WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, equipping, 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:08.040 and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:10.140 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:12.759 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches insightful sermons 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:14.000 from the Word of God, 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.000 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.300 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:22.920 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:25.400 Let's go ahead and head to our seats at this time. 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:30.399 And I hope and I trust that you have been warmly greeted 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:33.239 here at Ontario Community Church. 00:00:33.239 --> 00:00:34.839 My name is Patrick Daly, 00:00:34.839 --> 00:00:38.119 and I'm the pastor here at Ontario Community Church. 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:40.039 Whether this is your first time, 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:42.079 or maybe your 17th time, 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:45.239 or you've been faithfully attending every week, 00:00:45.239 --> 00:00:49.960 I want you to know that you are loved by Jesus Christ, 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:54.960 and that God calls you to enter into a relationship with Him. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.240 It doesn't matter what you have been through. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:00.679 It doesn't matter what you are going through, 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:02.600 or what you will go through. 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:07.599 God's grace is available for all who believe. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:08.760 Amen? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.079 Knowing that we are safe and secure 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:15.000 when we believe in Jesus Christ is remarkable. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.240 And I hope and I pray that you will come to know the Lord, 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.000 that you will grow in Him, 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.319 and you will do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:25.519 And we have been doing a verse by verse, 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:30.519 a line by line study of this amazing book of Colossians. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.959 We have found many truths that are directly applicable 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:35.679 to our church today, 00:01:35.679 --> 00:01:39.719 just as it was back then in the New Testament. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:43.000 The apostle Paul, he wrote to the Colossian church, 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.199 a church that was faithful to God 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.520 and had exhibited the love of Christ to others. 00:01:48.520 --> 00:01:51.200 That's the kind of church I wanna be a part of, right? 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:52.960 And I hope you do as well. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:55.200 The apostle Paul trusted that this church 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.719 would continue to be faithful in doing the right thing, 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:02.040 in responding to cultural changes and movement 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:04.240 and false teachings and false teachers 00:02:04.240 --> 00:02:06.400 that were infiltrating the church. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.439 The apostle Paul warned the Colossians 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:10.560 to be careful of these false teachings, 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.420 philosophy or anything that was contrary 00:02:13.419 --> 00:02:15.599 to the truth in Jesus Christ, 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:20.039 much like how we are to stand firm in the word of God. 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:22.039 He encouraged the church to remain true 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:25.959 and to not let anyone deceive or delude or disqualify you, 00:02:25.959 --> 00:02:29.839 to rob you of the opportunity to do good. 00:02:29.839 --> 00:02:32.799 The apostle Paul also wrote so much about the truth, 00:02:32.799 --> 00:02:37.799 the preeminence of Christ, that Christ reigns supreme, 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:43.159 and he is all that we need, and Jesus Christ is in all. 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.520 And this last week I spoke about the difference 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:48.960 between religion, the rules and the regulations, 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:50.919 as opposed to the relationship, 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:54.479 the simplicity that exists in Jesus Christ. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.400 There is freedom, there is salvation, 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.479 there is security and safety 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.840 when you believe in the Lord and are saved. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.680 And today, we are gonna talk about what it means 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:06.919 to be raised in Christ. 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:11.280 It is this new life that is found in him. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:14.080 We are a new creation when we believe in him. 00:03:15.020 --> 00:03:16.680 As Christians, we are called, 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.319 and we'll find in this sermon today, 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:22.719 that we are called to seek things that are higher, 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:25.560 not to focus on the things of this world, 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:27.280 not the lower things. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:28.960 So let us pray together, 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:32.080 and let us ask God to bless this time together. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:32.920 Will you pray with me? 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:34.240 Let's pray together. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:38.259 And gracious Father, we thank you for this opportunity 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:41.319 to gather together as the body of Christ, 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:43.879 as friends, visitors and faithful attenders, 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:45.959 newcomers, whatever. 00:03:45.959 --> 00:03:48.879 We pray that truth is spoken here, 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.879 that lives are transformed, 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:54.919 and that people will come to know who you are, 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:56.759 that they will grow in you, 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.419 and that they will know what it means 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:01.319 to have this new life in you. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:05.919 We pray for continued transformation and sanctification. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:09.799 May we become more like you following 00:04:09.799 --> 00:04:12.879 in the footsteps of your son, Jesus Christ. 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:14.879 May we be like the Colossian church 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:17.839 who is faithful to you and to your word. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:21.599 May we exhibit the love of Jesus Christ to others, 00:04:21.599 --> 00:04:23.919 to our brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:04:23.919 --> 00:04:27.319 and may we extend an invitation to our neighbors 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.360 who may not know you yet. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:32.599 And Father, we ask that you again bless this time together 00:04:32.599 --> 00:04:35.120 as we go into what it means 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.879 to put away the former things of our old life 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:40.040 and seek the things that are higher. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.160 It is in Jesus' holy and awesome 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:47.079 and powerful name that we pray, 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:49.759 and we all say together, amen. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.079 Let us now go into verse one. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:56.800 If raised in Christ, seek things that are higher, 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.519 and you'll find this, 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:00.800 I hope that all of you have your notes section, 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.360 and as always, there's reference verses 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.720 and connections in here, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:08.840 because we always need to look at the context of scripture 00:05:08.840 --> 00:05:11.040 and the connections with scripture. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.160 This helps us to have clarity 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.939 and consistency found in God's word. 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:18.240 So the verse says here, it says, 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.920 therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.480 seek the things that are above 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:29.480 where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:33.560 And what does it mean to be risen with Christ? 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.680 This is a fundamental question. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.680 When we think of being raised with Christ, 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.600 we can think about Christ's ministry, 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.920 his life, his death, his burial, and his resurrection. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:47.480 There is an open invitation for us to come to know him. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:49.040 This is what scripture means 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.439 when we are to seek first the kingdom of God. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:56.480 To be raised up in him is to have salvation in him first, 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.080 so I want to make it very clear. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.479 There is a call for you to believe in Jesus Christ, 00:06:02.479 --> 00:06:05.599 that he is the son of the living God, right? 00:06:05.599 --> 00:06:09.000 That he had his ministry, his death, burial, and resurrection, 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.479 believing in him and being saved. 00:06:11.479 --> 00:06:13.639 Salvation comes first, 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.240 then we seek the things that are higher. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:17.639 I want to put this up on the screen. 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.759 It's Ephesians chapter two, verses five through six. 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.759 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.680 made us alive together with Christ by grace, 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:28.439 you have been what? 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.199 Saved and raised us up with him 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.800 and seated us with him in the heavenly places 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:36.959 in Christ Jesus. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.360 Again, it is about salvation first. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:42.840 That is the most critical and the most important thing 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:46.360 that you can, that can happen in your life. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.180 Then you seek the things that are higher. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.399 This should be, it shouldn't be the other way around. 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.000 And I'm sure there are some people who seek the higher things 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.079 when they don't have a relationship. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:02.000 Seek knowing the Lord first and foremost. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.720 We go to verse two, above not below. 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.680 And it says here, set your what? 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:10.759 Your minds on things that are above, 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:14.639 not on things that are on earth. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:17.360 If you have been raised with Christ, 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.680 if you are a believer, 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.839 then you need to seek the things that are above 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:27.839 where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 00:07:28.479 --> 00:07:32.279 There are things that are not of this world. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.879 We have to think, how many of you remember that bracelet 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.239 or those shirts that said not of this world? 00:07:39.239 --> 00:07:41.000 I know, I don't see them anymore. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.759 I used to see them maybe like 20 years ago. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.439 But N-O-T-W and it was talking about 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:48.839 how we are not of this world. 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:51.899 And just as we are not of this world, 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:54.599 we are to set our minds, to focus and to fixate 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:56.239 on the things that are above. 00:07:56.239 --> 00:07:59.079 We are to seek the things that are beyond this world, 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:01.879 not on the things of this earth. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.919 Does this mean that we should neglect paying our bills 00:08:04.919 --> 00:08:08.239 and we should neglect the responsibilities that we have? 00:08:08.239 --> 00:08:12.239 No, we're talking about the hope that exists in Christ. 00:08:12.239 --> 00:08:15.839 The future promises that the Lord has for us. 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:20.199 It speaks of hope, our direction and our trajectory. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:21.519 Ask yourself the question, 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:23.399 what do you live for? 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:27.839 Do you live for the world or do you live for Christ? 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.319 God calls us again to have relationship with Him. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:32.759 And from that salvation, 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.919 we are to seek the things that are higher, 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.340 to set our minds on the things that are above. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.919 This is where Christ is. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.840 He is seated at the right hand of God. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:44.720 And there are many verses that speak about Christ 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:46.279 sitting at the right hand. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:47.559 And you'll find those in your notes. 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:49.639 There are a ton of them on there. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:51.879 And feel free to search the scriptures. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:58.439 This also means that Christ rules and reigns supreme. 00:08:58.439 --> 00:09:02.000 Christ being a part of the triune God, 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.919 he rules, he reigns over us. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:08.000 And look, this is the entire basis of Colossians. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.039 That it is Christ who reigns supreme, 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:11.519 that he is preeminent, 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.240 that he is all that we need and he is in everything. 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.679 Let's go to verse three. 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.319 Our hidden life in Christ. 00:09:19.319 --> 00:09:22.839 For you have died and your life is hidden 00:09:22.839 --> 00:09:25.120 with Christ in God. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:30.120 In our former life, many of us, all of us, 00:09:30.239 --> 00:09:35.239 we focused on, we lived a life that was separated from God. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.000 A sinful life, right? 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.039 We focused on the worldly. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:43.399 We were in darkness and we were dead in our trespasses. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.879 And we find new life that exists in Christ. 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:47.159 So then, wait a minute. 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.559 If we were dead in our trespasses 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.320 and we're finding new life, what does this mean here? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.519 You have died. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:54.879 What is that talking about? 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.039 What does that mean? 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:58.439 The death that is mentioned here 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:01.120 is the death of the former life. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:03.799 It is the former life that is passed away. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.080 And our new life in Christ is hidden. 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.120 It is concealed, right? 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.639 When you see it being hidden, 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.840 that is the word for concealed. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.879 It is covered. 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:19.560 In other words, it's protected in Christ. 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:21.879 Many of you may have heard that we are covered 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.600 by the blood of the Lamb, right? 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.080 Or how grace covers our sins. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.960 It's the same idea here. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:30.000 In fact, in Colossians earlier, 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.000 it's not like we've read this verse before, right? 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.920 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits 00:10:36.920 --> 00:10:39.840 of the world, why as if you were still alive 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.480 in the world, do you submit to regulation? 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.519 So there's a parallel that we can see here, right? 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.840 That if you have believed in the Lord, 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:50.680 if you are saved, you have died to the former things. 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:54.000 That is the death that is being mentioned in Colossians 2.20 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.779 and also in Colossians 3 here. 00:10:57.779 --> 00:10:59.720 It is the death of the former life 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:01.960 and the birth of the new life. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:05.200 We are made a new creation. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:08.279 And our identity exists in Christ. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.759 And being saved, there is that security. 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:14.240 And look, there is a call for us to remain in Christ. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:16.840 I know there are some people who say, well, you know, 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.600 if I'm saved, does that mean I can sin as much as I want? 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:24.319 Well, do you really wanna test God that way? 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:27.720 It's a call for you to live a life of holiness. 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:30.480 Don't go back to the former things, right? 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.799 It's just like this question that's being asked. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:35.039 Why are you still alive in the world? 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.360 And in the context here, submitting to regulations, 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.720 submitting to religion here. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:44.720 And just like how God is the God of renewal and restoration 00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:49.120 and we receive this new life and this new identity in Christ, 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:53.320 we will receive a new body at the resurrection. 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.279 And that's a wonderful thing to know. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:59.200 Verse four here, with Christ in glory. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.480 When Christ, who is your life appears, 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:06.160 then you will also appear with him in what? 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:07.000 In glory. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.840 And that's a beautiful verse here. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.679 We must think about how Jesus, who Jesus is. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:15.440 And it reminds me a great deal 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.279 of John chapter 11, verse 25 here. 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.519 I am the what? 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:21.840 The resurrection in the life. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.919 I'm not speaking about me. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:25.600 I'm talking about what Jesus Christ said here, right? 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.279 He said, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:31.159 Whoever believes in me though he what? 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:34.080 Die, yet shall he live, right? 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.980 Do you see the connection here? 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:39.200 We have to only die the physical death. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.080 Our former, our spiritual life is dead, 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.399 but when we believe in the Lord and we save, 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:47.120 we are a new creation, right? 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.920 That we are saved, we are secure. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:52.680 We have that eternal security and everlasting life. 00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:56.840 Much like how John 14.6, I am the way and the truth 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:00.680 and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:02.759 Who's the me? 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.920 It's Jesus Christ, right? 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.559 Jesus Christ being the way. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:11.399 And then another verse that speaks it up in this is 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:16.079 first Corinthians chapter 15, verses 40 through 44. 00:13:16.079 --> 00:13:18.500 And check this out, this is very connected. 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:21.000 I love how scripture is all connected here. 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.939 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:26.479 but the glory of heaven is of one kind 00:13:26.479 --> 00:13:29.000 and the glory of the earthly is another. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:32.199 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:34.620 What is sown is perishable. 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:37.480 What is raised is what? 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.960 Imperishable. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:42.000 What is sown in dishonor is raised in glory. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.120 It is sown in weakness. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.320 It is raised in power. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:46.320 It is sown a natural body. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.919 It is raised, it gets a little confusing in here, 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.480 but keep this in mind. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.879 You can see the connection here, right? 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:56.279 That there's this difference between our earthly 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:58.519 and our heavenly bodies. 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.600 So there's some really good things here that you will appear 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:05.200 with Christ in glory at the resurrection. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.360 When Christ who is your life appears, 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.759 then you will appear with him in glory. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:12.639 It's just a nice connection that we find 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.279 in the first Corinthians passage. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:17.639 Let's go to verse five here. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.480 Put to death your what? 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:22.680 Your earthly ways, right? 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:26.720 I think of that song, my parents used to play this song. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.279 You've got to change your evil ways, right? 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.560 Very similar in that. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.239 I know that's a worldly secular song. 00:14:32.239 --> 00:14:33.919 I apologize in advance, right? 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.559 But it's the same idea, right? 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.799 You got to change your evil ways. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.359 You got to put to death your earthly ways, right? 00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:42.799 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.519 Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:50.119 covetness, which is idolatry. 00:14:50.119 --> 00:14:53.759 Now, some of you may know, some of you may not know. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.839 We preach from the English standard version, 00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:57.519 but I like to challenge myself. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:01.199 I have a couple of really old KJV Bibles, 00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:04.240 and I study from that, looking at the really old English 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:07.519 and seeing the difference in the modern vernacular 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.960 versus the old English that happens. 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:13.559 And it's very interesting that the KJV uses the word, 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.639 it's the same idea, right? 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.879 Put to death, to mortify. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.159 I'm like, oh, that, there's some heaviness in that word, right? 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:21.319 Mortify the former things, right? 00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:23.439 So some translations say put an end 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:27.000 or put to death the things that are of the earth. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:32.000 It is talking about putting to death an end to sin. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:35.259 And as a Christian, and I know this can be very convicting 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:37.440 for some people, if you're a Christian, 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.960 are you continuing in your sin? 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.559 Well, only you can answer that, 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.399 I don't wanna know all of your sins. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.600 But if you really think about it, 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.860 are you continuing to live a life of sin? 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:52.039 If you're a Christian, there is a call for you 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.000 to put an end, put to death, 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.960 mortify the earthly things. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.480 So, okay, pastor, what do you mean are the earthly things? 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:02.519 Well, it gives you a list right here, right? 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:06.200 It gives you a list of sexual immorality, impurity, passion, 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.800 evil desire, covetness, 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:10.740 and all of these things are idolatry. 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.680 What is idolatry? 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:14.560 It's worshiping something other than the living God. 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:18.519 And how easy is it for us even nowadays? 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.120 You know, as a kid, 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:25.120 I'm sure many of us know the story of the golden calf, 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.279 right? 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.840 They made an image and they worshiped it. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.279 And I remember as a kid, I used to think, 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.159 oh, worship's a golden calf anymore. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.519 Come on, mom and dad, like really, like, 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.360 that was back then, we live in the age of technology. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.960 There is no way I would worship a phone. 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:49.039 There is no way I would worship games. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.159 There's no way I'd worship content 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.839 that comes from the screens. 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.959 Isn't it interesting? 00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:57.879 And I may sound a little extreme at this, 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:02.839 but isn't it interesting how in pretty much every household 00:17:02.839 --> 00:17:06.119 you have a television and people gather around 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.319 and they spend hours at a television? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.839 Is there a similarity with worshiping an idol? 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.680 Maybe, maybe not, but think about that. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.600 I tend to think that it can happen, though, 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:23.720 when it becomes, when it consumes you, 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.519 when it becomes your very identity, right? 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.360 So when we're talking in the context here, 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:30.759 I just gave some example of idols, 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.160 but in the context here, we're talking about 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:36.720 the sexual, the immorality that exists 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.279 with impurity, passion, and evil desires. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.920 And look, when we are born again, 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.080 we're born again spiritually, 00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:45.480 just as I mentioned this last week, 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:49.559 it's the question, what we found in Colossians 2.20, 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.799 why would you continue to live in your former life? 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.720 Right? 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:58.519 If you were getting out of the rain, 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:01.920 and it's pouring rain and it's freezing cold, 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.279 and you seek to find shelter, 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:07.559 you wouldn't go back out into the rain, right? 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.400 You would want to seek shelter 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:11.440 and you'd want to remain there in the shelter, 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.440 so too is it with sinning. 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:16.920 Get out of the rain, get out of the darkness 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.880 into the light, remain in there. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:22.039 And in the context of salvation, 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:24.400 come to know the Lord, believe in him, 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:27.600 and be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 00:18:27.600 --> 00:18:29.799 a renewed spirit. 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.759 Think of it like that. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.720 Why would we continue to live in sin, 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:35.880 which is a part of the former life? 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.440 Why would you want to continue to do the things 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:40.960 that separate you from God? 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:44.200 If you have a new life in Jesus Christ, 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:47.200 live the new life in Christ. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.080 Let's go to verse six, the wrath of God. 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:52.360 This is one of those fire and brimstone ones, right? 00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:55.160 On account of these, the what? 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:57.960 The wrath of God is coming. 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.640 In some translations, such as the KJV, 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.680 you'll find the mentioning of the sons of disobedience. 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.240 Some translations, some manuscripts say that. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:09.120 On account of these, the wrath of God 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:12.400 is coming to the sons of disobedience, 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:17.400 which is, well, it is before salvation. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.400 You are disobedience. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.320 This term is found throughout scripture 00:19:21.320 --> 00:19:23.519 and it warns us to no longer be disobedient. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.640 Let's consider Romans chapter one, verse 18. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.560 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven 00:19:28.560 --> 00:19:31.280 against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men 00:19:31.280 --> 00:19:33.960 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.680 This is mentioning the wrath of God. 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:39.560 So what about the sons of disobedience, right? 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:42.000 Let's go to that next one here. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.079 Let no one deceive you with empty words. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:47.519 For these things, the wrath of God, there it is again, 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.480 comes upon the sons of disobedience, right? 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.799 You find that there again, 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:55.839 and you'll find it again in Ephesians 2,2, right? 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.240 You were dead in your trespasses 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.359 and your sins in the world where you once walked, 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:00.640 following the course, right? 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.759 The way of this world, 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:04.839 following the prince of the power of the air, who's that? 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.519 The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:11.119 So you see a little parallel that exists here. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.279 The idea here is the sons of disobedience. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:17.319 These are people who reject the Lord. 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.359 These are people who habitually sin. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.479 These are people who do not know the Lord yet. 00:20:22.479 --> 00:20:24.439 And you find that in some translations, 00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:26.000 and I just find it to be very interesting 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.319 that specifically that wording is there. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.899 So I want you to think for a moment, church. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:35.159 You're either a son or a child of disobedience, 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:37.519 as it were, what's the opposite then? 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.359 Child of God. 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.759 Being a child of God, amen, right? 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.160 Being a child of the light. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.319 So it's just nice when you see the difference 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:46.599 between going from darkness into light, 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:50.720 going from being unsaved to save. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.039 And in this context is being a son, 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.400 or you could even say a daughter of disobedience, 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:59.599 being a child of disobedience to being a child of God, right? 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:01.879 A child of light. 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:04.200 So it's nice when you see these little connections here 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.039 that help us. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.680 Look, the idea here is God does not like sin. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.039 He wants us into enter a relationship with him 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:12.000 to grow in him and do good his name. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:16.600 Let's not, let's not be a son or a child 00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:18.200 or a daughter of disobedience, 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:21.759 but rather let us be children of the Lord, right? 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:25.320 Let us trust in God, growing and living for him. 00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.880 Let's go to verse seven. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:28.600 You were once one of them. 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:30.480 In these, so the apostle Paul is saying, 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.480 in these you too once walked when you were living in them. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:36.140 So the Colossian church was perfect. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:38.280 They didn't need to confess. 00:21:38.280 --> 00:21:39.960 They didn't need to repent. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:42.840 None of that happened at the church at Colossia, right? 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:47.240 No, it's saying here, look, you were once one of them here. 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:49.080 It's mentioning the former life 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:51.520 as opposed to the newer life, right? 00:21:51.520 --> 00:21:53.120 We've been talking about the importance. 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:55.940 Look, it is so important that when you believe in the Lord, 00:21:55.940 --> 00:22:00.440 you leave the thing that the things of the world. 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.600 You focus on the things of God. 00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:04.560 Okay, well, what does that look like? 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.879 Maybe opening your Bible. 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:10.639 What's your, just a job, a little fun here. 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:14.119 What's your Bible to person, 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:17.240 how many people you have in the household ratio? 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:20.279 Some of them you may have like 10 Bibles in one person, right? 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:23.000 But do you open and read those Bibles, right? 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.960 Reading the Bible, studying the Bible, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.359 praying, being together with brothers and sisters 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:30.679 in Christ in Christian community. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:34.159 So it's so important to know 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.360 that you're not alone, 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:38.480 to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.320 And I'm sure for some of us, 00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:42.560 I mean, I'm sure we're all perfect here 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:46.560 and we've never had to, we weren't one of them. 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:50.279 No, we were one of them, okay? 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.860 And Romans 619, it helps us. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.519 I'm speaking in human terms 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:58.400 because of your natural limitations. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:01.840 You were once presented your members as slaves to impurity, 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:04.199 to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness. 00:23:04.199 --> 00:23:07.639 So now present yourselves as slaves to righteousness 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:10.000 leading to sanctification, right? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.199 Once being one of them. 00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:15.559 Now be on a trajectory of the things of God, 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.959 the truth of His words, stand firm in it, 00:23:17.959 --> 00:23:22.039 do not waver, do not have your mind changed in that. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:25.000 First Corinthians chapter 611, 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:27.539 that's another one that shows up. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.379 It says, 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:31.140 oh, is it not there? 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.260 That's okay. 00:23:32.260 --> 00:23:33.780 It says, 00:23:33.780 --> 00:23:35.260 and such were some of you, 00:23:35.260 --> 00:23:37.220 you were washed, you were sanctified, 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:40.660 you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:43.260 and by the spirit of God, right? 00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:47.220 So these are giving ideas of, again, 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:51.420 the former life to the new life in Christ. 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:53.180 And I want you to think for a moment, 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:55.540 I seem to be focusing so much on the former life. 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:59.500 Well, that's the idea with what Paul is doing in Colossians. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:03.139 These verses are speaking about the importance 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:05.259 of leaving the former life. 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:08.119 Next week, we're gonna go on what it looks like 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:11.960 to take on the new life, being the new creation. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.980 So there's a transition from a former life 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:18.379 to the new life in Romans 7.5. 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:21.180 While we were living in the white, 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:24.480 and the flesh are sinful passions aroused by the law, 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:27.220 we're at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:29.779 So again, that's talking about the former life. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:32.059 And it's always been very convicting. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.579 I don't know if it's convicting to you, 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:35.380 but it's very convicting to me 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:37.180 that we are going to bear fruit. 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:39.539 It's going to be good fruit or bad fruit. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:42.779 And for some of us here, we've planted trees before. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.180 How many of you have planted a tree 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:47.500 and the crops just not good, right? 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.420 You can be honest here. 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:50.900 And how many of us have planted a, let's, 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:54.299 I don't know, we planted another plant 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:56.419 and let's do an apricot tree. 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:59.819 And man, that thing produced really good apricots. 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:01.019 And you love that tree. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:03.460 And not idolize it, but you love the fruit 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:05.419 that it's producing, much like how we are 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:06.940 when we produce fruit. 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.180 Are we going to be a bad tree 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.579 that's going to produce bad fruit? 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:12.180 Are we going to be a good tree that produces good fruit? 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:14.460 So that's a thing that's very interesting. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.579 So again, going back to the verse here, 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.899 the apostle Paul is saying, 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:22.899 hey, look, you were once this way, but no longer, right? 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:25.060 And we should praise God 00:25:25.060 --> 00:25:27.060 when we are no longer a part of the darkness, 00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:29.980 when we're no longer a child of disobedience, 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.780 when we enter this new life in Christ. 00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:32.940 Let's go to verse eight. 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:36.620 But now you must put them all away, 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:39.860 not just sex, it's not just sexual immorality 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:41.340 that we have to put away. 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:42.460 There are other things too. 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:44.980 And this is very difficult. 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.900 Anger, wrath, malice, slander, 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:51.900 and obscene talk from your mouth, right? 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:54.460 Is there obscene talk that's coming from your mouth? 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:58.100 That was such an interesting way of wording it, right? 00:25:58.100 --> 00:26:01.220 Is the Lord really telling us to clean up our act? 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.500 I thought if I believe in the Lord, 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.380 I'm saved and secure and that's the end of it. 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:08.660 No, this is why I say salvation is not the end of your story. 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:11.620 It is the beginning of your life in Christ. 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:15.140 It is the foundation and you then build your house, right? 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:16.780 You build your treasures in heaven. 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:18.740 You go after the prize, right? 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:21.100 When the apostle Paul is saying, he's seeking out, 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:23.659 he's going after the prize. 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:26.059 So saved by grace through faith, 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:28.740 so that we can do good in the name of Christ, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:32.259 so that we allow for God to change who we are. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:35.459 It's just like we think of repentance, 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:40.219 Metanoia, to change your mind about who God is 00:26:40.219 --> 00:26:41.579 so that you can believe in him, 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:43.579 but there's continued repentance, 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:47.619 continued Metanoia where your mind is continually changed. 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:51.779 But here's the thing, cleaning up these things, 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:56.779 this is important upon salvation, after salvation, 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:58.339 not the other way around. 00:26:58.339 --> 00:27:00.259 Because when we do it the other way around, 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:02.699 we've created a workspace religion, right? 00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:04.979 It sounds like how many other religions are. 00:27:04.979 --> 00:27:08.059 You must do X, Y, and Z and then you attain salvation. 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:11.419 When you're saved by grace through faith, 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:14.459 believe in the Lord first, right? 00:27:14.459 --> 00:27:16.739 Be saved by grace through faith. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:19.779 You need to be on a path after the fact 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.579 to be more like Jesus Christ. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:23.460 It's the order in which we do things. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:26.500 We're given this free gift of grace, right? 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:31.099 Again, we have got to continue to live for him. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:33.740 We've got to change and continually change. 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:37.579 Hebrews chapter one, verses one through two. 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.900 It's a lot of verses here. 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:41.099 We're surrounded so great by a cloud of witnesses. 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:44.140 Let us lay aside every weight and sin 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:47.420 which cleans so closely and let us what? 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.900 Let us sit. 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:50.700 No, let us run with endurance the race 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.820 that is set before us looking to Jesus, 00:27:52.820 --> 00:27:54.820 the founder and the protector of our faith 00:27:54.820 --> 00:27:57.940 who for the joy that was set before him 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.780 endured the cross despising the shame. 00:27:59.780 --> 00:28:01.700 So you get the idea here, right? 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:03.580 You go towards the Lord. 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:06.180 You become more like him, right? 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:07.500 So when you hear people say, 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.940 oh, I'm saved by grace. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:10.860 I don't need to do anything after the fact. 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:13.540 Well, you should read your Bible and see that. 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.579 Yes, you're saved by grace through faith, 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:17.460 but you got to do after the fact, right? 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:20.500 That's why you'll hear me say so much. 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.940 Come to know the Lord, grow in him, 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:25.539 and do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:29.899 Do you see what there's this connection here? 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:32.139 The apostle Paul last week was saying, 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:34.220 don't be defrauded, don't be disqualified, 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:37.460 don't be distracted, don't be derailed. 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:40.579 Don't be distracted from doing good in the name of Christ 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:43.019 and following God's will for your life. 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:45.339 Don't you think for a moment, 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:48.420 there's a reason why God wants you to do good 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:51.339 as opposed to doing evil? 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:54.539 What a horrible way to kind of throw it back 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:58.460 in God's face, so to speak, is to continue to sin. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:02.400 We're called to do good after salvation. 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:06.700 Let us lay aside every weight like that verse saying 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:08.379 so that we can do good. 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:10.220 Let's go to verse nine. 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.139 Tell the what? 00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:13.540 Tell the truth. 00:29:13.540 --> 00:29:16.300 It's the verse say, do not what? 00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:18.020 Not lie to one another, 00:29:18.020 --> 00:29:20.460 seeing that you've put off the old self with its practices. 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:23.460 Are you telling me pastor, I need to stop lying? 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:26.540 Yeah, some scriptures say that, right? 00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:31.100 It's a wonderful connection that we can apply to our life. 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:35.980 I'm also reminded in Ephesians chapter four verses 20, right? 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:40.060 And these verses here are applicable 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:42.179 to what we're reading here in the context 00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:47.179 of Colossians chapter three, eight, nine, and 10. 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:49.859 You'll see here, it's not the way you learned Christ, 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.299 assuming that you've heard about him 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:53.460 and were taught in him, the truth of Jesus, 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:56.799 to put off your what self, old self, 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:59.299 which belongs to your what manner of life? 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.819 Former manner of life, right? 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:03.419 It's corrupt through deceitful desires 00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:05.720 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.980 and to put on the what? 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:10.339 Right, created after the likeness of God 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:12.259 and true righteousness and holiness. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:14.380 Therefore, same thing, right? 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:16.700 Putting away all falsehood. 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:20.779 Each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:22.079 for we are members of one another. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:25.259 So there's a real nice parallel that exists there. 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:27.059 It's pretty self-explanatory here. 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.940 Don't lie to one another, right? 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:31.099 This is exhibiting the fact, 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:34.099 it's showing that you're living this new life in Christ 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.339 by telling the truth. 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:38.539 I mean, that's a pretty easy one. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.459 Let's go to verse 10 here. 00:30:40.459 --> 00:30:43.379 It says to put on the new self and to be renewed. 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:45.899 The verse says, I have put on the new self, 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:48.819 which is being renewed in knowledge 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:52.459 after the image of its creator, amen to that. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:57.099 It reminds me a great deal of Romans chapter 12 verse two. 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:59.819 Don't be conformed to this world, right? 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:02.579 You see how things start connecting together, right? 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:06.019 Set your mind on things that are above, right? 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:08.000 Well, how interesting. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.539 Are you going to be conforming your life 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:12.379 to the ways of the world? 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:15.359 Or are you gonna be conforming to the things of God? 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:18.220 Don't be conformed to this world, but be what? 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:20.220 Transformed by the renewal of your mind 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:23.699 that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, 00:31:23.699 --> 00:31:25.339 what is good and acceptable in prayer. 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:27.619 That's one of my favorite verses, right? 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:29.939 It's a call for us to be renewed, right? 00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:32.539 To be on a path to grow as a Christian. 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:35.019 Going from that milk to the solid food. 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:37.539 Growing in the understanding of the word of God 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.940 and living out your faith. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.980 There's this inner transformation 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.740 that will occur in your own life 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:45.480 that outwardly manifests in love, right? 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:49.460 It'll manifest in understanding, 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.059 knowing that you know the difference 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:53.279 between truth from lies. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:55.259 The new self, you'll learn the ability 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:58.039 and I think one of the most wonderful abilities 00:31:58.039 --> 00:32:00.980 about knowing the word of God and what it has to say 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:04.099 has to do with the ability to discern. 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:06.819 Knowing right from wrong, knowing truth from lies, 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:08.860 knowing light from darkness. 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:11.819 It's just like how sometimes you might hear, 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:15.500 I'm not gonna bash anybody when I say this, 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:17.380 but sometimes you hear someone speak something 00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:19.880 and just doesn't settle right with you. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.900 Is it a conviction? 00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:22.940 Well, sometimes it can be. 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:24.700 Other times you're like, I don't know if that's right. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:26.059 I need to check my Bible, right? 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:27.420 Testing the spirits. 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:29.140 That's the ability to discern. 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:31.820 That's so important. 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:34.620 We grow in Christ and as we grow spiritually, 00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:37.460 we're being continually renewed 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:40.100 even though the physical is fading. 00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:43.380 We have the restoration of the physical body 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:46.620 at the resurrection in 2 Corinthians chapter four, 00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:48.320 verse 16, right? 00:32:48.320 --> 00:32:49.960 It's a discouragement that we're getting older, 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:52.180 let's be honest here, right? 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:56.180 It's a discouragement that you can't do the things 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.720 that you were when you were 20 years old. 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.620 I don't wanna go any further, 00:32:58.619 --> 00:33:02.219 but it says here, we do not lose heart. 00:33:02.219 --> 00:33:03.819 The outer self is what? 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:06.459 It is wasting away, right? 00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:10.099 Our inner self is being renewed day by day, right? 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:12.219 And we will have that new body. 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:15.179 That's a wonderful thing to think about. 00:33:15.179 --> 00:33:20.179 And in all of this, I wanna share with you this verse. 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:24.099 How many of you know Ephesians chapter two, 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.739 verses eight through nine? 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:29.299 Some of you can verbatim quote it, right? 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:32.420 All right, for by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.740 This is not of your own doing. 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:36.700 It is the gift of God, not a result of work 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:39.700 so that no one may boast. 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:41.819 Consider that following verse. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:47.579 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for what? 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:51.660 For good works, which God prepared beforehand 00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:53.099 that we should walk in them. 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:56.339 Doesn't that verse talk about how important it is 00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:59.899 that we come to know the Lord first 00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:02.740 and then we do good in the name of Christ, right? 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:06.019 So again, in verse 10, put on the new self, 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.419 which is being renewed, right? 00:34:07.419 --> 00:34:09.659 In knowledge after the image of its creator, 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:13.019 you are continuing to grow in who God is 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:15.500 and what his word has to say. 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:17.779 And that's a call for you to do good 00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:19.420 in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:21.539 And I just find it so interesting how 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:25.900 a lot of, I've met younger people who only, 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:27.779 they'll quote eight and nine, 00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:31.340 but they don't go to that verse 10, right? 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:33.420 There's an importance of doing good in Christ. 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.900 Let's go to verse 11 here. 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:40.579 It says here, here there is not Greek and Jew, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:42.659 circumcised and uncircumcised, 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:45.860 barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:47.619 but Christ is what? 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:51.659 And he is in awe. 00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:54.900 In being saved, we must realize that we are equal 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:56.699 in the eyes of God. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:59.259 What matters is that you have a relationship 00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:01.980 with Jesus Christ that is the first and foremost. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:04.779 Again, it doesn't matter who you are. 00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:06.460 It doesn't matter what you have been through 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:08.059 or what you are going through. 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:12.699 What matters is knowing Christ first, 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:17.699 then grow in Him, be transformed, 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:22.819 come to read scripture and come to know more 00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:25.699 of the intricacies of God. 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:28.299 You'll see in our transformation, 00:35:28.299 --> 00:35:30.819 how many of us have changed? 00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:32.500 You don't have to raise your hand. 00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:37.339 I can tell you in my own personal walk with the Lord, 00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:40.539 the man that I was before I knew the Lord 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:43.460 was a very different kind of person. 00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:47.699 God worked in me and I was stubborn as all can be, 00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:50.699 but a lot of us were, let's be honest here, right? 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:52.779 But God works in and through us 00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:56.699 so that we become more like Him. 00:35:56.699 --> 00:36:00.219 So don't waste that opportunity to continue to grow 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:02.460 in the things of God, continue to grow 00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:04.739 in the truth of His word. 00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:08.259 And look, we're gonna continue to sin. 00:36:08.259 --> 00:36:10.300 We're not sinless. 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:14.660 But we are, or at least we should, sin less, right? 00:36:14.660 --> 00:36:18.580 Becoming more and more sanctified. 00:36:18.580 --> 00:36:21.860 And so grow and bear fruit. 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:24.740 What matters is that you are becoming like Him. 00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:26.060 Continue to grow. 00:36:26.060 --> 00:36:27.780 Let this be a call for you. 00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:29.180 If you do not know the Lord, 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:32.180 let this be a call for you to believe in Him. 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:34.620 John chapter six, verse 47, 00:36:34.620 --> 00:36:36.980 Jesus Christ says, I say to you, 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:39.620 whoever believes has eternal life. 00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:42.179 Let this be a call to grow in Him. 00:36:42.179 --> 00:36:45.859 Maybe it's been a while since you've opened Scripture. 00:36:45.859 --> 00:36:48.900 Maybe it's been a while since you've prayed. 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:52.339 Maybe it's just you've been in a dry season. 00:36:52.339 --> 00:36:54.019 You've been in a valley. 00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:57.019 You've gone through trials and tribulations. 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:58.859 Maybe it's a call for you 00:36:58.859 --> 00:37:02.179 to be connected with the body of Christ. 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:04.659 When we think of being one body, 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:06.059 when we're thinking of being connected 00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:07.659 with our brothers and sisters, 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:11.779 one of the great things is we encourage each other. 00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:15.659 Sometimes we rebuke one another or correct one another. 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:19.019 Just like last week, I apologize. 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:23.500 I said that in the connection of the fruit 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:25.739 being taken from the tree, 00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:28.859 I said it was the tree of life, 00:37:28.859 --> 00:37:32.099 but it correctly was the tree of knowledge 00:37:33.099 --> 00:37:34.099 of good and evil. 00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:37.699 I was using this apple as a representation 00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:41.900 that we are being separated from Christ, 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:44.299 but when Christ died on the cross, 00:37:44.299 --> 00:37:45.980 there came the restoration, 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:49.339 the ability to become connected with the Lord. 00:37:49.339 --> 00:37:51.460 So even I make mistakes. 00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:54.779 It was a slip of tongue, but that's okay though. 00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:56.420 That wasn't my intention. 00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:59.860 But for many of us, we may, 00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:01.380 we will still have our mistakes. 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.219 We'll still sin. 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:03.880 It still happens. 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:05.619 What matters is that we love the Lord 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:07.579 and we continue to seek Him and in His way 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:09.860 and we continue to be transformed by Him. 00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:13.220 Grow and bear fruit. 00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:16.180 Grow in Him and in knowing Christ, 00:38:16.180 --> 00:38:19.260 do you realize that God hides the truth 00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:20.980 and the intricacies of His word 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:22.740 to those who are not saved? 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:26.539 When you believe in the Lord and you study, 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:29.740 you'll find truth that is being spoken to you 00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:33.099 from the word of God being living and active. 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:35.699 How many of you have read the same verse so many times 00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:39.299 and you're like, I didn't see that before. 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:43.019 I should have known this verse enough times 00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:48.019 and yet here God is speaking to me in another capacity. 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:51.259 I think I might have mentioned this once before. 00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:52.819 I don't know if I mentioned it in a sermon, 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:54.539 but at the end of Daniel, 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:57.980 there is mentioning of the scroll 00:38:57.980 --> 00:39:02.980 that will be put in and tell the end days. 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:05.260 So there's still all that to say, 00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:08.340 there's still truth that's hidden. 00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.900 I find that remarkable, right? 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:11.860 There's still things in the word of God 00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:16.099 that is still not, I think it's Daniel 12, nine by the way. 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.300 Correct me if I'm wrong. 00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:22.380 But in that, there's still things that are being hidden 00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:25.179 and tell the appropriate time much like how the mystery 00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:28.139 and the majesty of Jesus Christ was hidden 00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.980 and tell the appropriate time. 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:34.579 We can know the deeper things of God. 00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:38.259 We are called to do good things in the name of Christ. 00:39:38.259 --> 00:39:40.579 If we are saved by grace through faith 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:43.099 and we are made a new creation, 00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:46.339 we have a new life and the former life has passed away. 00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:49.699 Why in the world would we go back to darkness? 00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:52.699 Why would we go to the former things? 00:39:52.699 --> 00:39:55.659 In being Christian, we are saved and secure 00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:58.139 and we're seen as equal in the eyes of God. 00:39:58.139 --> 00:40:01.779 Galatians chapter three, verse 28 is a parallel 00:40:01.779 --> 00:40:05.379 to what we just read in verse 11 here, right? 00:40:06.899 --> 00:40:08.259 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:40:08.259 --> 00:40:10.419 there's neither slave nor free. 00:40:10.419 --> 00:40:13.980 There is no male and female for you are all what? 00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:16.739 One in Christ Jesus, right? 00:40:16.739 --> 00:40:20.219 In the Colossians passage saying the same thing, 00:40:20.219 --> 00:40:23.099 but it's saying the difference between the Colossians 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:27.019 verse and this verse has to do with Christ being all 00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:29.139 that we need and is in everything here. 00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:31.579 It's talking about we are all one, 00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:34.199 we are all united as parts of the body of Christ. 00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:38.579 Ephesians chapter two, verse 14, 00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:42.219 he himself is our peace and he has made us both one 00:40:42.219 --> 00:40:44.339 and is broken down in his flesh, 00:40:44.339 --> 00:40:46.779 the dividing wall of hostility, right? 00:40:46.779 --> 00:40:50.179 Talking about that separation no longer. 00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:52.419 I want to be united with Christ. 00:40:52.419 --> 00:40:56.179 I want to no longer be like that apple like I said last week 00:40:56.179 --> 00:40:58.940 that is separated from the Lord. 00:40:58.940 --> 00:41:02.139 Instead I want to know Jesus Christ. 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:06.579 And I hope and I pray and I, 00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:08.579 that you will come to know the Lord 00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:10.779 just as we've been talking about. 00:41:10.779 --> 00:41:13.259 If you have been raised in Christ that first verse, 00:41:13.259 --> 00:41:15.980 can you go back to that first verse one? 00:41:15.980 --> 00:41:19.539 By chance, I don't, if you can. 00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:25.039 The verse one, notice the if, if, 00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:31.099 if you have been raised with Christ, 00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:34.699 seek the things that are above where Christ is seated 00:41:34.699 --> 00:41:36.539 at the right hand of God, 00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:40.079 speaking about how Christ reigns supreme, 00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:45.079 that He is preeminent, the first born of all creation. 00:41:47.239 --> 00:41:49.079 If you have been raised in Christ, 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:51.039 seek the things that are above. 00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:53.559 First, believe in the Lord. 00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:56.519 Believe that Jesus Christ is the savior 00:41:56.519 --> 00:42:00.119 and that you are a sinner who is in need of a savior. 00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:02.199 You need to be reconnected. 00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:05.159 Jesus Christ came down. 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:07.239 He was born in a manger. 00:42:07.239 --> 00:42:10.719 There was His ministry, His works, His miracles, 00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:14.119 and His teachings, healing the sick, 00:42:14.119 --> 00:42:16.199 raising people from the dead, 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:17.519 turning water into wine. 00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:20.519 I mean, that's the best party trick out there, right? 00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:23.319 Seriously, some of you got it. 00:42:25.719 --> 00:42:28.639 These miracles that He did, His works, right? 00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:31.839 His teachings, just like when Christ says, 00:42:31.839 --> 00:42:34.879 I am the bread of life, right? 00:42:34.879 --> 00:42:37.039 Or when it was talking about water, 00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:39.800 who drinks of water will never thirst, 00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:41.759 the water that I give, right? 00:42:41.759 --> 00:42:42.679 It's wonderful. 00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:46.679 We know that Jesus Christ, 00:42:46.679 --> 00:42:49.199 or we should know that Jesus was born, 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:51.320 He had His ministry, was crucified, 00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:53.679 died and was buried, and on the third day, 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:57.119 He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. 00:42:57.119 --> 00:43:00.440 Do you realize that means the fulfillment of prophecy 00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:03.639 in all of the Old Testament prophecies? 00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:06.000 Jesus Christ is the way, 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.360 He is the truth in the life, 00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:11.360 and He loves us, He is light. 00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:15.519 Darkness does not exist in Him, right? 00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:18.480 He is the resurrection, He is the life. 00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:22.119 Let this be a call for you to change, 00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:25.440 to change your mind, to believe in Him, grow in Him, 00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:28.519 and do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:30.679 And as that first verse said, 00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:34.679 if you have been raised with Christ, 00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:36.519 seek the things that are above, 00:43:36.519 --> 00:43:39.000 first believe in the Lord, 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:41.000 then seek the things that are higher. 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:42.039 Let's pray together. 00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:47.359 Gracious Father, we thank You for bringing us here today, 00:43:48.480 --> 00:43:49.399 our time together. 00:43:49.399 --> 00:43:51.960 We pray that truth has been spoken here, 00:43:52.839 --> 00:43:54.919 and that lives will be transformed 00:43:54.919 --> 00:43:56.319 by the renewal of our mind, 00:43:56.319 --> 00:43:58.879 that we come to know who You are, 00:43:58.879 --> 00:44:00.279 have that knowledge of You, 00:44:00.279 --> 00:44:03.359 and that we're moved to trust in You, 00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:07.320 and to do good, to obey You. 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:09.440 May we be saved first and foremost 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:11.559 by believing in You through faith. 00:44:11.559 --> 00:44:15.920 May we be encouraged to grow in You by studying the scriptures, 00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:18.240 by being a part of the body of Christ, 00:44:18.240 --> 00:44:22.400 by being in Christian community in prayer. 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:24.200 May we be transformed. 00:44:24.200 --> 00:44:27.559 May we act upon this faith to serve the church, 00:44:27.559 --> 00:44:31.079 and to serve the community doing good in Your name. 00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:33.319 It is in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:44:33.319 --> 00:44:36.480 His precious name, the preeminent one, 00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:39.360 the firstborn of all creation, 00:44:39.360 --> 00:44:41.400 that we say all of these things, we pray, 00:44:41.400 --> 00:44:44.880 and we all say together, amen, amen. 00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:45.920 Thank you for tuning in 00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:48.920 to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:44:48.920 --> 00:44:50.440 For more about our church 00:44:50.440 --> 00:44:53.119 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:56.880 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:44:56.880 --> 00:45:01.880 May God's blessings be with you.