Re: Think 10-12-08

Written on October 15, 2008 by Matt

This is our Sunday Re: Think, an opportunity for us to continue to think on the events of last Sunday.

Examining verses 4-10 of the 2nd Chapter of Colossians we discussed the Ironic Simplicity of the Christ Centered life.  Continuing his assault on the heresies that plagued the church in Colossae, Paul wrote to the Colossians encouraging them to 1) Know what they believed; 2) Walk in Him; and 3) Live thankful.

In a time in which many were abandoning the faith for a perverted gospel marked by ascetic practice, angel worship and culturally syncronistic secret knowledge Paul challenged the Colossians to Beware of false doctrine.  On Sunday we asked where the basis of our faith really did lay.  Is our belief based on merely a persuasive argument or on a crucified Christ?  Did we merely believe because we were talked in, or reliant upon some spiritual guarantee or because we really believed ourselves to be sinners in need of a Savior?  My hope is because of the latter not the former.

Walking “in Christ” presupposes we have “received Him as Lord”, placed the entirety of our lives under His authority and surrendered to His command to follow in obedience.  We realized this begins with repentance and continues with the work of God in Sanctification.  Darrin Patrick defines Sanctification in this way:

Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives

Sanctification is where our relationship with God moves from the theoretical to the practical.  Our relationship with God will actually change the way that we live.  If we claim to know Christ in a personal way, yet our lives do not bear a marked difference, than we are either lying or have failed to understand what being a disciple is truly all about.

Thankfulness is how we know we are living the Gospel.  True disciples will live thankful lives and this will overflow into the relationships we share with others.

Some questions this week.  Where do you see the intersection of your responsibility and God’s activity in Sanctification?  How can your life practically show thankfulness?  Any thoughts?

Posted in Re: Think