I deed that over and I put it in their name, then that's about belonging. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.580 It's about possession. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:11.860 Right? 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.279 The house is no longer mine. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.240 It's in their name. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.299 It's deeded in their name. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:25.220 So authority, credit, possession, all of these are ways to think about what it means to do something in Jesus' name. 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:38.080 To do something in Jesus' name is to be his agent, to stand in his stead, to do it for his benefit. 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:43.580 To be his agent, in his stead, to his credit, for his benefit. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.720 And Paul is saying, do everything that way. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:51.840 In other words, do everything in a way that says, that magnifies the greatness of Jesus. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.500 That magnifies the authority of Jesus. 00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:57.860 That reflects the glory and the beauty of Jesus. 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.720 And he's saying, do everything in your life. 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.519 You know? 00:17:01.780 --> 00:17:03.100 Pull weeds in your garden. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.180 Wash your dishes. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.600 Parent your kids. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.900 Love your spouse. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.220 Date. 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.460 Hang out with your friends. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.700 Spend your money. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.900 Use your body. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.480 Think about your job. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:19.559 In all that we do, he says, do all of that in ways that magnify Christ. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:24.839 And believe it or not, that sets us free. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.099 What does that set us free from? 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:33.220 The constant, incessant drive to promote ourselves. 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:35.700 Which I think we all struggle with. 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:39.940 You know, to constantly try to convince people how great we are. 00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:42.000 Paul says, be free from that. 00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:48.399 Make your life about promoting the greatness and the authority of Jesus Christ and not yourself. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.220 And by the way, it's a lot easier to promote his greatness than it is ours. 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.780 Frankly, because in his case it's actually true. 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:57.019 So it's a much easier sell. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.540 I think most people can see the truth about us. 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:05.220 So this is how we put on the new identity that we have in Christ. 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:11.600 Paul's wanting to make it very clear here as he begins to transition into how this affects our relationships in general. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.480 He's laying down this principle. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:18.559 So as we celebrate independence, as we celebrate the 4th of July this weekend, 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:22.259 I encourage you to celebrate a deeper, truer independence that we have. 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:25.119 And a deeper, truer identity that we have. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.639 To put on Christ. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:30.559 By letting his peace rule in our relationships. 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:35.759 By the way, that's how Jesus said that people would know that he's the genuine deal. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:44.920 In John 17 he says, when they see all of these different people and peace is ruling that community and they're all one, 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.099 then they'll believe that I came from the Father. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.379 Not apologetics. 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:50.059 Unity. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.039 So let the peace of Christ rule. 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:55.960 Let the word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts. 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:59.879 And ultimately let us do everything in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.440 Let's pray. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:31.420 Let's pray.